The Golden Key

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Summary: Art and magic are the 'Key' to a superb, original fantasy
Review: A brilliant painter's ambition to become the greatest artist who ever lived - and unnaturally extend his life long enough to do so - causes him to pervert his family's magics in this wonderful and highly original fantasy from bestselling authors Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson, and Kate Elliot. In a setting similar to medieval/Renaissance Spain or Italy (one of my favorite historical periods), the authors create here a magnificent canvas of beauty, love, bravery, cruelty, treachery, jealousy, political infighting, religious pageantry, war, plague, revolution, and, of course, artistic genius. As others have commented, this is not the standard 'hero/heroine on a quest' or 'wizard waves wand' fantasy, and all the richer for it.

In the duchy of Tira Virte works of art are not only valued for their beauty, but are used in lieu of written legal documents for treaties, wills, marriages, etc. One family of painters, the Grijalvas, have the secret of using magic to alter the reality that they depict in their paintings. The Gifted Limners (all male, with one exception) who have this power use their own body fluids to activate the spells, so they age and die very quickly, and are sterile. The Grijalvas also have to endure popular prejudice and religious discrimination because are descendants of Tza'ab bandits who raped Tira Virtean noblewomen. As well, they have to put up with the machinations of their rival family, the Serranos. Still, the Gifted Limners use their skills to bring peace and prosperity to Tira Virte and to support the rule of the do'Verrada ducal family. Then one young Limner, Sario Grijalva, obsessed with finding out how the magic works after seeing another family member disciplined by it, learns secrets hidden even from the leaders of the Grijalva family from an ancient Tza'ab mystic, whom he murders. Using his extraordinary artistic talent and his new powers he not only imprisons his adored cousin Saavedra in a portrait in a fit of jealous rage, but also steals the bodies of the most talented Gifted Limners of the next 360 years. Despite his powers, he is constrained by both his need to keep his identities secret and by the quirks of fate. Over this time Sario also tries to use his talents to control Tira Virtean politics. First he becomes involved in the marital warfare between a saintly Duchess and her husband, who remains loyal to his mistress (not coincidentally, the mother of a brilliant Limner whose body Sario wants to steal), and then attempts to thwart a democratic revolution by painting a dead princess back to life. After all this time, will a prodigiously talented but magically un-Gifted young painter be able to finally thwart Sario's schemes and free Saavedra?

Rawn, Roberson and Elliott create not only a large cast of unforgettable characters and an extraordinarily intelligent and perhaps unique magic system (based on floral symbolism), but an entirely believable society rich in detail from the grand sweep of history to the subtleties of everyday living. In particular, the role of religion (both Tira Virtean and Tza'ab) is superbly handled. Most important of all in a book about art, their descriptions of the paintings are so rich and detailed one can almost see them and their creation. Furthermore, the story is so seamless one would never know that there are three different authors if one didn't look at the cover. Speaking of the cover, Michael Whelan's work here is marvelous - and the picture of Sario is a self-portait of Whelan! The only problem is that in the first book a few too many points are beaten into our heads, such as the fact that the Grijalva painting guide 'The Folio' and the Tza'ab holy book 'Kita'ab' are one and the same. Also, one or two of the pseudo-Spanish expressions are a bit overused. Despite this, the 900 pages just flew by, and I actually wanted more.

If in addition to fantasy you have any interest in art or Mediterranean culture, or just want to read something that isn't the billionth Tolkien clone, 'The Golden Key' is more than worth your while. It's an amazing piece of world-building where the characters' lives - and their creations - will stay with you a long time.

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Summary: Not your average fantasy story
Review: Acquiring The Golden Key was almost accidental -- I picked it up one day on a buying spree, having no idea what it was about and not being familiar with any of the authors.

The Golden Key is rather unique in the fantasy realm in that it doesn't follow the "local boy turns out to be the hero that the world needs and goes on a quest" storyline. I must admit that on my first reading, I struggled through the first few pages of descriptions of paintings, almost skipping over them in my hurry to get on with the story. However, these preliminary descriptions are integral to setting the scene for the story which follows.

It didn't take long before I was enthralled with the world of Tira Verte and its cast of characters. This has to be one of my favourite fantasy books and one I would highly recommend to anyone -- especially those are looking for something a little different. Absolutely brilliant.

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Summary: Absolutely amazing!
Review: I almost forgot I'd read this book, but reading these reviews brings it all back. This was such an amazing novel that I still can't quite believe how good it was. I've rarely come across such complex and realistic worldbuilding, or character definition, or plot complexity and reality. Sario and Saavedra, as well as certain of the others, will always be etched in my consciousness, but I think even more deeply I will carry the conjured memories of Grijalva art. I think these three brilliant women touched on something very true in this book when they limited their magic theme to the magic of art. I don't really believe in spells and magicians etc but I definately believe that the creative font of humanity if magical, and the more people that realise that the better.

For those who found the alternate European world entrancing, I recommend Guy Gavriel Kay's books. While best known for his Fionavar Tapestry, his stand alone novels are his best work. These are set largely in alternate Europes - Spain at the end of the Moorish tenure, France on the eve of the Albigensian crusade, Italy at the close of the Renaissance, and Byzantium in its heyday are some of the realities he takes and creates something new and amazing from. Additionally, those fascinated by the artistic focus in Golden Key may be fascinated by the role that music and poetry play in Kay's novels. The religion query of another reviewer bought to mind Tad William's Memory Sorrow and Thorn trilogy, but the religion in that series was never so emphatic as in Golden Key. Any responses to this review are welcome!

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Summary: A Brief Rave
Review: I am a longtime fan of fantasy, with the complaint that much is written with a youth (read - 12 year old) market in mind. While I like those romps through other worlds, this is one I could sink my teeth into. I picked it up for $3 at a local thrift store, began to read, and was unable to look up for three heavenly summer days. If you like immersive, epic fantasy, this is for you. It is feminine without being predictibly romantic, with characters you expect to hate and end up adorig. Go for it - you won't regret it!

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Summary: Sorry, but I couldn't find anything to like.
Review: I had high hopes for this book but I just found it rather boring and predictable. The style of writing didn't appeal to me and the plot was less than interesting. Nice cover, though!

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Summary: Waaaaay too long!
Review: I love the way this book starts. The plot was well thought-out, the magic was of a totally different sort than I've read before, and the whole idea fascinated me. I couldn't wait to see what happened to the people in the pictures.

And then the story jumps many, many years into the future. Suddenly, I got lost, I got bored, and I didn't get to find out what happened to the people I wanted to find out about. Instead, I got introduced to new characters from this new era who, I think, were not as well developed as the previous set of characters. I have yet to finish the book... maybe I'll just jump ahead to the ending and see if I can figure out the ending without looking at the middle section...

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Summary: The freshest, most unique storytelling I've seen lately.
Review: I picked up this book because I have always been interested in art, and the synopsis intrigued me. As soon as I began reading I was entranced. This is a complex tale of ambition, greed, beauty, love and, of course, art. The three authors have created a wholly new fantasy world that invokes a nostalgic feeling of Old World Spain and Italy. The intriguing dialogue makes you think and keeps your mind actively working.

The tale, one that would keep even children fascinated at bedtime, follows the life one great artist on his quest for recognition and immortality through his art. Fed by his ambition to be recognized as the greatest master painter in the history of Tira Virte, Sario uncovers a family secret so dark and mystifying that he strives to learn as much as he can. Through this secret learning, without adult guidance or control, Sario uses the Grijalva family secret and his innate artistic genius to make a place for himself in history - for almost 400 years!

Nothing stands in Sario's way, not love, not kindness, not religious ostracism, nothing. He will lie to, cheat, forcibly control or even murder those that may oppose his goals.

After being captivated by this truly original story, I was anticipating an ending that I could not predict (no matter how hard I tried!). I was most definitely not disappointed!

A book that has to be shared and wondered over with a group of friends. Enjoy The Golden Key!

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Summary: Not the same old story
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a nice switch from the standard 'magic and dragons and spells, oh my!' that so many other sci-fi/fantasy stories employ. All I want to know is, is there a sequel???

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Summary: Rich, unusual historical fantasy
Review: I was attracted to this book by Melanie Rawn's involvement, having enjoyed her Dragon Prince/Dragon Star trilogies a great deal for their dry wit, excellent characterisation and compelling plotting. I had only a vague idea of what it was about before I started reading - but once I did, I was completely entranced.
The multi-generational novel is set in a world with a strong feel of Renaissance or early modern Spain. While never leaning too much on its real-world counterpart, the inspiration permeates all levels, immeasurably enriching the book. It is glimpsed most obviously in the characters' names, fashions and the oaths that pepper their speech. More subtly, it infuses the religious practices, behaviour (there is a strong emphasis on family honour and female modesty), and recent history - the novel opens a little after a long war with a religiously-inclined nomadic people, an obvious but not overstated parallel with the Moors.

The central conceit of the novel lies in the social and administrative role of portraiture in the state of Tira Verte, where it is used to record everything from marriage contracts to wills to treaties between nations. Those whose paintings are most highly valued enjoy considerable political and personal influence, and their style becomes something to imitate by those who follow them. A few, in secret, are able to wield more than mere influence with their brushes.

The story follows the fortunes of two noble families, and the consequences of one rashly destructive act (try to ignore the synopsis on the back of the book, which gives this act away), through several generations. Throughout, not only the story but also the world progress naturally and fascinatingly, as artistic fashions change and the society develops and diversifies. It is told in three parts, with each author taking one generation of characters - respectively: Roberson, Rawn, and Elliot. Melanie Rawn's section is the stand-out, but all three are highly accomplished pieces of writing, gripping and fluent as they tackle themes as varied as the relationship between art and artist, the moral responsibility of power, and the position of women in a highly-regulated society.

Highly recommended.

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Summary: Epic fantasy with an exotic Mediterranean flavor.
Review: I was frankly skeptical about the premise of this book. I've never been a big art buff, and was put off by the idea that the book was centered on painting. At least once I looked at it in a bookstore and put it down again unconvinced, before eventually ordering it from Amazon.com. Normally I would never have bought such a book, but I've really enjoyed books by both Melanie Rawn and Jennifer Roberson (and since then Kate Elliot) so I took a risk on the strength of their names.

I'm glad I did! The novel is a rich tapestry of political intrigue and history, set in an incredibly believable alternate Renaissance world. The setting is imbued with a Spanish or Italian ambience (I could never decide which was intended; doubtless the ambiguity was deliberate). This Mediterrean touch was masterfully executed and a delightful change of pace from the Anglo-tinted medieval fantasy which dominates the genre.

I was amazed at how well three such different and talented authors blended their talents into such a skillfully executed, unified whole. After I finished it, I found myself trying to guess which author had done which parts, without success.

If you know and like the work of any of these three writers, give this inspired collaboration a try.