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A review by katmarhan
All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
10/10
Oh, I loved this book! It’s told in such an interesting way—partly by an unknown narrator who offers philosophical insights and social commentary, partly in first person by characters in the book, and partly in third person but from the POV of various characters, frequently Lenia and Rafel, but others as well, both major and minor actors in the events of this story. Kay’s prose is a delight!
And the story itself? Intrigue around politics and religion, but also personal conflicts and growth around loyalty, loss, trust, love, and above all, the longing for and meaning of home.
I think by making this a “fantasy”, Kay is able to create his own historical context. So while it is firmly rooted in the Renaissance, the countries of Spain, France, the city-states of Italy, etc., and the three major religions of Islam, Catholicism, and Judaism, it is obviously not our world (two moons, for example). The author is free to borrow heavily from history while weaving his own tapestry.
Oh, I loved this book! It’s told in such an interesting way—partly by an unknown narrator who offers philosophical insights and social commentary, partly in first person by characters in the book, and partly in third person but from the POV of various characters, frequently Lenia and Rafel, but others as well, both major and minor actors in the events of this story. Kay’s prose is a delight!
And the story itself? Intrigue around politics and religion, but also personal conflicts and growth around loyalty, loss, trust, love, and above all, the longing for and meaning of home.
I think by making this a “fantasy”, Kay is able to create his own historical context. So while it is firmly rooted in the Renaissance, the countries of Spain, France, the city-states of Italy, etc., and the three major religions of Islam, Catholicism, and Judaism, it is obviously not our world (two moons, for example). The author is free to borrow heavily from history while weaving his own tapestry.