A review by team_worm
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Great addition to the genre. Loved the writing and the characters. The depictions of some of the supporting characters were a little one dimensional, in a way that felt regrettably stereotyped (specifically the asharite zealots from the desert). And yes I know the Jaddites were depicted as equally depraved and I suppose the 90s were a different time but that trope didn’t age well imo. Ending felt like a classical Greek tragedy, but it’s a book about fantasy reconquista so a HEA was probably out of the question anyway. Side note: is it just me or was there, like, so much homoerotic tension in Ammar and Rodrigo’s relationship? Side side note: A queer romance plot twist between Ammar and Rodrigo would have been awesome. I would have much preferred they make out rather than fight.