Lions Of Al Rassan

Awesome book. I couldn't put it down.

The first feat of inquisition, the doom of a race, and the providence guarding two matchless warriors, tipped together into a pot of spice and brought to a-boiling. The final product is wicked and cunning, with all the fey pattern-weaving, taut action, and maddening suspense we expect from historical fantasy's greatest writer. As an added bonus, we are introduced to one of the genre’s supreme female leads. Kay has written as well since, but never better.

I've read three or four other books by this guy, and I thought they were ok. But they lacked any real action. Overall, they left me wanting. A friend of mine suggested that I read the Lion of Al-Rassan, claiming it was really good.

After the first 50 pages I wanted to give up. But I knew from past books that Gavriel Kay's books usually start off slow. So I kept reading, hoping for the book to pick up and become interesting. Boy was I dissappointed. This author can't write action at all. He would build up to it, but never follow through. He would set up the characters to fight, then skip over it, and just have the after affects. After reading this book, I'm swearing off this guy. I hope I never have to read him again.

Fully realized characters, exciting plot all you want out of a speculative fiction book. Best of Kay, only second to tha Sarantine books.

This is definatly one of the best Fantasy books I have read in years. The amount of thought obviously put into winding these characters fates together is absolutly stunning. Kay has a way of writting that makes even the minor characters remain with you throughout the book. I have already suggested this book to many fantasy book fans and I will continue to do so as my respect for this author continues to grow as I read more of his work.

This is the most intelligent of all his books since The F. Tapestry. Can get complicated to follow characters but makes the 2nd read just as exciting. This author knows something about history, alot about culture & has a wonderfully creative imagination. I recommend all of his books.

guy gavriel kay is definitely my favourite fantasy writer.

tigana holds pride of place as my favourite fantasy novel, but the lions of al-rassan comes in a close second.

while this novel does not have the fresh, original plot of tigana, the author's writing style has matured to give *all* characters a vibrant personality and to intensify the emotions felt at each point in the plot.

a complaint i've heard, and that i understand, is that there are too many characters, and that it is easy for the reader to get lost. however, this 'problem' is also what allows me to discover new nuances and ironies every time i read this novel.

this piece of writing has made me laugh, cry, fume, and empathize to a startling degree. every time i read it, i'm hooked from prologue to epilogue.

i highly recommend it, and the author has every star in this rating.

(i feel like i've just written an essay for english class :oP)

The best Kay's book! Anybody who is even remotely interested in history MUST read it.

'Lions of Al-Rassan', like all of Kay's novels, is filled with fascinating characters and vibrant imagery. The reader is totally immersed in his world.

Kay's best since the Fionavar Tapestry!