The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
Rate and review The Lions of Al-Rassan! | What does everyone else think?
The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite Empire has splintered into decadent city-states lead by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan – poet, diplomat; soldier – until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.
Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites’ most celebrated – and feared – military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south.
In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve – for a time – the same master. Sharing their interwoven fate – and increasingly torn by her feelings – is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.
Hauntingly evocative of Medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake – or destroy – a world.
The Lions of Al-Rassan is novel written by acclaimed Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay. It is complex, often beautifully written tale drawing on the Spanish Reconquista for inspiration. Although the races in the book have new names, they are in fact well known to us – the Jaddites are Christians, the Asharites are Muslims and the Kindath are the Jews. The story centres on the relationships of Belmonte, Khairan and Jehane and how the imminent war affects them all.
One by one, through the course of a scorching hot, cloudless summer’s afternoon, the elite of Fezanan society made their way along that dark, cool tunnel, and then, dazzled by the return to sunlight, followed the herald’s ringing proclamation of their names into the white courtyard where they were slain. The Muwardis had been carefully chosen. No mistakes were made. No one cried out.
The characters are well rounded and created with depth. The narrative is evenly paced and told from the perspective of the individuals at its heart. The ending to the book is a slight disappointment and could have done with being curtailed by approximately fifty pages but this does not detract from the overall excellence of the book.
The Lions of Al-Rassan takes a while to get going but you will be amply rewarded for your patience. This is what is known as historical fantasy and there are few better exponents of this genre than Guy Gavriel Kay.
This is a grand novel with the scope of Lawrence of Arabia and the immediacy of today’s Mideastern headlines. Des Moines – Sunday Register
The Lions of Al-Rassan (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 528
Publication date: 2005-07
Publisher: Eos
RRP: £9.55
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: £4.50
The Lions of al-Rassan (Amazon.com)
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 528
Publication date: 2005-06
Publisher: Eos
RRP: $14.95
Lowest new price: $6.69
Lowest used price: $6.71
The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan -- poet, diplomat, soldier -- until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.
Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites' most celebrated -- and feared -- military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south.
In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve -- for a time -- the same master. Sharing their interwoven fate -- and increasingly torn by her feelings -- is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.
Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake -- or destroy -- a world.
Product Description
Joel from Spring TX USA
"This book would rank in my top 10 The characters are amazingly written, and connect you to the passions that shape this world, and define this tale in such stark reality."
Submit your own mini-review
Let people know what you think about The Lions of Al-Rassan. You can write your own mini-review and give the book the rating that you think it deserves. Your reviews will go towards giving The Lions of Al-Rassan its overall rating that will decide where The Lions of Al-Rassan finishes in the top 100 fantasy books of all time.
Books you may also enjoy...
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay's tale of a curse that wipes a country's name from memory. Only those born before the curse can remember Tigana as it was. The sorcerers of the two invading armies are integral to the plot and the themes of love and revenge run strong. ... read the full review
Summary: An immense achievement, a complex and loving piece of writing.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The year is 1806 and the country is England. The Napoleonic wars are raging in France and magic, an academic subject only, is no longer practised. A street peddler foretells of a prophesy of the return of magic to England, which has been dead since the disappearance of the Raven King some three hundred years ago. ... read the full review
Summary: A genuinely original story, beautifully told.
The Once And Future King by TH White
TH White's The Once and Future King is a serious work, delightful and witty, yet very sombre overall. The volume published as The Once and Future King is actually four works separately composed over about 20 years. The first, The Sword in the Stone, concerns the lost childhood of Arthur, future king of England, and his education by Merlyn. The second, The Queen of Air and Darkness, tells the story of adolescent sons of Orkney and their mother, Morgause. The third, The Ill-Made Knight, takes up the story of Sir Lancelot and his uneasy relation- ship with Queen Guenever and with Arthur. The fourth, The Candle in the Wind, concerns the end of the Round Table and Arthur's death. ... read the full review
Summary: Delightful and witty, yet very sombre overall. A classic.
Also in this sub-genre...
- Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
- The Once And Future King by TH White
- Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver
- Soul Eater by Michelle Paver
- Lion of Macedon by David Gemmell
- The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane
- The Story of Cirrus Flux by Matthew Skelton
- Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
- The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
- Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell
- The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
- The Midnight Charter by David Whitley
- The Silver Eagle by Ben Kane
- Interregnum by SJA Turney
Book of the Month
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
Latest interviews
Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.
Must-reads
The following reviews are of books that begin the very best fantasy series available.
Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe
Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.
Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.
