Heaven's Net Is Wide
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founder | Lian Hearn |
| Products | Book |
Heaven’s Net is Wide serves as a prelude to Lian Hearn's celebrated Tales of the Otori saga. It depicts the life of Lord Shigeru beginning at age twelve, coinciding with the birth of Takeo. The plot highlights significant moments such as the assassination of Kikuta Isamu (Takeo's father), Shigeru’s rigorous training under Matsuda Shingen, the confrontation at Yaegahara, and his engagements with Muto Shizuka and Lady Maruyama, all of which lay the groundwork for Across the Nightingale Floor. The narrative reaches a climax with the crucial encounter between Shigeru and Takeo.
Synopsis
For enhanced clarity, the novel is segmented into distinct parts.
Introduction
Kikuta Isamu, who has adopted the Hidden faith and settled in Mino, faces execution ordered by his cousin Kotaro for renouncing The Tribe. Isamu accepts his death calmly; Kotaro carries out the sentence but later wonders if Isamu left behind an heir.
At twelve years old, Shigeru saves his brother Takeshi from drowning with assistance from a girl named Akane. Mori Yuta perishes in the water, leading Yuta’s father to offer himself as a sacrifice. While Shigeru’s step-uncles demand the family be executed and their assets confiscated, Lord Otori Shigemori intervenes to protect them, instilling in Shigeru a lasting suspicion toward his uncles.
Shigeru's training
At fifteen, after being discovered in a compromising situation with a maid, Shigeru receives a warning from his father about threats posed by illegitimate heirs—a concern linked to Shigemori’s prior relationship with a Tribe woman. In preparation for an anticipated conflict with the Tohan and amid doubts about Lord Noguchi’s allegiance, Shigeru is sent to Terayama under Matsuda Shingen’s tutelage.
Though initially irritated by being treated as a novice, Shigeru endures intense mental and physical drills under Matsuda’s guidance. A feather from a houou bird—symbolizing peace stained by blood—foreshadows that Shigeru’s demise will bring justice. After rendering Matsuda unconscious during training, Shigeru receives healing herbs from an enigmatic Tribe figure known as The Fox, who cautions that such remedies might be toxic.
When horsemen demand that Matsuda demonstrate his swordsmanship against the Tohan Lord’s son, Matsuda assigns the challenge to Shigeru. He swiftly defeats one opponent; upon their return, they discover the old Abbot deceased and Matsuda appointed as his successor. Time advances into winter.
Coming of age
The construction of the stone bridge at Hagi concludes, and to appease local spirits, the stonemason responsible is entombed within it. His daughter Akane, working as a courtesan at Haruna's establishment, finds comfort in her favored patron Hayato, who wishes to wed her. Shigeru provides financial support for Akane and her family and attempts to take her as his concubine. Although she declines Hayato’s proposal, she consents to become Shigeru’s concubine after he journeys with his men to the Tohan border.
At this frontier, Shigeru encounters The Hidden—a persecuted group targeted by Tohan forces. After rescuing Tohan Lord Iida Sadamu from a cave in exchange for an oath to respect territorial boundaries—a promise met with skepticism—Shigeru returns home. His father and uncles reprimand him. Akane moves into a specially constructed residence provided by Shigeru, while his mother arranges his marriage to Yanagi Moe. Driven by jealousy, Akane employs a charm that causes Moe to shrink in fear during attempts at consummation. Hayato urges Akane to escape with him; she refuses. The following day, after Hayato curses the Otori family within earshot of one of Shigeru’s uncles, he is killed. Facing a death sentence on Shigeru’s family, Akane begs for clemency by offering to report on Shigeru’s actions without betraying him.
Alliances
Shigeru allows Nesutoro, a survivor among the Hidden, to join other adherents in the western region. Takeshi cautions him that their father's wavering nature instills fear. Shigeru delegates border surveillance responsibilities to the Noguchi and Kitano clans while secretly arranging alliance negotiations with the Seishuu Lords. Masahiro visits Akane to gather intelligence; she discloses that Shigeru intends to hold discussions with representatives from either Arai or Maruyama.
On his journey to Yamagata, Shigeru leaves his wife at her father’s residence. There, he meets Muto Shizuka of the Tribe, who, under the pretense of trade, introduces him to her partner Arai Daiichi. Although their encounter is amicable, Arai offers no explicit backing. Subsequently, Shizuka delivers a threatening letter from Iida to the Noguchi, warning of an impending Otori defeat.
At Terayama—a safe haven where Takeshi trains away from conflict—Shigeru forms an alliance with Maruyama Naomi, the clan’s leader through maternal lineage. She affirms her commitment to sheltering The Hidden within her territory.
Back in Hagi, with assistance from his mother, Shigeru persuades Shigemori to dismiss his unreliable uncles. Though they initially stall until winter travel ceases, by spring they willingly vacate their estates after assuring Akane their absence will be temporary. Shigemori emphasizes the critical importance of Shigeru surviving and inheriting the ancestral sword Jato as war looms.
The Battle of Yaegahara
The Otori forces, numbering 5,000, departed Hagi with Shigeru receiving a heartfelt farewell from Akane but a frosty one from his wife. They confronted the Tohan army—already responsible for burning Chigawa—on the Yaegahara plain. Betrayed internally—the Kitano failed to engage and the Noguchi openly switched sides—Shigeru’s ally Kiyoshige was killed and beheaded. Surrounded on two fronts, the Otori endured severe casualties, including the death of Shigeru's father, Shigemori.
After defeat, Shigeru contemplated suicide by a stream but was discovered by The Fox (Kenji), a Tribe member he had known for years. Kenji returned Jato, recovered near Shigemori’s body, reigniting Shigeru’s determination. He accompanied Kenji to a concealed Tribe village to heal, gradually placing trust in him and understanding that survival demanded patience and strategy.
Shigeru’s uncles resumed control in Hagi as temporary rulers and requested Lord Kitano—the most impartial lord—to negotiate with Iida Sadamu. Masahiro visited Akane under false pretenses claiming Shigeru was dead or captured and then assaulted her. Overcome by despair, Akane killed the priest who gave her a charm before throwing herself into a volcano.
Shigeru returned to the castle amid grand ceremony. His wife, embittered by her family's demise, disclosed Akane's fate. With most allies lost, Shigeru struggled to maintain composure during meetings with his uncles and advisors. The following day Lord Kitano arrived to propose terms: Shigeru’s abdication and retirement, surrendering territory, and subsequent hostage exchanges with Seishuu as guarantees of allegiance.
The Farmer
Shigeru’s relationship with his wife became strained, characterized by her provoking his anger followed by submission. After she became pregnant, communication between them grew infrequent. Requesting permission to retrieve Takeshi from Terayama yielded evasive responses; Shigeru traveled incognito through mountainous terrain. Honoring their father’s death at a local festival there, he adopted the guise of a Farmer—appearing harmless and patient—to buy time for vengeance.
Upon returning, Moe died during childbirth along with their child, plunging Shigeru into deep sorrow. Meanwhile, Shizuka—now a mother—shifted her allegiance after discovering Kikuta Kotaro had killed Lady Maruyama’s infant. Shigeru began compiling intelligence on the Tribe; later Shizuka covertly assisted him as an informant.
Throughout three countries, Shigeru’s Farmer persona was accepted though some sought him out as a leader. When Takeshi rebelled, he was taken into Miyoshi Satoru’s household for training. Shigeru received an enigmatic message from Lady Maruyama; after thwarting an assassination attempt against him, they initiated a clandestine relationship. Their meetings were rare due to danger—especially following an attempt on Iida Sadamu's life by a Yanagi warrior—and they spent six years apart during which Lady Maruyama’s daughter Mariko was held hostage in Iida’s fortress while Shirakawa Kaede stayed with the Noguchi.
Conclusion
At Noguchi Castle, Arai Daiichi grows increasingly impatient, while Naomi worries that impulsive decisions could put her and Mariko at risk. Accompanied by Shizuka, she travels to Yamagata, where they exchange concerns and formulate plans. Later, Naomi ventures alone to Terayama, where she unexpectedly encounters Shigeru. She visits her daughter in Inuyama but is unable to remain, having conceived a child with Shigeru. To prevent catastrophe, she sends a message to Shizuka, who then returns to Maruyama.
Shizuka provides Naomi with an herbal potion to end the pregnancy. With the support of Sachie and Eriko from The Hidden, Naomi integrates into their group. A traveling merchant from The Hidden reports meeting a boy in Mino who resembles an Otori. Shizuka relays this information to Shigeru, who resolves to rescue the boy from Iida’s men, believing the boy’s inherited talents could fulfill his hopes for an assassin.
Before leaving, Shigeru’s mother succumbs to a fever; he also falls ill but recovers. Meanwhile, Takeshi is killed in Yamagata and laid to rest at Terayama; Iida rewards those responsible for his death. Shigeru arrives in Mino just in time to save the boy, Tomasu, from Iida’s forces who have destroyed his village. Renaming him Takeo, Shigeru intends to adopt him and together they plan to seek vengeance against Iida Sadamu.
Reception
Ursula K. Le Guin, writing for The Guardian, likened Hearn’s narrative style to that of Alexandre Dumas and commended the saga’s lasting appeal. Kirkus Reviews described it as "an ending as impressive as it is a beginning," while Publishers Weekly characterized it as "lyrical and moving."
Additional critiques appeared in the Historical Novel Society, FT Magazine, and Vector; however, the Literary Review offered a more critical viewpoint.
The novel was honored with the 2007 Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel.
See also
External links
- Official website of Lian Hearn
- http://www.panmacmillan.com Publisher of Tales of the Otori in the UK
- Library listings for Heaven's Net is Wide