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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Reread, but apparently I never updated after the first time.
I think the reason I can't quite give this a full 5 stars is that I was dissatisfied with the role of women in this world. In most of his other books, Kay has found a way to include a woman as a main character whose life happens to not follow the allotted patterns of her world. Yes, there is one here, but she doesn't have a main narrative, so her effect on the overall feeling of the book is minimal. Plus, she's really overbalanced by the other women, who, regardless of the political positions they've managed to achieve, mostly got there through bloodlines or prostitution, and this fact felt more emphasized to me than in previous books. Even as I write this it feels like an unfair criticism, but it bothered me both times I read it. All of Kay's books have been set in worlds based on times when women had a rough go (see: all of history) and somehow past books counteract it more.
Nevertheless, as with all of Kay's books, the world is completely absorbing and I adored the political stuff as much as the personal and fantastical elements. I'm very excited for River of Stars, which is set in the same world but with a female protagonist.
I think the reason I can't quite give this a full 5 stars is that I was dissatisfied with the role of women in this world. In most of his other books, Kay has found a way to include a woman as a main character whose life happens to not follow the allotted patterns of her world. Yes, there is one here, but she doesn't have a main narrative, so her effect on the overall feeling of the book is minimal. Plus, she's really overbalanced by the other women, who, regardless of the political positions they've managed to achieve, mostly got there through bloodlines or prostitution, and this fact felt more emphasized to me than in previous books. Even as I write this it feels like an unfair criticism, but it bothered me both times I read it. All of Kay's books have been set in worlds based on times when women had a rough go (see: all of history) and somehow past books counteract it more.
Nevertheless, as with all of Kay's books, the world is completely absorbing and I adored the political stuff as much as the personal and fantastical elements. I'm very excited for River of Stars, which is set in the same world but with a female protagonist.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall a satisfying read, but the plot meandered a lot and never felt like it found strong enough footing.
Didn’t dislike it, it’s a well enough crafted book, but it didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to. The characters didn’t feel as real or as well developed as I would expect from Kay and the plot was heavily reliant on magical seeming coincidences to the point that it felt heavy handed.
Didn’t dislike it, it’s a well enough crafted book, but it didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to. The characters didn’t feel as real or as well developed as I would expect from Kay and the plot was heavily reliant on magical seeming coincidences to the point that it felt heavy handed.
Wow, just wow. Guy Gavriel Kay knows how to write. There may be others who write faster paced novels, but when it comes to a beautiful steady build up of story, universe, and plot, there are few who can match him. After I take a couple of weeks to digest this story, I'm going to move right into the next book in the series (nicely, each book in the series stands alone - although I will miss the characters).
Characters: 5*
These characters learn and grow and are most definitely not one dimensional. There are characters that only last for a few pages that have more depth than some characters that are the protagonist throughout entire series of other books.
Plot: 5*
While the plot is very intricate, it is easy to grasp and I never found myself losing track of what was going on. I find myself hurting whenever the scene cuts to another location because I just want to immerse myself in that ambiance and to learn more about it.
Universe: 5*
This universe is beautiful. I absolutely adore books where the world where the story is set impacts the story itself. I hate it when the story progresses in a bland world that is neglected and ignored. That is most definitely not the case here.
Characters: 5*
These characters learn and grow and are most definitely not one dimensional. There are characters that only last for a few pages that have more depth than some characters that are the protagonist throughout entire series of other books.
Plot: 5*
While the plot is very intricate, it is easy to grasp and I never found myself losing track of what was going on. I find myself hurting whenever the scene cuts to another location because I just want to immerse myself in that ambiance and to learn more about it.
Universe: 5*
This universe is beautiful. I absolutely adore books where the world where the story is set impacts the story itself. I hate it when the story progresses in a bland world that is neglected and ignored. That is most definitely not the case here.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I fell in love with Guy Gavriel Kay's somewhat self-consciously grandiose style of writing with his Fionavar Tapestries....and then did not like the way that kind of writing played out with other books.
However, with Under Heaven, I think he's found the perfect vehicle/story to carry off that kind of heart-string-plucking, grand sweep-of-things, historical perspective writing.
Shen Tai is the second son of a great general in the Kitai (ancient China) Empire. In homage to his dead father, he traveled to a remote lake (the site of a battle) and spent two years among ghosts of dead soldiers burying their bones regardless of nationality.
In return for this deed, a princess grants him the gift of 250 Sardian (think Arab) horses, an imaginably generous gift in those times, as well as a dangerous one as it places Shen Tai in a politically precarious position.
With the help of Kanlin warriors (Shaolin) Shen Tai navigates the Emperor's Court of Ta-Ming and tangled political and emotional relationships against a rich backdrop of history, culture, and poetry.
All the reasons I fell in in love with Kay's writing in the first place emerge in this book: rich history, sympathetic characters who are restrainedly emotional and sacrifice their own priorities for their loved ones, quiet suffering, and grandiose political schemes.
Besides that, Kay's book doesn't read as a stereotyped, blah blah blah version of China. Somehow that period comes alive, makes sense with the character's lives, and isn't an exotic veneer over the story, but an integral part of it. Very few historical fantasy books I've read manage to pull that off.
It's been a long wait, but Under Heaven is definitely worth it.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice for the overall harmonious mix of many elements as well as the richness of flavor. Can't stop eating it, and you want more even when you've eaten the whole carton.
However, with Under Heaven, I think he's found the perfect vehicle/story to carry off that kind of heart-string-plucking, grand sweep-of-things, historical perspective writing.
Shen Tai is the second son of a great general in the Kitai (ancient China) Empire. In homage to his dead father, he traveled to a remote lake (the site of a battle) and spent two years among ghosts of dead soldiers burying their bones regardless of nationality.
In return for this deed, a princess grants him the gift of 250 Sardian (think Arab) horses, an imaginably generous gift in those times, as well as a dangerous one as it places Shen Tai in a politically precarious position.
With the help of Kanlin warriors (Shaolin) Shen Tai navigates the Emperor's Court of Ta-Ming and tangled political and emotional relationships against a rich backdrop of history, culture, and poetry.
All the reasons I fell in in love with Kay's writing in the first place emerge in this book: rich history, sympathetic characters who are restrainedly emotional and sacrifice their own priorities for their loved ones, quiet suffering, and grandiose political schemes.
Besides that, Kay's book doesn't read as a stereotyped, blah blah blah version of China. Somehow that period comes alive, makes sense with the character's lives, and isn't an exotic veneer over the story, but an integral part of it. Very few historical fantasy books I've read manage to pull that off.
It's been a long wait, but Under Heaven is definitely worth it.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice for the overall harmonious mix of many elements as well as the richness of flavor. Can't stop eating it, and you want more even when you've eaten the whole carton.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my very first Guy Gavriel Kay read, and while it was a bit of slow going at the start, but the end I had definitely been won over. His style of historical fantasy proved to be an enjoyable new genre for me. I was able to very quickly tell just what period and the era he was closely basing everything off of (in this case, Tang Dynasty China and the An Lushan Rebellion). However, there were just enough creatively-made changes to give him extra space in this semi-copied world to carve out his own tale, making a world both recognizable yet new. And as a result, it was quite easy for me to become wholly absorbed into the tale, as opposed to a historical fiction story where the taken liberties are obvious and frankly distracting.
I now go forth looking forward to seeing what other past historical kingdoms have inspired Kay and the new lands he has crafted as a result.
I now go forth looking forward to seeing what other past historical kingdoms have inspired Kay and the new lands he has crafted as a result.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated