Emperor of the Eight Islands (The Tale of Shikanoko, Band 1)

An ambitious warrior leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands . . .

A stubborn father forces his younger son to surrender his wife to his older brother . . .

A mysterious woman seeks five fathers for her children . . .

A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne . . .

These are the threads of an intricate tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield. Set in a mythical medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits, Emperor of the Eight Islands is a brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue. And it is just the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: 'The Tale of Shikanoko'.

Praise for Lian Hearn's 'Tales of the Otori':

'A thrilling tale of love and violence' Guardian

'An original and exquisitely wrought adventure story' Observer

'Enthralling' The Times