BOOK BLURB:An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape. An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape. For two years Shen Tai has mourned his father, living like a hermit beyond the borders of the Kitan Empire, by a mountain lake where terrible battles have long been fought between the Kitai and the neighbouring Tagurans, including one for which his father - a great general - was honoured. But Tai's father never forgot the brutal slaughter involved. The bones of 100,000 soldiers still lie unburied by the lake and their wailing ghosts at night strike terror in the living, leaving the lake and meadow abandoned in its ring of mountains. To honour and redress his father's sorrow, Tai has journeyed west to the lake and has laboured, alone, to bury the dead of both empires. His supplies are replenished by his own people from the nearest fort, and also - since peace has been bought with the bartering of an imperial princess - by the Tagurans, for his solitary honouring of their dead. The Tagurans soldiers one day bring an unexpected letter. It is from the bartered Kitan Princess Cheng-wan, and it contains a poisoned chalice: she has gifted Tai with two hundred and fifty Sardian horses, to reward him for his courage. The Sardians are legendary steeds from the far west, famed, highly-prized, long-coveted by the Kitans.
REVIEW:
This title really does bring GGK back to the fantasy fold and represents an offering that really will blow the fantasy fans socks off. Its got everything from cracking combat to the emotional aspect when the principle protagonist is given a double edged gift that he’ll have to walk the fine line with. Its beautifully written, the scenes vivid backed up with a whole host of characters that literally leap off the page. A wonderful offering by this author and one that, in my opinion, become this authors best selling title, setting the standard for future novels. It’s going to be a tough title for the author to beat with his next offering and one that I hope he can rise to the challenge of.
1 comment:
I love GGK, though I've only actually read his Fionavar-related books! Perhaps this is the book to read to get into his psedo-historicals.
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