I wanted so much to like this book better than I did. I thought the characters were flat, there was hardly any plot, and what plot there was was very predictable. Perhaps I'll try another Kay novel since everyone seems to love him so much and I'm a big fantasy fan. We'll see. ( )

Excellent examination of the exercise of power in a variety of contexts (male-female, parent-child, government-individual). Kay always offers complex storytelling, unexpected plot twists and larger-than-life heroes. Set in a fantasy world similar to medieval Europe, A Song for Arbonne recounts the experience of a soldier, Blaise, whose destiny calls him to a complex world of political machinations. ( )

A magnificently told tale of honor, chivalry and song, Guy Gavriel Kay raises his status as storyteller and master of prose to new heights. The novel has many different levels of plot and theme such as redemption, conflict and the mysticism and magic of the land of Arbonne. Being the expert weaver of tales that Kay is, he brings all of these elements, and more, together in a powerfully satisfying tale.

This is the story of the conflict bewteen of two societies that embody two very different pictures of medieval times. Arbonne is the seat of chivalry and romance, the medieval world we often imagine, while Gorhaut is a cold and feudal realm, probably far more realistic and much less appealing.
Gorhaut is ruled by the amoral King Ademar and the even less scrupulous High Elder and Chief Counsellor, Galbert. Galbert is strongly opposed to Arbonne’s female rulers. The primary character, the mercenary Blaise, is the son of Galbert. Blaise is a man at odds with himself, his family and what his position means to the world at large. Arbonne has echoes of Avalon, in that it is surrounded by mystery and ruled by the Goddess.
Kay focuses on the subtle political plots and personal problems that are overcome, rather than on the battles and battle preparations. The carefully measured existence of magic makes that the reader experiences the belief in the gods and the mysticism as the characters do, while at the same time it does not take over the main story. The characters are believable and inspire emotion, and the answers they find are never formulaic. Plot, characterization, descriptive writing, and original ideas all mesh perfectly.
The strengths in this novel are Kay's magnificent descriptions of all things chivalric. From Blaise's contemplations and declarations of his honor, to the battles fought, the sword fights, and the inner dialogue characters such as Rosala has with herself, Kay instills each scene and each interaction with a depth of respect and display of veneration that ultimately brings them from page to inner eye with great flair and reverence. Kay also evokes vivid imagery and settings through the songs his troubadours sing. In all, Kay displays a talent for writing these scenes and interactions as if he lived during the time period (France in the years 1000 to 1200) in which this novel is based.
The genius of Kay's prose and the strength of his character development place this novel at the top of the fantasy genre. Kay is one of my favourite writers and this is my favourite among his books.

GGK is in my top 3 Fave authors, and this book is one of the reasons. I love all his other books that I have read to a certain extent and for different reasons, but this book has something special about it.

I adore this story (in fact writing this reminds me I havent read it in a while and should do a reread), although oddly enough its pretty much the only book of his that doesn't make me cry at the end.

Summary:

Arbonne is the country in the sun, country of wine, women, courtly love and above all, music. But it is a country divided by hatred between its two strongest counts. Gorhaut, country to the north, is a country of war, and cold and snow, and cruelty and rigidity. The two are polar opposites, but the young king of Gorhaut wants the weak country to the south to expand into.

Blaise is a warrior son of Gorhaut, disenfranchised by a divisive battle that saw Gorhaut lose a great deal of land to another neighbour in battle. He comes to Arbonne to escape, and expects a country of softness and women.

Instead he finds friendship, culture, politics, men of integrity, and women of stature, and ultimately, his future. ( )

So far I have simply loved Kay's alternative history novels. A Song for Arbonne is no exception to the rule: it's an excellent story. Set in beautiful Arbonne, the book's actual historical setting is the medieval France of the troubadours. Arbonne is ruled by women, full of music and courtly love, while the northern Gorhaut is an extremely masculine country bent on war.

One can guess what happens with a setting like that. However, despite that, the story manages to be surprising and full of unexpected twists. The characters are many-faceted and full of life. The plot makes sense and packs in plenty of action, intrigue and romance. Religion plays a big role, as does family.

Kay is a master: A Song for Arbonne is another fine story well told. Even though the book is labeled fantasy, there is very little supernatural in it, so as long as one is interested in medieval themes, even those who dislike most fantasy books will be able to enjoy this one.

(Original review at my review blog.) ( )