Ysabel (2007)

Reread in February 2010.

Since I first read Ysabel, I discovered all the rest of Guy Gavriel Kay's work and found that, really, Ysabel wasn't anything like the best he could do. I wouldn't say, now, that I loved Ysabel -- I loved the Fionavar trilogy, I loved Tigana, but I only liked Ysabel. The details I mentioned liking in my first review hold true, except that now I wish there was more of everything. The Darkest Road fits an amazing amount of things in 450 pages, enough to make me cry every time -- Ysabel doesn't quite get there. It could, given time, though of course, there doesn't seem enough material here for a trilogy, not with just one story going on.

Read in July 2008.

I loved Ysabel. It's a semi-sequel to the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, though it only involves two of the characters from that, and those much older than they were. The little glimpses you get of how their lives have gone are believable, and interesting, and just about right, I think, for a book that isn't really about either of them. The main character is really Ned, Kim's nephew.

The core story is a little like the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot thread in Fionavar, except that it isn't as clear why the story is repeating itself. The Celtic influences are very, very interesting -- to me at least. The resolution of the main plot is neat and well-done, in my opinion, although I think I could've stood to hear a lot more detail about Phelan, Cadell and Ysabel, and more about how Ned's abilities develop. The characters themselves don't quite have the depth that Guy Gavriel Kay brought to Fionavar, but at the same time, I think that's to be expected.

The descriptions in the book are lovely. There's not too much of them, but there's enough to bring a real flavour of the setting. It couldn't be set anywhere but Provence, I think, the way it's written.

So... I wouldn't have complained had it been longer, and a bit more detailed when it comes to characters and background, but I did enjoy it and still want more of Guy Gavriel Kay's work, despite being warned that I probably wouldn't find it up to the standard of the Tapestry trilogy. ( )

I love reading Guy Gavriel Kay. He's one of the best fantasy authors I've found. This is another strong fantasy novels from him. Kim (fans of Guy Gavriel Kay will remember her from The Fionavar Tapestry) has a nephew who gets tangled up in a Celtic/Roman love triangle/mystery that has been going on for 2500 years. Every time this trio resurfaces, they wreak destruction in Provence. It's up to Ned, Kim's nephew, to end the cycle and save a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to both lovers of fantasy and anyone who loves imaginative, well-written stories. ( )

I couldn't deal with the narrator. i'll try the print book next.

WONDERFUL. So different from his other books! This is from a young man's perspective, in the "real world." Kind of like Kay's version of McKinley's "Dragonshaven," with the very different narrator. ( )

I'm not sure why it seems to be getting such a lot of average reviews. One person commented that they liked Kate more than Ned and wished she had played a larger role. And yeah, actually, I don't think Ned is an amazing character; I'd probably have liked it more if they had switched places and the story was from her perspective. I also felt that I would have enjoyed a slightly less abrupt writing style, with longer sentences and paragraphs and some slower-paced scenes. But even despite those things I would still give it an enthusiastic 5 stars. ( )