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Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews's Reviews > Tigana
Tigana
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Beautiful prose, but the story falls incredibly flat
I really wanted to like this book as I've had a lot of people I trust tell me that both this book, and Guy Gavriel Kay as a writer are incredible. Unfortunately, it's just clearly not written for my tastes.
I'm a fantasy fan, and I like an epic story with interesting twists. Instead what I got was a book that was essentially a historical non-fiction with some minor fantasy elements and a story that was rather limited in scope.
Guy Gavriel Kay clearly is a wonderful writer, and his prose is some of the best I have ever read. But I don't really care if prose is good or not because what I want is a wonderful story. I much prefer something like Brandon Sanderson who is the opposite of Guy Gavriel Kay, where he comes with a wonderful story and limited prose. Or even better, a Steven Erikson who comes with both.
If you are someone who gushes over the way something is written, than you may enjoy this book. If you are someone who enjoys an epic fantasy, look elsewhere.
I really wanted to like this book as I've had a lot of people I trust tell me that both this book, and Guy Gavriel Kay as a writer are incredible. Unfortunately, it's just clearly not written for my tastes.
I'm a fantasy fan, and I like an epic story with interesting twists. Instead what I got was a book that was essentially a historical non-fiction with some minor fantasy elements and a story that was rather limited in scope.
Guy Gavriel Kay clearly is a wonderful writer, and his prose is some of the best I have ever read. But I don't really care if prose is good or not because what I want is a wonderful story. I much prefer something like Brandon Sanderson who is the opposite of Guy Gavriel Kay, where he comes with a wonderful story and limited prose. Or even better, a Steven Erikson who comes with both.
If you are someone who gushes over the way something is written, than you may enjoy this book. If you are someone who enjoys an epic fantasy, look elsewhere.
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Reading Progress
February 25, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 25, 2022
– Shelved
March 13, 2022
–
Started Reading
March 16, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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TwoTonYoda
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Mar 16, 2022 04:34PM
so excited to read this and all of his other works.
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It is a pity. Good luck the next ocassion Matt with your next reading.
Hi Matt! I love an epic fantasy and great prose. But if I had to pick between the two give me the epic fantasy story any day☝�. Sorry this one fell flat. I hope your next one is epic! 😊Great review!
I feel you. I've tried reading this so many times already -- ebook and audiobook -- one time I even got over half-way through, I think? I just never managed to finish it. Which is such a shame, because the writing is absolutely wonderful... I'll probably try it again some time in the future, but perhaps -- like for you -- it just isn't for me :( (Also, there's really no shortage of other epic fantasy/Brandon Sanderson books out there, so I should probably just focus on those... :'D)
Couldn't agree more with this review. I'm 100% on the same page as you.
I thought the story was excellent, as was the prose. Sanderson and Erikson write epic fantasy, GGK does not. I think it’s fair to say you didn’t enjoy it, but maybe a stretch to say the “story falls flat.� What I hear from your review is “I expected epic fantasy and I got a literary historical fantasy. I don’t really like this genre and consequently, this book.�
This review reminds me of my very unpopular opinion of Tolkien’s writing 😂 I can’t imagine wanting to read fantasy where the actual fantasy is glossed over for much less interesting things 😮� the last statement in your review is very helpful 👌🏼
