The Lions of Al-Rassan [Versión Kindle]

Let me begin by addressing the quality of this book: you will be hard-pressed to find another that is more smoothly written, from beginning to end, with better character development, plot and sub-plot development, and literary lyricism. Mr. Kay's use of language is clean and yet amazingly deep; the thoughtfulness that he puts into creating each of his characters is evident in the complexity of their interactions and growth. Based loosely on the unification of medieval Spain after its Islamic inhabitation, "The Lions of Al-Rassan" is a marvelously constructed one-volume epic of love, friendship, hope, betrayal, conquest, and all the other flavours that make great fantasy great. This one's a keeper.

A question about some of the earlier reviews: why is it that some people seem to be disappointed by Kay's use of historical events as the basis for the plot? (For those of you unfamiliar with his works, he uses Renaissance Italy as a framework for "Tigana", Medieval Provence as the setting in "A Song for Arbonne", and early Christian Byzantium in "Sailing to Sarantium".) Personally, I see no reason for an author to create new worlds out of whole cloth every time s/he writes a novel. Moreover, Mr. Kay's method inspired me to learn more about the real historical events that his novels are based on. After reading LoA-R, I felt a compulsion to learn more about medieval Spain and the devastation that occurred with both the triumph and defeat of its Islamic invaders. After "Sailing to Sarantium," I hankered after knowing what really happened during the period of Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius, the Byzantine emperor, empress, and general whom Kay patterned his characters after. Having read some of this background material, I have an even greater respect for Mr. Kay's ability to craft such beautiful stories from such an enormous scope of history. No need to pigeon-hole authors into "Fantasy" and "Non-Fantasy$", people. Who cares if El Cid's first name was Rodrigo? So what if Justinian isn't actually the emperor who built the Hagia Sophia? Just sit back, relax, and read.

P.S.: Having said that, "Sailing to Sarantium" wasn't quite up to par with LoA-R or "The Fionavar Tapestry," but I'll wait to read the next two books of the "Sarantine Mosaic" trilogy before making a final comment.

I will not mince words - this book takes a while to get going. But a thing as true is that few books are as worth the wait as this one.

The story tells of a woman named Jehane and two men, Rodrigo and Ammar. Jehane is a doctor, Rodrigo - a military hero, and Ammar - a legendary monster. Jehane lives by her doctor's oath. Rodrigo fights with as much honor as flesh-carving work can encompass. Ammar weaves his way through court intrigue, soiled by it to the point of no return. Yet he persists, not for his own honor, for little remains of that, nor for his own survival, but for the survival of his culture - the culture of Al-Rassan.

Three people - each touched by the hand of a ruler; three lives twisted forever by the touch. Jehane's father, the most renowned physician in two generations, kept his doctor's vow at the cost of cruel punishment by the hand of the king he helped. Rodrigo stayed loyal to a dead king and was exiled by the new one - exiled away from his land, away from his sons, away from the woman he loves madly - whom every man loves madly, having once laid eyes on her. Ammar killed a ruler to put another in his place - killed an inept ruler, replacing him with a better. It was done to keep Al-Rassan breathing. It shattered his life, branded him a monster. Now, a man who once turned the fate of a kingdom is at the mercy of a cruel, power-mad ruler - a ruler he brought to power. And Ammar is still the favored royal scapegoat.

Jehane, Rodrigo, Ammar - each defined by a role and a task; none fully encompassed by a single role. Jehane, sworn to protect life, seeks to take one, in bloody revenge. Rodrigo, who lives by his loyalty and honor, seeks to return home, knowing that to return to his wife's arms he must also embrace a traitorous king. Ammar, who is lost in the eyes of the world, seeks to right his monumental mistake, to save his world and, perhaps, to shed light on those who had shifted their crimes to his shoulders.

Three people, each different, each haunted, are thrown together. With never a reason to wish each other's acquaintance, they see each other's complexities and, against all odds, find comfort, and friendship, and love. And through it all, a question looms over them like a dark cloud - will the world come calling them back to their narrow, ill-fitting - but undeniable - roles?

Kay is a master. He creates three exceptional people - exceptional, and exceptionally real. He weaves an engrossing story and a rich world that will not bend to accommodate the wishes of three mere mortals. What's more, he tells the story of the fall of Granada, the last Muslim state in Spain, with life, passion and a deep respect for the truth, for it is Historical Fantasy that is Guy Gavriel Kay's domain. He captures three very different cultures with never a move to simplify them to something less than they were, to stereotypes. The same can be said for his characters - not just the three, but all his characters. Vivid, beautifully told, heart-warming, heart-rendering, and healing - such is the story of The Lions of Al-Rassan.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is what is usually defined, as a Fantasy book. But in my opinion is more than that. Kay has researched the historical period he reflects in this "alternate universe", and gives an accurate and sensible picture of it: the value of honor, the religious beliefs (even if disguised with other names and nuisances), the mixed loyalties (to country, king, family and religion), poetry and medicine among others.
The story is loosely based on the medieval poem The Song of Mio Cid, around year 1000 in the Iberic peninsula, three cultures mixing and interacting; a main character from each of them: the courageous Captain Belmonte, the sage and stubborn doctoress Jehane and the cunning warrior-poet-politic Ammar, the three of them draw a complex and absorbing tapestry.
Kay is masterful depicting scenes that lead the reader to jump to conclusions that are, astonishingly, proved wrong a couple of pages later, this keep you reading on tiptoes, expecting new surprises... and they show up even if you are warned.
The descriptions of cities, rural places, king's courts, markets have a distinctive flavor, without being boring. The different characters are fully human and interesting, not two dimensional stereotypes as may be expected in Fantasy story. The inner thoughts of most of them are shown, giving insight as to why they do what they do.
A book to enjoy by different audiences.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.