Ysabel is the story of a fifteen-year-old Canadian boy who is traveling with his photographer father in Provence, and who trips over a Story, getting pulled into something that has been recurring for 2500 years. Then his father’s assistant is pulled in even further, and the only ones who can get her back are Ned (the boy) and his family.

It read strangely like a boys’ adventure story. Since it’s GGK, it’s an exquisitely written boys’ adventure story, but … it’s almost entirely from Ned’s point of view … which I’m afraid distracted me right out of the book a few times wondering how accurate GGK’s command of teenaged argot and taste was. Would even a precocious 15-year-old have that much Zeppelin and Coldplay on his iPod? I do very much think he had the basic roiling emotions of male puberty right (not like I’d know, but it felt right, and hey – he lived it once): one second deep in thought about the Situation, the very next second thoroughly distracted by the memory of a girl’s hair. But I digress. Basically, I don’t think it’s spoilerific to say that the situation is one in which Ned discovers hidden abilities in himself, and it becomes more and more clear that he is the only one who can save the day. And what happens in the last chapter or so emphasized my feeling of aimed-at-adolescent-boys.

It was a pop culture reference smorgasbord – from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid to Spongebob Squarepants, which coming from GGK just seemed bizarre. It’s been a long while since any of his books took place in the here, never mind the now – so it was perhaps inevitable that there’s a crossover between Ysabel and that last time. It surprised me (though maybe it shouldn’t have), so I’ll shut up about that.

There were some very beautiful moments, and some very powerful moments. That’s sort of the law of the universe when it comes to GGK. But … usually a GGK takes preparation for me to read it; sort of mental calisthenics to get into shape for a challenge. Reading GGK isn’t like picking up a British Cozy and dipping in – I can’t “dip” into GGK. This was different, almost dilute (for one thing, the general tone of the book was indeed almost suitable for younger readers – which GGK never really is. This is the only time I can think of where there were no R-rated (or higher) scenes), and a surprisingly quick read. (GGK’s never a quick read.) Almost average – though high average. I still recommend it, as it was very good indeed. I loved the Story. It was just a different sort of animal from the usual by Mr. Kay. ( )

Ysabel, set in modern Provence, is a tale about recurring tales, a theme that was visited in Kay's best-selling work, Fionavar Tapestry. As such, I found the story not particularly fresh, which is unusual for most of GGK's work. A pity, because certainly this author has a lyrical voice, one that can utterly captivate a reader as he did in Tigana and Last Light of the Sun.

The characters in Ysabel weren't particularly memorable, in my opinion, and were in not for GGK's ability to manipulate language I might easily have passed on finishing this novel.

It should be noted, however, I am not a fan of the origin of this book, the Fionavar Tapestry, and am not a fan of spin-offs to best-selling books, so this prejudice may have coloured my enjoyment.

Still, the novel is good for a cold winter's afternoon, cuddled up by the fire with a fragrant cup of tea. ( )

Ned Marriner is a teenager away with his dad Edward and crew in Provance, France for a work trip which gets him out of school. His father is a photographer and is putting together a book with a local author of some of the sights of the area. With Ned and his father are Melanie (who over organises everything including Ned), Greg and Steve who help Edward with his work. Whilst exploring their first stop, Saint-Sauver Cathedral, Ned meets American exchange student Kate and together they stumble across a mysterious man with a knife who tells them to leave as they have stumbled into an old story. The strange thing is it looks like the man has left but Ned has a strange sense that he is still there and is proved right.

Soon Ned and Kate are caught up in a clash of the old world versus the new. Beltaine is approaching and the mysterious man's story is moving forwards taking Ned and those around him with it. The story becomes a mixture of the local mythology and history combined with a race against time and each other to rescue to girl (if indeed she can be found and rescused). The story plays out in different ways in different times and it is up to Ned to learn why he in particular has been drawn into it and by whom.

I really loved the storytelling and the ideas in this novel. I have just learnt that some of the characters in this book are from a previous series, the Fionavar Tapestry, which I hope to read at some point. My only criticism is that the author often refers to the characters repeatedly by their full name eg. Edward Mariner. It felt quite clumsy at times and unecessary as I felt after the first introcutions we were on first name only terms! ( )

Like siriaeve I found the teenspeak annoying and offputting (but perhaps that's just because I'm a grumpy old git). I've no idea how realistic it is - English teenagers don't sound like that anyway (not nearly so articulate). However I did find the core story of Ysabel and her two lovers both haunting and evocative - a bit like finding a beautiful old painting or inscription underneath a layer of modern grot. So I'm in two minds about the book and will keep it for possible re-reading.
BTW, re. Celts and human sacrifice - we only have the word of Roman historians on this! ( )

I thought this was a rather weak offering from Kay. There wasn't anything hugely objectionable about it, but it was something of a bland mess, best typified in the main character, Ned. He never solidified in my head as a distinct or memorable character, and he was wildly unconvincing as a 15 year old boy. The constant references to iPods, Googling, Pearl Jam and Coldplay (as a rock group? um), Nikes and 'emailing people jpegs' will not only date Ysabel very quickly, they indicate that Kay doesn'...more I thought this was a rather weak offering from Kay. There wasn't anything hugely objectionable about it, but it was something of a bland mess, best typified in the main character, Ned. He never solidified in my head as a distinct or memorable character, and he was wildly unconvincing as a 15 year old boy. The constant references to iPods, Googling, Pearl Jam and Coldplay (as a rock group? um), Nikes and 'emailing people jpegs' will not only date Ysabel very quickly, they indicate that Kay doesn't have much of a grasp of the mindset of contemporary teenagers. The plot wasn't very convincing (and relied far too much on a kind of gender essentialism that I dislike); some of the prose was clumsy and there were far too many comma splices; and the climax was frustrating. Definitely one you can miss. ( )