The Depth of Otori Shigeru

For those who want to know more about Otori Shigeru, this is the book. As a prequel to the Otori books, it is as beautiful as all the rest and gives a character that is dearly loved more flesh and bone. Prequels are often not very well received and seem to never measure up to the original. This book is an exception. It is an outstanding tale of love and loss. It takes the reader to a world were fictional characters we really care about struggle with all manner of trouble. It is at once beautiful and tragic. It is a tale of beauty and deep feeling. I respect these characters like old friends and find myself clamoring for more. Yet, the book is so satisfying that when you finally put it down; it feels like a wonderful meal. However, the longing is still there.