As Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven hits bookshelves this week, Penguin/Roc announced that they have increased the print run by more than 35% in anticipation of increased demand from readers and following rave reviews from major media outlets.
Fantasy Book Review recently reviewed Under Heaven and said “Under Heaven, inspired by the Tang Dynasty of Ancient China, is as beautiful and enriching a novel as you could possibly wish for. Kay is an expert storyteller, his writing style strong and fluid, his exposition always necessary and worked seamlessly into the narrative. He has successfully re-imagined Ancient China in the same accessible and absorbing way that he previously achieved with medieval France, Ottoman Spain and Renaissance Italy.”
Read the full review of Under Heaven here
We were not alone in our praise with The Huffington Post calling Under Heaven "a magnificent epic, flawlessly crafted, that draws the reader in like a whirlwind and doesn’t let go," and #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson says: "Kay is a genius. I’ve read him all my life and am always inspired by his work. You will love Under Heaven."
Under Heaven is inspired by the glory of 8th century, Tang Dynasty China. The Chinese empire was at a peak of economic and political power and was drawing influence from the Western world, much as it is today. Vividly drawn are the vast plains, mountain lakes and teeming cities; the political volatility and intrigue of the imperial court; and the unforgettable characters and storytelling we’ve come to expect from Guy Gavriel Kay.
Even institutional greats like Nancy Pearl, book commentator for NPR’s "Morning Edition," are weighing in. Nancy says: "I loved, loved, loved Under Heaven. It had everything in it that made me such a fan of Kay in the first place. I thought Under Heaven was perfect." And Bookpage praises Kay’s writing: "The prose has an almost lyrical quality, bowing to the strong influence of poetry over Chinese culture, and often offers contemplative turns of phrase that hint at larger truths…"
Under Heaven is the story of Shen Tai, a man who has just spent two years in the required mourning for his military hero father. Tai has chosen to do this alone by a remote mountain lake, the site of savage warfare in the past, by taking up the task of laying to rest the bones of dead soldiers from both armies. At the beginning of the novel Tai is given an unbelievably extravagant gift from the enemy court, in recognition of his courage and piety and the honour he has done the dead. The caveat is that he now must embark on the perilous journey back home, a target of potentially murderous jealousy and fear, as someone who may suddenly play a role in the balance of power at a subtle and dangerous court. The reader is introduced to a vibrant cast of characters who each in turn must deal with the repercussions of Tai’s return in their own lives.
The New Yorker raves that you can "(read) anything by Guy Gavriel Kay…. Kay has written a number of standalone novels that take place in alternate worlds with a similar geography and history to our own, and they are all excellent. His strengths are strong characters and fantastic set pieces." Like A.S. Byatt, Kay uses elements of the fantastic to examine themes of history. Under Heaven is a grand-scale, emotionally compelling work that evokes a magnificent period through vividly realized characters.
