4.5/5 StarsI have this belief that 90% of the time, standalone high fantasy just won’t satisfy me. I still stand by it, but Tigana luckily is not one of those cases. Memories and names, something that breathes life into the people and possessions we lost. Both of these can be summed up as the fabric of identity. Despite all the war, deaths, sex, hardships, betrayal, magic, deception, subterfuge, the main essence of Tigana is reclaiming your freedom, home, memories and the implication of holdin [...]

While reading this book over the past month, I thought a lot about the differences between youth and adulthood, between young beliefs and mature ones. And I think that maybe our youth is the only time that we can hold simple, firm convictions. Maybe it’s the only time that it’s possible to believe completely that love will conquer all, or that there are good guys and bad guys, or that if we try hard enough, we can achieve anything we dream about. In our youth, we can say things like, “I wo [...]

I hated this book, but I'm an oddity; in fact, virtually every other human being seems to love it unconditionally. So if you stumble upon it, give it a try, chances are you'll find it awesome.So what didn't I like about it?Well, pretty much everything.This book, in short, tells about the vengeful crusade of a group of refugees from the once-great city of Tigana, destroyed years before by the mage Brandin.Cool, uh?Nope.For starters, nobody cares about the destruction of Tigana. In fact, the prota [...]

Springtime morning in AvalleI don’t care that the priests say:I’m going down to the river todayOn a springtime morning in Avalle.When I’m all grown up, come what mayI’ll build a boat to carry me awayAnd the river will take it to Tigana BayAnd the sea even further away from AvalleBut wherever I wander, by night or by dayWhere water runs swiftly or high trees sway, My heart will carry me back and awayTo a dream of the towers of AvalleTwenty years ago, the nine quarrelling city-states of th [...]

oh Tigana! 20 years ago, the warring lands of the peninsula known as The Palm were invaded and conquered by two opposing Tyrants, and split into two. during this time of war and magic, one land was punished, transformed, forgotten. 20 years later, a band of men and women fight to reclaim that land, its history, their memories. oh Tigana!SPOILERS FOLLOWmemories of a distant life can be a strange and beautiful and sorrowful thing. i can remember places, scenes, people in the land where i was born, [...]

*** 4.66 ***A Buddy Read with the Fantasy Buddy Reads Group, because we wanted a stand-alone for a changeHow do I even start on writing a review for this book? I think, just as most everyone else has done, I have to begin with the style of writing. It is a throwback to a time long past, it carries a lyrical magic which simmers in every sentence, and without being in itself overly flowery, it conveyed a sense of Gothic melodrama, which made me feel as if a bard of old was telling the story of an [...]

The greatest strength of Tigana -- Guy Gavriel Kay's masterpiece -- is the "ambiguity" of his characters' ethics. Fantasy, as a genre, suffers from the widespread simplicity of its expressions of good and evil. Kay consistently transcends this genre weakness, and Tigana marks his first and greatest break with the good vs. evil tradition. Tigana is full of characters who struggle with their decisions and the impact those decisions have on others. Alessan, the "hero" of the piece, enslaves a wizar [...]

Imagine a state that ceased to exist. It has been swallowed on the map by hungry neighbours, swept away by winds of history and not even an empty space remains to bear witness to what once was. Things like that have happened before. Take Poland, partitioned by her three neighbours and for 123 years disappearing from the face of the world. But where the state had vanished, the people survived. And so the people of Poland cultivated their language, their arts, their traditions, their culture. They [...]

Full review now posted!Original review can be found at Booknest.The best books in any genre are the ones that move you. And I just found a new one in my very favorite genre.“There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.”I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that I’ve read hundreds of fantasy books in my lifetime. I’ve taken so many adventures through extravagantly strange worlds with casts of immensely varied characters on a multitude of nigh imp [...]

This is a review with pictures in it. I see people doing this, and I want to as well. I can haz cats also, yes? Anyway, this ye old secondary world fantasy, with maps and kingdoms princes and things and everything. No, not like that, silly. It is Deep and Melancholy and Meaningful. Like this:Do you SEE? It is FUZZY and PASTEL COLORED and there is BOOBS. That means it is PROFOUND. Women in this book are not marginalized onto these pedestals replete with bizzaro stupid sexualization for no discern [...]

It's been long time since I read standalone fantasy book.So far I mostly avoided Kay for no particular reason and I came into possession of this book almost by accident. What a happy accident it was as this turned out to be wonderful and pretty unique book.I already encountered combination of heroic fantasy characters in grimdark setting from another Canadian author, Steven Erikson, but Kay does it with his own unique flavor.World building in this book is just wonderful.Without too detailed desc [...]

5 stars

The Peninsula of the Palm is a place divided -- but not against itself. Its nine provinces are occupied territory, under the power of foreign wizards. Brandin of Ygrath holds the east, while Alberico of Barbadior holds the west. Each state has been allowed to maintain its identity -- except for one, cursed to oblivion. But a few people remember. They are determined to get their home back; and to free the entire Palm in the process.Before I can say anything else, I have to gush about the writing [...]

3.85-this-book-is-epic-believe-all-the-hype-starsTigana is a book that will put you through all the emotions that exist. I am seriously exhausted (in a good way). Reading this book was a great experience. Some of the best characters that I have read in a long time. The story build-up is awesome, to epic proportions. By the time the book reached its climax I was all clammy-palmed-stuttering-heart-hanging-from-the-edge-of-my-seat no,fingernails not bitten to stubbs at all. BUTSomething fell a notc [...]

I'm giving this book a 4* rating despite not being sure until the very last chapter about if it would be a 3*s or 3.5*s or 4*s. I was pretty sure by the time I finished up the book that it was a solid 3*s but I then read the author's afterword and he states all of his influences and what he wanted to achieve with the book and I decided that this had to be a 4* book because I totally understood where he was coming from and it really resonated true with me.This book certainly feels a lot more hist [...]

Before reading Tigana, it was inconceivable for me to picture a stand alone fantasy book without any intention or hope of a series. I often wondered how it would be possible to create a whole new world in just one book and give it a satisfactory ending. When I read this book, I finally understood. Tigana is not a book. It is a journey. A journey through the lives of men and their emotions. A journey of wonder, a journey of pain and a journey of understanding. Rarely do you come across a book as [...]

I really liked the ideas behind this story—the power of names in the face of colonialism, in the face of enforced forgetfulness—but there was just too much in the writing that worked against my enjoyment of it. Kay's style has improved from what it was in the Fionavar series, but it's still clunky and laboured (and desperately in need of some commas), while the world-building is pedestrian and two-dimensional. Many of the better-drawn characters are unengaging, and most of the cast are such [...]

Reading Tigana was like sipping liquid chocolate. Exquisite! I found myself many times deeply and profoundly moved. Kay was able to communicate the profound sense of loss felt by a dispossessed people and without the aid of music or even lyrics bring the music within the book alive to touch the imagination. I felt the mournful tones of the pipes, and the heart wrenching voice of Devin as he sings. Kay makes us imagine what it would be like if the memory of your home is removed not only from your [...]

This is the first book by Kay I've ever read, and one of only three books on my shelves signed by the author (one of only two signed specifically to me, and the only one I actually got myself). Its size is daunting if you're not a regular fantasy reader, but it's a stand-alone novel and would be disappointing if it were any shorter. Tigana is about a great many things, but the central plot and theme of the novel is the subjugation of the people of the Peninsular of the Palm (modelled after Italy [...]

'Tigana' is the first book I have read by Guy Gavriel Kay.I have heard of 'Tigana' book from Brandon Sanderson. He recommends lists of books to his fans to read. 'Tigana' is one of lists he has recommended.I love this book so much Alhamdulillah. I am surprise that Guy Gavriel Kay's books aren't well recognized and I really love his writing style too. Alhamdulillah. There is a few authors who I love their writing style:J.R.R. TolkienGuy Gavriel KayRobert JordanBrandon SandersonI would be interest [...]

I first heard about Guy Gavriel Kay shortly after joining , and have just finally managed to get around to reading my first book. It won't be the last!Tigana was a wonderful reading experience. Complex, nuanced characters captured my heart and I hoped against hope that everyone could somehow be saved in the end. It was beautiful and tragic, full of loss, hope and redemption. I wanted to spend more time in the aftermath and follow them all home. It finished too soon.

I really can't decide whether to rate this a 4 or 5 star, but I'll go with 5. There is more that I like about this book than dislike.Overall, I love the story. It is quite the epic, and it seems a waste of great worldbuilding to contain it to one volume. On the other hand, it is good to see such a marvelous work that stands on its own, without a dozen sequels, prequels, and hard to find novellas. In fantasy, that is a rare treat.Still, this is a world I'd like to visit again someday. The story i [...]

It says that I read this back in January 2000. It would be more accurate to say that I've read this book since January 2000. I've read this book no less than ten times. I own the 10th Anniversary Edition as well now, because I expect my first one to fall apart very soon. It's lost at least one cover being passed around among all my friends throughout high school.One day I will write a real review of this! Just can't put my thoughts together yet.

This story is, at its essence, about how the past influences the present. The protagonists are driven to reclaim their homeland not just from a conquering army, but from a magical spell that prevents others from remembering or even hearing their homeland's name, Tigana. Within a generation any knowledge of their land, its history and culture will be forever lost.Instead of a fast paced, sword and sorcery story, Tigana is rather reflective. There are several POV characters that spend a good deal [...]

If had half-stars, I would have dropped this to only 4 1/2, but more on that below.Tigana is among the handful of fantasy novels that can make me wonder whether Tolkien is as good as I remember him, or as good as his reputation. It has been many years since I read Lord of the Rings, and I almost never re-read books, so I might never find out. Perhaps Tolkien is like Shakespeare — it is easy to convince oneself that it is just hype, that he really can’t be all that astonishingly good; but I� [...]

3.5 stars“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”― Mahatma GandhiDon't let my 3.5 rating fool youis book was written by an amazing storyteller. It's a book that I can't possibly do justice in a review, and I encourage you to read some of the other reviews written by those who are more eloquent with wo [...]

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for *coughcough* six years. And then, wouldn't you know it, but I don't even read it, but instead download an audiobook. Because knitting. (I do that a lot, actually.) This is my second GGK novel, and I liked this one quite a bit more than I liked the first one, though apparently that makes me a heathen or something. I DID like The Lions of Al-Rassan, but I just didn't love it. Jeez! I'm not sure that I necessarily loved this one either, but it spoke to [...]

Tigana offers a story about memory. How important is it to remember the past and how dangerous is it to overdo it?This also relates to the question of freedom. Is freedom really the ultimate goal. Is it worth every sacrifice, or is there are line where the price becomes too high.Guy Gavriel Kay asks this questions enveloped in a beautiful gown of lyrical prose and mythical tale. Most prominently featured are the young musician Devin and Dianora, a courtesan of the powerful wizard-king Brandin.Th [...]

Review from TenaciousReader: tenaciousreader/2015/04.5 starsIf you have not read anything by Guy Gavriel Kay, I really encourage you to. His prose is beautiful without being flowery or ostentatious. It just flows and and leaves both wonderful images and reflections in its wake. And to make the deal even sweeter, the audiobook is narrated by Simon Vance. If you haven’t listened to a book narrated by Simon Vance, your life is just not as fulfilled as it could be! His voice is just magic, and pai [...]

A stand alone fantasy story - a very difficult task to achieve successfully. And Tigana accomplished that!The story is unique - there is sorcery and there is fighting and the prologue is to die for. The prose was fantastic - possibly the best part of the book.The characters also were really good - some excellent and some less interesting. Which makes the book more realistic (when was the last time you liked every single person you met and/or found them interesting)?The book will also try to sque [...]