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heathermcc54321'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
4.5
xeyra1's review against another edition
5.0
The only book by this author I had read was "Tigana" and I absolutely loved it. So I had very high expectations when I picked this book up. And they were met. Granted, it's not "Tigana", but it's nonetheless an incredible story by this great author. The Last Light of the Sun was well-researched, well-written, gritty, and utterly believable, and the characters are people you identify with and understand, even in the bloody world they inhabit.
Kay is a master storyteller... there's no doubt about it. I have other books of his in my TBR and I will certainly be reading those sooner rather than latter.
Kay is a master storyteller... there's no doubt about it. I have other books of his in my TBR and I will certainly be reading those sooner rather than latter.
zacwest's review against another edition
4.0
After reading several of Kay's novels in a row, this one felt like the rare miss. I enjoyed the story and world building, but it didn't feel like I built up or resolved anything. It was kind of a glipse into the life, not really a well-unified epic story. I did enjoy the long-term impact of The Sarantine Mosaic in some side conversation of characters in the book.
koalanibletts's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
januaryf's review against another edition
2.0
I can't really put into words what is lacking in this novel. This was my second time reading it - I read it when it initially came out and was dissapointed, but I think it was because I read it too fast and missed much of the subtlety that is usually present in Kay's works. Apparently that wasn't the issue.
I think its the characters - they aren't remarkable or interesting or even very real. I had no emotional connection to them. When a Kay character dies, I expect to feel some emotion, and with this book I got nothing.
I also had a very unique feeling while reading this book - that I just had to finish it. It was like pulling teeth to get through it, and I usually devour Kay books.
I think its the characters - they aren't remarkable or interesting or even very real. I had no emotional connection to them. When a Kay character dies, I expect to feel some emotion, and with this book I got nothing.
I also had a very unique feeling while reading this book - that I just had to finish it. It was like pulling teeth to get through it, and I usually devour Kay books.
richardwells's review against another edition
4.0
Guy Gavriel Kay is reliable. He tells a good story ("historical fiction with a quarter turn" to the fantastical) peoples it with characters that have an inner life, picks interesting periods, and loads in the action. Nothing shabby there. He's also got a winning formula that seems to always involve a strong heroine, and that's a big plus as well. The only problem with a formula is that if you start lining the books up as I just did - three in a row - you can get a little jaded. That's not to say this isn't a good read, as you can see by the four stars.
This time we have England as a nascent nation, the Irish, Vikings (yay!) and, get this, fairies. Sexy fairies, at that. Love scenes with fairies - whoopee! I loved it.
I'm a big fan of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom series - I've read all of them - so I'm up on Viking lore, and though Mr. Kay is not as down and dirty as Mr. Cornwell, he presents well. Nobody can beat Mr. Cornwell when it comes to blood and guts, and I'm glad Mr. Kay doesn't try. He does serve up some action, though.
As usual, plot summaries elsewhere. I'll be setting Guy Gavriel Kay down for awhile, but I'll be back for more.
This time we have England as a nascent nation, the Irish, Vikings (yay!) and, get this, fairies. Sexy fairies, at that. Love scenes with fairies - whoopee! I loved it.
I'm a big fan of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom series - I've read all of them - so I'm up on Viking lore, and though Mr. Kay is not as down and dirty as Mr. Cornwell, he presents well. Nobody can beat Mr. Cornwell when it comes to blood and guts, and I'm glad Mr. Kay doesn't try. He does serve up some action, though.
As usual, plot summaries elsewhere. I'll be setting Guy Gavriel Kay down for awhile, but I'll be back for more.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
I have been dissing this book for years, which now, having re-read it, I feel is not fair. No, I don't find it as fantastic as the rest of Kay's books, but it's by no means a bad book, in fact it's a very good one, it just doesn't have (for me) the emotional weight of the others. And it's not tragic in the way that some of the others are, perhaps because it's more about a beginning than an end (my two favourite history-based Kay works are The Lions of al-Rassan and the Sarantium Mosiac, which are definitely about endings). But the research and the writing are very well done, and by any lesser author, it would be a monumental achievement.
blairconrad's review against another edition
3.0
I like Guy Gavriel Kay. He thinks about the countries he sets his novels in, has interesting characters, and I generally like the level of the magic he introduces into what would otherwise almost be historical novels. In spite of that, for some reason, I often find myself running cool on his books for about the first 2/3s, then finally getting in to them, at least the first time I read a book. This happened to me for Lions of Al-Rassen, Tigana, and A Song for Arbonne. Not this time.
I was grabbed almost from the outset by the characters and events in the various settings, including Alun’s initial exchange with the faerie, the introduction of Kendra, and the relationship between Brynn, his wife, and Ceinion.
I also enjoyed being back in the world of Al-Rassan and Sarantium. It’s familiar enough that it’s starting to feel like home, and I really like the way that Kay has treated (and continues to treat) Jad-worship.
Unfortunately, from the book’s strong start, Kay continues with a sort of gradual downhill slide to the end.
Kay constantly shifts between various characters’ viewpoints, something that could have added interest, but which really just served to break my focus, reducing the involvement I felt. I’m going to have to reread some of the old novels, but I thought his investment in throw-away storylets and characters was higher this time ’round, and for some reason reminded me very strongly of Robert Jordan’s style.
Also, the involvement of the half-world seemed stronger in this book (which might be appropriate for a novel set at the boundaries of civilization), and a little frivolous. In particular, the faerie’s trek through the woods to warn Brynn of the approaching raid was just a little too deus ex machina for my liking.
The thing that really threw me about the ending, though, was the level of “and they lived happily ever after”. The right people get married, certain wronged parties achieve social positions that they perhaps deserve, or at least will benefit from. Furthermore, Ceinion and Aeldred’s acceptance of Kendra’s visions was just a little bit too easy, and I felt like the visions were just kinda tacked in there and didn’t really serve much purpose in the story.
So anyhow, the book was pretty good, and definitely entertaining. It’s still probably a must-read for you Kay fans out there, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a first-time reader. Much better to start with the Tapestry or Sarantium.
I was grabbed almost from the outset by the characters and events in the various settings, including Alun’s initial exchange with the faerie, the introduction of Kendra, and the relationship between Brynn, his wife, and Ceinion.
I also enjoyed being back in the world of Al-Rassan and Sarantium. It’s familiar enough that it’s starting to feel like home, and I really like the way that Kay has treated (and continues to treat) Jad-worship.
Unfortunately, from the book’s strong start, Kay continues with a sort of gradual downhill slide to the end.
Kay constantly shifts between various characters’ viewpoints, something that could have added interest, but which really just served to break my focus, reducing the involvement I felt. I’m going to have to reread some of the old novels, but I thought his investment in throw-away storylets and characters was higher this time ’round, and for some reason reminded me very strongly of Robert Jordan’s style.
Also, the involvement of the half-world seemed stronger in this book (which might be appropriate for a novel set at the boundaries of civilization), and a little frivolous. In particular, the faerie’s trek through the woods to warn Brynn of the approaching raid was just a little too deus ex machina for my liking.
The thing that really threw me about the ending, though, was the level of “and they lived happily ever after”. The right people get married, certain wronged parties achieve social positions that they perhaps deserve, or at least will benefit from. Furthermore, Ceinion and Aeldred’s acceptance of Kendra’s visions was just a little bit too easy, and I felt like the visions were just kinda tacked in there and didn’t really serve much purpose in the story.
So anyhow, the book was pretty good, and definitely entertaining. It’s still probably a must-read for you Kay fans out there, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a first-time reader. Much better to start with the Tapestry or Sarantium.