Rating: 
Summary: It flows like a good wine ...
Review: The Lions of Al-Rassan was my first book by Guy Gavriel Kay. I like fantasy books but I am not a hard core fan and that's why I omitted his books before. I haven't realized that he is also writing historical books. Yes, his history is far from real history, but Guy Gavriel Kay has an amazing ability to borrow from real history and convert the stories, places and people into its own universe, which is quite close to what may happened hundreds of years ago. Al-Rassan is Moorish pre-conquered Spain. Valledo, Ruenda, and Jalona are always quarrelling petty Iberian states. Cartada is the reflection of the Moorish power de-linked from powerful Baghdad khalifate. The story is full of romance, well-described and multidimensional heroes, duels, battles, sieges, and never ending friendships. The book flows very well. It never gets boring. Yes, the author sometimes goes over board in describing the background of the scenes and conversations but the color added in those descriptions is quite interesting. Plots are very dramatic and the way author is playing with expectations makes the book even more interesting. The story reads almost like a fable with the religious tolerance motto. It's almost perfect story, and that's why I scored 5 stars. The only problem I have is that I wish Guy Gavriel Kay didn't have to convert real history but use the true historic background and write alternative historic novel. The second problem: almost every hero in that book is beautiful, gentle but brave, skilful, and loved. I guess that's why it is called fantasy world, and not the real history.
Rating: 
Summary: One for each wine glass.
Review: This is an amazing book and should definitely be read. That said, there are certain devices used in the telling of an amazing story that didn't work for me. Most annoying was the guessing game device. At dramatic, climactic, and inopportune moments Kay refuses to refer to the character in question with more description than 'man' and then procedes to illiminate from a vast list of possibilities until we finally realize who is being spoken of, with many false leads along the way. The other nails-on-chalkboard device is telling the reader, in plain and simple and unavoidable English, that something has happened and then twisting it and changing it so that one has to second guess everything else (this happened in Tigana, too). These little mindgames remove the reader from the story. The narration feels forced, unreal. It also devalues the actual revelation, since we've been thinking something more important would happen. In conclusion, the symbolism and complex relationships alone make TLOAR a worthwhile read. This book will teach you history, poetry, and politics and you won't be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Performance
Review: Kay is one writer who at times truly seems to step out and above his chosen field of work. The fantasy genre often has so much scope that it becomes impersonal, making THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN a pleasing exception. The book does indeed have great scope, but it also has great depth, raising issues and challenging ideas that are present in our world and our lives today. Beautifully and evocatively written, Kay presents a story with surprising empathy and sensitivity. This book feels real, and the characters are complex and well-realised. All in all, a superb, highly intelligent achievement from the author, though lacking in the subtlety that made TIGANA such a brilliant novel.
Rating:
Summary: Moving and a joy to read
Review: I read this book in three days. Fast paced, with complex political and personal relationships, it is a fantastic epic that will move you to tears, for joy, for love, for sorrow.
Rating:
Summary: Epical, yet real characters enwrapped in a majestic story
Review: Kay uses a superb writing style to make his (according to me) best novel and one that makes us cry as well as laugh at times. The story is five-part long and you grip at every moment of it - some thoughts and scenes will live forever in your mind, others will return to you in moments you wouldn't expect. All of this is displayed through "modified" history his writing is well-known for: Al-Rassan evokes Maur-occupied Spain, as do other countries and characters in the novel. His greatest achivement, however, is that he menages to create a subtle balance between three main characters and yet leave us with the daunting task of having to choose sides (the whole novel is rushing toward this sad, yet unavoidable ending). Simply briliant by all standards and a must-buy for all fiction readers...
Rating:
Summary: Now THIS is the way to tell a story!
Review: The story is well told, with a beautiful narrative voice that easily draws the reader into its rhythyms. The characters are three-dimensional, well-developed, instantly sympathetic. We care, deeply and immediately, about them and their stories.
Kay has built his story loosely on the history of the Iberian Peninsula and Middle East, but he has made it his own world. His fantasy version of this time and place is believable and engrossing, complex enough to claim its own reality, but not so complex that the reader ever feels like a stranger there.
This is my first introduction to Guy Gavriel Kay--and I will read anything else he has written just on the stength of this book's quality. Kay is a master storyteller.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Saga
Review: This book, like all Guy Gavriel Kay books, draws you into the lives of strong characters female and male alike. Like all good authors he also left sprouting characters for a follow up book. I have read every book available by this author. I will continue to watch for his new books.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I loved this book. First one I read by G. G Kay. Excellant historical fiction based on the fall of Muslim Spain. I especially loved certain lines of poetry. My favorite was:
"Love is a flower
For the sweetness it gives
Before it dies away"
It had all the write mix of war, intrigue, chivalrous men, and romance.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best books i have ever read
Review: this is by far one of the best books i have ever read. this is not a historical fiction novel, rather it is fictionalized history. it really is like nothing i have ever read before. lyrical, beautiful, completely original. in my mind this book has some of the most well-developed characters you'll find. not one person in the book is a stock character. kay has made a book that is epic in scope while retaining the heart of simple story. i have purposely not given any real details in this review because i wouldn't dream of spoiling anything about this novel for you but please trust me when i say this is one of the greatest novels you will read.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book of all time
Review: I hate poorly written books. With this said, this is the best fantasy novel I've ever read. It is one of the Best books I've ever read. It doesn't have a fantasy flavor, really. It is simply well written. The sentences in this story are beautifully written (try reading them aloud...they flow wonderfully!!) The plot is complex, but it is incredibly moving. I've read it countless times and it still makes me cry. If you are looking for a thoughtful book with real emotion, read this. It will move you and really make you think about good and evil.
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