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Review - Ysabel
Jul. 21st, 2008 11:26 amI loved Ysabel. It's a semi-sequel to the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, though it only involves two of the characters from that, and those much older than they were. The little glimpses you get of how their lives have gone are believable, and interesting, and just about right, I think, for a book that isn't really about either of them. The main character is really Ned, Kim's nephew.
The core story is a little like the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot thread in Fionavar, except that it isn't as clear why the story is repeating itself. The Celtic influences are very, very interesting -- to me at least. The resolution of the main plot is neat and well-done, in my opinion, although I think I could've stood to hear a lot more detail about Phelan, Cadell and Ysabel, and more about how Ned's abilities develop. The characters themselves don't quite have the depth that Guy Gavriel Kay brought to Fionavar, but at the same time, I think that's to be expected.
The descriptions in the book are lovely. There's not too much of them, but there's enough to bring a real flavour of the setting. It couldn't be set anywhere but Provence, I think, the way it's written.
So... I wouldn't have complained had it been longer, and a bit more detailed when it comes to characters and background, but I did enjoy it and still want more of Guy Gavriel Kay's work, despite being warned that I probably wouldn't find it up to the standard of the Tapestry trilogy.
The core story is a little like the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot thread in Fionavar, except that it isn't as clear why the story is repeating itself. The Celtic influences are very, very interesting -- to me at least. The resolution of the main plot is neat and well-done, in my opinion, although I think I could've stood to hear a lot more detail about Phelan, Cadell and Ysabel, and more about how Ned's abilities develop. The characters themselves don't quite have the depth that Guy Gavriel Kay brought to Fionavar, but at the same time, I think that's to be expected.
The descriptions in the book are lovely. There's not too much of them, but there's enough to bring a real flavour of the setting. It couldn't be set anywhere but Provence, I think, the way it's written.
So... I wouldn't have complained had it been longer, and a bit more detailed when it comes to characters and background, but I did enjoy it and still want more of Guy Gavriel Kay's work, despite being warned that I probably wouldn't find it up to the standard of the Tapestry trilogy.
