Tigana: Anniversary Edition

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I think this book is overrated.

Good things:

1. The descriptions are beautiful.

2. The world feels real because of all the historical and religious details.

3. It raises many interesting philosophical and ethical questions.

4. It has two or three gut-wrenching moments, mainly around Dianora.

Bad things:
1. The book has a slow-as-molasses plot. To distract you from this, the writer just throws you into the middle of a scene and gradually you have to figure out what's happening...except nothing important to the plot is happening. This is a common technique, but Kay does it too much. Why didn't the editor make it a 300-page book with a moving plot?

2. Kay made strange grammar choices that an editor should have fixed. There are many sentence fragments.

3. There are a lot of names to keep track of, and sometimes the book switches point-of-view characters several times within a chapter....without outright telling you.

4. There aren't many characters worth rooting for. I like moral ambiguity, but there has to be something likable about the characters too. GRRM's books make morally ambiguous characters that people like (or love to hate). This book made characters that weren't particularly smart or pitiable or charming or funny.

5. Little or no character development. The characters are morally gray to start and never develop into anything better or worse.

6. Many characters are standard, cookie-cutter fantasy cliches: the vengeful prince (alessan) , his bff (baerd), the evil emperor (alberico), the warrior woman(catriana). Dianora and Branden are interesting but they do little in moving the plot forward.

7. The ending gave me no sense of resolution. Many characters die before the interesting reveal moments can happen.

I could not finish the book. I certainly would not consider the author to be a Tolkien protege. There is nothing even close to the same level of depth that Lord of the Rings had. I'd argue that Steven Erikson's Malazan books come close in terms of world building. I expected this book to be more epic and I expected it to be less dramatic and cheesy. I found myself skimming over a lot of fluff. I had to stop reading after the Ring Dive. Probably won't be reading anymore books by Kay unfortunately.

I had admittedly high expectations based on rave reviews but ultimately this is a very long book where very little happens.

The basic story revolves around a small group of rebels (for lack of a better word) who are trying to rally the troops to overthrow two evil wizard tyrants who have taken over the land. One of the evil wizards so thoroughly destroyed one part of the land, named Tigana, that the name has been magically wiped from time and memory. I don't need to label this issue as a spoiler because the tragedy of the "loss of name" will unceasingly rain upon you as you read this book.

There are many characters floating about however most are so thinly written that its hard to feel any sort of emotional engagement with them. And as others have noted, there is very little character development. Ironically enough I found the evil wizard tyrants two of the more lively characters as at least they weren't moping through pages and pages of the tragedy of Tigana.

The story finds resolution in the last few pages but honestly its not entirely clear to me if the same resolution would have been found without the band of rebels frantically traveling about for so much of the book. I'm sure I'm missing some small detail, which those who loved the book, would be happy to point out. But its hard to root for the gang of heroes when it doesn't really feel like they are crucial to the plot. Although they are very angsty and they do get themselves into some misadventures (which seem relatively easily avoided) on their journey.

I had a hard time finishing this book. I did slog though it waiting for things to pick up. They didn't. Was hoping to find a book like Game of Thrones (highly recommended) - will have to keep looking...

Despite being a long book that required my quick assimilation of a lot of unfamiliar history, folklore, and culture, this was a particularly enjoyable fantasy novel that captured my attention early on and sustained it throughout. The author's ability to create a relatively new world (though, helpfully, one with a lot of historical similarity to our own) is impressive. The story is compelling and kept me riveted all the way to the end, and though I thought I could imagine how things would play out, I was surprised and pleased with the conclusion. If I had to quibble with anything that I found less than satisfying, it would be the author's depiction of female sexuality. With several fully-realized, fascinating female characters, you'd hope that depictions of relationships between characters wouldn't seem so informed by typical male fantasy-style lust. No such luck. I often found myself thinking that the females in the story were portrayed as equal to the male characters in intelligence, resourcefulness, and action. Then their clothes would come off and all that fascinating characterization would disappear in juvenile sex fantasy.
Overall though, a very satisfying and entertaining historical fantasy.

Tigana had a very intriguing premise to me, but it didn't deliver to me as a reader. It felt emotionally stagnant the entire time I was listening to it. I never managed to connect with any of the characters. The events never made me care about their outcomes. I just couldn't make myself care, even though I tried to.

I think part of the problem was that any time someone new was introduced, I got bogged down in the story of how they got there. There was so much backstory that came out of the blue that it halted the action of the present. It was a slog for me to finish this book.

I will gladly admit that it was a very well-crafted story. Kay created a rich world that clearly has a history and a future beyond the story itself. There were moments that I knew should have been emotionally charged, but they simply didn't engender that reaction in me. Honestly, it was frustrating and disappointing. But this wasn't a book for me. I'll give Kay another chance though, with some other book.

"Tigana" was written in 1990, a time in which most every fantasy was your standard sword-and-sorcery novel where the good guys have no flaws and the bad guys are evil, wear all black, and are looking to conquer the world. Kay makes an attempt to avoid this by making the principal villain more human and more likeable. I can understand why, back 23 years ago, this novel can be held as visionary, but in the present state of fantasy where the norm is to do what Kay did (but better), one of "Tigana's" major assets ends up being expected instead of lauded.

In the world that Kay has set, the Palm is being held hostage by two conquerors -- Brandin of Ygrath and Alberico of Barbadior. Both are powerful magically and both are watchful of each other, unwilling to make a move for fear of the other's wrath. From this setup, a group of people disguised as musicians look to take down both of these tyrants. Their first target is Brandin, as several years ago he cast a powerful spell causing the entire city of Tigana to be wiped from the memory of every person living on the Palm. Only those who came from Tigana and the few wizards left in the world can remember the name. Complications ensue, however, as this group cannot take down just Brandin (or just Alberico). If one dies, the other will take over the entire land and assume complete control. They both have to be killed at the same time.

The plot has a lot of potential, but it never gets close to achieving what it wanted to. The protagonists have an extremely difficult goal to accomplish, and they spend a lot of time talking about how difficult it is, but it never appears that way. Over half the novel is spent with them walking around the Palm meeting person after powerful person who is willing to help them. It seems like they have a good 90% of the Palm on their side and ready to fight with them. Couple this with the complete lack of urgency that was felt -- this has more to do with the prose than the plot -- and you get a result that was flat and wandering.

But perhaps the worst part of "Tigana" was how self-important it was. Kay gives off the impression that this story is really, really important, that every scene is really, really important, and that every page should tear the reader up emotionally. The characters spend a lot of time crying (or the other various forms of grief), and it is easy to lose count how many times that their emotions felt like a "blade in their soul". Apparently mentioning their soul is the key to make a novel really emotional. Reading the other reviews on here, it was curious to see how many people actually bought this. Maybe I would have if the characters ran into more than a couple of small roadblocks on their path to victory (in the entire 675 pages), or if I ever felt they were in legitimate danger (the one time this happened was at the beginning of the section of the novel and, even then, Kay does a cop-out), but none of this ever happens.

There are some aspects that make this novel worth reading. Kay's prose is legitimately good at times, when he isn't so focused on crushing his readers with absolute emotion. It is easy to read and flows very nicely. You can tell he spent a lot of time making "Tigana" sound good (though I wouldn't describe it as poetry, like some others have). The first section of the novel is also extremely strong from start to finish. The first encounter with Alberico was hands down the best scene in the entire novel, along with the final scene of that section. There was a lot to look forward to, but the middle three sections turned into the characters just standing around and waiting for something to happen. The final section is at least a bit more of a page-turner, but it never gets close to the level as the start. All the characters were likeable as well (along with having their own flaws). This includes the main villain, Brandin of Ygrath. If Kay accomplished one thing, he did turn this antagonist into someone who is more than just a cruel overlord. He becomes human.

Spared of the constant melodrama, "Tigana" could have been a fantastic novel. However, it takes itself too seriously. The beginning and ending are more good than bad, but it is the exact opposite for the middle portions, of which a good chunk could probably be edited out. Some of the more magical elements don't ever take shape, and I haven't understood why some scenes focused so much on them when nothing happens with it. The end result is a novel that turns out to be completely average in almost every way, which really is a shame because it had a lot of potential.

2.5/5

The plot contained several novel ideas which made this such an interesting read, especially the unusual nature of the sorcerer's revenge on Tigana and the political circumstances preventing a simple assassination from solving all their problems. It left me pondering whether what the sorcerer did was evil and if so, why it mattered so much. At several points, it also raises the question of whether the people of Tigana are putting their desire to restore their homeland above the common good. Through a romance which I found one of the more engaging parts of the book, the sorcerer is also made a lot more human - yet another gray area to consider.

There were a lot of important characters and many of them had their backgrounds very nicely fleshed out, giving them a lot of depth. Although sometimes knowledge dumps can be bad, I liked that this book took the time to drop out of the present, often through dreams or memories, and show us each character's story instead of just telling us. The mixed feelings of some of the characters brought about by the gray areas I mentioned above tugged at my emotions frequently and the nobility of some of the characters in the face of such moral ambiguity was epic.

I very nearly loved this book. The spectacular writing and moral gray areas created a very compelling read. At the final confrontation, I still wasn't sure what outcome would be best, but I desperately wanted to know what that outcome would be. Unfortunately, especially for someone with my love of happy endings, not all of the subplots wrapped up happily and in at least one case, I didn't feel like the book was any better for it. While sometimes sadness can be poignant, this was closer to pointless. After that, the epilogue fell somewhat flat, since it didn't focus on the characters and relationships I cared about the most. So while this book was 95% awesome, the ending made the whole thing unsatisfying for me.

Tigana has been one of my favorite fantasy books since the first time I read it fifteen or more years ago.

It has far more depth than most fantasy books, both in the the complexity of the characters it presents and in the politics of the world that it presents. But that depth doesn't in any way hinder the main plot. For all the darkness and sadness the book somehow remains a light read.

At it's core the book's plot turns on two things: pride and memory. Guy Gavriel Kay gives us example after example of pride and the things it makes people do but it is often memories that feed that pride.

There's really no hero in the traditional sense and not precisely a villain either though one of the two tyrants is clearly the more selfish, both of them do despicable things.

But so do the protagonists. Lying, manipulating, killing. They do whatever they feel they must in the service of their cause. Are they good because we are made to sympathize with that cause?

Not really. Kay plays a clever trick here and soon has us sympathizing with one of the tyrants too. Even while horrifying us with the depth his need for revenge.

And in the end there is no evidence that anyone really learned from their experiences. Right up to the end Brandon the tyrant feels that he is a victim. "See what you make me do!" he cries out.

But this is background. You can enjoy the book on the surface even while these elements play out. There is a simple and exciting adventure story overlaying the deeper elements of the plot. And if there is tragedy, there are also signs of hope.

The book is steeped in magic, but it isn't about magic. In fact we really never find out how magic works in this world. There's a depth to the culture too, much of it never fully explained. It is background that enriches the story without getting in the way.

In the end Tigana is sophisticated fantasy that doesn't need to beat you over the head with its sophistication. It's also a must read for any fantasy fan.

There are a number of things about Tigana, on reflection, that strike me. It has all the makings of great fantasy: diverse and believable characters, fantastic world building, a plot, magic, originality. I think, though, that the strength of Guy Gavriel Kay lies in his ability as an observer.

Because that's what makes his writing engaging. It is, quite simply, a look at the world through impartial eyes, describing things as they are with cutting observations. At one point in the novel I was struck by one of these observations, of a father looking at his daughter and (paraphrasing) being saddened because his girl-child had become a woman sooner than expected. This book is littered with these observations which not only create an attachment to what's happening but also make what's happening believable.

I think the biggest problem with Tigana, though, is that it's uneven. The pacing is uneven, the excitement is uneven, and certain sections drag. The first 50 pages, for example, were completely uninteresting. The next 300 pages were great, but then the tension dropped and never quite found its way back in the same way, stuttering and reappearing at certain intervals, with no real consistency until the climax.

The plot is as complex as it needs to be. There are quite a few things that happen within the plot that surprised me, some of these coming up as necessities, but overall my suspension of disbelief wasn't broken. Again, though, the impassivity towards this which comes off the page lends to it.

That leads to the characters though, and I feel they struggle with writing that's so detached. I liked almost all the characters (there is one character that falls completely flat), they're believable, I wanted things to happen to them and for things to turn out right, but it took extreme things happening to them for me to be emotionally moved. Somewhat ironically, several of these extremities the characters face come from a more passive author - in particular the last time we see a certain female lead. Other than that, though, Guy's portrayal of women is a relief in a genre where gender realism is often forsaken.

The themes... well, again I have to touch on Guy's observances. The themes, and the way the plot interacts with them, lead to a more nuanced examination of the human condition; indeed, a great many of the observations Guy makes in Tigana relate to the environmental factors and how they both give rise to and change the way people see themselves, and the world.

The ending is fitting, though i'm a little saddened by the abruptness with which everything ended. It's not something I like, having the plot come to a climax and then having everything end, leaving the characters in a void. The very last paragraph leaves with a fitting image/thought that ties up the book, but I do wish that there had been space to include more about what happened after.

4.5/5

Nobody remembers Tigana -- a land bright with beauty, culture, and wealth -- nobody but those who lived there before the land was cursed by the conqueror Brandin of Ygrath after the prince of Tigana killed Brandin's son in battle. When the now-oppressed Tiganese try to tell outsiders about Tigana, the name just slips out of the listener's mind. Only those born in the land are able to keep its beautiful name in memory.

But the prince of Tigana's son still lives and he and his companions plan to restore their land's name. But, not only must they kill Brandin of Ygrath, but also Alberico of Barbadior, who rules the other half of their peninsula. Otherwise, they will merely be consumed by a different tyrant.

I was entranced by Tigana right from the first page. What I noticed immediately was the passion -- this is a story lovingly wrought by an author who loves language, loves his characters, and loves the world he's created. Guy Gavriel Kay's prose is heavy with imagery and emotion yet it reads, for the most part, easily (except for the occasional unexpected shift in point-of-view).

Kay's characters are distinct, well-developed, and likable. The prince's companions are a diverse group, each with his/her own personality, strengths, and weaknesses. The actions and motives of the villains are completely understandable -- in fact, I felt sympathetic toward them.

The story of the struggle to free Tigana was fascinating. There were some slightly unbelievable or contrived plot devices, but the rest of the story was excellent enough that I was perfectly happy to overlook them. The end was surprising and bittersweet.

I listened to most of Tigana on audio (and read some of it in print). Simon Vance is the reader, and he is one of the very best. If you're an audiobook listener, I'd definitely suggest that format for Tigana. But, either way, Tigana is a must-read.

Tigana is a stand-alone fantasy book that tells the tale of a group of characters trying to dethrone two separate tyrants who have taken over their land. It's a very engrossing story and not really suitable for readers who expect a lot of action in a book. It is however written very beautifully, although it does take a bit of time getting used to the writing style of the author. The book has a lot of potential but I ultimately felt that the book falls flat in a lot of different places. Character development is also mediocre.

The story with Tigana is simple enough once you've been filled in on the facts and I find one aspect of it very interesting where Tigana is concerned with the name and all that. Your main characters include Devin, Alessan, Catriena, Sandre, Dianora and Baerd. The problem I have with the story telling is that although this is not a story told via a first person view, it feels as for the most time, the story is told through Devin's view point. Well, Devin is the least interesting character because he is the most boring out of the bunch as he really is just a ordinary boy. It feels as if he's just tagging along for the ride. He is gifted with a good memory but it doesn't serve any purpose whatsoever throughout the book. Wasted talent I guess? There are wizards and magic usage in the world as well but its use is forbidden or else you'll be tracked down and executed. This is a shame because the world could have been so much more richer if it had been done so. The author does do a pretty good job of fleshing out the world for the readers but I just wished more magic would have been involved! It didn't even have to be for fight scenes only but rather to give the world a much more mysterious and special 'feeling'.

I have to admit that the first part of the book got me hooked immediately. The build up was really suspenseful as the author keeps baiting you with hints of something much bigger to come but keeps a tight lid on it. The whole of the plot is for the characters to find some way to rid the tyrants together, who also hate each other, from the world. Only then can the people truly be set free. Once I finally learned of the plan, I can't believe that was it. After pages and pages of the book being read and so much suspense hanging in the air, I was angered at the weak plot from the characters to rid the tyrants. It was just unbelievable because I surely thought there was something more to it. But nope. I was wrong. You're telling me one of the main character was in hiding for 15 years plotting away to free the people and all he could think of was this?

Tigana in my opinion is an OK read nonetheless despite all the negatives I mentioned so far. The plot doesn't move as fast as some would like but it actually works out quite fine in the end. There were great moments but there were also moments where you just wish the author would get to the point instead of writing so much about a characters inner turmoil. There's just so much repetition in those parts and those wasted pages could have allowed the characters to be more active. So much more could have been accomplished by the characters in general. So much more could have been done to make this book more exciting! At the same time, you can tell that this is not the author's style. Which is completely OK, mind you. Crafting up a good story takes time and the author definitely doesn't mind doing so here. I just don't agree with many of the choices he's made throughout the book.

I enjoy imaginative fiction but have little patience for the clichés of certain genres, the Fantasy genre being perhaps the biggest offender. While Tigana does have a number of standard fantasy elements (wizards, magic, an epic journey by a band of heroes and heroines), these elements are approached with intelligence and innovation. In other words, this is not just another sword-and-sorcery romp. It's an exploration of themes, particularly that of memory, both cultural and personal, that place the novel as firmly in the category of Literature as of Fantasy.

I have a quibble with some of the copyediting, some necessary commas left out for no discernible reason, which I found distracting at times. Other than that, I'd be hard-pressed to find something to criticize. The characters are wonderful, the narration lyrical and charming, the dialogue outstanding. I won't risk revealing any spoilers, but I will say that the first encounter with the character Erlein is as perfect a passage as I can think of in any novel.

If you enjoy great works of fiction, regardless of genre, I recommend this novel. Especially for those who are reluctant to read Fantasy, because they don't want to commit to a 1000+ page book or long series, this is a great choice, as it is a self-contained novel of reasonable length and extremely high quality.

"Tigana" is the first novel by Guy Gavriel Kay that I've read, and it would be an understatement to say that I'm champing at the bit to explore his writings further. "Tigana" is one of the most thoughtful, poignant, and moving fantasy novels I've ever read.

A single-tome epic, "Tigana" spins a yarn about the fate of the Peoples of the Palm. This story is loosely based on Italy's struggle to become a unified nation rather than a bunch of squabbling petty city-states. Kay's Peninsula of the Palm looks and smells a lot like Renaissance Italy and is populated by robust peoples of strong passions, arms, and magic. But these fiercely independent peoples are dividend into nine small fiefdoms, and as a result they have largely fallen under the sway of two sorcerer-Tyrants: Brandin of Ygrath and Alberico of Barbadior. These two, locked into lifelong hatreds of the other, struggle for mastery of the equally-balanced Palm.

Twenty years before the events that dominate the pages of "Tigana," Brandin's beloved son Stevan was killed in battle by the army of Tigana, one of the Palm's strongest provinces. Using all his sorcerer's powers, Brandin condemns Tigana to a most hateful fate -- the name Tigana is forgotten, and cannot be heard, read, or understood by anyone other than a native Tiganian. This vengeance is akin to the English banning the use of Welsh in our real world, and is about as dastardly as one can imagine.

But the spirit of Tigana has not died, for several survivors of the wreck of Tigana scheme and plot their revenge. But how does a small band of survivors topple not one, but two Tyrants and free the entire Peninsula?

Of such sweeping plots are true epics made.

Kay writes exceedingly well, and uses concise, powerful prose to propel his story along. Fans of George R.R. Martin or Bernard Cornwell will be right at home here, although "Tigana" may not be as bloody as the works of those two authors. "Tigana" is populated with rich, complex characters whose internal struggles are conveyed as powerfully and as well as other writers depict their battlefields. Given the themes of "Tigana," it is best that the book focuses on the internal struggle of the will rather than merely which soldier has the mightiest sword or which wizard enchants the largest fireball.

A big book in every sense, "Tigana" has a lot of meat on the bone. This is a thinking-man's fantasy, and it elevates the genre with its skill, craft and heart.

Tigana, a standalone novel by Guy Gavriel Kay, is one of the most remarkable fantasy novels I have ever read. It follows the efforts of an underground resistance on a Renaissance Italy-like peninsula called the Palm, as they try to overthrow to conquering dictators that have divided the Palm between them. In particular, though, it follows a group from the most abused province, Tigana, which was so hated by one of the Tyrants that he used his magic to completely stamp out the history, culture, even the name, of that province. For the most part, the only people who can even hear the name Tigana are those who are from there. As such, the Tyrant has managed to eviscerate a culture and completely alienate and subjugate its people. Under this premise, Kay touches on concepts deeper than the typical good-versus-evil dichotomy (although Tigana certainly falls into that realm). It focuses on memory, the preservation of culture, loss (both personal and societal), unification, and so on.

Perhaps the greatest strength is Kay's writing. He writes in a beautiful, flowing prose that few authors could even dream of rivaling. Although this sort of narrative might not work with a work like Glen Cook's the Black Company, it works perfectly here, where it highlights the beautiful, albeit suffering, peninsula upon which the events unfold. There is an elegance to Kay's writing that is undeniable, and it is an absolute pleasure to experience. That being said, the writing style may not be for everyone. Kay sometimes writes a lot to say only a little (in my estimation, the beauty of the prose makes the trip well worthwhile), but some may be frustrated with the pace of the writing. Likewise, Kay's vocabulary is stellar and, more importantly, he actually knows how to use the words (rather than giving off the impression that he simply invested in a thesaurus), but some readers may not appreciate occasionally requiring a dictionary.

Although fans of every work describe its characters as being complex, the cast of characters in Tigana truly is. There are at least a dozen characters, some of which are side characters, that are thoroughly and beautifully developed. Outside of the notable exception of one of the Tyrants, Alberico, who is little more than the cliché, brutal, enterprising dictator, every semi-important character introduced is complex and believable with authentic, individualized motivations and unique, yet realistic personalities. The other Tyrant, Brandin, although undoubtedly a villain, is rather masterfully drawn and developed. Other particularly memorable characters include Erlein, a wizard enlisted against his will to assist the rebel group, Alessan, the leader of the rebel group, Dianora, Tigana-born and lover to the Tyrant who destroyed her homeland. The list, of course, goes on. There are numerous characters that seem as real as can be.

On another note, the story progresses rather remarkably. Despite the fact that there is little action (something that may bother some readers), the plot develops quickly, realistically, and intriguingly. Further, Kay is perfectly capable of writing strong action scenes, and those he does provide are breathtaking. Perhaps because the Palm is an analogue for Renaissance-era Italy, the land seemed extremely real, extremely believable. And Kay does a remarkable job of making the reader care not only about the characters, but about the Palm itself.

Although Tigana is about as good as it gets, it is not perfect. Although I have raved about the quality of Kay's writing style, he does occasionally ramble and, more annoyingly, jumps into flashbacks without any warning and often without signal. Once or twice I had to re-read a couple paragraphs in order to figure out that we were in a flashback. In a similar vein, the sentence structures employed by Kay are frequently complex, and the reader may occasionally need to re-read a sentence in order to understand its purpose. Although the story was engaging, it was somewhat predictable. The major character surprises (secret identities, relationships, etc.) were pretty foreseeable. Perhaps my biggest complaint, though, is actually a compliment. I felt vaguely dissatisfied when I finished Tigana, and realized sometime later that I was dissatisfied because I wanted more. The characters felt like old friends (and I cannot say that about any other work I've read), and it felt like a shame to see them go, unable to follow their future adventures. The novel had a satisfying ending, tying up most loose ends in a realistic, believable way. But I still want more.

And that's the greatest praise I can give a work - that I want more. I am also certain that Tigana is one of that rare collection of books that I will read again in the future, further tremendous praise. Tigana may not be for everyone - if you need constant action, favor direct, blunt storytelling, crave brutal viscera and carnage, you may not much enjoy Tigana. But for pretty much anyone else, even those who do not normally read fantasy novels, Kay's Tigana is a novel that you should not miss. The book sat on my shelf for more than five years before I finally picked it up, and all I can say is that I wish I had picked it up sooner.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

In a time when fantasy novels can achieve best-seller status, it both amazes and troubles me that, until last year, I had not heard of GGK's splendid work. But now, fortunately, I have heard and read _The Fionavar Tapestry_ and _A Song for Arbonne_ and most recently this . . . masterpiece.
It is difficult to summarize the plot, for so much of the story unfolds organically--indeed, as a near-perfect tainflower--that one fears to spoil the pleasure of becoming swept up in the narrative. That said, the tale concerns the Palm, a mythic penninsula reminiscent of Italy, a land divided between two wizard-conquerors. One conqueror has utterly blighted the province of Lower Corte with an undreamt-of dark magic. (Take a fresh look at the map of the Palm mid-way through, and you will grasp the immensity of the spell!) A handful of refugees must undo the spell . . . yet if the one wizard falls, the other will irrevocably gain control of the Palm, leaving the deadly choice: the breaking of the spell, interminable conquest . . . or, perhaps, perhaps, the smallest gleam of freedom.
GGK's writing flows well, as always, fresh and lyrical and soaked with human understanding. The first chapter is a work of genius for its perspective on the heroes' way of building toward their goal, as is the surprising revelation in the climax, and--perhaps most of all--the heart-tingling last paragraph. (Wait!) The only flaw is Baerd's strange, protracted battle with the Night-walkers (a touch cliched), and (just perhaps) a touch of gratuitous eroticism in Castle Borso. Even so, these flaws are minor and only faintly detract from the beauty of the whole, which merits a solid 4-1/2 stars.
"Tigana, may the memory of you be like a blade in my soul!" (And may GGK's work receive its just recognition)

In the Peninsula of the Palm, a land clasped between two tyrannic invaders, the sorcerers Brandin of Ygrath and Alberico of Barbadior, a small group of people struggle for the freedom of their land. And for that of its forgotten name, Tigana, which has been under a spell for over twenty years, since the day Prince Valentin of Tigana slew Brandin's son in battle.
Devin is a 19-year-old singer in Menico's travelling troupe. After performing at Sandre, the Duke of Astibar's funeral, he discreetely follows his companion the beautiful Catriana across the rooms of the palace. Hiding in a closet, they are about to witness a secret meeting: Sander's son is preparing a coup to overthrow Brandin. Devin's curiosity will soon have him caught up in these events.
Dianora is a young woman from Tigana. Taken as "tribute" to Brandin's harem in his colony on the island of Chiara, she becomes his favourite mistress so she can assassinate him and save her land from the enless vengeful slaughter. Instead, she'll slowly fall in love with the man.
Having read Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry and not liked it much, I would never have read Tigana but for the unanimous praise I came across. And how wrong I would have been, what great reading pleasure I would have missed! For Tigana is a superbly written epic novel, with complex, not-one-dimensional, and finally extremely human characters. I would only reproach the few explicit sex scenes, which I found rather unpoetic. But without hesitation I'll now join my voice to the praise.

King Brandin of Ygrath and the ruthless warlord Alberico, bitter enemies, each seek to gain the upper hand in their war by taking over the Peninsula of the Palm, in the midst of this crisis and sought after because of its strategic location. After years of futile effort, Brandin has managed to captured four of the nine provinces, and Alberico has captured four as well, with both of them setting their sights on the last independent province.

The main plot, however, branches from this when, during the conquest of the southern province of Tigana, Brandin's son is killed in action. Brandin, being a great sorcerer, obliterates the killer and as a punishment to the soul of all the Tiganese, he 'erases' the word Tigana, so people cannot hear it, and they have no previous memory of the word.

Which leads me to the point: Why is a word so tragic to the Tiganese? Bereft of their pride, splendour, dignity, and are treated like dogs by the men of Ygrath(they are now taken over by Brandin), they are a husk of what they once were.

The main plot deals with a small group of Tiganese citizens who are trying to bring Tigana back. Among the group is Alessan, the son of the man that killed Brandin's son; Devin, who came from a farm in the north, his parents not telling the truth about his home, and is beginning to realize what he is and his importance in this task. This task IS important, for it is not Tigana who must be liberated, but all of the Peninsula, and the determined group are willing to fight a clever feud to unite the peninsula.

Difficulties in uniting the Palm arise. If they kill Brandin then Alberico will rule them, which is not a very good option. So, in this VERY unpredictable novel, members of this faction need to gain allies and try to figure out how to get rid of BOTH sorcerers at once.

A vital and very emotional subplot that ties in with the difficulties of dealing with Brandin is a women called Dianora. The women, plotting her own revenge by gaining a status as one of Brandin's 'women' and planning to kill him, finds that Brandin isn't such a malicious man after all. In fact, to her horror, she is falling in love. Her mixed love for Tigana, her family, and Brandin come into play as Dianora struggles with her emotions as she tries determine if she actually will kill the King of Ygrath. This is truly THE most tragic story I have read in literary fiction...

When it comes to writing, Toronto's Guy Gavriel Kay is probably one of the best technical writers. His prose can be dazzling and poetic, and his description is extremely effective and realistic. The sophisicated plot was flawless, and the characters are well developed, three dimensional, and believable.

Frankly, I cannot believe that so many people are negative about this novel. Some complaints are: lack of character and plot development, book was too long, too much description, etc. All people are entitled to their opinion and the complaints above are some of the elements that vary in reaction by the reader's tastes...Hopefully many people will enjoy this novel as much as I did, but EVERYONE can't give this 5 stars because everyone has varying tastes, so speak your mind.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I love this book, I have read it several times and will probably read it again. More's the pity that Mr. Kay seems to have an insufficient grasp of basic astronomy, the nature of moons in particular. The only reason I raise such a trivial matter is that the moon (or moons), without being a crucial story element, seem to have special properties in all his books. I don't mind the moon of Fionavar turning red and being moved around - in that world there is high, wild magic on the loose, and it's at least theoretically possible. But in Tigana (as in The Lions of Al-Rassan, if I remember correctly) there are two moons, one blue and one white. Still OK, but when they rise together, one waxing and the other waning, my sense of logic is seriously disturbed. For this phenomenon to occur, each moon would have to be lit by it's own sun, or by one very small sun placed between them. Since the sun of Tigana seems to be just like ours, I have to conclude that Mr. Kay's poetic imagination has got the better of him in these instances. All science-fiction writers on the lecture cirquit know and fear physics majors who gloat over marginal errors in planetary movements or quantum mechanics. I hope I don't sound too much like one of those, but when an oversight like this gets to be a habit on the part of the writer, I feel it's reasonable to point it out. And, moons or no moons, I'm eagerly awaiting the next heavenly body of work from Mr. Kay's word processor.

I owe my introduction to the works of Guy Gavriel Kay to mylate uncle. Having been an avid reader of sci-fi/fantasy novels forlonger than I had been alive, I asked him if there was one author he would recommend to a person above all others. He did not even hesitate to nominate Mr. Kay, which surprised me a little, as I had never heard of him, having been weaned on Tolkien, Eddings and the Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks; ie more commercial, or mainstream authors if you like.
It didn't take me long to realise what I had been missing out on. Guy Gavriel Kay is a remarkable author inasmuch as he can fit more detail, more depth of character, more romance (perhaps it does have a place in the genre after all!), and yes, more action and adventure, into one volume than most other authors can after a fully developed trilogy (or more!).
Whilst I must admit that I personally preferred Lions of Al Rassan and Song for Arbonne over Tigana, this does not detract from the brilliance that eminates from this book. I have recommended it to friends that have never forayed into the world of fantasy, and they are now hooked (I'm afraid to say that they may find many other books disappointing now that they have Kay as a frame of reference!).
Anyone who reads Tigana with an open mind, and few expectations (must be difficult after reading these reviews :), will be rewarded with an experience only matched by the other books by this author. People who apparently have reason to dislike this book, are either reading a different book, or seriously need to decide if this genre is for them; perhaps Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys would be more to their liking.

Guy Gavriel Kay and Robin McKinley are my favorite authors; I love them for their very distinct styles and the depth of their books, which I sink into to the point of not knowing whose thoughts are in my head - Dianora's, Lissar's, mine? I do not know why everyone compares every "fantasy" book that comes out to Tolkein - read the reviews of To Green Angel Tower and The Sword of Shannara for illustration - when there will clearly never be another author who is the same. If Tolkein is your ultimate, stick with him, and please do not try to compare the lovely webs wound in my mind by Tigana to the detached myth-recreations in the Lord of the Rings; Tigana's story is not as important as its...feeling, and the Lord of the Rings had so much story that I felt lonely and isolated.
I believe that Tigana is a historical novel that happens to be set in a place that is not on Earth, and the setting and the magic (which is certainly not the primary focus of the book, although the plot works off the "disappearance" of Tigana through magic) are the only fantasy parts of it; looking for a standard fantasy with standard fantasy elements - or even some semblance thereof - is not going to find success in Tigana. It is not a "FANTASY NOVEL," if you like to use labels. It's a good book - one of few.

but the book Guy Kay wrote is probably just about what he wanted it to be. I read this book within a couple weeks of Frank Herbert's masterpiece "Dune", which was exactly as I would wish for a book to be. And it contrasts absolutely with Tigana.
Both books have a similar premise. Revenge against a foe who has tried to destroy your legacy. Dune is a tale deep in politics and physical combat, where you are actually made to understand the machinations of each character's mind. But in Tigana, the hows are left to the imagination, and the writer focuses instead on the sensation of the what. One doesn't understand what the characters are doing, but he can understand how they feel, which one often could not do with the alien cultures of Dune.
This depth of romance carries into all facets of the book. Every character is guided by waves of passion, and only the uncompromising villain shows the long contemplation and calculation of Dune's mentats. In my opinion, it is the writer's voice coming through Brandin's words when condemns this logical man for just that. If you yourself are a person of rationale rather than romance, this book was *not* written for you. But there is still an engrossing story and fairly likeable characters that may be enough for you to enjoy it.

Tigana is a rarity in modern fantasy, not only for the fact that it is an entire story contained in one volume. There are several other fantasy molds it dares to break, and as a result, it provides a refreshing change of pace from the standard quest fantasy that pervades the science-fiction/fantasy shelves in the bookstores today. But with these innovations, one has to accept a few failings of the story as well.

One of the best things about the book is that finally, at long last, we are given a villain that is not a cardboard cutout evil sorcerer. In fact, we are presented with two villains of the piece, and each is unique in his vileness. On the one side, the sorcerer Alberico is a sick, twisted individual whose evil rests on the motivation of his ambition to the throne of his native land. Alberico is contemptible, but at the same time pitiable in the way circumstances seem so far beyond his control and his ambition. Brandin, the sorcerer from the other kingdom, and Alberico's rival, is a sympathetic villain, powerful and controlling, yet not wholly evil. We see a great deal of his human side and in the end, respect him even as we hope for his downfall. This dual opposition keeps the reader rapt in the story, devouring the book to see just where it goes.

And if the villains are complex, the heroes are doubly so. Each character finds his or her own story arc, and the right and wrong of their goals are constantly questioned. That good and evil are not so clear cut is unusual for a fantasy novel, and Mr. Kay earns my respect for the boldness that it takes to write such a story. The main characters even question their own motivations for pursuing their goal, something we usually take for granted in such a tale.

Though this was a unique fantasy experience, I did find some drawbacks that detracted somewhat from the pleasure I derived. These points are relatively minor, and I can't even describe them fully without giving away too much of the book. But one thing that I did find somewhat irritating was that the Heir of the lost province seemed too much of a superhero. He had too many exceptional abilities. In any other fantasy novel this probably wouldn't seem exceptional, but the rest of Tigana gave me such high hopes that the "do-anything" characteristics of the heir made it difficult for me to accept. Other character problems were the inclusion of seemingly major characters that eventually came to so little that you have to wonder why Kay made them seem so important. There was also the inclusion of relatively major supporting characters that weren't even introduced until fairly late in the book.

Also, there were too many shifts in the point-of-view. This is a flaw in the writing style, not the story, and many people wouldn't really care, but I found it hard to follow when I didn't know whose eyes I was seeing events through. Kay mostly managed to keep the shifts limited to separate sections, but in one place, he starts a section in one character's point of view, then two paragraphs later makes an awkward shift to another.

All in all, the relatively minor flaws are worth working through in order to enjoy a book like Tigana. If I could give it four and a half stars, I would. It was the best fantasy novel I'd read in ages, and has me eager to read more from the author, and more fantasy in general.

After reading through the other reviews posted here and being completely disgusted at all the arbitrary 10's lavished out, I simply must say this, even though I realize, it is incredibly portentious:
Unlike most people here who apparently give a rating of 10 if they liked the book or it somehow did something for them, I try to be a bit more discriminating. For me a 10 means a great and masterful work that will influence generations of writers. Whereas a 9 is very close in being all that, except for the generations of writers bit, and an 8 is still pretty damn good, but lacks the total coherence of all its elements to make it a great work.
Guy Gavriel Kay is quite good, but more on par with Mercedes Lackey, which is no insult, than the likes of Tolkein. I am sorry, but he simply is not the reincarnation of Tolkein.
I found this book to be incredibly well constructed at the mechanical level and to some extent the emotional level, but it lacked the plausibility to be believable enough for me to be swept into the story, or really care about what happened to the characters, since the whole concept behind the story that a few people could orchestrate such a perfect, elaborate and seamless plot to rid their land of two tryants in one fell swoop without any of the logical repercussions of such an act--such as say one of the home countries of those tryants retaliating if for no other reason than for sake of pride, which these people were of no shortage, let me assure you, was magically circumvented since everyone that could do something at the end conviently died! Hence, this book being fantasy, I suppose, which is fine, but I never had this problem with any of the great masters in this field.
Not only that, but this book was drearily unhappy with everyone except the central characters, of course, getting death wheeled--a favorite preoccupation of the tyrants to break a person's limbs and back, chop off their hands and stuffed them back into the poor unfortunate's mouth so they couldn't wail while slowly dying crucified on a wheel--until the end when everything fell out just right and everyone that wasn't death wheeled could go back to making beautiful art. Give me a break already! I felt like I was reading a historical fiction about one of the darker passages of the Roman Empire or Persians or even Gangis Khan than I was reading a fantasy novel.
Hence, the rating of 8 and not 9 or 10. Great fantasy leaves you wanting more, not glad that the story is finished.

In this masterpiece, Guy Gavriel Kay manages to blend elements of fantasy and historical fiction (based loosely on Renaissance Italy) into a symphony of lyrical beauty. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, the setting is well crafted and the story engrossing from start to finish.

I loved the fact that Guy Gavriel Kay manages to humanize the so called "evil" characters. Just as Dianora falls in love with Brandin of Ygrath, the "evil" sorcerer of the west - you come to sympathize with this complex, cultured and multi-faceted character. Similarly, the "good" characters have to engage in unsavory acts for their own purposes and confront their own fallibility - I'm thinking of Alessan binding the wizard Erlein against his will. When it comes to the final confrontation between "good" and "evil" I found myself torn between both sides. Rarely does a novelist achieve this level of emotional complexity for me.

Furthermore, Guy Gavriel Kay's use of language is superb - he writes for an intelligent, reflective audience. There were many times when I had to re-read paragraphs to appreciate the multi-layered poetic symbolism.

All in all, a truly satisfying experience with unforgettable characters (notably Brandin of Ygrath), a complex, well-crafted story, and resonating themes of identity, loss and love. Highly recommended!

I really loved that this was a stand alone fantasy book. Too many fantasy books these days are part of long convoluted series that go downhill with each book. This book is 4 stars and not 5 because I thought it was really hard to "get to know" the characters. Especially Alessan. I never felt like I understood him, liked him, or really even knew much about him. I found the drastic POV changes each section of the book to be a bit jarring. However, once I got into Dianora's story, I found it really interesting, and her and Brandin were my favorite characters. Overall it was a good book, just a bit short on action, but interesting none the less.

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, is a beautifully written example of high fantasy. It tells the story of the people of the Palm, nine provinces located on a peninsula and surrounded by greater powers. Eight of the provinces have by conquered by two separate tyrants Brandin, King of Ygrath hold sway in the west, and Alberico of Barbadior rules in the East.

The driving point of the story is the fate of the province of Tigana, and its remaining survivors, for it was the Prince of Tigana who had slain the son of the Tyrant Brandin. In revenge the King of Ygrath not only scourged the land itself but cast a sorcery over the rest of the palm wiping the very memory of Tigana of anyone not born there. This is why Alessan the Heir of Tigana has gathered his company together. To take down the Tyrants and restore freedom to the people of the Palm.

Kay is a true wordsmith. His prose is beautiful and moving. His world building is not very deep, but where most high fantasy seems to have evolved into epic multi volume series, the economy here is welcome. The characters are interesting, and deep, even the antagonists receive enough attention so they are more than just a mysterious dark lord. If the story falls short anywhere its in plotting. It is a fairly standard story line, a group of heroes struggling against an oppressor. Perhaps I've become a bit cynical, but by and large there seem to be a lot of times where the heroes make it out of impossible situations nearly unscathed due to fortunate coincidences or twists of fate. Despite this the ending is rather bittersweet, Kay doesn't totally cop out with an entirely happy finish to the story.

Tigana was a good read. I liked it quite a bit. When starting a new book with unfamiliar characters, it tends to take me a while to find my footing, and feel out who is who. I reached this point about 100 pages in, and from there everything rolled by very smoothly. Its a very traditional story, and the ending left me very satisfied. This is probably a must read for fans of high fantasy.

8 out of 10

Just as one should first read the chapters discussing the Battle of Borodino in Tolstoy's "War and Peace," Kay's Afterword in "Tigana" illuminates his very interesting thinking on cultural genocide (although it might contain a spoiler or two).

As usual, his universe building is meticulous, his characters steal one's heart, and his plotting is fascinating. Hard to put down, but one cannot bear for it to end!

Highly recommended:

Tigana falls under that genre labled fantasy but where most fantasy is a story told about a fantasy world, Guy Gavriel Kay writes about people who happen to inhabit a fantasy world. If you think the difference is academic you really need to read this book along with "A Song for Arbonne" and some of this authors other works.

Kay writes fantasy based on medieval times in Moorish Spain, southern France, and Italy which is slightly refreshing compared to all the Arthurian and Roman based fantasy out there. Still the most important part of this book are the characters. How to describe them? They are humans who make mistakes and misunderstand the true situation with tragic results as happens in real life- yet they are also somewhat mythic because the tragedy in their worlds is on a scale few people could ever experience in real life.

I really enjoyed this book even though I didn't connect with a single character and to me more than anything else that is an indicator of the quality of writing here. If you are bored with the overly trite and tired books populating the shelves today, yet enjoy the fantasy setting, this book with satisfy you.

Just as one should first read the chapters discussing the Battle of Borodino in Tolstoy's "War and Peace," Kay's Afterword in "Tigana" illuminates his very interesting thinking on cultural genocide (although it might contain a spoiler or two).

As usual, his universe building is meticulous, his characters steal one's heart, and his plotting is fascinating. Hard to put down, but one cannot bear for it to end!

Highly recommended:

Tigana falls under that genre labled fantasy but where most fantasy is a story told about a fantasy world, Guy Gavriel Kay writes about people who happen to inhabit a fantasy world. If you think the difference is academic you really need to read this book along with "A Song for Arbonne" and some of this authors other works.

Kay writes fantasy based on medieval times in Moorish Spain, southern France, and Italy which is slightly refreshing compared to all the Arthurian and Roman based fantasy out there. Still the most important part of this book are the characters. How to describe them? They are humans who make mistakes and misunderstand the true situation with tragic results as happens in real life- yet they are also somewhat mythic because the tragedy in their worlds is on a scale few people could ever experience in real life.

I really enjoyed this book even though I didn't connect with a single character and to me more than anything else that is an indicator of the quality of writing here. If you are bored with the overly trite and tired books populating the shelves today, yet enjoy the fantasy setting, this book with satisfy you.

The plight of "Tigana", a nation doomed to forget its very existence by the sorceror-king Brandin of Ygrath, is only the main theme of this complex novel. The personal motivations of the extraordinarily real characters all have a part to play in whether or not Tigana's name will be restored. Each character has her or his own flaws and glories. You will often cry aloud with exasperation at some of their actions - and yet know that he or she could not have had things any other way.
The plot twists are utterly unpredictable. The final sting in the tail will leave you gaping, I promise! You will NOT be able to guess it!
"Tigana" is my favourite stand-alone novel. For all the reasons above, I adore it. There are no two-dimensional characters. (I could not even bring myself to hate the villain! Kay wrote him so well that I could even understand his obliteration of Tigana's name!) The magic, culture and history of the Peninsula of the Palm are utterly real. Kay reveals them with a richness and delicacy seldom seen in modern literature.
Read "Tigana". Coming into Kay's world will be like awakening from a dream that you once called life. You will not be disappointed.

Tigana is that rarest of books; one that dares to transcend its genre and aspire to great literature. It is not plot driven or even primarily character driven, though Kay develops both plot and character with a deftness that is a wonder to behold. Rather, this work is driven by themes: it exquisitely balances cruelty and compassion, conscience and necessity, love and tyranny, honour and betrayal, memory and loss; and it accomplishes all this with a lyricism that verges on poetry.
There are few outright villains in this work, and just as importantly, few outright heroes. In this, as in so much else, Kay seeks to reflect the complexity of life. Just one finely balanced contrast must suffice.
The key antagonist, Brandin, is a supremely complex man. Unlike the antagonists of lesser works, we come to empathise with him. He is deeply flawed - he would expunge an entire culture from human history for the sake of a bitter personal vengeance. At the same time, he is worthy of praise, of devotion, even of love. Except for the land that he has sworn to destroy, he seeks to rule wisely, justly and, within the limitations of his Machiavellian world, compassionately. We come to understand him not as a bad man but as one who betrays his innate goodness first for glory and then for a grief filled hatred.
Brandin's consort, Dianora, must live with a betrayal of a different sort, for she betrays her homeland, her family and her oath of vengeance for the love of this man. As the story unfolds, we understand why. We cannot condemn her. She sees the nobility that is in him. And the measure of that nobility is the sacrifice he is prepared to make, renouncing his larger inheritance and willingly reducing himself to the rule of an insignificant island kingdom, simply that Dianora may become his queen. Only a heart of stone would fail to be moved by the fate that eventually befalls these two.
This is only one of many intricate threads at work within the book. Yet, the whole flows with such a refined balance that to read Tigana is to sense a master storyteller at the height of his calling.
I would not recommend Tigana to everybody. It is a work rich with layers, undercurrents and deep subtlety. Those who read fantasy only for the clashes of armies, the duels of wizards, dragons, demons and vigorous action will find this book disappointing. But if you prefer your fantasy leavened with wisdom, pity and humanity, Tigana will fill you with a sublime compassion for the human condition that will have you dreaming about this haunting world for perhaps the rest of your life.

For the longest time, fantasy books have been mere Tolkein rip-offs or poor showings, such as Mercedes Lackey's recycling of the SCA. Guy Gavriel Kay has created a work here set in a not-quite-Italy, that is bold, imaginative, and a pure joy to read. The quest to restore the very name of a nation is not only boldly innovative, but was so poingantly created in the prologue as to touch the heart. The most powerful statement I can make about this book is that not only are the heroes understandable, but so are the villains. They are not, as in so many books, evil because they are evil, but rather feel that they, too, are following a correct course of action, even if their veiws are somewhat skewwed. From beginning to end this book is a wealth of detail, rich in a fantasy that partakes of wordly reality. I would also suggest reading his Lions of al-Rassan, done in an equally splendid manner but in a not-Spain, as oppossed to not-Italy. Kay's works are masterful in plotting, use of language, but most importantly in an inherent sense of what it means to be a human being under dire circumstances. Bravo, bravo, bravissimo!

I just finished _Tigana_, and had to comment, though I've never been quite moved enough to write a review before. Once I put it down, the only thing that seemed acceptable to do was to sit and think about the book, or log on and read/write about it. Seems silly, but I was so involved in that world that I don't want to let it go, and am drained by weeping through the ending and afterwards.
This book reminds me somewhat of _Ender's Game_ by Card, despite the differences in genre (Tigana much more fantasy, less sci-fi), story line, etc. They both, however, contained such powerfully created characters, including complex, deeply-woven inner lives, that even hurtful or truly evil deeds became understandable and even forgiveable. The tragedy in Tigana rivals Shakespeare, the master of unbearably sad but inevitable endings, but adds the complexity of additional story lines containing shocking twists, joy, and triumph. If you want a simple story of good and evil, forget this one. Otherwise, it's a must-read.

I have my husband to thank for first introducing me to Guy Gavriel Kay's body of work. He was a fan of The Fionavar Tapestry and felt sure I would like them. And like them I did. So much so that I immediately went and read Kay's slightly later work--TIGANA. Originally published in 1990, TIGANA is an epic romantic fantasy and was nominated for both the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.

The story takes place in the Peninsula of the Palm--a world based on medieval Italy. Like Italy of old, the Palm is divided up into nine city-states, or provinces, each with its own distinct flavor and character, yet each bound together through the music and art that runs through the veins of the inhabitants. The prologue opens on the eve of battle. The prince of one of the provinces is about to go forth on the morrow to meet the sorceror-king Brandin of Ygrath. Sure that he faces certain death, it is a brief, hushed scene, full of poignance and honor. The story then jumps forward a number of years to a troupe of musicians preparing to perform at the funeral of the Duke of Astibar. Devin d'Asoli, a gifted singer, and his tempestuous female counterpart Catriana d'Astibar are bickering as usual, while the piper Alessan and drummer Eghano tune their instruments and ready for the performance of their lives. As we follow this group of itinerant musicians, it becomes clear that the world has changed significantly. Brandin did indeed win the battle of the prologue, but he paid a high price. His eldest son died in the battle and, in his grief and rage, Brandin not only destroyed the province but utterly wiped away the merest memory of its existence. From that time forward, no one but the people born there could remember or even speak its name. The people of the Palm now live under the shadow of Brandin and his rival conqueror Alberico, both of whom are intent on destroying the other. But as we follow Devin and his friends it also becomes clear that not everyone is who they seem to be and that there is a slow but persistent rebellion growing, the likes of which the world has never seen.

First and foremost, TIGANA is an absolute feat of storytelling. It hits every one of my requirements for epic fantasy by combining a fully realized world with nuanced characterization and language so lush you want to wrap yourself up in it. Music and magic form the backbone of the story and pave the way for a detailed and riveting exploration of the meaning of history and valor, right and wrong, and how and where they meet and interlock. Truly this was my favorite aspect of the novel. The thread of cultural memory, how far a people can be pushed before they relinquish it, and what you might be willing to sacrifice to regain it. I loved the depth this thread gave the rest of the novel, but it helped that I fell almost immediately in love with the cast of characters as well. They're the kind of characters you just know are going to break your heart and you might as well be all in because you can also tell they're so worth it. The story bounces back and forth between the Palm and Brandin's home island of Chiara, with the result that the reader is given an unexpectedly intimate view of both the rebels and the tyrant. And neither are purely good or evil. My sympathies were exercised on behalf of both and so, though it is a beautiful read, it is also a painful one as both sides cannot win and it is hard to love or hate either unreservedly. Whenever I read TIGANA I am at once in love and conflicted, consumed with near equal parts hope and despair. And when an author can elicit that complex an emotional response without making me feel manipulated, my hat comes off. It's a stunning tale. Recommended for fans of Jacqueline Carey and Patricia McKillip.

Comparing Tigana to Tolkien or the rest of the brainmush that is pulp fantasy badly misses the point. While Kay's previous trilogy the Fionavar Tapestry competes in those realms (and does it well), Tigana is instead a construction of a lush psuedo-Italy in which magic plays a role, but much less than pride, history, culture, love, might, economics, and lastly but most importantly, brainpower. Clearly, Kay's best novel by far as the plot compels and the characters are believable.
Essentially, there are two very simple plotlines here. First is that a band of rebels from a conquered land, Tigana, go throughout the other 8 provinces to raise support against the two conquerors of the psuedo-Italian provinces. Second, a concubine in a foreign court weighs love against revenge for her homeland. On the surface, neither is the grand tapestry you expect in a fantasy. However, it works spectacularly.
Why? The depth of the characters and plotline. Kay must have had reams of notes on each character before writing the novel; from good guy to bad guy, every character has flaws and every character has valid motivations. An example: Alberico, the psuedo-Viking sorceror/conqueror of the 4 eastern provinces and probably worst of the bad guys. He's certainly malevolent, but from his perspective, he makes sense. Oversimplified, he's simply lining up to make a run at his Emperor's throne, is permanently frustrated by getting nowhere despite having brought a new land into the realm, and dashes between greed, fear, and simple malice against those who get in his way.
Likeable? No. But combine the interaction of about 20 characters this complex and the two plots take care of themselves. No one is prenaturally gifted with foresight or following a prophecy - in fact, Kay takes an amusing potshot at that in the disussion of the natural right of the princes of the provinces to rule - but what moves it is common sense and common passion. The world is similarly well constructed. As you'd expect, where would a psuedo-Italy be without wine, music, poetry, and love?
As warned, this is more an alternate history than a fantasy. Nature spirits and legends make appearances, as well as some really interesting speculation on the cost and sources of magic, but the only evil doers here are human. If you're looking for good-guy-zapping-dragon-with-magic-to-save-world-from-Dark-Lord, wrong book and something you'd probably give one or two stars. For everyone else, the best of this genre (and sadly given how many other novels he's published since) easily Kay's best work.

I had mixed feelings about Tigana. There were elements of the book that I thought were very well done but the story as a whole I found lacking. Kay did a wonderful job with characterization and history as well as overall world-building. My main problem with this book is that the majority of the story seems to have already happened. Alessan's plan was 90% done before Devin even joined the quest, leaving the actual events to seem fairly trivial. The only circumstances that seemed legitimately important were when characters joined the quest and the final battle. In addition, I thought that the big payoff of all their preparation was pretty weak and unimaginative. To Kay's credit, he did write a good ending that hit just when I was sure the ending would be so plain.
In my opinion the side story of Dianora and Brandin is far better than the quest of the main group. Dianora's struggle between love and allegiance is brilliantly written. If I had my way this relationship would have been the focal point of the story.
Guy Gavriel Kay is a great writer and there were many things about this book that I liked. I just think a little more could have happened in the actual story and less in the back story.

never in all my years of reading have i discovered an author who so vividly paints images in my mind.when he talked about music i could hear it, when he described the smells or sounds i was there.rarely is there an author who can do that.he is unpredictable, something i really look for in an author.i mean,the world will never tire of hearing the traditional fantasy (boy meets girl,boy falls in love with girl, girl gets in trouble, boy saves girl, happily ever after)but sometimes it is nice to have a break. Kay writes so that you will not know the ending until you get there, that i find totaly facinating and thrilling. he incorprates everything that we value as human beings into his works. he has a very good sense as to how much of each emotion he has to put in to it to make it come alive. Kay's books are some of the best i've ever read or am in the process of reading, for even though i've read them all before i don't dare put them down for fear i'll miss the ending.

Every now and then you find an author whose books simply resonate with you. Guy Gavriel Kay is one such author. Since I first picked up Tigana, I have not only re-read it numerous times, but replaced it due to the wear and tear.
While many fantasies are driven by plot, Kay weaves his
tale with a combination of interesting plot twists and strong character development. I laughed, cried, agonized and exulted with the characters. One of my favorite characters was Dianora, a young woman who falls in love with her professed enemy, King Brandin. His army destroyed her homeland but not before her countrymen killed his son. In retaliation, the sorceror king striped the nation of its entire identity, casting a spell that caused the name Tigana to only be heard by natives. He renamed the province and subjugated the people.
Tigana is a tale of those whose true patriotism led them to try to reclaim their country. It's not all about exploits, although the book has its share. Relationships are built between the characters that draw you in. Kay blurs the line between right and wrong, just as so often happens in the real world. Most of the characters have both really good attributes and really bad ones - so you love them, hate them, empathize with them, and never forget them.
From a techical standpoint, his prose is poetic and beautiful. I can remember entire passages verbatim.
From a reader's perspective, it was a joy - moving and evocative, one not to be missed by anyone who enjoys epic fantasy.