The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

Rating: 4 out of 5

At a time when fantasy authors published almost carbon-copy stories of each other, Guy Gavriel Kay chose to approach fantasy in a different way – by creating stories of places whose cultures and geo-political situations are an almost-mirror-image of a real historical time and place. In one fell swoop, he eliminated the need for himself to engage in one necessary activity of fantasy writing: world-building. He did it first in the book, Tigana, which set his story in a world evoking images of Renaissance Italy, and again with A Song for Arbonne which depicts southern France (Provence and the troubadour culture). The Lions of Al-Rassan is inspired by Medieval Spain during the Reconquista (the war between the Christian kingdoms and the Moorish or Muslim states of Andalusia or Al-Andalus, the Moorish name of Spain).

The story is set in a peninsula that is divided between two regions and religions: The south, where the Asharite (Moorish) Caliphate once ruled but is now fragmented into small quarrelling city-states bent on dominating Al-Rassan; and the north, where the Jaddite (Christian) kingdoms of Esperana are starting to take advantage of the new balance of power and finding ways to work together, albeit reluctantly, to conquer their way south. Caught in the middle are the Kindath (Jews), trying to live their lives as best as they can, strangers in Asharite or Jaddite lands, tolerated, never fully accepted, and most of the time hated.

In the middle of this powder keg are the principal characters. Ammar ibn Khairan is an Asharite warrior, poet and assassin and advisor to King Almalik of Cartada. Rodrigo Belmonte is one of the finest cavalry captains in the Jaddite kingdoms (primarily based on the real-life figure of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar – or El Cid). Both men find themselves betrayed by the rulers they serve, exiled and forced to make a living as mercenaries in an Asharite city where they cross paths with Jehane bet Ishak, a beautiful Kindath physician who captures the heart of both men.

Written like historical fiction in a world where magic is not visibly manifested, The Lions of Al-Rassan evokes a very real and tragic story of peoples unable to live alongside each other solely because they do not have the same faith – a problem that still exists into real-life present times, where with all the sorrow and horror that all this unjustifiable hatred causes, one has to wonder if anybody throughout the centuries has learned anything at all.

Beautifully written by Guy Gavriel Kay and well-researched, he gives his readers, through a story which is entirely speculative, a condensed version of the Spanish Reconquista, a glimpse of the life of El Cid and the tragic end of the Moorish society that has given so much beauty, culture and learning to the Iberian peninsula. He does this through the stories of well-defined characters, both primary and supporting, each representing the best and the worst of their cultures. Beautifully written, funny at times and also heart-rending, The Lions of Al-Rassan is a story that will leave images for the reader to contemplate for a long time.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire

Rating: 5 out of 5

Picking up where A Game of Thrones left off, this second book of A Song of Ice and Fire series not only continues the breathtaking saga that has created a sensation throughout the fantasy world, but also surpasses the first book in grandeur confirming the series as a landmark of the genre, and establishing George R.R. Martin as a giant (demi-god, even) in fantasy.

King Robert Baratheon is dead. Eddard Stark, one of the main characters in the first book, has been treacherously executed, his children separated from one another, and in a flash, the whole of Westeros has plunged into war. Eddard’s eldest son and heir, Robb has been proclaimed as “King of the North” and marches off to do battle against the Lannisters who placed the cruel boy-king Joffrey and his mother Cersei on the Iron Throne. But the claims to the throne doesn’t end there as King Robert’s two brothers, Stannis and Renly Baratheon discovers that Joffrey is not Robert’s son but the result of an incestuous relationship between Cersei and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister, each now claiming the throne as their own. While Theon Greyjoy, a former ward of Eddard Stark, plots to help his father regain the power once held by his family.

The story is still seen through the points of view the main characters – those who survived the first book and some new ones, like the mysterious Lady Melisandre, priestess of the Lord of Light, who attaches herself to cause of Stannis Baratheon for reasons unknown, and with frightening powers at her command. We follow the march of Robb Stark as he wins battle after battle against the Lannisters who do everything they can to keep control of their power. We follow the machinations of the Stannis and Renly Baratheon, whose actions undermine the victories gained by the Starks. And we follow the other Stark children after their father’s death: Sansa trapped in King’s Landing and being forced to marry Joffrey, Arya who is lost trying to get back North to her home, Bran and Rickon back at Winterfell unaware of the danger close to home, and the bastard Jon Snow, who joined the Night Watch as they protect the far North from what seems to be the coming invasion of some other dangerous force, as if Westeros didn’t have enough problems of their own. And all the while, there is Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the king deposed and killed by Robert’s forces as she travels another continent gathering her forces an planning her own invasion of Westeros to regain what was lost by her family.

A complicated story effortlessly written by a masterful George R.R. Martin, who seems very much in control of the story as he weaves the numerous plotlines as skillfully as a master-weaver creates fine cloth. In A Clash of Kings, Martin seems to put head down and crash head on into battle himself as he approaches this book with more of a military epic take on it, climaxed by one of the most intense battle scenes ever written. Here, Martin continues to be as “realistic” as possible, not shying away from showing the realities of a life lead at a time and place similar to our own Middle Ages, where brutality, treachery and cruelty abound. An in a way, his style serves to increase the impact of the actions of the story hitting the readers like a hammer as never felt anywhere before in a fantasy story.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Book 1 of The Kingkiller Chronicles

Rating: 4 out of 5

If one were to describe a book as a “Harry Potter for adults” or a “darker, grittier version of Harry Potter”, it may be enough to make readers cringe and avoid it like the plague. Let’s see…. A gifted boy who is suddenly orphaned and subsequently finds himself studying in a university that teaches magic (or sympathy, as it is called in the book). Sound familiar? A tad unoriginal? True, maybe. In fact, this book is a throwback story similar to the times when stories of orphan boy-magicians became redundant and tiring. But then, Patrick Rothfuss, on his debut work, has succeeded in placing his own touch on the story and transports the reader into a tale of legends, heroics, demons, gods, and most of all, magic and music.

The Name of the Wind is the story of the legendary Kvothe (pronounced “quothe”), or rather the story of his beginnings. Kvothe, at the beginning of the story, is now called Kote and is living his days away from his past, tending to his Waystone Inn along with his assistant, Bast. One day, a man called Chronicler comes into the inn and discovers Kote’s true identity. He appeals to Kote to tell his life story. With reluctance, Kvothe begins to tell his tale. It is the story of a boy who grew up blissfully among his father’s troupe of artists and musicians, going from town to town to perform. He invites into the group a magician (or arcanist, as they are called in the book), Abenthy who sparks in him a strong interest in sympathy, in which Kvothe proves to be some kind of a prodigy. Abenthy also plants in him the idea that one day Kvothe might want to enter the University, where sympathy is taught.

Kvothe’s blissful life comes to a crashing turn as he comes home one day to find his camp burned and everyone he loved dead in what seems at that time, an unfortunate chance encounter with brigands. Left alone in the woods by himself with only his father’s lute, the only thing he salvaged from the wreckage of his life, he finds that he has a greater talent for music that anyone ever dreamt possible. He soon lives the life of an urchin in a city, learning to survive its mean streets until one day, he decides to take the biggest chance of his life and apply for entrance to the University, in which he makes it through. Here, Kvothe learns of power, determination, mischief, bravery, loss, desperation and friendship. He learns of the things that will drive him all his life – his magic, his music, and the woman that will haunt his heart. He will learn of names and the name of the wind.

The Name of the Wind with its story, in itself, would have been unremarkable considering this is a setup book for the next parts of The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, but for the amazing prose of Patrick Rothfuss which is elegant, intelligent, witty in the right places, at the same time simple and straightforward. But most of all it has passion. And it is this passion that speaks to the reader and tugs at the heartstrings that pulls one in. One would be hardpressed to find another work that speaks with so much beauty. The Name of the Wind is not just a book, it is a lovely piece of music. Consider the following passage, which is one of the most facinating introductions of a character:

“I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night in Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight than others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.”

Still, being a debut work, it has its faults. There are parts where Rothfuss indulges upon more than he needed to, making the book somewhat overly long. There are also parts in the beginning where the story seems to start to take off and then suddenly come back down again jarring the readers out of their momentum. And some of the resolutions to issues early in the plot somehow seem forced. These would have taken away from the quality of the book if not for the beauty of Rothfuss’s writing and the enigmatic aura of his main character. The Name of the Wind is also written mostly on a first-person narrative; therefore, as expected, most supporting characters are not developed. For example, Kvothe describes two of his University companions as his closest and staunchest friends but that feeling never comes across to the reader because little time was spent with them.

And there are other issues, this being the initial book of a trilogy. First of all, Rothfuss approached his story differently in which he did not go right away to his main plotline but started literally at the very beginning, explaining the background of the story of the boy who will one day become Kvothe and dedicated the entire first book to that. No big plotlines were started therefore no plotlines are resolved, and by the time it ends, the reader is left with more questions. Consequently, the main character is hinted at being this legendary, enigmatic figure but yet the Kvothe that we see in the story is not yet the man he is to become. One can only read the introduction passage of the main character and ask, “When are we going to see that Kvothe?” The reader can also see many interesting glimpses of the world where Kvothe belongs, but isn’t given the whole picture of it as a whole and is left wondering “What more is out there?” But these really are not faults of the book or Rothfuss’s work but rather a testament to the compelling writing of the author that he was able to grab the reader’s interest and transport them inside the story and makes them ask for more.

In a way, Rothfuss has succeeded in putting the readers in the shoes of Chronicler as he listens to Kvothe, and like Chronicler, the readers find themselves waiting eagerly for when Kvothe tells the next installment of his story.