The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

These main characters come across as real, breathing people, and it did not take long for me to grow attached to them, and care for their well-being, as well as that of a few equally unforgettable secondary players, like young Alvar, who is enrolled in Belmonte’s company dreaming of war and glory and soon discovers the darker side of a soldier’s life or merchant Husari, who is both shrewd and humorous or again Miranda, Belmonte’s wife, an iron lady whose appearances were much too limited and distanced for my tastes. The dynamics behind these characters, the events that shape their story, the complex bonds of love, friendship and loyalty that tie them together as much as drive them apart in a sort of shifting dance, all contribute to make this book the fascinating read that it is: following them as they deal with the unfolding drama of a divided land, trying and failing to find an acceptable balance, is a constant discovery, helped along by G.G. Here these different cultures are represented respectively by Jaddites, Asharites and Kindath, and embodied by Rodrigo Belmonte (a fearless soldier who is almost a legend of the land), Ammar ibn Khairan (poet, warrior and scholar, all rolled into one) and Jehane bet Ishak (dedicated doctor and strong-willed woman of startling modernity).

The Lions of Al-Rassan is, on the other hand, a beautiful story, one that held my attention from start to finish, even though it’s not immune from some shortcomings – so I guess that the 50:50 rule does indeed apply.Ĭharacters represent the strong foundation of this novel, fashioned after the era when modern-day Spain was a territory shared by Christians and Muslims and also held a flourishing, if constantly endangered, Jewish community. (On this point I have to say that a long e-mail discussion with my friend Susan brought me to reconsider and give Fionavar a second chance, because I thought that if a book can elicit such an eloquent and passionate defense from a person whose judgment I trust, I can’t turn a blind eye on it). Kay’s writing has led me to believe that there’s only a 50:50 chance I might like one of his books: I enjoyed Tigana, but when I briefly attempted to read the first volume of the Fionavar Tapestry I found it impossible to accept its premises or to get a real feel for the characters. My (admittedly limited) experience with G.G.

The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay