Why is this my favourite book? Well, it's hard to put into words. I love the characters - each of the characters is richly drawn and full of emotion and passion. It is easy to like each one of them whether flawed, angelic, or 'evil' (except for Alberico, of course).

Kay does a fantastic job of weaving many strands of the story along their own path, but bringing them together in the end in a way you don't really see coming. I always love how he has some surprises in his novels.

I've read this book 5 or 6 times, and each time I become emotionally involved in the characters and the story. I know what is coming, and I know how the book ends, but I still stay up until midnight reading so I don't have to leave the world and the people. ( )

Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favourite authors, but this book just didn't do it for me. I really struggled to get through it, probably because I couldn't connect with the central premise: that people were willing to go to such lengths to bring back a name no one remembered. I also had other problems with the story, such as using sex as a plot device. It was unnecessary at best and downright icky at worst.

I also found Kay's writing - usually so lyrical and engaging - dull and monotonous. I adored The Lions of Al-Rassan and A Song for Arbonne. I had such high hopes for Tigana. Hopefully, the next book I pick up by Kay will be better. ( )

Very fun book, tough to put down. Some complex themes and clearly ambitious. Thoroughly enjoyed it but didn't think it was brilliant. Its inspirations and intents were just a little too transparent, even before i read about his indebtedness to Campbell. It may not be great literature but it sure was fun (and my scoring may be unreasonably low) ( )

Pluses: awesome stylish world, language, (pseudo)-historical context, captivating exposition. Lots of influence over GRRM and other modern authors that are obvious at the hindsight. Big attention to music, which is refreshing.

Minuses: cartoonish cut-out characters (both mary-sues and villains), illogical development, non-sequitur closure. ( )

Wow! An epic book to have just finished, in its length and its content.
My review will follow, in the meanwhile here is another's view on this and Kay's other works
http://brightweavings.com/the-other-side-of-the-mirror-tigana/ ( )