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brennaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
theeternaldodo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
If I had read this when it was new in 1991, probably 4 stars, maybe 5.
But now I've read Kay's later work and seen what 5-star work really is. This falls short.
Oh, it's a heckuva story, full of interesting characters even if far too many of them are Sworn To A Noble Cause. There's a complicated plot, and therein perhaps lies the problem. Kay admits in his afterword that he wanted to tell a story about certain things, referencing other things. And he wrote a story to fit into that framework. It shows. Far too many of the events are driven by pure narrativium, which is to say that they happened because the plot required them to happen.
Even though it's quite an interesting framework.
Kay's superb "Under Heaven" and his Sarantium series feel much more like putting characters in a setting, creating tensions, then watching little puppets struggle to their inevitable heroic doom. I like those books better.
This one has lots of heroic doom, for sure, probably too much. I found Dianora's quite implausible, although I applaud Kay's effort to show her split allegiance. I was pleased to see that other reviewers also noted a similarity between the Alessan plot in the first half and Sanderson's Mistborn (I am not suggesting that either author had even read the other's work).
I can't blame Kay for what was then and still is now a standard rule of fantasy: you have to have powerful rulers executing people every few pages, and about every 200 pages you need a battle scene so hundreds or even thousands of infantry can be slaughtered gorily.
You also need wizards who can't use their powers, and one who is going to use ALL of his powers with about 30 pages to go.
There has to be a coffee analog (here, it's khav) with a not-quite-coffee name, although there's no need to rename horses, swords, bows, arrows, shields, inns, wine, cloaks, ...
The Rhun plotline was OK, but there were far too many opportunities for us to think, "Hah, that one's going to be really important before this book's over."
Sensible, clever Brandin's rage at Stevan's death is fine at first, but when we see that he's sworn to stay until a certain event far in the future, it becomes a tad implausible. Narrativium again. Then we come to his decision to, er, change the focus of his ambition. A bit heavy on the "he decided WHAT?" when Kay was so careful to have everything else roll out neatly.
There's also quite a bit of faking out. Let's just say that when some things happen, we learn a few pages later that, oh, haha, that didn't happen -- for various reasons that we learn either immediately or quite a bit later.
Still a very good book, but don't assume it's Kay's best. It isn't.
But now I've read Kay's later work and seen what 5-star work really is. This falls short.
Oh, it's a heckuva story, full of interesting characters even if far too many of them are Sworn To A Noble Cause. There's a complicated plot, and therein perhaps lies the problem. Kay admits in his afterword that he wanted to tell a story about certain things, referencing other things. And he wrote a story to fit into that framework. It shows. Far too many of the events are driven by pure narrativium, which is to say that they happened because the plot required them to happen.
Even though it's quite an interesting framework.
Kay's superb "Under Heaven" and his Sarantium series feel much more like putting characters in a setting, creating tensions, then watching little puppets struggle to their inevitable heroic doom. I like those books better.
This one has lots of heroic doom, for sure, probably too much. I found Dianora's quite implausible, although I applaud Kay's effort to show her split allegiance. I was pleased to see that other reviewers also noted a similarity between the Alessan plot in the first half and Sanderson's Mistborn (I am not suggesting that either author had even read the other's work).
I can't blame Kay for what was then and still is now a standard rule of fantasy: you have to have powerful rulers executing people every few pages, and about every 200 pages you need a battle scene so hundreds or even thousands of infantry can be slaughtered gorily.
You also need wizards who can't use their powers, and one who is going to use ALL of his powers with about 30 pages to go.
There has to be a coffee analog (here, it's khav) with a not-quite-coffee name, although there's no need to rename horses, swords, bows, arrows, shields, inns, wine, cloaks, ...
The Rhun plotline was OK, but there were far too many opportunities for us to think, "Hah, that one's going to be really important before this book's over."
Sensible, clever Brandin's rage at Stevan's death is fine at first, but when we see that he's sworn to stay until a certain event far in the future, it becomes a tad implausible. Narrativium again. Then we come to his decision to, er, change the focus of his ambition. A bit heavy on the "he decided WHAT?" when Kay was so careful to have everything else roll out neatly.
There's also quite a bit of faking out. Let's just say that when some things happen, we learn a few pages later that, oh, haha, that didn't happen -- for various reasons that we learn either immediately or quite a bit later.
Still a very good book, but don't assume it's Kay's best. It isn't.
huma7891's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Slavery, and Rape
nclcaitlin's review against another edition
4.0
A story about a group of rebels attempting to overthrow two tyrants and win back their homeland.
The province of Tigana's name was erased from history, from memory, from all records and recollections by a conqueror from across the sea in retaliation for the death of his son. Only those born in Tigana before the invasion can hear or speak its name, or remember it as it was.
We get perspectives from the Prince of Tigana, a musician who is a lost child of Tigana, the daughter and son of a sculptor, and a few more to create a sprawling, impressive, intricate story of loyalty, duty, memory, and love.
Memory was talisman and ward for him, gateway and hearth. It was pride and love, shelter from loss: for if something could be remembered it was not wholly lost.
I loved the way memory is used to evoke such grief and companionship and longing. Is it a spell or a curse? Is it better to be one who doesn’t remember or to remember but not share?
I hear a lot of praise for Kay’s prose, however it didn’t stand out to me as incredibly special. It was better than quite a lot, yet it didn’t shine a light to some others I have read (Ken Liu, Hobb, Erikson, etc).
You can tell Kay’s appreciation for art. In both this and SfA, there was a focus on music and how culture is always bettered by having an appreciation for the sharing of gifts and creativity.
One missed connection was Dianora’s perspective.
Dianora is introduced quite late into the story as a daughter of Tigana come to kill Brandin for his spell, and becomes his lover for the next 12 years. She is drawn to Brandin, betrayal and memory mixed with yearning, to create a complex character who suffers from indecision and contrasting emotions.
I think Dianora had the most potential to become a new favourite character, yet her character arc really annoyed me in the end.
I wasn’t a huge fan of one scene in the middle where it just became a bit more mystical and shadowy and full of creatures stalking the night on one night of the year. I see how Kay was trying to connect evils, yet it felt contrived.
I also have to point out my continuous frustration with sexual scenes, especially with mythical women educating young boys in the way of the body. Just no.
”Do we die as willing victims or while trying to be free? Do we skulk as you have done all these years, hiding from the sorcerers? Or can we not join palm to palm - for once in this folly-ridden peninsula of warring provinces locked into their pride — and drive the two of them away?”
However, that ending was stunning!
One of the most satisfying endings I have read recently and for a standalone too!! Impressive.
Rankings:
1. Tigana 4 stars 🌟
2. A Song for Arbonne 2 stars 🌟
The province of Tigana's name was erased from history, from memory, from all records and recollections by a conqueror from across the sea in retaliation for the death of his son. Only those born in Tigana before the invasion can hear or speak its name, or remember it as it was.
We get perspectives from the Prince of Tigana, a musician who is a lost child of Tigana, the daughter and son of a sculptor, and a few more to create a sprawling, impressive, intricate story of loyalty, duty, memory, and love.
Memory was talisman and ward for him, gateway and hearth. It was pride and love, shelter from loss: for if something could be remembered it was not wholly lost.
I loved the way memory is used to evoke such grief and companionship and longing. Is it a spell or a curse? Is it better to be one who doesn’t remember or to remember but not share?
I hear a lot of praise for Kay’s prose, however it didn’t stand out to me as incredibly special. It was better than quite a lot, yet it didn’t shine a light to some others I have read (Ken Liu, Hobb, Erikson, etc).
You can tell Kay’s appreciation for art. In both this and SfA, there was a focus on music and how culture is always bettered by having an appreciation for the sharing of gifts and creativity.
One missed connection was Dianora’s perspective.
Dianora is introduced quite late into the story as a daughter of Tigana come to kill Brandin for his spell, and becomes his lover for the next 12 years. She is drawn to Brandin, betrayal and memory mixed with yearning, to create a complex character who suffers from indecision and contrasting emotions.
I think Dianora had the most potential to become a new favourite character, yet her character arc really annoyed me in the end.
I wasn’t a huge fan of one scene in the middle where it just became a bit more mystical and shadowy and full of creatures stalking the night on one night of the year. I see how Kay was trying to connect evils, yet it felt contrived.
I also have to point out my continuous frustration with sexual scenes, especially with mythical women educating young boys in the way of the body. Just no.
”Do we die as willing victims or while trying to be free? Do we skulk as you have done all these years, hiding from the sorcerers? Or can we not join palm to palm - for once in this folly-ridden peninsula of warring provinces locked into their pride — and drive the two of them away?”
However, that ending was stunning!
One of the most satisfying endings I have read recently and for a standalone too!! Impressive.
Rankings:
1. Tigana 4 stars 🌟
2. A Song for Arbonne 2 stars 🌟
kiri789's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
veraann's review against another edition
3.0
It was decent. Nicely written. There were a bunch of points that just dragged a bit too much for me, but good work of fantasy. Politics? Ethics? Magic? Journey? Yes.
saison's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
hyzerchan's review against another edition
5.0
Woah.. I wasn't expecting this book to be so amazing since I hadn't really heard of it before. This book rocks. For being published 20 years ago its very modern feeling. Great balance, great pacing, great content, great book.