Award-wining author Guy Gavriel’s sixth novel, hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, is both a brilliant adventure and a moving story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake — or destroy — a world. The ruling Asharites have come from the desert sands, worshipping the stars, their warrior blood fierce and pure. But over centuries, … pure. But over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, that stern piety has eroded. The Asharies empire has splintered into decadent city-states lead by warring petty kinds.
King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, adding city after city to his realm, even though Cartada is threatened by forces both within and without. Almalik is aided by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan — poet, diplomat, soldier — until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.
Meanwhile, in the north, the Jaddite’s most celebrated — and feared — military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, is driven into exile in the wake of events following the death of the king he loved. Rodrigo leads his mercenary company south, to the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan.
In the exquisite lakeside city of Ragosa, Rodrigo Belmonte and Ammar ibn Kharian meet and serve — for a time — the same master. Sharing the interwoven fate of these two men from different worlds — and increasingly torn in her feelings — is Jehane, the beautiful, accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.
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Gorgeous words from a master of the art. Haunting characters, incredible details, plot twists that rip my heart out and then sew it back in. The ending brings me to happy tears every time.
Best book I have ever read. This was my first introduction into the world-building power of author Guy Gavriel Kay, and it literally changed the way I read, but the way I write. The characters are real and vibrant, the sunny reimagined world of Moorish Spain was rich and authentic, and there was just enough magic to keep me hooked. I read until 2:00 in the morning and cried until 3:00. Fantastic, gripping read.
How did I not know about this book 25 years ago? A great epic story taking place on the Iberian Peninsula but using fictional kingdoms as opposed to those we historically know about. Excellent character development makes you care about all the different warring factions no matter whose side you choose. It was a little difficult to keep them all straight at first but you’ll catch on.
It’s like Game of Thrones without the magic or gratuitous sex and violence. Great book! I can’t wait to read more of his books
This an incredibly good book. Not really fantasy in the traditional sense, but a story set in a very thinly disguised Iberian peninsula (now Spain and Portugal) populated by people of three just-as-thinly disguised religions (Jaddith = Christian, Asharite = Moor/Muslim, and the every-persecuted Kindrath = Jew) in a time equivalent to the late middle ages when Moorish power was on the wane. A series of unrelated circumstances throws an independent female Kindrath physician with an Asharite warrior – the most notorious on the peninsula, and a Jaddite warrior of equal reputation and his company of men. They are all in a form of exile, and come together as mercenaries, and she as their physician. They grow to deeply admire, respect and love the other, and the reader feels these emotions for the characters too. They are brilliant, witty, and both passionate and compassionate. However, eventually the realities of their time and disparate cultures intervene. The ending is so profoundly sad that, although I loved this book so much, I’m not sure I want to read more by this author, at least not during a pandemic.
Favorite GGK
I can’t remember why, but I didn’t care for this book or author. Did not finish reading to the end, sorry I’m not able to provide more specifics. Seems I am in the minority of readers.
I found this book to be 100 percent engaging. The characters are intricate and storyline is superb. I look forward to reading another by this author.
Great action and characters. A strong female lead. Surprise ending.
I like that none of the major characters were painted truly evil and the way Guy Gavriel Kay used the congress.
My favorite book by my favorite author. I love all this books but this is the best one in my opinion.
Guy Gavriel Kay’s spin on the Spanish Legend of El Cid captures your attention from the first page and never slows the story. I highly recommend this book.
One of my favorite authors. Enough world building and politics between action scenes for good highs and lows as you read
Let me just state from the get-go…I fancy myself as an author given that I have written and published a novel (with more to come) but when I read someone like Guy Gavriel Kay, I ache to have just a little of his talent; just a little more ability to draw word pictures in his manner. Lions is a complex story of love, loyalty, and devotion during a period of great upheaval; a period reminiscent of the Moorish-Christian competition to see whose God is best(sadly, still going on.) If I get anything out of reading this tale it is this, that the genocidal insanity of religious domination in political affairs is quite possibly the saddest concept in human history.
Another aspect of Lions is the almost impossible situations some of the characters find themselves in; especially when it comes to love and loyalty…so many lines are crossed and in such a way that the differences between Jaddite-Asharite-Kindath pale in significance to the individuals involved. The Kindath physician Jehane, the poet/warrior Ammar, the Jaddite warrior Rodrigo and many others, provide the reader with characters so fully developed as to make the story seem historical rather than a fantasy account.
So, my peeps and fellow travelers, prepare for an emotion filled, heart tugging tale from a master at his craft. 5 stars…or maybe two moons…or maybe just the Sun..read the book, you’ll get what I mean. 🙂
I liked a lot about this one. I thought the characters were well done, and the setting was a great nod to medieval Spain. I loved the epilogue, too. When the plot was moving it was great. But the book suffered from a lot of info-dumps. It was hard to pay attention a lot of the time due to all the authorial exposition. If the story hadn’t ground to a halt so often, I think I would have truly loved this book. As it is, though, it was only likeable.
Well written and imagined in beautiful detail, this is a piece of fantasy literature I recommend with enthusiasm. It’s one of those books that makes me want to go back and study some Spanish history, and that is a feat in itself!