Guy Kay's first contemporary fantasy is a tour de force--and his bestselling novel ever. Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner accompanies his photographer father to Provence, where he is shooting images for a glossy coffee-table book. As Ned strolls along roads walked by Celtic tribes and Roman legions, he discovers a very old story playing itself out in this modern world of iPods and cell phones. On one holy, haunted night of the ancient year, when the borders between the living and the dead are down and fires are lit upon the ...
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Guy Kay's first contemporary fantasy is a tour de force--and his bestselling novel ever. Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner accompanies his photographer father to Provence, where he is shooting images for a glossy coffee-table book. As Ned strolls along roads walked by Celtic tribes and Roman legions, he discovers a very old story playing itself out in this modern world of iPods and cell phones. On one holy, haunted night of the ancient year, when the borders between the living and the dead are down and fires are lit upon the hills, Ned, his family, and friends are shockingly drawn into this tale, as dangerous, mythic figures from conflicts of long ago erupt into the present, claiming and changing lives.
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Not in a good while have I been so slammed with plot and historical detail as I was by "Ysabel," by Guy Gavriel Kay. Ned, a realistically portrayed teenager, is abruptly drawn into a situation so confusing and urgent that events get moving with unstoppable speed long before he or the reader has a chance to process what the heck is going on. Many times I had to go back to earlier parts of the book when the importance of a tiny expository detail suddenly become clear and I needed a refresher. It is important to note, however, that this does not in any way prevent "Ysabel" from being a highly readable, enthusiastic novel with satisfyingly high stakes. I also appreciated the web of character relationships; Ned is not the lone teen hero who goes it alone in the face of disbelief from all sides. Instead, his family and friends have their parts to play and they are more than mere set dressing to populate Ned's background. All in all, I very much enjoyed this contemporary historical fantasy (there's a confusing genre for you), so don't be discouraged if you are utterly confused at the beginning of the story. Events clarify a little as the plot rushes onward, making for a rewarding read.
