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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
"Because paths can and do fork, in ways no man or woman can ever truly grasp, for that is the way the world had been made."
Shen Tai is a young man who, for the past two years, has worked in near isolation in an effort to pay honor to his deceased father, a well-known former military commander, in a way that would’ve been meaningful to him in life. He has worked from dawn to dusk burying the bones of the dead soldiers – from both sides of the conflict – of one of his father’s last battles. He could never have known that such an act would alter the course of his life even as the Kitai empire, of which he is a loyal citizen, is set to be forever altered. Because when an unlooked for reward comes his way, his life path turns in directions he could never have foreseen.
I love the way that Kay writes books that feel like historical fiction with just a touch of fantasy. He has said that he uses the “prism of the fantastic to treat the matter of history” and no one does this quite as good as he does. His books are effortless to slip into because they feel so very much like our own world. This time around Kay invokes China’s great Tang Dynasty and the An Lushan rebellion. He does this by giving us the country of Kitai and the Imperial Court of Emperor Taizu, complete with all the behind-the-scenes machinations of courtiers and courtesans. It is a time when even the slightest misstep can give great offense, resulting in severe beatings or death. And as Tai attempts to navigate the politics that he’s been absent from for two years, we as readers are right there with him through it all.
Kay always manages to write smart, capable female characters and the women in this book are no exception. But whereas the women in, say, [b:A Song for Arbonne|104085|A Song for Arbonne|Guy Gavriel Kay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309212350s/104085.jpg|2498881] were given power and respect because of the society in which they lived, the women in this book live in a culture that views them as tools or as mere objects of desire. They have no overt power but they nevertheless manage to influence a great deal, often at great risk to their own lives. My only qualm with this book is that a potential love interest for Tai is a green-eyed blonde. In a world so obviously inspired by ancient China, the choice to make Tai pine for a woman who represents a western, Caucasian standard of beauty is both puzzling and annoying.
That one qualm aside, Kay continues to amaze me with the subtlety of his writing. Whereas many writers are verbose in their attempts to club readers over the head in obvious efforts to force emotional reactions, Kay subscribes to the “less is more” school of writing. He sets the scene through his skillful and efficient use of words trusting readers to read between the lines, to find the meanings in what is hinted at but left unsaid. For me, this makes for purer and more honest feelings because I don’t come away feeling emotionally manipulated.
This is now my eighth book by Guy Gavriel Kay. A few of us over at Fantasy Buddy Reads have been slowly making our way through Kay’s wonderful bibliography. I’ve loved some of his works more than others but each and every book has touched me in one way or another and I consider them all to be worthy of multiple rereads. This book is no exception. While I started out thinking that this wouldn’t end up being one of my favorite Kay books, that last 30% or so corrected that initial impression and I look forward to reading my next book by him.
"You did what you could to shape your own peace, before you crossed over to the night and left the world behind, as all men did, to be forgotten or remembered, as time or love allowed."
Shen Tai is a young man who, for the past two years, has worked in near isolation in an effort to pay honor to his deceased father, a well-known former military commander, in a way that would’ve been meaningful to him in life. He has worked from dawn to dusk burying the bones of the dead soldiers – from both sides of the conflict – of one of his father’s last battles. He could never have known that such an act would alter the course of his life even as the Kitai empire, of which he is a loyal citizen, is set to be forever altered. Because when an unlooked for reward comes his way, his life path turns in directions he could never have foreseen.
I love the way that Kay writes books that feel like historical fiction with just a touch of fantasy. He has said that he uses the “prism of the fantastic to treat the matter of history” and no one does this quite as good as he does. His books are effortless to slip into because they feel so very much like our own world. This time around Kay invokes China’s great Tang Dynasty and the An Lushan rebellion. He does this by giving us the country of Kitai and the Imperial Court of Emperor Taizu, complete with all the behind-the-scenes machinations of courtiers and courtesans. It is a time when even the slightest misstep can give great offense, resulting in severe beatings or death. And as Tai attempts to navigate the politics that he’s been absent from for two years, we as readers are right there with him through it all.
Kay always manages to write smart, capable female characters and the women in this book are no exception. But whereas the women in, say, [b:A Song for Arbonne|104085|A Song for Arbonne|Guy Gavriel Kay|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309212350s/104085.jpg|2498881] were given power and respect because of the society in which they lived, the women in this book live in a culture that views them as tools or as mere objects of desire. They have no overt power but they nevertheless manage to influence a great deal, often at great risk to their own lives. My only qualm with this book is that a potential love interest for Tai is a green-eyed blonde. In a world so obviously inspired by ancient China, the choice to make Tai pine for a woman who represents a western, Caucasian standard of beauty is both puzzling and annoying.
That one qualm aside, Kay continues to amaze me with the subtlety of his writing. Whereas many writers are verbose in their attempts to club readers over the head in obvious efforts to force emotional reactions, Kay subscribes to the “less is more” school of writing. He sets the scene through his skillful and efficient use of words trusting readers to read between the lines, to find the meanings in what is hinted at but left unsaid. For me, this makes for purer and more honest feelings because I don’t come away feeling emotionally manipulated.
This is now my eighth book by Guy Gavriel Kay. A few of us over at Fantasy Buddy Reads have been slowly making our way through Kay’s wonderful bibliography. I’ve loved some of his works more than others but each and every book has touched me in one way or another and I consider them all to be worthy of multiple rereads. This book is no exception. While I started out thinking that this wouldn’t end up being one of my favorite Kay books, that last 30% or so corrected that initial impression and I look forward to reading my next book by him.
"You did what you could to shape your own peace, before you crossed over to the night and left the world behind, as all men did, to be forgotten or remembered, as time or love allowed."
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“How we remember changes how we have lived.
Time runs both ways. We make stories of our lives.”
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay is a book I bought on a whim simply because I’ve been told he is a master of historic fiction. I was a little apprehensive about going into it, though, because for some reason “Guy Gavriel Kay” sounds like the name of someone who would write very dry, boring novels.
Luckily, I was very wrong about that.
Under Heaven is a Chinese-inspired historic fantasy that follows a young man named Shen Tai who, upon coming out of mourning two years after his father’s death, is gifted 250 super nice horses. Like, horses that you would kill a nice, little old lady for. He was gifted these horses by the Princess Cheng-wan, consort of the Tagurian Empire, for honoring and burying their fallen soldiers during his time of mourning.
Unfortunately, the problem with rich people is that they don’t quite think about the consequences of their actions. 250 Sardian horses is a very extravagant gift, but not a very thoughtful one. Like I said: they are super nice horses, and now poor Shen Tai needs to travel back home with them without some jerk trying to kill him for them.
This doesn’t sound like the most interesting plot. In fact, who wants to read about a guy traveling with 250 horses?
But it is so much more than that, I assure you.
You see, the same day he received the horses, an assassin (who arrived with a childhood friend of Shen Tai) tried to kill him and killed his friend before he could give Shen Tai news from his brother.
So now we have the questions:
Who sent the assassin?
And what news was this person trying to prevent from getting to Shen Tai?
Under Heaven at its core is a political fantasy. If you’re going into this expecting a lot of action, I am sorry to tell you that you will not be finding it here. What you will find, however, is a lot of walking and a lot of scheming.
What I really appreciated about this story is that a lot of research clearly went into it. No, it is not an Own Voices novel, but you can tell a lot of thought and care went into writing it.
Speaking of the writing: I really love Kay’s writing style.
“There was some sadness in how that could happen, Tai thought: falling out of love with something that had shaped you. Or even people who had? But if you didn’t change at least a little, where were the passages of a life? Didn’t learning, changing, sometimes mean letting go of what had once been seen as true?”
It’s elegant and poetic, but I never once felt it was trying too hard to be so. I think it’s because the writing also had a certain charm and wit to it that kept it from getting too dry or pretentious. Really, I just think Kay has an amazing way with words.
One thing I did struggle with in this book, however, was the main character, Shen Tai.
It’s strange, because I found myself really enjoying most of these characters. But Shen Tai I just couldn’t connect to. We keep being told that he is hot-headed and quick to temper–which is shown a few times–but oddly, I never believed it. I think it’s because it seemed all he could ever think about was women. And that I cannot stand in a male protagonist.
I swear, a woman can look in his general direction and suddenly he’s like “Damn. I’m horny.” I get he was in isolation for two years, but it just felt very ridiculous to me.
Now, Under Heaven is very much a plot-driven and politic-driven book, so none of the characters really have sweeping emotional arcs. But I still found them charming and entertaining–especially the women.
From Wei Song, a warrior woman hired to protect Shen Tai on his journey; to Shen Li-Mei, Shen Tai’s younger sister who decides to take fate into her own hands; to Wen Jian, a concubine who more-or-less runs the damn Empire. All these women are just so powerful and strong and I just wish we had gotten more of them (especially Shen Li-Mei, who’s plotline definitely should have gotten more page time and I feel got cut too short).
There is a bit of romance in this book, and while I was rooting for the romance, there was never a large focus on it. It definitely could have been taken out and not changed the story at all. Again, this is very much not a character-driven story, but I do wish they had been developed and explored a little bit more.
The main appeal here are the twist and turns of the plot, and seeing exactly how far characters will go for the sake of power. If that it something you’re interested in, I’d definitely suggest picking this up.
In short: Under Heaven definitely isn’t for everyone, but it’s a novel I thoroughly enjoyed! I was rarely bored, the characters were sufficiently entertaining, and the plot was interesting enough to keep me going. I am definitely going to be picking up more of Guy Gavriel Kay’s novels very soon!
Guy Gavriel Kay at his best. It is a sweeping story of epic events told at the up close and personal level. As good as I have come to expect from this author.
This is the first of his books that I have read, and I will be reading more!
If you're looking for sword-and-sorcery type fantasy, this isn't it, but if you're looking for gorgeous writing and subtle fantastic elements (ghosts and shamanism/shape-changing in this case) that are integral to the story, you've come to the right place. This is a novel about ancient China in about the same way that Barry Hughart's [b:Bridge of Birds|1474280|Bridge of Birds|Barry Hughart|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|958087] is about ancient China (though the humor is more subtle in Kay's book). Excellent characterization and well-researched, and a (very subtle) surprise ending that satisfies (and shouldn't have bee much of a surprise except for some expert misdirection early in the book).
If you're looking for sword-and-sorcery type fantasy, this isn't it, but if you're looking for gorgeous writing and subtle fantastic elements (ghosts and shamanism/shape-changing in this case) that are integral to the story, you've come to the right place. This is a novel about ancient China in about the same way that Barry Hughart's [b:Bridge of Birds|1474280|Bridge of Birds|Barry Hughart|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|958087] is about ancient China (though the humor is more subtle in Kay's book). Excellent characterization and well-researched, and a (very subtle) surprise ending that satisfies (and shouldn't have bee much of a surprise except for some expert misdirection early in the book).
"Do you know ... well, no, you can't possibly know, since I have never told anyone ... but I have sometimes dreamed of a second moon to write about. Wouldn't that be a gift?"
Cheeky Guy Gavriel Kay, referencing to all his other novels, set in two-moons planets :)
Anyway, Under Heaven has been quite a great reading. First time I read Gavriel in English, and man, he can write. Amazing prose, beautiful lyrical writing. I've half an idea to re-read Tigana in English, 'cause I'm sure it'd be even better.
Under Heaven is half way a fantasy and historical novel.
Its plot is freely inspired by the events in the last years of Emperor Xuanzong ruling, but this is not a book about the An Lushan Rebellion. Nor it's really an epic fantasy quest or anything of the sort, to be honest. Actually, it's not easy to restrict Under Heaven under any clear classification.
Reading Under Heaven, my first impression was that of a beautiful painting. The worldbuilding and the craft of Gavriel's writing are exceptional. I could hear the ghost howling at Kuala Nor and taste the sweetness of lychees under the curtains of a sedan. The deceptive emptiness of steppe and the quivering light and life of North Districts and alike.
People could say that Under Heaven has an uneven pace, a not clear plot and that's true, in a way. But that depends, I think, in how one reads this novel.
Because the stories of Tai and Li-Mei are not meant to be an epic journey, nor a quest searching almighty manufacts or exposing treasons and treachery. Their stories are more that of two normal people (although privileged enough, son and daughter of an acclamed General) thrown in the middle of epocal events. How little or how much normal people can do in such events, how much or how little History record about it and how much or little normal people actions and decisions shape how events unfold.
These writers suggested that truth when examining events and records of the past was always precarious, uncertain. No man could say for certain how the river of time would have flowed, cresting or receding, bringing floods or gently watering fields, had a single event, or even many, unfolded differently.
It is in the nature of existence under heaven, the dissenting scholars wrote, that we cannot know these things with clarity. We cannot live twice, or watch as moments of the past unfurl, like a courtesan's silk fan. The river flows, the dancers finish their dance. If the music starts again it is starting anew, not repeating itself.
I admit I'd love, while reading, for a bit more of epicness in the last part of the book. A different ending for Rain and Tai. Or just more depth into Tai and Wei Song relationship; some more knots closed, some more paths followed. But is it not how life is, not to have all explained? Not to have all strings settled, or even just making sense?
Cheeky Guy Gavriel Kay, referencing to all his other novels, set in two-moons planets :)
Anyway, Under Heaven has been quite a great reading. First time I read Gavriel in English, and man, he can write. Amazing prose, beautiful lyrical writing. I've half an idea to re-read Tigana in English, 'cause I'm sure it'd be even better.
Under Heaven is half way a fantasy and historical novel.
Its plot is freely inspired by the events in the last years of Emperor Xuanzong ruling, but this is not a book about the An Lushan Rebellion. Nor it's really an epic fantasy quest or anything of the sort, to be honest. Actually, it's not easy to restrict Under Heaven under any clear classification.
Reading Under Heaven, my first impression was that of a beautiful painting. The worldbuilding and the craft of Gavriel's writing are exceptional. I could hear the ghost howling at Kuala Nor and taste the sweetness of lychees under the curtains of a sedan. The deceptive emptiness of steppe and the quivering light and life of North Districts and alike.
People could say that Under Heaven has an uneven pace, a not clear plot and that's true, in a way. But that depends, I think, in how one reads this novel.
Because the stories of Tai and Li-Mei are not meant to be an epic journey, nor a quest searching almighty manufacts or exposing treasons and treachery. Their stories are more that of two normal people (although privileged enough, son and daughter of an acclamed General) thrown in the middle of epocal events. How little or how much normal people can do in such events, how much or how little History record about it and how much or little normal people actions and decisions shape how events unfold.
These writers suggested that truth when examining events and records of the past was always precarious, uncertain. No man could say for certain how the river of time would have flowed, cresting or receding, bringing floods or gently watering fields, had a single event, or even many, unfolded differently.
It is in the nature of existence under heaven, the dissenting scholars wrote, that we cannot know these things with clarity. We cannot live twice, or watch as moments of the past unfurl, like a courtesan's silk fan. The river flows, the dancers finish their dance. If the music starts again it is starting anew, not repeating itself.
I admit I'd love, while reading, for a bit more of epicness in the last part of the book. A different ending for Rain and Tai. Or just more depth into Tai and Wei Song relationship; some more knots closed, some more paths followed. But is it not how life is, not to have all explained? Not to have all strings settled, or even just making sense?
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Got through the first few chapters and it didn't quite capture my attention.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes