thirty-one/fifty-two

See? Told you I was still reading. But you didn't believe me, did you? I can't say I blame you.

Treinta uno: Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book One) by Lian Hearn (that's a pseudonym, by the way). All I have to say about this one is niiiiice.

The story is a historical fiction/fantasy/adventure mix set in an alternate-universe feudal Japan. The main character, Takeo, is pretty interesting, but he could be fleshed out more. The plot is pretty basic (for a fantasy novel, ha): Takeo is out to seek revenge from an evil warlord-type both for himself and on behalf of his new adoptive father. He has some special magical skills that aren't explained too well, but I'm hoping everything that was kind of glanced over in the first book will be drawn more deeply in the next two.

I liked the writing, too. The only thing that bothered me -- you know there has to be something -- was the overuse of the word "irony." I understand that it went well with the tone of the writing but by the end I was rolling my eyes everytime someone glanced over "ironically" or used an "ironic" tone of voice. But hey, I use certain words to the point that they keel over half-dead every time I post, so who am I to talk?

Before I was finished with this book, I was already trying to figure out the best way to acquire the next two in the trilogy. So yes, niiiice.