Rating: 
Summary: Simply Beautiful
Review: This book is one of my favorite fantasy novels, & I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. Kay makes excellent use of foreshadowing, & demonstrates how events that may seem minor, or trivial, turn out to have major significance later on. Strong characters, strong pacing, & a sense that this story really could have happened, all add to the magik. By the end, I was wiping tears from my eyes.
If your image of epic fantasy is evil dark lords out to enslave the world, & bloody battles in dank, dark dungeons, than this book is not for you -- & in fact, probably none of Kay's is. But if you like intelligent, subtle, finely-crafted stories written for adults, then this book is a classic in the genre. Just remember: things don't HAPPEN in Kay's books, so much as they are perceived -- & it is then up to the reader, to determine how to perceive them.
One more thing: I am grateful that Kay is not sentimental with his characters. If the time comes for one of them to die, he doesn't contrive lame methods of saving that character's life: he lets them die, fully within the context of the story. This tactic adds to the impact of his writing, & further heightens the feeling that the story may have been true, somewhere/when.
But don't listen to me: just read the book, & decide for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Another Fabulous Book from Guy Kay
Review: I love A Song for Arbonne.I admit that the book started out a little bit slowly, as action was frequently interrupted by characters musing over the past. But once the back story was sufficiently explained and the main plot really began, I couldn't put the book down. Kay completely surprised and delighted me many times (as well as made me cry), and the battle scene towards the end of the book was simply one of the best I've ever read--so emotionally charged and unpredictable, as battle truly is. Even though the prose in this book might not be quite as perfect as in his more recent works (like The Last Light of the Sun, which is one of my favourite books EVER), nevertheless many of Kay's senteces here are pure poetry. The ending of the book was utterly delightful and made me laugh out loud before closing the book with a smile on my face. Another reviewer mentioned that this book contains graphic sex, which is simply not true. The book does contain a few scenes of sexuality, but they are very tasteful and well done and leave everything to the imagination. I honestly can't figure out how someone could be offended by Kay's tasteful and maturely written books. There are a few of Kay's books I have not read, and I truly look forward to it because I believe he is a writer of the very highest calibre. He makes you laugh, and cry, and possibly even come away from his books a better person.
Rating:
Summary: Love Song for Country
Review: This is one of my favorite Kay stories, and one of the most female-oriented. Like the women of Sarantium, the women of Arbonne have shaped their country and their court. It may seem that they need a man's strength to preserve what the women have created, but in the final twists, you see that is not quite so. Mirrored by the partnership of their gods, male and female share in the protection of their country. I love the music and the lyrical writing. The scene when the old joglar sings a love song to his country brings me to tears. I love the way we see much of the story through the eyes of secondary characters. I love the plot twists and surprises, although a careful reader is given plenty of clues so the surprises shouldn't be unfair. Ademar and Galbert are the most evil of villains, immediately shown as such in the most grotesque manner. There are no shades of grey with them, unlike other villains from Kay's stories. They are Stalin or Hitler - desiring only to dominate and destroy. It is the good characters who have shades of grey. Aelis's selfishness causes the near destruction of her country. Dukes Bertran and Urte are unable to let the past go. Those three annoyed me intensely. But Blaise, Signe, Beatritz, Ariane, Rudel, Lisseut, Valery, Daufridi, and Rosala captured my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Fights, Love, War & Music !
Review: Guy Gavriel Kay here reaches new heights of eleqouence in prose and poetry. Simply put, he manages to introduce you to characters who show that all sides in love and war are much more complex than we'd like to think them - and he teaches you sympathy and interest for everyone involved - the "good guys" and the "bad". He shows both the darkness and the light in love and hate - and how closely to two are linked. If you like romances,Kay shows you love scences and love stories that are much more than "thrustings" in the dark. If you like battle-adventure stories, and are fond of Tolkein, you enjoy some great fight scenes that show not only great action, but great emotion. More depth than Goodkind - try it for an exciting and romantic read!
Rating:
Summary: fast story in a believable complex world
Review: I've read all of Guy Kay's books several times, and they are always worth the hours spent. A Song for Arbonne is no different in that aspect. I don't want to give away the plot line because I know I couldn't do him justice, so let me just say that anyone who like history, fantasy or romance (in the literary sense, not the bodice ripper sense) should give this one a try. And once you've read Arbonne, you should check out his other books. No other author writes such amazing and believable characters and his settings are always rich and well described. All I can say is that you should read his books.
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