Emperor of the Eight Islands Launches a Different Kind of Epic Fantasy Saga

Lian Hearn has one such series to her name, the Tales of the Otori series, which draws on Japanese history and legends. This year, she’s returning to that same world, albeit centuries earlier, with The Tale of Shikanoko, a four-part saga that begins with Emperor of the Eight Islands; the three subsequent volumes—Autumn Princess, Dragon Child, Lord of the Darkwood, and The Tengu’s Game of Go—will be published throughout the balance of 2016. Hearn once again brings a fluid, lyrical writing style to an epic that’s really one huge novel broken into four parts, with a breadth of scale, ideas, and adventure that rivals any other fantasy for its pure ambition and sheer pleasure. It may be one of the most challenging, rewarding new fantasies you read this year.
Epic scale
If you like your fantasies complex, your imagined universes broad and deep, and your characters expertly shaded, following The Tale of Shikanoko is going to be a treat. From the reeds of disparate plots, Emperor of the Eight Islands weaves a pattern of complex relationships both personal and political, then tears it apart to construct something altogether new: the aging emperor is dying, and various clans are planning a coup to prevent his legitimate heir from taking the Lotus Throne, seeking to place his younger son in power; a young aristocratic boy (the titular Skikanoko) loses his father and flees his cruel uncle, who he rightly suspects wants him out of the picture in order to claim his inheritance; two powerful lords force one son to give up his family to his brother for political gain, fomenting lifelong resentments.

Dramatis personae
Though it boasts a roster of characters that rivals A Song of Ice and Fire, Hearn’s scattered protagonists never feel less than full real. This is one of those books that earns that lists of characters at the beginning, yes, but it’s also an example of a story in which you ignore a seemingly minor character only at your peril. Hearn does a wonderful job of making every single person—and not a few animals, spirits, and magical entities—live and breathe on the page. That also means that there are several moments where characters make choices that make sense to them and are plainly disastrous to the reader, lending the work the epic fatalism of a mythic tragedy.

The immersive world
The British-born Hearn’s fascination with Japanese culture and myths goes beyond mere window-dressing; it’s a deep affection, and she breathes real life into the fantasy world she’s created. Magic is everywhere, and yet its effects are often unpredictable, having as much to do with personal ability as the motives behind it. Shikanoko becomes a powerful player by the end of the first book—yet his newfound strength is not enough to prevent him from disastrous mistakes that stem directly from his inherent weaknesses. Magic is not a problem-solving deus ex machina, but an extension of the characters, evidenced in what they use it for.
Real consequences
Like other first-class fantasists, Hearn displays a willingness to tear down the world she’s just created. Actions have real consequences. When a powerful lord commits adultry with a beautiful, inhuman woman, the consequences are tragic, and nearly catastrophic, and hardly neatly resolved by the end. Characters rise and fall and travel far from their starting points, and actions taken early on resurface in surprising ways.

Pieces on the board
By the end of Emperor of the Eight Islands, Hearn has moved her pieces into position on the board. Political maneuverings have flowered or wilted. Personal failings and betrayals have led to disaster. Power has been gained and lost, heroes are brought low, and even in death, a few characters remain powerful. Lian Hearn’s return to her rich, unique universe offers everything you want from the genre, but with a wholly distinct flavor and style. In short, you’ll immediately want to begin reading book two and beyond. Luckily, you won’t have long to wait.
Emperor of the Eight Islands is available now.