Review by Booklist Review
Kay's thoroughly excellent new novel resembles his Song for Arbonne (1992) in that there is no magic in it. Instead, Kay deftly and intelligently bends history at a slightly different angle. The setting is a variant early medieval Spain whose Muslims, Christians, and Jews are also suitably modified. The story turns on the rivalries between the Kingdom of Al-Rassan, once mighty but now split into quarreling principalities, and the kings of the Jaddites. Far to the north, the Jaddites hope to reclaim Al-Rassan, which was once theirs. Into this skillfully imagined, eloquently described stew of war, intrigue, and magnificence happen a warrior from each side and a female physician. The threesome's adventures constitute the bulk of a long but never padded, demanding but enormously rewarding novel. --Roland Green
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Canadian attorney Kay has eschewed the courtroom thriller for fantasy (A Song for Arbonne, etc.). Here he draws on the crumbling empire of medieval Spain to inspire this tale of brutality and romance. Though the setting is the fictitious Al-Rassan, and there are passing references to the ``Star-born,'' any ancillary connection with science fiction is almost irrelevant to the story. Kay provides insightful glimpses into the goals and motives of his many characters, including King Almalik of Cartada, his advisor Ammar ibn Khairan, a young soldier, Alvar de Pellino, and the compelling female physician Jehane. Mindful of the confusion that alternate universes can create for readers, Kay is careful to periodically summarize the current positions of the various factions in the struggles between the many kingdoms in the empire. Studded with poetry that is evocative of Spain (some selections are reminiscent of El Cid), the story is buttressed with convincing cultural and social details and descriptions of medicine as it was practiced in the 12th century. Genre fans looking for more romance and strong female character development will find this an engrossing tale. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Kay's recent work has built up fantasy worlds based on Mediterranean models: Tigana (1990) was modeled on Italy, A Song For Arbonne (1993) on Provence. Now, he takes as his template Moorish Spain in the last years before reconquest by the Christians. The story follows three major characters, representing the three peoples of Kay's setting, analogous to the Christians, Moors, and Jews in Spain. Rodrigo Belmonte and Ammar ibn Khairan are the leading generals of their respective nations, exiled for reasons of political expediency. They join forces in the service of a border city, leading mercenary troops and awaiting the recall to their homelands. Later, fanatics on both sides prepare a religious war that will inevitably pit Rodrigo and Ammar against each another. The two generals come to share a mutual respect; and Jehane bet Ishak, a skilled woman doctor whose life they've touched, falls in love with both of them. Political forces bring the two men into conflict, however, forcing Jehane to choose between them. Kay effectively plays the changes on the themes of love, duty, honor, and fate as the story moves slowly toward a resolution, with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Meanwhile, the complex characterization and richly detailed settings create an unusually full portrait of an exotic society. The final pages step back from the action, leaving the reader with the impression that the novel's events have abruptly receded into some long-forgotten history. But other than the ``alternate world'' setting, with twin moons and an elaborately built-up history, the only ``fantastic'' element here (and not an especially prominent one) is the ability of one character to foresee the future. A notch below Kay's peak form, but still on a higher level of artistry than the work of almost any other current fantasy writer.
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