Autumn Princess, Dragon Child

Book 2 in the Tale of Shikanoko

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Pub Date 07 Jun 2016 | Archive Date 27 Sep 2016

Description

Shikanoko has been humbled by failure, and his once clear destiny has become clouded . . .

The Autumn Princess and the boy who is the true emperor are fugitives in the forest, alone and unprotected . . .

In the mountain sorcerer’s hut a new generation of the Old People is born—the Spider Tribe, not quite human, not quite demons, and quickly coming of age . . .

One clan is in retreat, the other holds the capital, and natural disasters follow one upon another. Will Heaven ever be placated?

In Autumn Princess, Dragon Child, the old order has come unsettled and the weave of destiny has become unpredictable as it is pulled tighter, sharper, faster, by the instincts for vengeance and redemption, loyalty and survival. The battle for the Lotus Throne has begun in earnest.

In this medieval Japan of Lian Hearn’s peerless imagination—so full of magic, beauty, violence, love, and sorrow—the only thing truly inevitable is that these forces are building to a brutal climax, though who the players will be and what the stakes will be cannot yet be told.

The Tale of Shikanoko
Book One: Emperor of the Eight Islands
Book Two: Autumn Princess, Dragon Child
Book Three: Lord of the Darkwood
Book Four: The Tengu's Game of Go

Shikanoko has been humbled by failure, and his once clear destiny has become clouded . . .

The Autumn Princess and the boy who is the true emperor are fugitives in the forest, alone and unprotected...


Advance Praise

“In Autumn Princess, Dragon Child, Lian Hearn's mythic Japan fully unfurls, expansive and engrossing, rendered in crystal-clear prose that reads like the translation of a book from outside of time. This kind of story, written with this kind of craft, has become rare. There are fugitive royals and evil monks; there is forest magic and high politics. The swords all have names. There’s a name for this genre, even if you don’t see the label stuck to shelves much anymore. The word for The Tale of Shikanoko is: adventure!” —Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore


Lian Hearn has written a one-of-a-kind epic series brimming with spirits, demons, and warriors. The story is as deeply imagined and immersive as it is addictive. One doesn’t know whether to give in to the desire to turn the pages as quickly as possible or to linger and savor Hearn’s crystalline prose and striking emotional observations. Hearn’s characters grab you by the hand on page 1 and whisper, ‘Follow me.’ It’s a pleasure to obey.” —Kelly Luce, author of Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail

"Hearn constructs a sprawling, Asian-themed fantasy world wrapped in a dense web of politics, culture, and personal relationships in this story of a dying emperor and the looming conflict between his sons, each of whom hopes to take his place on the throne. The first of a four-book series scheduled for release throughout 2016, it envelops you on page one and continues to deepen at a breakneck pace, building a compelling plot out of lush, lived history. The title character’s journey from dispossessed nobleman cheated of his inheritance, to sorcerer’s apprentice, to leader of a group of mountain bandits forms the foundation for a truly epic tale, one that delivers compelling action, fascinating detail, and an affecting love story to boot. With characters that feel like real people, struggling to choose the right path in a morally ambiguous world, this is the sort of fantasy that will inspire dedicated fandom." —Jim Killen, Science Fiction and Fantasy Book buyer for B&N.com

"A thrilling, fast-paced fantasy with plot twists, political intrigue, romance, and a richly detailed setting that will appeal to a variety of readers, especially those with an interest in Japanese mythology and otherworldly influences.” —Karin Thogersen, Huntley Area P.L., IL, Library Journal

“In Autumn Princess, Dragon Child, Lian Hearn's mythic Japan fully unfurls, expansive and engrossing, rendered in crystal-clear prose that reads like the translation of a book from outside of time...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780374536329
PRICE $14.00 (USD)

Average rating from 21 members


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