The Lions of Al-Rassan

(Paperback)

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Description

Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, a deeply compelling story of love, adventure, divided loyalties, and what happens when beliefs begin to remake or destroy a world.
The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan poet, diplomat, soldier until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever.

Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites' most celebrated and feared military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south.

In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve for a time the same master. Tangled in their interwoven fate and divided by her feelings is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose skills may not be enough to heal the coming pain as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.

Reviews

Praise for THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN:

Impossible to put down
Kirkus Reviews

Genre fans looking for more romance and strong female character development will find this an engrossing tale
Publishers Weekly

A magnificent, deeply moving book
Locus

Wistful and elegiac in tone, with a few clever sleight-of-hand plot twists thrown in for good measure, THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN weaves a subtle spell. The publication of a Guy Gavriel Kay book has become something of an event in the international fantasy community. He's considered to be one of the (if not the) premiere fantasists of our time
The Financial Post

Author Bio

Guy Gavriel Kay was born and raised in Canada. In 1974-5 he spent a year in Oxford assisting Christopher Tolkien in his editorial construction of J R R Tolkiens posthumously published THE SILMARILLION. He took a law degree at the University of Toronto on his return to Canada and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1981. Guy Gavriel Kay lives in Toronto.