Reviews

The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori by Lian Hearn

brisingr's review against another edition

4.0

Although I am not a big fan of time-skips, this book didn't exactly disappoint. I was happy to re-visit my beloved characters and learning to love some new ones as well. I liked the action, the idea and the way some things were dealt with, but at the same time I was sad seeing my favorite character degrading and being someone totally different than from their self in the first three volumes of the series. Dropping it at 4 stars out of 5 just because of that and because of the ending, that really wasn't for my taste. But I still enjoyed it a lot, and the series as a whole is a pretty good one, even a favorite maybe.
To say just how frustrated I am right now, after I finished it: THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD, BUT SO BAD.

booked_az's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bananne's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The book was quite descriptive at the beginning, but especiall the last third of it was capturing and impactful.

marawii's review against another edition

3.0

I am giving this book a 3.5 stars rating. It has many elements of a good book including many plot twists, elements of war, treachery, love, scheming, and prevail.

Even though that this is the fourth book in the series, I did not know it was part of it until I started reading the book. I have only read the first book "Across the nightingale floor" more that 8 years before reading this book and I did not feel like I have missed out on a lot (even though I don't remember anything but the title) .. I believe that you can still read this book as a standalone book.

There are three things that really bothered me in the book. First, is that Shigeko did not end up marrying Hiroshi even though they had mutual feelings for each other. Second, the fact that Kaede goes crazy and joins the same people who were trying to bring Takeo down. And that Takeo ends up dying as we have been expecting since the start of this book. I was hoping that with all the plot twists something could change in the end.

It took me 14 days to finish this book because I felt it was too slow, I believe there are many things she could have left out such as the foreigners. But I really like how Lian depicts the Japanese culture.

ifi13's review against another edition

3.0

It seriously disappointed me. I came to love its characters and admired Lian Hearn's writting throughout all of her books, so I was seriously disappointed by the rushness with which she handled the ending of the book. I did not like the fact that the ending had to be this tragic, but if that was what the author desired at least it should be more meaningfull. None of the characters got what they deserved, it wasn't justice it was simply mean! And the narration, although throughout the book amazing, in the end rushed and unsatisfactory. It resembled a greek tragedy, without having its profound meaning in the end thus simply depressing. Disappointing ending, that left me frustrated, wanting more. Finally, for me, one of the main themes of the series was love and its power and still in the end, all lovestories went up in smoke. Especially Shigeko's who was the new main character. I don't want to sell it short, the advancment of the plot up until the end was excellent. You couldn't imagine what whould happen yet everything happened for a reason. Yet, for me, the ending left all this credible developement of the character's motives hanging in thin air.

queenofrandom's review against another edition

4.0

I loved the trilogy, but knew if I started this that would really be the end of Takeo's story and this book destroyed me, as I knew it would. Lots of intrigue and paced well, as is all of the others, this really is the final conclusion to the tale.

lu_ise's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pillywiggin's review against another edition

5.0

I love this entire series...A fitting epic conclusion to the story of Takeo and Kaede.

wynnara_reads's review against another edition

The book drags on in a way that felt progressively less interesting and compelling. I thought I’d read it previously, but realizing I probably didn’t finish it then either.

thunguyen's review against another edition

4.0

I read all 5 books too fast they blurred into 1 story I can't remember what is what anymore but overall good story. Will be my favorites for a long time.