- Hardcover: 421 pages
- Publisher: Roc; First Edition First Printing edition (6 Feb 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0451461290
- ISBN-13: 978-0451461292
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,044,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Ysabel
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Evocative writing … fascinating characters … will enthrall mainstream as well as fantasy readers."
Publishers Weekly [starred review]
"Ysabel is a pure pleasure to read for fans of history, mythology or pure highspirited adventure. It works on all levels."
Interzone
"An explorer of history and myths, Kay has a special affinity for the people behind the larger-than-life legends that persist through time. His latest fantasy blends time and place in a crossing of worlds and universal truths. Highly recommended."
Library Journal (starred review)
"Outstanding characters, folklore, and action add up to another Kay must-read."
Booklist
"Blending historical fantasy and psychological thriller with a paranormal-powered coming-of-age tale, Ysabel will not only appeal to adult fantasy readers but also to adolescents who have enjoyed authors that feature compelling teen protagonists-such as J. K. Rowling and Christopher Paolini."
Barnesandnoble.com
Kay's Ysabel is a wonderful read for lovers of historical novels, and has all the qualities necessary to turn teenagers on to historical novels, and to history."
Canadian Literature
"Kay's language is poetic and thought-provoking, and his sensitively drawn characters are the perfect complement. This is a mythic tale that will linger in the reader's mind long after the book is finished."
January 2007 Top Pick: Romantic Times
Product Description
Provence, in the south of France, is one of those parts of the world that can truly be called a paradise. But history teaches us that paradises are coveted, and fought over, and those sun-dappled vineyards and river valleys have also seen millennia of invasions and violence, strangers coming time after time to lay claim to it. Accompanying his photographer father to the celebrated city of Aix-en-Provence, near Marseilles, 15-year-old Ned Marriner finds himself drawn into a centuries-old battle as dangerous, mythic figures from the Celtic and Roman conflicts of long ago erupt into the present, claiming and changing lives. The larger-than-life figures of a 2,500-year-old romantic triangle seem to be in the world again, and Ned and his family and friends are shockingly drawn into their tale on one night when the borders between the living and the dead are blurred and fires are lit upon the hills ...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I, too, look forward eagerly to each new GGK book release and the latest was no exception.
However, despite his usual mastery of language and some gorgeous descriptions of the area around Provence, I found it hard to connect with the characters in this book. When you look at the depth of characterisation in some of his other work (The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana for example), it really brings home how most of the protagonists are only lightly drawn with the broadest of strokes.
Sadly, the plot also felt a little on the light side - a lot of questions were raised but then many allowed to fall by the wayside and ignored. Perhaps Kay was having too good a time researching in Provence to focus to the level he is capable of?!
Still, that said, it's still an enjoyable read but if this is your first foray into Kay's work, you might prefer to start with some of his earlier works instead to get a true impression of what he's capable of.
However, despite his usual mastery of language and some gorgeous descriptions of the area around Provence, I found it hard to connect with the characters in this book. When you look at the depth of characterisation in some of his other work (The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana for example), it really brings home how most of the protagonists are only lightly drawn with the broadest of strokes.
Sadly, the plot also felt a little on the light side - a lot of questions were raised but then many allowed to fall by the wayside and ignored. Perhaps Kay was having too good a time researching in Provence to focus to the level he is capable of?!
Still, that said, it's still an enjoyable read but if this is your first foray into Kay's work, you might prefer to start with some of his earlier works instead to get a true impression of what he's capable of.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a huge fan of GGK's work, though looked forward to this book with a little trepidation as I am not such a huge fan of teenage boys! I had recently read Robin McKinley's Dragonhaven (a very different book!), which has a teenage boy narrator, and found it heavy going. But Ned Marriner has a likeable personality, realistic but not annoying, and is a sympathetic viewpoint character. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between him and the adults around him, as he seeks both their support and his independence.
Provence is gloriously depicted, and the rented villa sounds idyllic! Into this paradise come violent events from prehistory, as mysterious figures loom, appear and threaten. There are violent scenes, but things never get as dark as, say, the events of Fionavar. I don't feel this is a bad thing though, as the characters and atmosphere are all as strong as one expects from Kay.
Many readers seem to have been disappointed by this book, and to be sure, it is not in the same class as Fionavar or Sarantium. But Kay is doing something different here, looking at the invasion of the distant past into our modern world, and the effect this has on a couple of teenagers and those who seek to protect them. As such, I think he succeeds admirably in showing how they are all forced to change their assumptions and broaden their horizons, as well as writing a thoroughly compelling story. This book could appeal to a younger audience than is usual for Kay's writing, which can only be a good thing for his continuing popularity.
Provence is gloriously depicted, and the rented villa sounds idyllic! Into this paradise come violent events from prehistory, as mysterious figures loom, appear and threaten. There are violent scenes, but things never get as dark as, say, the events of Fionavar. I don't feel this is a bad thing though, as the characters and atmosphere are all as strong as one expects from Kay.
Many readers seem to have been disappointed by this book, and to be sure, it is not in the same class as Fionavar or Sarantium. But Kay is doing something different here, looking at the invasion of the distant past into our modern world, and the effect this has on a couple of teenagers and those who seek to protect them. As such, I think he succeeds admirably in showing how they are all forced to change their assumptions and broaden their horizons, as well as writing a thoroughly compelling story. This book could appeal to a younger audience than is usual for Kay's writing, which can only be a good thing for his continuing popularity.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ysabel was a rather mixed experience as I consider Guy Gavriel Kay to be a very talented writer and evocative storyteller. The most enjoyable part of reading this book was the wonderful sense of place and history that it imparts. If you live or have travelled in Provence then the descriptions of sunlight and shadow, architecture and landscape reminds you what is so attractive, for many, about that part of the world. The underlying wealth of history, always a strong point in his novels, is here too - sometimes hinted at, sometime clearly written. Yet the novel never quite reached its full potential for me.
The two biggest drawbacks definitely are the characterization and dialogue. Ned Marriner, the initially reluctant hero, I think is fairly well-depicted as a teenager who is going through growing pains to find his place in the world. The internal struggles of dealing with a successful, and famous, photographer father and an absent but dedicated mother, who works as a doctor in some of the world's more troubled countries, is deftly done in the early parts of the book. However I did not find Ned a particularly engaging character. Perhaps due to his dialogue which largely appeared to be of either questioning others, making rather bad puns and jokes and learning how to flirt with girls. Because Ned is the focal point much of the action and dialogue refers to mobile phones, emails, texts and every day technology. All of which seems to jar against the story line - it reads as self-conscious and uncomfortable, as though the writer thought it had to be included but did so uneasily.
Most of the other characters surrounding Ned are not well-served in the book. I found that rather disappointing as usually Guy Gavriel Kay's writing portrays people with wit, intelligence and resourcefulness but here you get rough outlines of those attributes. The hints you receive are intriguing but never reach a fully-fleshed out stage. The "villains" of the novel are of greater interest in that they do show more strongly what they could be. As it came to its ending I couldn't help but wish that the book had been given over to them and their background rather than Ned and his family.
The two biggest drawbacks definitely are the characterization and dialogue. Ned Marriner, the initially reluctant hero, I think is fairly well-depicted as a teenager who is going through growing pains to find his place in the world. The internal struggles of dealing with a successful, and famous, photographer father and an absent but dedicated mother, who works as a doctor in some of the world's more troubled countries, is deftly done in the early parts of the book. However I did not find Ned a particularly engaging character. Perhaps due to his dialogue which largely appeared to be of either questioning others, making rather bad puns and jokes and learning how to flirt with girls. Because Ned is the focal point much of the action and dialogue refers to mobile phones, emails, texts and every day technology. All of which seems to jar against the story line - it reads as self-conscious and uncomfortable, as though the writer thought it had to be included but did so uneasily.
Most of the other characters surrounding Ned are not well-served in the book. I found that rather disappointing as usually Guy Gavriel Kay's writing portrays people with wit, intelligence and resourcefulness but here you get rough outlines of those attributes. The hints you receive are intriguing but never reach a fully-fleshed out stage. The "villains" of the novel are of greater interest in that they do show more strongly what they could be. As it came to its ending I couldn't help but wish that the book had been given over to them and their background rather than Ned and his family.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A real disappointment
I cannot belive that this is from the same author as 'Tigana' and 'Under Heaven'. Those books (and the others I have read .... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Georgie
Weaker unconvincing novel
I love novels like "Sailing to Sarrantium" or "The Lions of Al-Rashan". So when I heard that this novel had also won prizes, I really wanted to read it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by P. Heesterbeek
Supurb
I have been a fan of Guy Gavriel Kay's work for a long time, but was initially dubious about "Ysabel" as the blurb made it clear that it was set it present-day 'reality', a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Robert Horton
Easy read and a good tale.
I have the kindle version and I noticed that there were a lot of paragraphs starting with a lower case. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Keith
Ysabel
Having read several books by Guy Gavriel Kay including the wonderful Fionavar Trilogy over a decade ago, I looked forward to reading Ysabel. I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Eleanor McLees
One of his worst
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the finest fantasy wirters. The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy would be in my top twenty. His subsequent novels have ranged from excellent to good. Read more
Published 24 months ago by P. Simpson
Different from the others I have read but no worse for that
He wrote Tigana ... wow! the Sarantine Mosaic - two volumes Sailing to Sarentium and Lord of Emporers ... magic!! If you haven't read these three then do so. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by Bellatori
A let down compared to other GGK novels
I've grown accustomed to picking up a GGK novel and being transported to a fantasy world beyond comparison. Tigana, Al-Rassan etc. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2008 by Marko K. Susimetsa
Sceanic beauty painted in words
Upon first reading the book back to this tale I suspected something perhaps a little more like Timeline by Michael Crichton, that said however I was more than pleasantly surprised... Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2007 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Wow! Its great to meet old friends!
What can I say? Having waited with baited breath for the next Guy Gavriel Kay novel, I am not disappointed! Read more
Published on 14 May 2007 by Adam Frost
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