Know, all who see these lines, that this man was one of the miracles of the god

[exsequar]

Guy Gavriel Kay is a cruel and fickle master. I just spent about an hour sobbing over the last 100 pages of his gorgeous novel, The Lions of Al-Rassan. I always feel so drained, overcome, awed when I finish one of his books. He is the TRUE master of surprise - I've never outguessed him. And this story was one of the most sweeping, intimate, and

Comments

[musical_emjay]

Omg. OMG AAAAAAANNE. I'M JUST ABOUT TO GO TO BED BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD REFRESH MY FLIST ONE LAST TIME AND THEN I SAW THIS AND. AND. I HAD NO IDEA YOU LOVED GUY GAVRIEL KAY :D!!!!

AUGH. I read The Lions of Al-Rassan many many summers ago, so I don't remember all the characters or a lot of the plot particulars, but holy craaaaap I definitely haven't forgotten the awful, terrible, beautiful tragedy of Rodrigo/Jehane/Ammar. There's no way I could ever forget that ;____________; Everything you've said here, just....yes. Oh godddd *sobs*

Admittedly, I haven't read all of Kay's stuff, so I can't make a really informed opinion, but The Fionavar Tapestry is pretty much my favorite thing ever, followed by Lions. I've read and re-read Tapestry so many times by now and it NEVER loses it poignancy. I remember reading it for the first time....god, it must have been ten years ago, and one of my most vivid memories is sitting in my grade six classroom during recess reading the bit in The Wandering Fire when Diarmuid rides out to fight the Urgach

[exsequar]

Dude, I had no idea YOU loved Kay! I've been posting about him for years! I love that you do though, because OH MY GOD PERFECTION. You really need to read A Song for Arbonne and the Sarantium books

[renne]

Al-Rassan is my favouritest of all Kay's books. I just. The ending, yeah. It was the first of his books I ever read and it captured my heart the way none of the others have quite managed to. UGH I LOVE IT.

[exsequar]

I can't believe no one told me this!! I had just kind of avoided it for years. How ridiculous! Ah well, better late than never.

I always find that the first book I read by a favorite author sticks with me! For Kay it was Arbonne, and that's probably why it remains my favorite. (Oh, Blaise.) But oh yes, Al-Rassan definitely captured by heart and ran away with it. So powerful and human and wonderful. *SNIFF*

[jocondite]

1. I love all Guy Gavriel Kays. I think Lions is his most perfect work, and I'd probably rank Last Light of the Sun last, just because I reread it the other day and didn't find the characters hooked me enough. I haven't read Ysabel, thnak you for reminding me! I love his work so much.

2. Dorothy Dunnett is simply glorious. She has a similar way with sticking the knife into your heart - utterly painful, utterly unsentimental. You should start with The Game Of Kings - I remember how Byzantine and baffling it felt midway through my first read, but the payoff's incredibly worth it, and every time you reread it, there's something else to find. That goes for every book in the Lymond Chronicles, and for The Lymond Chronicles themselves as a whole, when read against the later prequel series (House of Niccolo). I seriously envy people who get to read them for the first time.

[exsequar]

1. Lions is rather perfect, you're right. I don't take any issue with it except for, you know, ripping out my heart. Sniff. I think I do remember what you're saying, though, with Last Light not having the most gripping characters. I still want to read it again though.

Ysabel is great! Quite different from his other stuff, set modern day but with the past intruding on the present, and with a very young protagonist, but still wonderful. Just a hint - make sure you're familiar with the names of the Fionavar Tapestry characters before you read Ysabel! :)

2. Oh, that's great to hear! I think I will have to embark on a Dorothy Dunnett journey as soon as I get to Michigan. Thanks!

[darksylvia]

OMG, I know exactly how you feel. I read Lions of Al-Rassan in ONE SITTING, because I COULDN'T STOP.

[go_gentle]

Lions really is just amazing. Just...wow.

Lots of people love Dunnett but I am not one of them. Maybe give it a try if you like Kay, because I can definitely see some of the similarities.