Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay, 573 pages, fantasy.
Epic tale of one self-effacing and somewhat directionless man (and 250 horses) suddenly caught up in assassination, court intrigue and rebellion in a fictional China-like land's distant past. Shan Tai is in mourning for his father, the late General Shan Gou. To honor him, Shan Tai takes upon himself the task of burying as many of long dead soldiers whose ghosts haunt a deserted borderland battlefield, site of the general's last campaign, as he can in two years. He finds his life and the lives of everyone around him drastically changed by events that cascade from his actions. He becomes wealthy, he loses and finds love and the whole kingdom erupts in a civil war. A quietly relentless tale, with wonderful characters and gripping action. Plus there are ninjas (or at least ninja-like warriors).
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