Preview
  • Across the Nightingale Floor

  • Tales of the Otori, Book 1
  • By: Lian Hearn
  • Narrated by: Aiko Nakasone, Kevin Gray
  • Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (50 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Across the Nightingale Floor

By: Lian Hearn
Narrated by: Aiko Nakasone, Kevin Gray
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.30

Buy for $13.30

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In his palace at Inuyama, Lord Iida Sadamu, warlord of the Tohan clan, surveys his famous nightingale floor. Its surface sings at the tread of every human foot, and no assassin can cross it. But 16-year-old Otori Takeo, his family murdered by Iida's warriors, has the magical skills of the Tribe - preternatural hearing, invisibility, a second self - that enable him to enter the lair of the Tohan. He has love in his heart and death at his fingertips....

Lian Hearn's stunningly powerful best seller, Across the Nightingale Floor, is an epic story for young and old. Set in a mythical feudal Japanese land, a world both beautiful and cruel, the intense love story of two young people takes place against a background of warring clans, secret alliances, high honour and lightning swordplay.

The first novel in the epic Tales of the Otori series, Across the Nightingale Floor is followed by Grass for His Pillow and Brilliance of the Moon.

©2003 Lian Hearn (P)2003 HighBridge Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Across the Nightingale Floor

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

A heart wrenching fantasy novel, I really enjoyed it. The narration from Takeo’s pov was on point.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a great book ruined by the female reader

The book itself is well written, the story has nice twists and turns to it, and the depiction of the scenery doesn't take away from the progress of the plot.
however, the book is ruined in the chapters that are read out loud by the female vocal actor (Aiko Nakasone). i have never heard seach brutal disassociation from the content that is read out loud. it was very hard to listen to, and if it wasn't for the author's great writting i would have returned the book without finishing it.
this is even sadder when you think of the male voice actor (Kevin Gray) of this book which reading is spot on, but has to share the chapters with such low quality female counterpart.
please consider hiring another actress for your next books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Exciting Japanese teenage drama

Family clans on the brink of war - who can you trust? The story is told in past tense from the perspective of two teenagers, a boy (1st person) and a girl (3rd person). The special gifts of 'the tribe' makes it a fantasy novel, but it does not go over the top. The story is charming and exciting, but can be both a bit rushed and a bit predictable. This is not the detailed and clever writing of George R R Martin, but it's still a coherent story that works, though I feel it takes some lazy shortcuts sometimes when I want a more detailed and true-nature-like story. This is how I feel it is intended for teenagers - more simple and short, action oriented.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book

Fantastic book with depth and a great story!

Sadly the reading of the chapters with the other main character are poorly dramatised and quite flat, which gives a bit of dissonance to the listening experience since the reading of the main character is so really well done.

But I would still recommend it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my all time favourites

I just love this story. it is great as an audio too. The narrators were excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good

Liked it. It was a good book. Eight more words for the minimun requirement thanks.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Predictable and flat

The story is quite predictable and flat, the characters lack depth and the performance could be better for the female voice. As a time killer, it has some usability and some ok fantasy aspects - but unfortunately the predictability made the story boring.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!