Book Review: Across the Nightingale Floor (Lian Hearn)
Not in several years have I read a fantasy book (or any book) this good, and I have read thousands. To tell you the truth, I have read so many books that are trash that I have grown used to, perhaps even expecting poor quality when I read a fantasy novel. Pure drivel like Robert Newcomb’s “The Fifth Sorceress”or Terry Goodkind’s “The Naked Empire” pop up like weeds these days.
But amidst the piles and piles of rubble, sometimes you find that rose of exceptional beauty. And “Across the Nightingale Floor” is that rose. It’s vastly different than the usual run-of-the-mill fantasy novels, unique even.
The setting of the book takes place in a mythical Japanese-like society, though it’s not a direct allusion to actual history, and it features a smattering of magic. It’s a coming of age story, but not in the usual Robert Jordan type of way. Perhaps the best way to describe it is as a recipe: Take the majestic backdrop of “Shogun”, mix it with the cool assassin factor of “Hero’s Die”, imbue it with the mysticism of Eric Lustbader’s “Ninja”, then toss in a fabulous plot, superlative characterization, a good dose of pathos, a chunk of romance and you have what I consider to be one of the best books, ever.
If you have read “A Song of Fire of Ice”fifteen times, spun through the “Wheel of Time” more times than Nynaeve pulls her braid, and consumed every Hobb novel, then give this book a shot; it won’t disappoint.
It’s a sweeping epic of love, betrayal, loyalty, magic, and a high quest for revenge, and so dam fine a read you will want to lick the cover when you’re done. I HIGHLY recommend you check this
book out.
