Tigana

By: Guy Gavriel Kay

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Acclaimed author Guy Gavriel Kay has been honored with the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (Ysabel) and the International Goliardos Award for his work in fantasy.

Eight of the nine Palm provinces of the Peninsula have been overcome by warrior sorcerers Brandin and Alberico. But the sorcerers don't know that a small band of survivors is plotting their removal. With tensions mounting, the sorcerers become increasingly at odds as each decides where his own path - and that of the land - should truly lie.

"Brilliant. Rich in intrigue and subtlety. A gracefully plotted story. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

©1990, 1999 Guy Gavriel Kay (P)2009 Penguin Audio

enjoyed more than I thought

I struggled to start this book but by the end I wish it didn't end and really enjoyed it. There are a lot of names and fine details but it did come together nicely at the end, although the ending wasn't quite to my satisfaction. I am really glad I pushed through and finished the book.

Fantastic

The author’s note in the end is as dynamic, honest and profound as public commentary can be. I suggest skipping to the back of the recording, and listening to it with his intentions in mind. It takes the literary quality from pretty good, to truly valuable.

Excellent Audiobook -100% recomend to fantasy fans

Original fantasy story with historical undertones. Very well written and narrated.
Both the author and VA did a great job. All major characters are distinct both in personalities and voices. This makes for an easy and nice listen.

The world itself feels a bit like Italian peninsula during renaissance (which is no doubt what the author was going for).

No quibbles or issues found with this piece. If you like fantasy with a touch of history, this one is for you.

Excellent

One of the best if not the best book I’ve ever read. The best book ever

Beautiful Prose, if a bit Meandering at Points

Very well written, some parts dip and go on overly long, intriguing themes, finish isn’t quite as strong as I would hope but fair enough. Would still recommend, worth the read.

absolutely beautiful

this is not just a beautiful fantasy book, it's a beautiful book period. this is probably the most well written book I've ever read.

Bad so bad

First off, I really want to like this book. It was well reviewed by other people I was excited to start it. Second of all, I love Simon Vance. He may be the best voice actor I’ve ever listened to. However, none of that over came how bad this book is. The main premise and hook is intriguing but that’s about it. I hate it when books over explain things in a overly wordy fashion. But the over sexualization and incest made me delete the book at 3 hrs in. Lots of great fantasy out there don’t waste your credit on this one.

Ugh maybe it's me

I have enjoyed a lot of this author's work. His characters are always well developed with good arcs and he writes with varied and profound emotional depths, but... I just got bounced out by the homophobia as plot device. In his later books he often has gay or lesbian relationships sensitively handled, but here I got bored of it. It hurts to read people being insulted, tortured, belittled, defined by being gay. It's dull. It's boring. I read this book years ago and probably enjoyed it, but now? I'm too old for that shit.

Conflicted about this one

In the middle of this one I had trouble fighting through and almost put it down. Seemed like the author used 100 words where 10 would have done the jobs. There was too much detail.
Also was too much about feelings and inner conflict. The narrative suffered on this account.
Simon Vance did his usual great job. Although it is disconcerting to hear him do the same voices, that he uses for characters in other books.

If thick mainstream fantasy books are your jam

--then here is something to spread on your bread.
A band of heroes,; warriors, musicians, and sorcerers struggle to free their homeland from a spell that has made its very name forgotten.
Notable for making both sides of the conflict multi-dimensional.