The Last Light of the Sun - Guy Gavriel Kay Book Review

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Review Summary

Roc, March 2004, 24.95, 512 pp.
ISBN 0451459652

The kingdoms fight each other and within each realm; feuds are the order of the day. The Erlings of Vimmark are feared for their vicious naval raids done due to a barren and cold land for much of the year. In Cyngael, the clans are constantly feuding and raiding while Anglcyn is a land that is growing stronger and larger thanks to the leadership of King Aeldred. When sibling Princes Dai and Alun are caught in an Erling raid, Alun sinks into a depression.

The cleric of Cyngael, Ceinion of Llywerth, accompanied by Alun, decides to travel to Anglcyn and the court of King Aeldred. While there, mercenary troops start raiding. They are led by the man that killed Alun's brother. The attempt is foiled but the killer escapes and persuades the mercenaries to travel to Arberth to kill Brynn and retrieve a valuable sword. Aeldred's son Athelbert, Alun and an Erling in service to Brynn's wife prepare the villagers for the coming battle.

THE LAST LIGHT OF THE SUN is a very special fantasy novel that will be read in one sitting because readers will find it impossible to put down. Guy Gavriel Kay is a fantastic world builder drawing on facts from the Middle Ages including the Vikings, Anglo Saxons and Celts. Though it is difficult to keep track of the exploits of the various characters (just read the two paragraphs above for a rudimentary idea), the key cast members feel genuine, three dimensional and at least the good guys are very likeable even with flaws. This is a world one would want to revisit to see how the sun rays reflect on the next generation.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Last Light of the Sun

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - saving govt/kingdom from external overthrow
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - weapon
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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The Diamond Throne - The Elenium 1 by David Eddings

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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