Lord of the Darkwood

Book excerpt: A self-assured warrior stumbles into a game of Go that turns fatal. An ambitious lord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands. A stubborn father forces his son to give up his wife to his older brother. A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne. A woman of the Old People seeks five fathers for her five children, who will go on to found the Spider Tribe and direct the fate of the country. As destiny weaves its tapestry in Lian Hearn's Tale of Shikanoko series, an emotionally rich and compelling drama plays out against a background of wild forests, elegant castles, hidden temples, and savage battlefields in Lord of the Darkwood. "Brutally thrilling historical fantasy"- Herald Sun The Tale of Shikanoko Book One: Emperor of the Eight Islands Book Two: Autumn Princess, Dragon Child Book Three: Lord of the Darkwood Book Four: The Tengu's Game of Go