Review: Brilliance of The Moon

The Tales of the Otori are set in a version of medieval Japan with just a touch of fantasy. This Japan is in a state of violent unrest. There is no strong central authority to settle disputes; the nobles battle over control of the land and the commoners struggle to survive. The brutality and warfare have clear parallels in certain periods during the more familiar European medieval period; yet there are marked differences. Medieval Japan is portrayed as being very inward-looking; there are few hints or references to other places or peoples. Even more importantly, the culture is very different from that of European cultures during similar eras. The differences are particularly obvious in the religions, and in the social codes derived from them.

The hero, Otori Takeo, is connected to three different groups in this complex society. The conflicts resulting from their demands on him, their attempts to use him for their own ends, and his own choices and responses were developed in the preceding books in the series and continue and reach their climax here. Takeo is a hero, but not an unthinking one. He does not always know what to do; he makes mistakes and has doubts. He finds that he must walk a narrow line between the expectations he must fulfil as a lord and the skills and beliefs from his non-warrior side. He is a warrior who talks to and uses pirates, fishermen, farmers and outcasts. He challenges the traditional rules of his society (for example, in marrying without permission) but has some ancient traits that earn him a reputation as a sorcerer.

The book is not only about Takeo's internal struggles and development. His military campaigns are gripping. His wife Kaede's story seems to lag by comparison, but that may have been inevitable given that so much of her struggle was internal and silent.

The Afterword hints that there may be more tales in this series. If they follow the pattern of this one, they should also be very readable, with an intriguing view of a country and a period of history with which many people are unfamiliar.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM

Book Review: Brilliance of The Moon