In the second Shikanoko tale, following Emperor of the Eight Islands, "Hearn's mythic Japan fully unfurls, expansive and engrossing" (Robin Sloan, New York Times–bestselling author).

A self-assured warrior stumbles into a game of Go that turns fatal. An ambitious lord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands. A stubborn father forces his son to give up his wife to his older brother. A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne. A woman of the Old People seeks five fathers for her five children, who will go on to found the Spider Tribe and direct the fate of the country.
As destiny weaves its tapestry in Lian Hearn's Tale of Shikanoko series, an emotionally rich and compelling drama plays out against a background of wild forests, elegant castles, hidden temples, and savage battlefields in Autumn Princess, Dragon Child.

"Hearn takes cultural elements from medieval Japan and uses them to create this wonderful fantasy realm, complete with its own supernatural forces . . . Scoundrels and innocents, wizards and itinerant performers, lowly servants and mighty nobles all play their parts on this stage." —Publishers Weekly

"Lian Hearn has written a one-of-a-kind epic series brimming with spirits, demons, and warriors. The story is as deeply imagined and immersive as it is addictive. One doesn't know whether to give in to the desire to turn the pages as quickly as possible or to linger and savor Hearn's crystalline prose and striking emotional observations. Hearn's characters grab you by the hand on page 1 and whisper, 'Follow me.' It's a pleasure to obey." ―Kelly Luce, author of Pull Me Under