The Harsh Cry of the Heron - Lian Hearn

by Harbinger

Hello to all my fans! (they are the ones screaming 'Matron!!') I found it hard today to concentrate on the cheerful subject of Nazi terror systems, so I naturally thought of you (all three of you) and decided to write a review.

I picked up Harsh Cry of the Heron, before going on holiday last year. As always I was drawn to the cover, I immediately assumed it was going to be a girly book. Chauvinist and sexist I know, but then again girls have Diamond Car Insurance so I can get away with a bit of sexism. I have never read anything by Lian Hearn before, something which I regret as this is a great story. Also oddly enough my golden rule of not buying a book at the end of a series, did not matter as it could easily have stood alone.

The world that the characters live in is based on Medieval Japan, and the book is very heavily based on the political issues rather than action. (Though never fear there are some nice bloody battles and bit of magic going on) Lord Otori Takeo and his wife Kaede have ruled the 'Three Countries' for many years, and while the land is prosperous and lucky omens are present, trouble is brewing. Takeo success has attracted the covetous eyes of the far of Emperor and his General Saga Hideki, and to make matters worse his daughter Shigeko is in there sights too.

Matters are complicated by Takeo's past, as the once defeated Kikuta tribe have risen again under a new leader and have found allies in Takeo's deceitful brother-in-law and his wife In addition two foreigners (who bear an uncanny resemblance to Mediterranean Europeans) are busy trying to convert Takeo's people. To make matters worse his other two daughters Maya and Miki, have grown wild and developed strange powers that Takeo must keep hidden, as his twins are already believed to be unlucky. Oh yes.... and his Bastard son Hisao is trying to kill him!

If you could not guess, it really about a couple who have worked hard to build something great who suddenly find the superstructure disintegrating around them. The world is very rich and expansive. The story was quite addictive and I read it surprisingly quickly for such a long book. Reading the book was rather like watching a Walsall football match, you know it is going to end badly but you can't stop looking. It generally has everything, tradergy, romance (for you big girls out there!), action, magic, politics, intrigue and a little bit of humour every now and then.

I don't know what else I can say apart form give it a go and any other stories in the Tales of the Otori books.

Enjoy. TFFN Un:Bound loonies.