5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep, compelling, enthralling, 25 Nov 2002
As with most of Guy Gavriel Kay's novels, this is set in an alternative version of our own reality. Arbonne stands in as a fantasy version of Southern France (Languedoc) at the time of the Albigensian Crusade - when the population of Cathars was exterminated as heretics in one of Europe's earliest and most shameful episodes of religious-based "ethnic" cleansing.
Because GGK is writing of an alternative universe, the story remains compelling even though the outcome in our own world turned out to be tragic: you don't know if the same fire and destruction is going to be visited on Arbonne, with her olive groves and vineyards, her beautiful ladies and gallant troubadours... the picture painted is so vivid, and the characters so well-drawn, that you'll truly hope all will be well (don't worry, I'm not going to reveal what happens).
What I will say is that this book haunted me so much that I decided to read up on Catharism and the Albigensian Crusade. GGK's work can have that effect: his Sarantine Mosaic (Sailing to Sarantium, and Lord of Emperors) also made me want to know more about the Byzantine Empire. I have to say I slightly prefer the Sarantine Mosaic to this, but no matter, it's impossible for me to award a novel of this quality anything less than the full five stars.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting and compelling, 29 July 2001
This review is from: A Song for Arbonne (Paperback)
I wish I had not read this - because I would love to experience again the wonder of reading it for the first time. The plot is epic and Romantic (with a deliberate capital)and the characters breathtakingly well rounded. Blaise is a magnificent creation, a hero despite himself, and Ariane is a refreshing change from the usual fantasy female. In fact it demeans Kay to even compare his people with the stereotypes of other lesser genre writers.The world he creates is not quite history and not quite fantasy, but an hypnotic blend of both. It's seductively real, which means you don't like every aspect of it. The style too captures the poetry of the setting, with passages that can be read aloud so that you roll the words around like wine. This all makes it sound a bit serious - but it also contains plenty of humour - broad and subtle. In short, it's a joy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful, 14 Mar 2004
Song for Arbonne is an all time favourite of mine. Kay is a wonderful writer and devotes time and space to all aspects of the book; people, places, culture, story, world creation etc. I've got everything he's ever written and have re-read everything more than once. Any book of his is a leisurely feast, not fast food.
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