From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

Tigana

Guy Gavriel Kay

Start date: June 1, 2012

Finish date: July 1, 2012

Discussion leader: Nimrod God

Why we're reading this: Sword pick for June, as voted by you!
[close] Sword pick for June, as voted by you!

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Nov 28, 2011 Andrea rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Usually you can give me a set of likable, oppressed rebels, and you can pretty much automatically sign me up for the revolution. The kinds of heroes who fight for freedom in these stories were always celebrated in my home, in the kinds of media my family was excited about. I liked the characters in Tigana well enough, but some of the actions that they took in their fight for freedom made me question whether I would be that resolved. So I was surprised to survey myself, and then realize that I ha ...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Adrienne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: characters-that-feel-real, fantasy, post-book-withdrawl, owned, sword-and-laser, music

This book was slow to get going, but after Chapter 5 I was hooked.

I liked the prologue quite a bit, so I was thrown for a bit of a loop when the first chapter is 20 years later in some random tavern with some random nameless people (at that point!) talking about history I didn't know. Then we're introduced to Devin, who is a much more grounded character -- and someone I was happy to read about. After some flip-flopping viewpoints and some confusion, everything becomes clear in Chapter 5 -- so gi This book was slow to get going, but after Chapter 5 I was hooked.

I liked the prologue quite a bit, so I was thrown for a bit of a loop when the first chapter is 20 years later in some random tavern with some random nameless people (at that point!) talking about history I didn't know. Then we're introduced to Devin, who is a much more grounded character -- and someone I was happy to read about. After some flip-flopping viewpoints and some confusion, everything becomes clear in Chapter 5 -- so give it at least 'til then. The language was more florid than I normally like, but it actually complemented the Italian Renaissance setting of this world so well that I found myself re-reading passages just because of how they were written.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters' depth. There was really only one character to truly dislike. The others, no matter which side they were on, all ended up being sympathetic at certain points. A number of characters, who were for the most part good people, would find themselves in situations with no good solution, and after choosing their action would have to deal with the effects of the decision they'd just made. My favorite!

That is not to say that the book was flawless. I found the sudden switch from Devin to Dianora quite disconcerting, even though I ended up liking her point of view quite a bit by the end of the section. I am not sure if I would have preferred the two viewpoints to be more interspersed, with less of a sudden change, or to be kept as they were, which allowed you to cozy up with the character for a while. I was also unhappy with the end, especially concerning Catriana -- (view spoiler) However, either these complaints were minor compared to my enjoyment of the rest of the book, or I ended up getting over them.

Here is one of those lines that I re-read a few times, because it fit so well in the scene:

"He thought about the years, all the lost years that had tumbled and spun and drifted like leaves or snow between these two, then and now."

I know exactly what those lost years tumbling like leaves feels like. ...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Charlotte rated it liked it

Shelves: bookskype

Tigana has a great setting and a unique conflict. However, I found the plot disjointed in places and I did not like how quickly it switched between viewpoints. I would have been happier if it had stuck to just Devin and Dianora. I also wish Dianora had been more effectual. I understand and appreciated her indecision through the beginning but eventually I wanted her to make up her mind and do something. Despite all that, this book does an excellent job of presenting morally complex characters and ...more

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Oct 09, 2009 Joanna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. It took me a while to read this book for some reason. It's well written and has a unique plot line. However, I hated the majority of the female characters (Dionara excluded but even she wasn't stand alone WITHOUT Brandin) and I didn't care enough about Alessan. I felt like the Dionara/Brandin storyline was so well done, it felt like the point of view of Devin was almost unnecessary and too distant. And I just didn't LIKE Devin. So yeah, good things and bad ...more

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Mar 05, 2014 hatpin rated it it was ok

I was expecting to enjoy this, but it was just too much work for the payoff. Slogged through to the end to justify the time already invested.

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May 30, 2012 Tegan rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

A heavy read fantasy novel of kingdoms, revenge, loyalty, and determination.

I had trouble really diving into this book, the writing style manages to be both heavy on history and detail while also liberally filled with obfuscation and hints of what is to be revealed. I enjoyed later parts of the book more than the beginning, especially the last third when all of the history and planning of the beginning finally is set into motion and reaches its conclusion.

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