Fantasy Book Club discussion

Who will be reading Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Tell us what you think.
No spoilers, please.

It's great, but quite a bit different for those who have read a lot of Kay's work.

I had to wiki up the old Fionavar books (I read them a long, long time ago)to remind me who was who...

I found it very poor, it was bad enough having to read this in public with its feminine front cover but a 500+ page YA novel has to be interesting, this wasnt imo.

I read this late last year (see my review here). I liked it but I do not plan on re-reading it this month for the group discussion.

Though this book has been on my "want to read" list, I just have not been able to actually get myself to buy it, yet.

It grabs my attention, but that's as far as I get with it.

I read Ysabel about 6 years ago for a Canadian authors book club and it was just so average. I generally liked it but nothing I would ever go back to so I won't be joining in.

Ysabel was also my first Kay novel and I've been reluctant to read his work since then even though I've heard lots of good things...

Eliene wrote: "I read Ysabel about 6 years ago for a Canadian authors book club and it was just so average. I generally liked it but nothing I would ever go back to so I won't be joining in.

Ysabel was also my f..."

I'm not going to get a chance to read Ysabel this month (went for Half a King instead), but it sounds to me like it's not very representative of Kay's other work, except perhaps the Fionavar Tapestry. I think if you're on the fence about Kay but willing to give him another go, I'd recommend Tigana. Although it seems to have mixed reviews on Goodreads, I'd been repeatedly recommended it before I read it, and absolutely adored it. Seems to be one of those fantasy 'classics' that still holds up very well, when so many others feel horribly dated.

Amy wrote: I'm not going to get a chance to read Ysabel this month (went for Half a King instead), but it sounds to me like it's not very representative of Kay's other work, except perhaps the Fionavar Tapestry. I think if you're on the fence about Kay but willing to give him another go, I'd recommend Tigana.

Thanks for the suggestion Amy! I've thought about trying his work again with Under Heaven or Sailing to Sarantium but never considered Tigana. I keep putting it off but I'll take a look at your rec.

Eliene wrote: " Amy wrote: I'm not going to get a chance to read Ysabel this month (went for Half a King instead), but it sounds to me like it's not very representative of Kay's other work, except perhaps the Fio..."

Try the Fionavar tapestry. Great books.

I read this last year and went on to (not finish) the Fionavar trilogy.

I've read a small ebook sample of The Summer Tree but I couldn't get into it. Maybe the sample was too small but either way I haven't quite written it off, it'll be on the back burner for some time. Thanks for the rec!

I am currently reading Ysabel and am mostly enjoying it. I wasn't aware, though that it was going to be YA - is it advertised as such? Is the Fionavar trilogy also YA?

I'm slightly disappointed that this is the case, since I'm not usually the biggest fan of YA. But the book is an easy read and fun so far nonetheless.