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A review by nclcaitlin
Tigana: Anniversary Edition by Guy Gavriel Kay
4.0
A story about a group of rebels attempting to overthrow two tyrants and win back their homeland.
The province of Tigana's name was erased from history, from memory, from all records and recollections by a conqueror from across the sea in retaliation for the death of his son. Only those born in Tigana before the invasion can hear or speak its name, or remember it as it was.
We get perspectives from the Prince of Tigana, a musician who is a lost child of Tigana, the daughter and son of a sculptor, and a few more to create a sprawling, impressive, intricate story of loyalty, duty, memory, and love.
Memory was talisman and ward for him, gateway and hearth. It was pride and love, shelter from loss: for if something could be remembered it was not wholly lost.
I loved the way memory is used to evoke such grief and companionship and longing. Is it a spell or a curse? Is it better to be one who doesn’t remember or to remember but not share?
I hear a lot of praise for Kay’s prose, however it didn’t stand out to me as incredibly special. It was better than quite a lot, yet it didn’t shine a light to some others I have read (Ken Liu, Hobb, Erikson, etc).
You can tell Kay’s appreciation for art. In both this and SfA, there was a focus on music and how culture is always bettered by having an appreciation for the sharing of gifts and creativity.
One missed connection was Dianora’s perspective.
Dianora is introduced quite late into the story as a daughter of Tigana come to kill Brandin for his spell, and becomes his lover for the next 12 years. She is drawn to Brandin, betrayal and memory mixed with yearning, to create a complex character who suffers from indecision and contrasting emotions.
I think Dianora had the most potential to become a new favourite character, yet her character arc really annoyed me in the end.
I wasn’t a huge fan of one scene in the middle where it just became a bit more mystical and shadowy and full of creatures stalking the night on one night of the year. I see how Kay was trying to connect evils, yet it felt contrived.
I also have to point out my continuous frustration with sexual scenes, especially with mythical women educating young boys in the way of the body. Just no.
”Do we die as willing victims or while trying to be free? Do we skulk as you have done all these years, hiding from the sorcerers? Or can we not join palm to palm - for once in this folly-ridden peninsula of warring provinces locked into their pride — and drive the two of them away?”
However, that ending was stunning!
One of the most satisfying endings I have read recently and for a standalone too!! Impressive.
Rankings:
1. Tigana 4 stars 🌟
2. A Song for Arbonne 2 stars 🌟
The province of Tigana's name was erased from history, from memory, from all records and recollections by a conqueror from across the sea in retaliation for the death of his son. Only those born in Tigana before the invasion can hear or speak its name, or remember it as it was.
We get perspectives from the Prince of Tigana, a musician who is a lost child of Tigana, the daughter and son of a sculptor, and a few more to create a sprawling, impressive, intricate story of loyalty, duty, memory, and love.
Memory was talisman and ward for him, gateway and hearth. It was pride and love, shelter from loss: for if something could be remembered it was not wholly lost.
I loved the way memory is used to evoke such grief and companionship and longing. Is it a spell or a curse? Is it better to be one who doesn’t remember or to remember but not share?
I hear a lot of praise for Kay’s prose, however it didn’t stand out to me as incredibly special. It was better than quite a lot, yet it didn’t shine a light to some others I have read (Ken Liu, Hobb, Erikson, etc).
You can tell Kay’s appreciation for art. In both this and SfA, there was a focus on music and how culture is always bettered by having an appreciation for the sharing of gifts and creativity.
One missed connection was Dianora’s perspective.
Dianora is introduced quite late into the story as a daughter of Tigana come to kill Brandin for his spell, and becomes his lover for the next 12 years. She is drawn to Brandin, betrayal and memory mixed with yearning, to create a complex character who suffers from indecision and contrasting emotions.
I think Dianora had the most potential to become a new favourite character, yet her character arc really annoyed me in the end.
I wasn’t a huge fan of one scene in the middle where it just became a bit more mystical and shadowy and full of creatures stalking the night on one night of the year. I see how Kay was trying to connect evils, yet it felt contrived.
I also have to point out my continuous frustration with sexual scenes, especially with mythical women educating young boys in the way of the body. Just no.
”Do we die as willing victims or while trying to be free? Do we skulk as you have done all these years, hiding from the sorcerers? Or can we not join palm to palm - for once in this folly-ridden peninsula of warring provinces locked into their pride — and drive the two of them away?”
However, that ending was stunning!
One of the most satisfying endings I have read recently and for a standalone too!! Impressive.
Rankings:
1. Tigana 4 stars 🌟
2. A Song for Arbonne 2 stars 🌟