I picked up this book because I thought it was about something I am familiar (and quite obsessed) with : Samurai and Japanese Sengoku Period. The disclaimer at the beginning disheartened me a little bit; although this book was based loosely on Japan and the Sengoku Period, it was set on a fictional land. Some events and venues bore a close resemblance to the real history, for example, reading about Battle of Yaegahara will make you automatically think of Battle of Sekigahara. Some people said it's laziness in Hearn's part, but that was what made me kept reading. The set was familiar, yet strange; usual yet different. Just the right blend of similarity and novelty. 
 The story was told mainly from the perspective of young Tomasu, who was raised as a believer of forbidden religion (Christian?) in a peaceful village of Mino, far away from the warlords' bloody feud. Tomasu was quite satisfied of living an ordinary life, but fate had more in store for him. While he was going to pick mushrooms in the mountain, his whole village was massacred by Lord Sadamu Iida (kind of remind me to Tokugawa Ieyasu)'s man. Tomasu did something that would guarantee a painful death on the hand of Iida himself, but twist of fate brought him to Otori Shigeru, a wandering warlord, who soon adopted him and changed Tomasu's identity into Otori Takeo, a son and heir of Otori clan. As Takeo lived his new life, he was dragged into a web of political intrict and rebellion, tangled with his own dark past, plan for revenge, and --although it seems unlikely in situation like this-- love. 
 I like Takeo's voice, although I like Lady Shirakawa Kaede's side of story (which is told in third person perspective) more. I think Takeo's speedy learning and...ahem, skills are a bit too convenient. It must be interesting to see Takeo struggled more in facing his grief, rage, and his new life which was completely different than his old one. I enjoyed reading about Takeo's super-ultra-acute-hearing, though. His description became richer and more unique. I especially like how he describe the "songs" of places he visited and how they revealed some layers of the inhabitant's life. It seems so poetic for me, hehe. 
 One of the highlight for me is how Hearn describe the character of Otori Shigeru, the actual legitimate heir of Otori Clan. Calm, composed, and dangerous in his own way. He also showed that what's greater than muscle power is the love of your people... and that can be achieved if you care enough about their welfare. Knowing this is just the first book of trilogy, probably his character will be utterly destroyed in the next books, but whatever. I can't help sympathizing with this young lord, even more than with the main character. 
 In the end I understand and accept the liberties taken. For me, based on history or not, this book is compelling on its own. For a beginning of trilogy (I also faintly remembered there is book four, maybe book five...) it's really good. Definitely will read the next book (view spoiler)[or maybe not since Hearn killed off my favorite character *sob* (hide spoiler)]