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acornett99 's review for:
The Summer Tree
by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2023 first read:
Beautiful writing, but the characters dont always make sense
2025 re-read review:
Diarmuid dan Aillel, my heart, I hate you so much you charming bastard. Diarmuid’s introduction in this book should be taught as a masterclass in character writing. He comes in, immediately steals the show, and tells us everything we need to know about him as a character: he likes to drink and have fun; he’s used to getting what he wants; he can be dangerous when he doesn’t; despite appearances he does take his role of prince seriously and cares about the protection of his kingdom; he’s charming as hell and despite being rude, you can’t help but instinctively like him (or at least I couldn’t). Diarmuid alone makes this book 4 stars.
Now for our 5 travelers. On my first read, I didn’t understand why they took to Fionavar so quickly and so fully. They are initially only supposed to be visiting for a few weeks, but they quickly start acting like they’ve lived here their whole lives. Of course, now I see this is the point. Their fates are tied so closely into this world, that some part of all of them feels like they belong here. And they all serve a purpose.Paul is meant to die on the Summer Tree. Kim is meant to become the new Seer. Dave quickly falls in with the Dalrei and shows us life on the Plain (and his adventures feel like they’re leading up to something more in future books), while Kevin quickly befriends Diarmuid’s men and shows us a glimpse at the court politics in Brennin.
And then there’s Jennifer. It seems, outside of a brief conversation with the High Priestess, that Jennifer’s only role is toget kidnapped and raped by the Big Bad. Well, she is first “claimed” by Diarmuid, and then by Maugrim, and in the torture she undergoes we see that she belonged to Kevin and her father before that. She is defined over and over again by her beauty and by the men in her life. I would like to see her break out of this and develop more in future books, but with this first book we are not given enough of her as a person to make me feel at all good about how she is treated as a character.
The writing itself is Tolkien-esque — unsurprising, given that Kay worked on the Silmarillion before this. Unfortunately, this can lead to some rather clunky exposition, and prioritizing worldbuilding at the expense of other elements. But in the end I don’t mind so much, since that worldbuilding (and some character highlights, namely Diarmuid, Paul, and the Dalrei) are what draw me into the book.
Beautiful writing, but the characters dont always make sense
2025 re-read review:
Diarmuid dan Aillel, my heart, I hate you so much you charming bastard. Diarmuid’s introduction in this book should be taught as a masterclass in character writing. He comes in, immediately steals the show, and tells us everything we need to know about him as a character: he likes to drink and have fun; he’s used to getting what he wants; he can be dangerous when he doesn’t; despite appearances he does take his role of prince seriously and cares about the protection of his kingdom; he’s charming as hell and despite being rude, you can’t help but instinctively like him (or at least I couldn’t). Diarmuid alone makes this book 4 stars.
Now for our 5 travelers. On my first read, I didn’t understand why they took to Fionavar so quickly and so fully. They are initially only supposed to be visiting for a few weeks, but they quickly start acting like they’ve lived here their whole lives. Of course, now I see this is the point. Their fates are tied so closely into this world, that some part of all of them feels like they belong here. And they all serve a purpose.
And then there’s Jennifer. It seems, outside of a brief conversation with the High Priestess, that Jennifer’s only role is to
The writing itself is Tolkien-esque — unsurprising, given that Kay worked on the Silmarillion before this. Unfortunately, this can lead to some rather clunky exposition, and prioritizing worldbuilding at the expense of other elements. But in the end I don’t mind so much, since that worldbuilding (and some character highlights, namely Diarmuid, Paul, and the Dalrei) are what draw me into the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt