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Summary: Kay is the greatest in Fantasy
Review: I was first captured by A Song for Arbonne, and then I found Tigana. The complexity of the tale is incredible--I love it. I always found myself reading it with an eager smile. As usual, the imagery was stunning. Every character seemed like a real person to me as I got to know them throughout the book. Kay made me feel like one of the warriors as they began their quest. Once again, I was saying wow throughout the book--one of my favorite novels that I have read.
Rating: 
Summary: good but not great
Review: I read a song for arbonne and liked it (7 out of 10) and hearing how Tigana was supposedly kays master work i couldn't wait to read it. Maybe i should have. Whereas asfa had a great central character with a weak protagonist Tigana is the opposite. I liked the villains brandin and alberico but the centra characters just weren't that enthralling. And by far the biggest flaw was TOO MUCH EXPOSITION. It seemed kay had to fill us in on every petty detail, especially in the beginning, and ramble on with thick narrative. While this wasn't as bad as some of todays hackneyed fantasy market (hear that goodkind and farland!) it slowed the book down. Althought the book wasn't all bad it didn't live up to the hype.
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Summary: I would give this 4 and 1/2 Stars but I can't
Review: Tigana is a wonderful story, yet it has a flaw that needs to be addressed. First of all, I will tell you why Kay's story is great. #1, I'm new to fantasy but I have read Robert Jordan and George Martin and I can't express how great it is to have a story be concluded in only 1(that's right Robert Jordan)book, this book is less than 1/10 the size of Jordan's Wheel of time, and yet, the book creates an epic emersive world that lets you feel for the Characters inside it. My main problem with the book was that when I began to understand Brandin's reasons for destroying Tigana, I started to feel that it wasn't worth the huge number of lives it would take to get rid of him, Brandin did a very terrible thing but I didn't feel it was bad enough for thousands of people to die to make him pay for his crimes.That was the problem that I had with the story, but suprisingly that flaw did not ruin my enjoymant of this great book.
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Summary: its my all time favorite book
Review: never in all my years of reading have i discovered an author who so vividly paints images in my mind.when he talked about music i could hear it, when he described the smells or sounds i was there.rarely is there an author who can do that.he is unpredictable, something i really look for in an author.i mean,the world will never tire of hearing the traditional fantasy (boy meets girl,boy falls in love with girl, girl gets in trouble, boy saves girl, happily ever after)but sometimes it is nice to have a break. Kay writes so that you will not know the ending until you get there, that i find totaly facinating and thrilling. he incorprates everything that we value as human beings into his works. he has a very good sense as to how much of each emotion he has to put in to it to make it come alive. Kay's books are some of the best i've ever read or am in the process of reading, for even though i've read them all before i don't dare put them down for fear i'll miss the ending.
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Summary: Tigana. Speak the name. Resurrect the dream.
Review: The plight of "Tigana", a nation doomed to forget its very existence by the sorceror-king Brandin of Ygrath, is only the main theme of this complex novel. The personal motivations of the extraordinarily real characters all have a part to play in whether or not Tigana's name will be restored. Each character has her or his own flaws and glories. You will often cry aloud with exasperation at some of their actions - and yet know that he or she could not have had things any other way.The plot twists are utterly unpredictable. The final sting in the tail will leave you gaping, I promise! You will NOT be able to guess it! "Tigana" is my favourite stand-alone novel. For all the reasons above, I adore it. There are no two-dimensional characters. (I could not even bring myself to hate the villain! Kay wrote him so well that I could even understand his obliteration of Tigana's name!) The magic, culture and history of the Peninsula of the Palm are utterly real. Kay reveals them with a richness and delicacy seldom seen in modern literature. Read "Tigana". Coming into Kay's world will be like awakening from a dream that you once called life. You will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Excellent integration of fantasy and alternate history
Review: I wasn't going to add my voice to the chorus, but I too was astonished at some of the negative reviews. As a political scientist who works on the medieval period, I find this novel convincing and absorbing in its sweep and political detail (despite some anachronistic nationalism). Truly one of the finest fantasy novels of the last decade, with compelling backstories and intricate plays on historical political and religious struggles. As Kay has matured as a writer, he has also finally successfully integrated expository and narrative writing in a way which would have improved the otherwise excellent Finnovar trilogy.
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Summary: A Vast Improvement Upon Fionovar Trilogy
Review: While I found the "Fionovar Trilogy" somewhat engaging, in many ways it resembled your standard sword and sworcery tale, and suffered from contrivances, especially the inclusion of Arthurian legend. Tigana represents a clean break from these flaws and Kay creates a world and tale that is inventive and wholly original. Though at moments the story lags, often as an outgrowth to the travels of some of the main characters, overall the tale is well paced, with multiple plots that hold the reader's interest. Kay's characters are mature and multifaceted in their perceptions, and relationships are complex. An excellent book, well worth the time spent.
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Summary: there are no words i could say...
Review: There are no words I could say to change anyone's mind; nor am I gifted with the powers of persuasion or poetry. BUT. But if my heart's desire could make a difference, I would have all the negative reviews of Kay's works utterly expunged. I am unable to even fathom how some people simply missed the wonder that is Tigana. I've read ALL of Kay's books again and again. I read the "may my memory of you be like a blade in my soul" passage whenever I want to feel that "take my breath away" feeling. And when I want to weep uncontrollably, I read the passage where Prince Valentin "steps around the kneeling form of the tyrant, having never in all his days struck an opponent from behind, " and slays the tyrant as a prince does "no matter how long the wait" ...There, I said I did not have the gift of words as Kay so manifestly does, nor, evidently, do I have the gift of perfect recall. But I digress. I really just want to tell everyone to give themselves the gift of Tigana and all of Kay's masterpieces and to THANK GUY GAVRIEL KAY for the most wonderful written words I have ever read. We own over 500 hardback books and if my home ever caught fire, I would run to my shelves and rescue all of my Kay books before even my family photos! I have read thousands of books and have never, ever read any work by any one to even come close to, much less equal the Kay masterpieces.
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Summary: Tigana will rock your reality!
Review: Nothing is better than a G.G.Kay novel. I've read them all. He is the master of fantasy. I give these books as gifts to all my friends and they all agree. I find that it is sometimes difficult to discover a new author that you can trust to keep producing exceptional works of fiction over and over again. But here you have him. For those critcs who say "too Tolkien" I say "better than" Tolkien.(Though I do have a great deal of respect for the Lord of the Rings) He did after all cotribute to the writing of the Silmarillion so come on and give the Guy a break. No pun intended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work from a master
Review: Kay is a master of his genre. Having said that, I'm not quite sure what his genre *is*. Fantasy? Historical Fiction? Romantic Adventure? Mythic Fiction? How about: stories that fascinate you while you're reading them, and influence your thoughts long after you're done? Oh, of course: why didn't I think of it? Literature! Kay is a master of literature. I haven't found a book by Guy Gavriel Kay that isn't excellent. If you're looking for a quick read that doesn't make you think, you'll get a great adventure. If you're looking for characters with substance, whose mistakes are as captivating as their accomplishments, you'll find yourself remembering Kay's as if they were real. If you're looking for a mature story that reveals the shades of grey between good and evil, tyrany and freedom, life and death, this book will become one of your favorites.
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