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  • Grass for His Pillow

  • Tales of the Otori, Book 2
  • By: Lian Hearn
  • Narrated by: Aiko Nakasone, Kevin Gray
  • Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (167 ratings)
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Grass for His Pillow cover art

Grass for His Pillow

By: Lian Hearn
Narrated by: Aiko Nakasone, Kevin Gray
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Summary

Grass for His Pillow is the second novel in Lian Hearn's astonishingly beautiful series inspired by feudal Japan, Tales of the Otori.

In the ancient Oriental lands of the Otori, amidst a time of violent war, famine and treacherous alliances, the fate of the young lovers Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede hangs in the balance....

Takeo, heir to the great Otori clan, has pledged his life to the secret Tribe. His supernatural skills of virtual invisibility and acute hearing make him their most deadly assassin. But he must deny the solemn oath of vengeance he made, his adopted birthright of wealth, land and power - and his love for Kaede. If he does not devote himself entirely to the brutal ways of the Tribe, they will kill him. Whichever path he chooses, it will lead to hardship and sacrifice in the bitter winter of the high mountains and test him to the limits of his being.

Kaede, heiress to vast lands, is now the valuable pawn of ruthless warlords. She must use her intelligence, beauty and cunning to assert her place in a world of all-powerful men - who must never suspect the dangerous secret she hides.

©2003 Lian Hearn (P)2003 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic reviews

"The beauty, savagery and strangeness of Hearn's gripping tale is heightened by her exquisite, crystalline prose. The second instalment in the Tales of the Otori is, astonishingly, even better than Across the Nightingale Floor." ( Independent on Sunday)

What listeners say about Grass for His Pillow

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dope

I love this series... lost count how many times I have read it. and now listening to it, adds a whole new dimension

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A classic in the making

I read these books when I was a young and I loved them, but re-listening to them as an adult has added new depth to a story I love and know well. The narrators do a very good job of bringing the characters and story to life. I highly recommend this series and the audiobooks.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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As good as I remembered from childhood reading

I love the story, and the narrators does a good job with the story telling. And I like, how Kevin Gray does the male perspektive chapters and Aiko the female.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

Beautifully writted and read. Cannot wait to read the third book. This is the second time i am reading this series and the first time through Audible. I have not been disappointed

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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decent...

but not a patch on first book.. didn't seem to have the deeper feeling.. but book one was so good so not unexpected

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Love this book

I love the strong characters, the story and how encapsulate you fill. Definitely recomend all the books.

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The sequel is as excellent as the first

The narration adds to the wonderful storytelling of Lian Hearn. I can't recommend this series enough. Masterful and lyrical.

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A bit slow

Sets the scene for the next books but not quite as exciting as book 1

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Good stories about Japan

Read these stories years ago and was excited to find the Audible versions enjoyed them as much as the books narration was very good one more to hear then maybe start again

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The stilted prose gets a bit wearing... but

... the story is riveting. I found myself greedily listening as both the love story and Takeo's heros journey unfolded.

a shame the style of writing doesnt flow when read: every sentence seems to have no more tgat five words and when you hear one with ten or more it is like a holiday for your ears.

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