Author(s): Lian Hearn

Fiction

Like George R. R. Martin, Lian Hearn has captivated millions of readers worldwide with her masterpiece of imagination, TALES OF THE OTORI. Now, against a dazzling canvas of wild forest, elegant court and savage battlefield, she brilliantly brings to life the world that existed 300 years earlier. Hearn weaves an intricate tapestry - seething with intrigue, adventure and love - of two rival clans struggling over who will be crowned Emperor of the Eight Islands, in a medieval Japanese country inhabited by warriors, assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits. And as the laws of destiny play out their inexorable drama, so the battle for the Lotus Throne continues. LORD OF THE DARKWOOD is Books 3 and 4 in THE TALE OF SHIKANOKO and follows EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS (Books 1 and 2 in the series). Praise for EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS: 'huge imaginative vitality' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 'a fitting follow-up to the Otori series' THE AGE 'colourful and fascinating characters' COURIER MAIL 'a must-read' AUREALIS 'stands alone for fine storytelling' WEST AUSTRALIAN 'sure to recruit a fresh legion of fans' THE SATURDAY PAPER