Lord of the Darkwood

The Tale of Shikanoko is “truly remarkable, wholly magical, and a gift for whomever is willing to take the ride.” —Bookish

“Hearn’s lead character gripped my attention from the start—leaving me eager to see how it plays out in the next books.” —Faren Miller, Locus

“A thrilling, fast-paced fantasy with plot twists, political intrigue, romance, and a richly detailed setting.” —Karin Thogersen, Library Journal

"The Tale of the Shikanoko series mixes court intrigue with mysticism and magic in an epic showdown." — Shelf Awareness

“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

“Addictive. . . . 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, [Emperor of the Eight Islands] 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 Barnes & Noble

“Hearn’s new series is off to an exciting and promising start.” —Kristine Huntley, ALA Booklist

“The fluid prose and morally ambiguous characters are magically seductive.” —Kirkus Reviews

Lian Hearn brings readers “compelling characters and captivating world building.” —Iain Maloney, Japan Times