Takeo and Kaede have ruled the Three Countries peacefully for over 16 years, following the tumultuous events laid out in the epic "Tales of the Otori". The land and people are peaceable and calm, the world is balanced and Heaven seems to shine upon them. They have three daughters. Shigeko, 15 years old and heir to the vast territory, is developing into a bold warrior with meditative powers, making her wise beyond her years, and Maya and Miki - twins, two years her junior - have inherited the supernatural powers of their father. However, an attempted assassination of Kaede at the New Year ceremonies reveals that the inescapable forces of destiny still bear down on Takeo and those he loves, and that forces from his past and from beyond the Three Countries are plotting. While his strength and power come from the enduring love of Kaede, the blind sage's prophecy that only his son could bring death to him, haunts his thoughts. This is a breath-taking epic of warfare and sacrifice, passionate revenge, treacherous betrayals and unconquerable love.

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Lian Hearn
Lian Hearn is a pseudonym for Gillian Rubinstein. Gillian Rubinstein (born 29 August 1942) is an Australian children's author and playwright. Born in Potten End, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire,[1][2] England, Rubinstein split her childhood between England and Nigeria, moving to Australia in 1973.[3] As well as eight plays, numerous short stories and articles, she has written over 30 books. Her award-winning and hugely popular 1986 debut Space Demons introduced the themes of growing up and fantasy worlds which emerge often in her other writings. Books such as At Ardilla, Foxspell and Galax-Arena all received critical acclaim and multiple awards. In 2001, Rubinstein published "Across the Nightingale Floor", the first of the best-selling 5 book Tales of the Otori series under the pseudonym, Lian Hearn. The series is set in a fictional island nation resembling feudal Japan and is her first work to reach an adult audience. The name 'Lian', comes from a childhood nickname and 'Hearn' apparently refers to herons which are a prominent theme in the series. It has also been suggested that the surname is most likely borrowed from Lafcadio Hearn; one of the first Western writers to tackle Japanese mythology. Gillian Rubinstein currently resides in Goolwa, South Australia.