Grass for His Pillow
Tales of the Otori: Book Two
Bisexual male protagonist; gay male secondary characters.
. Recommended.
July 11, 2005 | Revid 327 < prev | next >
Otori Takeo fulfilled his quest and redeemed the honor of his adoptive father Shigeru. But success was not without cost, for Takeo is now indebted to the deadly assassins of the Tribe, whose leaders demand he renounce his Otori inheritance and pledge loyalty to them. Taken by the Tribe, Takeo reluctantly becomes one of their number. Yet while strong and highly skilled in the Tribe's magic, he hasn't the soul of a killer and seeks a way out of his bargain.
Meanwhile, Takeo's beloved Shirakawa Kaede struggles against her father and the men of her clan who would deny her rightful inheritance. The young priest Makoto is tormented by his passion for Takeo and leaves the Terayama monastery believing he has disgraced his vocation with worldly attachments.
The second book in the Otori series, this novel employs wonderful imagery amid a complex tale of ambition and honor. I thought the storyline overly convoluted in places and the prose lacks the refreshing simplicity of the first novel. Regardless, this is a mature and satisfying read.
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