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sadetanssija's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
srm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Another beautiful and fascinating fantasy Renaissance book from Kay. After DNFing A Brightness Long Ago, I think I'm definitely going to have to give it another try after enjoying this and All the Seas of the World so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Suicide, War, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Blood, and Child death
rbixby's review against another edition
5.0
Reading Kay is reading poetic prose. I told my wife his stories are beautiful, subtle, gifts. You aren't blown away by big, distinct, plots. You float along, engrossed in the words, the way they conjure very clear pictures in your mind. In the end, you are left in a peaceful place, contemplating what you just read, inevitably coming to the conclusion that what you just finished was beauty put into words.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
This is a wonderful fantasy novel, rooted in history but set in a world of Guy Gavriel Kay's imagining; a world with two moons, with heroism and honor, brutality and grief and love. It is beautifully, consciously told by a master storyteller. At times it brought me close to tears. The narrative switches between multiple points of view, and, a rarity, my attention was held by each of them. In addition to seeing rulers, military commanders, and senior advisors, we are also shown merchants, footsoldiers, farmers, brigands, sea captains, painters, spies, priestesses. Some of the characters are close to epic heroes (and heroines), being brave and highly skilled warriors. Yet there is a depth in the characters and a compassion toward them that makes them resonate. An excellent book.
chaoswizard's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
abatur's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
richardwells's review against another edition
3.0
This is like a prequel to All the Seas of the World, not as good, though fine on its own. It could have been a four star read were it not for an unforgivable sin that destroyed my suspension of disbelief. I issued a conditional forgiveness, but the stain lingered. The sin was so unnecessary, neither furthered the plot, nor improved characterization, and I can't for the life of me figure out why it was left in except as some kind of meta toying with the reader. Grrr. If you want to know the nature of the crime, message me. Otherwise it's a spoiler (I guess.)
Plot summary from some other reader.
It appears goodreads is messing with the website. Anyway, I haven't read this book 5 times as the site indicates.
Plot summary from some other reader.
It appears goodreads is messing with the website. Anyway, I haven't read this book 5 times as the site indicates.
elizas's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
jackiekaemmerhenderson's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the story but was not expecting the graphic adult content. I had not experienced detailed sensual scenes in the GGK books I had read before. Will need to research his titles better before reading another.