In his black-walled fortress at Inuyama, the warlord Iida Sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard. The youth Takeo has been brought up in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual people who have taught him only the ways of peace. But unbeknownst to him, his father was a celebrated assassin and a member of the Tribe, an ancient network of families with extraordinary, preternatural skills.

When Takeo's village is pillaged, he is rescued and adopted by the mysterious Lord Otori Shigeru. Under the tutelage of Shigeru, he learns that he too possesses the skills of the Tribe. Program Vag Com Do Wersji 409 1. And, with this knowledge, he embarks on a journey that will lead him across the famed nightingale floor?and to his own unimaginable destiny.

3 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT GCSE READING LIST YEAR 9 YEAR 10 YEAR 11 BUCHAN John The Thirty-Nine Steps A classic thriller that has remained popular since.

An international bestseller, Across the Nightingale Floor is the first book in the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn.

Against a background of wild forest, elegant castles, hidden temples and savage battlefields, the adventure that began with Emperor of the Eight Islands draws to its thrilling conclusion in Lord of the Darkwood, the second instalment of Lian Hearn's the Tale of Shikanoko. The rightful emperor is lost. Shikanoko is condemned to live, half-man and half-deer, an outlaw in the Darkwood.

Install Emerald Theme Manager. Yet the mighty lords who now rule the Eight Islands are prey to suspicion and illness, and drought and famine choke the realm. Only Shikanoko can bring healing, by restoring the preordained ruler to the Lotus Throne. And only one person can bring him back from the Darkwood... Praise for the 'Tales of the Otori': 'A thrilling tale of love, violence, loyalty and betrayal' Guardian 'The plot is gripping and the writing is beautiful, packed with authentic, atmospheric detail' Daily Mail 'The writing is extraordinary...

Virtually pitch perfect' Evening Standard 'An enthralling and original work of fantasy' The Times 'Across the Nightingale Floor remains quite simply the best story of magic, love, sex, revenge and suspense to have come this way since Philip Pullman' Independent on Sunday 'An original and exquisitely wrought adventure story' Observer 'Across the Nightingale Floor was described to me by the young man in Borders bookshop as a 'Japanese Harry Potter, only better'. In fact, it's a different beast entirely. Much darker, much sharper, much less predictable' Daily Telegraph.