Rating: 
Summary: Simply the best fantasy ever written.
Review: As far as I'm concerned this is the best fantasy novel I've ever read, and I've read many. The story itself is a wonderfull blending of earthiness and the fantastical, which in my opinion mirrors the paradox of life. Chaos and stunning beauty living in one breath. It rates 1st place on my bookshelf, followed closely by Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Thank you Mr. Kay.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read
Review: Heavy-handed, yes, but Summer Tree is still extremely enjoyable. You will find it necessary to persevere a few times when the author gets carried away with his own eloquence, but the story and characters are strong and quite compelling.
Rating:
Summary: A grand adventure.
Review: This is a wonderfully woven story which will hold a special place in the hearts of its readers. The story is rich in the powerfull emotions which define it, and recall it to memory years later. The pathos it evoked for me overflowed into tears more than once.Those who would describe themselves as skeptical should invest their faith in this book, and people new to science fiction will discover a love for it. Greatly worth your while.
Rating: 
Summary: Yuck!
Review: I read, or attempted to read the Fionavar Tapestry on the heels of Kay's far superior work, Tigana. Even after the skill that he demonstrated in the later work, it was almost enough to make me swear off of Kay altogether. The tapestry is wrong for all of the reasons that his later works are "right."Instead of concentrating on one or two well thought out and developed characters, he chose to include five "heroes" who seem more like marionettes lurching before a one dimensional background than people. Punch and Judy are both more sypathetic and nuanced than these five! They were unbelievable and unsympathetic in the extreme. The plot itself was overwraught and usually embarrassingly contrived. More than once I winced at the corny writing. All this said, I do have to say that I did read the whole thing as well as the second book in the trilogy. On occassion, Kay revealed glimpses of his later genius. It was almost worthwhile to trudge through the tripe to get to the parts where he was starting to learn his trade. In the end though, it wasn't worth the effort. The ham handed characterization, settings and plotting did me in. I'll stick to his more elegant and credible writing that followed. I'm just glad this wasn't the first GGK that I read, or it would have been the last!
Rating:
Summary: not perfect but don't miss it
Review: It's been five years since I first read this book but I still remember it better than some books I read last month. There's no question it's not Kay's best writing, as many other reviewers have pointed out, but on the other hand, many of his other, better written works don't have the impact of this one. If you're sensitive to matters of style, Kay's early writing with it's overblown and self-consciously high-minded tone will drive you nuts. Half a dozen times I came close to throwing down this book in disgust. But don't. Exaggerated it may be, but there are scenes in this book (and the other two) that will live in your mind forever, and rightly so. I wouldn't argue for it's inclusion in the top 10 sf/fantasy books of all time, but on the other hand, I'd 50 times rather re-read "The Summer Tree" than most of the books that made Amazon's list of the top sf/fantasy books of the century.
Rating:
Summary: this book deserves all the stars in the sky!!
Review: the first time i read this book, i was in high school, just starting to get into fantasy. it didn't do anything for me and i didn't bother with the rest of the trilogy. several years later, i found it, getting dusty on my bookshelf, and decided to give it another try. within 20 pages i was completely hooked and could not imagine what i missed that first time. i'm not usually a big fan of books that integrate our world with a fantasy world - i think fantasy is better when it's set apart on its own; it's somehow less plausible when the author tries to give a world of magic a place in what we call reality. but this trilogy is the glorious, magnificent exception to that rule. finishing the book for the second time, finally understanding what all the fuss was about, i just about ran to the bookstore to buy the other two. now i've read them all more times than i can count and i cry every time. from the hedonistic garden country, cathal, to the majestic kingdom of brennin, to the harsh plains of the dalrei, the world of fionavar is breathtakingly real and heartbreakingly beautiful. kay weaves a spell with his words. reading many of these reviews, i have to disagree with those who prefer kay's later works. i have read both "tigana" and "a song for arbonne", and while both are above average, neither comes close to the majesty of the fionavar tapestry. true, they are both somewhat more polished. but the sheer rawness of the writing in the fionavar tapestry is what makes it so powerful. none of the edges are blunted, the emotions bite deeply and ring true, more so than in his other novels.READ THIS BOOK. i guarantee you'll run to the bookstore to buy the other two.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty in all its forms
Review: I don't understand people's need to compare. I have just come from finishing "The Darkest Road", the final book of the trilogy, and found myself here in an effort to gauge and understand the reactions of others to the book and to the series in its entirety. I am glad to see that others enjoyed it as much as I, but disappointed at the constant references to other novels. We have the "LOtR" factions and the "Kay's other novels" factions. I ask, why not step aside from those and let this work stand alone? When you eat a good meal, do you automatically compare it to other meals that you've had in the past? I've never read Tolkien (*gasp* - blasphemy, I know), but I plan to in the near future, and I intend to regard his books in their own right. And as to Kay's other works, they are ALL wonderful ... each and every one. Why not appreciate them as they are, realize that they are each unique, and enjoy them as such? That being said, I would like now to focus on the Fionavar tapestry. Kay is such a master of words that it is difficult for me to objectify myself in relation to his books, but I can tell you that after I finished each book in the trilogy, I was on a different plane of consciousness. His work brings you to realize the beauty and significance of every object and person in your individual universe. I only wish that I could always approach the world with the view that comes upon me after finishing any one of his novels. Although I agree with the critics that the Fionavar tapestry lacks some of the polish of his later works, which is only natural since they are his earliest, these books give such a sense of sheer, unbridled depth of feeling that the few plot confusions can be forgiven. Kay has the gift of gripping the reader and forcing him/her to join him on the journey that is his tale. It's a wild ride, if a little heavy-handed at times, but the overall impact is worth that brief period when your brain finds a flaw and resists the manipulation he is working upon you. This skill is apparent in each of Kay's works; each will appeal to some, and not to others .... however, I believe that he struck a good balance with writing this series in addition to his more realism-based, "historical" novels. Some have decried him for these, and others for his more baroque works, but a good compromise pleases nobody and he reached a great one.
Rating:
Summary: The Summer Tree is superb!
Review: If you like Celtic Myth, Legend, and Lore, this book and the rest of the trilogy, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road, are a must read! These books touched me even deeper than The Lord of the Rings or The Mists of Avalon. I have read the series twice and it's time to read them again.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best fantasy series
Review: Well, am I ever glad I decided to buy this book! After I finished it I immediately ran out to buy the other two in the series (I just finished The Wandering Fire this morning). The Fionavar Tapestry is perfect for anyone who loves high fantasy. Kay expertly uses the writing style of the master, J.R.R. Tolkein, without drawing too much from his plot like so many other less-worthy authors do. This is not a "Tolkein-clone", even if the style of the books are similar. I would describe the books as "Tolkein meets Susan Cooper", and if you love both LOTR and The Dark is Rising sequence, you will really enjoy these books! They are moving, at times heart-breakingly beautiful, and truly exciting. I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy - especially if, like me, you are obsessed with all things Celtic. Five stars are not enough to rate these great books. Excuse me - I've got to go start The Darkest Road!
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Summary: I WILL READ EVERY BOOK THIS MAN WRITES!!!
Review: I consider myself an intellectual reader who can't even stand to look at the pictures on most fantasy books, let alone read them! Mr. Kay has changed my perception of the fantasy genre and his stories have increased my love for reading! This book started it all for me with it's story of five college students who attend a lecture which ultimately changes their lives by offering them the opportunity to enter another world, where their personalities and previous life experiences combine with new revelations, ancient history, magical, mythological events and the oldest battle ever waged to give each a sense of their unique purpose and destiny. Mr. Kay's book does not meander aimlessly down a narrow story path full of cliches, but keeps you constantly guessing, hoping, feeling and experiencing every unique and satisfying moment through the eyes of each well-developed character. Though this book stands on it's own, you will cheat yourself if you don't read the other two books in the Fionavar Tapestry. I was overjoyed when I realized that this book was just the first of three! I have read the Trilogy four times myself and have loaned the complete set out to many friends of varied personalities and interests. Each one has had only positive comments. I never received one set back!!! Do yourself a favor and indulge in every one of Mr. Kay's fabulous fantasies! This is just the book to start with!
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