I read my first GGK this year(Lions of Al-Rassan) and I was impressed. I really enjoyed his writing. People are praising his writing and while his writing is gorgeous I expected a little more. It didn't blow my mind or anything. Characters, Politics and world building were damn good though. Awesome review Zara.
I really like this duology, Lord of Emperors is a banger. Thank you for being frank in your opinions, it's one of those things that make you stand out as a booktuber.
Miss teach Zara thanks for adding to my huge tbr list looking forward to reading 📖 your books 📚 on my list prayers and blessings for you and your family love 🥰 your Aussie family friend John xx
Agreed on the importance of art, be it on a societial or individual level. It's so personal and subjective it's why I'm not enthusiastic about having levels or hierarchies to it and subjecting it to a numerical value but that's a topic for another time. I personally loved it but a fair and balanced review. Wouldn't be Top 3 of GGK for me, but definitely Top 5. It's actually the work of Kay's I look forward to re-reading the most. Definitely recommend reading Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors as close together as possible though. Having already read Sarantine Mosaic it made certain scenes in A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth & Sky hit harder. I've been stuck on A Song for Arbonne for months now 😅 I dunno, it's just not clicking with me. Don't remind me the years nearly over 😅... we're not even halfway through November and Christmas music is blasting away and decorations are up so i'm already sick of Christmas 🙃 Scrooge was right, kinda 🙃
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try to read LoE next month but will depend on if I’m feeling it. That’s a shame re A Song for Arbonne! I read that book so quickly. Might be worth taking a pause? Agreed on not subjecting art to hierarchy or numerical value. I’ve been struggling with ratings lately because of this. I think I might do away with them.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on book 2 in this duology. I've noticed that the general consensus among GGK fans is that this duology (particularly the 2nd half, Lord of Emperors) and Lions of Al Rassan are Kay's best works. I don't quite agree. They're great books, but I prefer some of his other ones. I love what you said about art and how important it is. You're absolutely right. I believe making art is one of the greatest accomplishments a person can achieve. And like you said, Kay feels this way too. So many of his heroes are artists (ex. Crispin, Amar from Lions, and the minstrels from Tigana) or people who come to appreciate art (ex. Blaise from Song for Arbonne). In contrast, his villains tend to be people who recognize the power of art and are threatened by it (ex. Blaise's father, the tyrants from Tigana, and the sultan's family in Children of Earth and Sky).
Yeah I’m excited to pick it up and hoping it ends up being a better experience. Which is your favourite GGK book? I really love your sentence at the end about the villains recognising the power of art. I couldn’t agree more.
@ A Song for Arbonne is definitely my favorite book by GGK. I re-read it last month. Such a wonderful experience! Under Heaven is a close second. In fact, I consider everything that Kay published in the 2010s to be top tier.
Personally cannot stand GGK’s writing style, I found Lions of Al Rassan to be a little melodramatic and the characters feel too perfect and one dimensional. I tried Tigana and Song of Arbonne and Dnfed both. GGK prose is often described to be beautiful but I find it too wordy and overly descriptive and sometimes cheesy. I do enjoy hearing about people talking about his stories tho
Hahaha, you know what, I totally get this. I personally think he gets the balance right (most of the time) but I can see why his writing is not for everyone.
I read my first GGK this year(Lions of Al-Rassan) and I was impressed. I really enjoyed his writing. People are praising his writing and while his writing is gorgeous I expected a little more. It didn't blow my mind or anything. Characters, Politics and world building were damn good though. Awesome review Zara.
That’s fair re his writing! I think you’ll also really love A Song for Arbonne.
I really like this duology, Lord of Emperors is a banger. Thank you for being frank in your opinions, it's one of those things that make you stand out as a booktuber.
I’m excited to pick it up. And thank you 🙏🏽
Miss teach Zara thanks for adding to my huge tbr list looking forward to reading 📖 your books 📚 on my list prayers and blessings for you and your family love 🥰 your Aussie family friend John xx
Agreed on the importance of art, be it on a societial or individual level. It's so personal and subjective it's why I'm not enthusiastic about having levels or hierarchies to it and subjecting it to a numerical value but that's a topic for another time.
I personally loved it but a fair and balanced review. Wouldn't be Top 3 of GGK for me, but definitely Top 5. It's actually the work of Kay's I look forward to re-reading the most. Definitely recommend reading Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors as close together as possible though.
Having already read Sarantine Mosaic it made certain scenes in A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth & Sky hit harder.
I've been stuck on A Song for Arbonne for months now 😅 I dunno, it's just not clicking with me.
Don't remind me the years nearly over 😅... we're not even halfway through November and Christmas music is blasting away and decorations are up so i'm already sick of Christmas 🙃 Scrooge was right, kinda 🙃
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try to read LoE next month but will depend on if I’m feeling it.
That’s a shame re A Song for Arbonne! I read that book so quickly. Might be worth taking a pause?
Agreed on not subjecting art to hierarchy or numerical value. I’ve been struggling with ratings lately because of this. I think I might do away with them.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on book 2 in this duology. I've noticed that the general consensus among GGK fans is that this duology (particularly the 2nd half, Lord of Emperors) and Lions of Al Rassan are Kay's best works. I don't quite agree. They're great books, but I prefer some of his other ones.
I love what you said about art and how important it is. You're absolutely right. I believe making art is one of the greatest accomplishments a person can achieve. And like you said, Kay feels this way too. So many of his heroes are artists (ex. Crispin, Amar from Lions, and the minstrels from Tigana) or people who come to appreciate art (ex. Blaise from Song for Arbonne). In contrast, his villains tend to be people who recognize the power of art and are threatened by it (ex. Blaise's father, the tyrants from Tigana, and the sultan's family in Children of Earth and Sky).
Yeah I’m excited to pick it up and hoping it ends up being a better experience.
Which is your favourite GGK book?
I really love your sentence at the end about the villains recognising the power of art. I couldn’t agree more.
@ A Song for Arbonne is definitely my favorite book by GGK. I re-read it last month. Such a wonderful experience! Under Heaven is a close second. In fact, I consider everything that Kay published in the 2010s to be top tier.
@ I need to read Under Heaven asap! Maybe next month!
Personally cannot stand GGK’s writing style, I found Lions of Al Rassan to be a little melodramatic and the characters feel too perfect and one dimensional. I tried Tigana and Song of Arbonne and Dnfed both. GGK prose is often described to be beautiful but I find it too wordy and overly descriptive and sometimes cheesy. I do enjoy hearing about people talking about his stories tho
Hahaha, you know what, I totally get this. I personally think he gets the balance right (most of the time) but I can see why his writing is not for everyone.
Interesting. I'll read those two you mentioned someday, even though I liked Tigana 🥲