This is one of those books that deserves a long, well-thought out review. Unfortunately I'm not the one to give you that; it takes me way too long to compose even these shorter versions.
So this is a book based on the fall of China's Song Dynasty, back in the tenth/eleventh century. Kay changes the setting to his mythical world, but no matter, it's clear what he's doing. It's also a sequel of sorts to Under Heaven, but you don't need to have read that.
There are politics, and betrayals; there are the horrors of war; there's a love story, and heroism, and pretty much the whole human condition. It's very well drawn. Kay does a lot of "if they had but known" kind of thing, which I found pleasing but others may find irritating. While the big picture of what happens is spelled out, the ending for two of the major characters is left ambiguous. Again, this might please you or irritate you.
I like Kay; he's an excellent writer, but I like his fantasy better than the historical books. I'll keep searching him out though as these are always absorbing and interesting.
So this is a book based on the fall of China's Song Dynasty, back in the tenth/eleventh century. Kay changes the setting to his mythical world, but no matter, it's clear what he's doing. It's also a sequel of sorts to Under Heaven, but you don't need to have read that.
There are politics, and betrayals; there are the horrors of war; there's a love story, and heroism, and pretty much the whole human condition. It's very well drawn. Kay does a lot of "if they had but known" kind of thing, which I found pleasing but others may find irritating. While the big picture of what happens is spelled out, the ending for two of the major characters is left ambiguous. Again, this might please you or irritate you.
I like Kay; he's an excellent writer, but I like his fantasy better than the historical books. I'll keep searching him out though as these are always absorbing and interesting.
