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LIAN HEARN has become famous among young adults, at least those that read, for her popular series of books loosely based on Japanese history. The Tales of the Otori have become well-known for their blend of the mystical and the supernatural in the setting of feudal Japan. The most recent book in the series, THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON continues with the same winning combination, but adds new elements and ideas that make the book seem different from its predecessors.

First of all please note that - THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON is not a direct sequel to the Tales of the Otori: and If you read the other three books in this series, then this is the book that ties them all up, (mostly satisfactorily). If you haven’t followed Takeo’s story to date you’ll start out hopelessly confused.



There are currently 4 book of them:
1. Across The Nightingale Floor (trilogy)
2. Grass for His Pillow (trilogy)
3. Brilliance of The Moon (trilogy)
4. The Harsh Cry of The Heron (the last tale)
5. Heaven's Net is Wide (Prequel - the story of Shigure, who if you’ve read the story played an important role)



without further adu The Review:


Lian Hearn is good at adding twists to what could be a fairly conventional adventure fantasy story in a foreign place and time. Instead of being stock characters, his have many shades of personality. The good guys are not always likeable, the bad guys often understandable. Near the end of the book, for example, which takes an unexpected turn that shocks the reader even as you see it coming.


And considering the many sacrifices that have to be made for the peace of the realm. LIAN HEARN has mixed the supernatural and the mystical with the action and political drama of feudal Japan. The plot twists and turns to keep the reader interested up to last page, with an ending that both shocks and saddens.


This is a book that can be recommended to almost any young adult reader, regardless of whether he or she has have read the Tales of the Otori. This is an excellent book that will keep fans satisfied until the next in the series, Heaven's Net is Wide.

The trilogy + the 4th book “The Harsh Cry of The Heron” (and adding to that would be the last book Heaven’s net is Wide) is probably the best Japanese classical story I’ve ever read. Well not that I’ve read a lot of them, but the series of Tales of The Otori is just awesome…The Harsh Cry of The Heron probably is my fav, but also my least fav, considering some factors…(people i like turns annoying and stuffs).

The most frustrating part of this book is how long it took me to read it – I could not turn the pages fast enough to reach the bittersweet conclusion. Lian Hearn’s next book, “Heaven’s Net is Wide,” billed as a prequel to "Tales of the Otori," is already out of publication. I, for one, can’t wait to read it.

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