Heaven's Net is Wide (Tales of the Otori, #0)

Slow paced, too much name dropping. I like stories to rely on the plot for being interesting. “World building” usually gets in the way. This is such a case.

There is too much effort in naming every single “Japanese” thing, characters as well of course, that I couldn't get a taste for what the book is actually about.

If just the mention of Shigeru, Shingen, Yaegahara, Shizuka is enough to get you going, this might be a book for you. Perhaps it's the equivalent of “elves” for regular fantasy loving people.

The story was very simple. It is set in feudal Japan, it focused on ordinary events, the day to day life of lords and serfs, rivalry between clans, how to run a fief, obedience, to master one's emotions because you're the lord, etc.

Read 1:32 / 16:18 9%