- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (5 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0743252500
- ISBN-13: 978-0743252508
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.5 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 528,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Ysabel
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More About the Author
Product Description
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 ...
About the Author
Guy Gavriel Kay's unique take on historical fiction has won him legions of admirers and made him an international bestseller. He is the author of nine highly acclaimed novels, including THE SARANTINE MOSAIC books and the acclaimed TIGANA. At the age of 20, he was asked by the Tolkien estate to help Christopher Tolkien with the editing of the Silmarrillion - the first and only time the estate has ever made such a request. His work has been translated into 21 languages, and he has twice won the Aurora Prize, is a three-time World Fantasy Award nominee, and is the recipient of the International Goliardos Prize for his contributions to the literature of the fantastic. Guy Gavriel Kay lives in Toronto. Visit his website, www.brightweavings.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit let down,
By
This review is from: Ysabel (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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read for sunny Provence,
By Sakerfalcon (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ysabel (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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
One of his worst,
By
This review is from: Ysabel (Paperback)
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. Sad to say Ysabel left me cold. It just did not have that depth of characterisation & beautiful writing which I expect from his novels. To me it seemed like it had been written in a rush and for the teen market. Mr Kay trust your readership - we are not all teenagers.
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