Status
Available
Description
"Saint-Saveur Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence is an ancient structure of many secrets-a perfect monument to fill the lens of a celebrated photographer, and a perfect place for the photographer's son, Ned Marriner, to lose himself while his father works. But the cathedral isn't the empty edifice it appears to be. Its history is very much alive in the present day-and it's calling out to Ned."--Publisher description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member richardderus
Since there are no 3/4 stars, I've had to round this up to 4. I liked the book very much, and I found reading it very easy. I like the PoV character, Ned, and found his development from adolescent smartass to postadolescent smart youth involving.
Apparently this book winds up a series of books about
Provence exerts a strong pull on me, and this book's exploration of the ancient world of Provence as it impacts characters in today's world is meat and drink to me. I am fully convinced of the reality of the past, and that its shadows are felt...not just thought about, but felt...in the present. I experience this oddly overlaid reality myself, in most places that I go, so I am already predisposed to like a book about the subject.
Provence and Tuscany and Umbria are places I've been to and felt in the way author Kay describes in this book. Machu Picchu is another. It seems likely to me that Kay has experienced this odd, through-a-scrim sensation of looking at physical reality himself, or he'd be less good at conveying its weird dislocations. This alone makes me likely to seek out the other books in this series (sob!), but next Kay on deck for me is Tigana per that fiend-in-soignee-human-form Caroline.
What doesn't entirely work about the book, to me, is its pick-'em-up-and-drop-'em way with some minor though important characters, like the Brit expat blowhard who could have been a fun addition to the cast but was instead cast off as a deus ex machina at two crucial points. Well, nothing made by man is perfect, so I forgive the failings in acknowledgment of the far more frequent pleasures reading Ysabel offers.
Recommended! Ignore that silly "YA" label, enjoy it for itself!
Apparently this book winds up a series of books about
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its semi-immortal characters, doomed to replay and replay their ancient passionate triangle through millennia of time. The accidental instrusion of Ned, his aunt, his uncle-by-marriage, and the lovely assistant his father brought with his professional menagerie of assistants and fixers, makes the stakes for the book quite high: Who wants to call a young woman's parents to announce, "Hey, you know your daughter? Well, she's now a goddess and by the way she's not going to be seen on the mortal plane again for, oh, maybe 300 years, 'kay, bye!"Provence exerts a strong pull on me, and this book's exploration of the ancient world of Provence as it impacts characters in today's world is meat and drink to me. I am fully convinced of the reality of the past, and that its shadows are felt...not just thought about, but felt...in the present. I experience this oddly overlaid reality myself, in most places that I go, so I am already predisposed to like a book about the subject.
Provence and Tuscany and Umbria are places I've been to and felt in the way author Kay describes in this book. Machu Picchu is another. It seems likely to me that Kay has experienced this odd, through-a-scrim sensation of looking at physical reality himself, or he'd be less good at conveying its weird dislocations. This alone makes me likely to seek out the other books in this series (sob!), but next Kay on deck for me is Tigana per that fiend-in-soignee-human-form Caroline.
What doesn't entirely work about the book, to me, is its pick-'em-up-and-drop-'em way with some minor though important characters, like the Brit expat blowhard who could have been a fun addition to the cast but was instead cast off as a deus ex machina at two crucial points. Well, nothing made by man is perfect, so I forgive the failings in acknowledgment of the far more frequent pleasures reading Ysabel offers.
Recommended! Ignore that silly "YA" label, enjoy it for itself!
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LibraryThing member Stewartry
Ysabel is the story of a fifteen-year-old Canadian boy who is traveling with his photographer father in Provence, and who trips over a Story, getting pulled into something that has been recurring for 2500 years. Then his father’s assistant is pulled in even further, and the only ones who can get
It read strangely like a boys’ adventure story. Since it’s GGK, it’s an exquisitely written boys’ adventure story, but … it’s almost entirely from Ned’s point of view … which I’m afraid distracted me right out of the book a few times wondering how accurate GGK’s command of teenaged argot and taste was. Would even a precocious 15-year-old have that much Zeppelin and Coldplay on his iPod? I do very much think he had the basic roiling emotions of male puberty right (not like I’d know, but it felt right, and hey – he lived it once): one second deep in thought about the Situation, the very next second thoroughly distracted by the memory of a girl’s hair. But I digress. Basically, I don’t think it’s spoilerific to say that the situation is one in which Ned discovers hidden abilities in himself, and it becomes more and more clear that he is the only one who can save the day. And what happens in the last chapter or so emphasized my feeling of aimed-at-adolescent-boys.
It was a pop culture reference smorgasbord – from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid to Spongebob Squarepants, which coming from GGK just seemed bizarre. It’s been a long while since any of his books took place in the here, never mind the now – so it was perhaps inevitable that there’s a crossover between Ysabel and that last time. It surprised me (though maybe it shouldn’t have), so I’ll shut up about that.
There were some very beautiful moments, and some very powerful moments. That’s sort of the law of the universe when it comes to GGK. But … usually a GGK takes preparation for me to read it; sort of mental calisthenics to get into shape for a challenge. Reading GGK isn’t like picking up a British Cozy and dipping in – I can’t “dip” into GGK. This was different, almost dilute (for one thing, the general tone of the book was indeed almost suitable for younger readers – which GGK never really is. This is the only time I can think of where there were no R-rated (or higher) scenes), and a surprisingly quick read. (GGK’s never a quick read.) Almost average – though high average. I still recommend it, as it was very good indeed. I loved the Story. It was just a different sort of animal from the usual by Mr. Kay.
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her back are Ned (the boy) and his family.It read strangely like a boys’ adventure story. Since it’s GGK, it’s an exquisitely written boys’ adventure story, but … it’s almost entirely from Ned’s point of view … which I’m afraid distracted me right out of the book a few times wondering how accurate GGK’s command of teenaged argot and taste was. Would even a precocious 15-year-old have that much Zeppelin and Coldplay on his iPod? I do very much think he had the basic roiling emotions of male puberty right (not like I’d know, but it felt right, and hey – he lived it once): one second deep in thought about the Situation, the very next second thoroughly distracted by the memory of a girl’s hair. But I digress. Basically, I don’t think it’s spoilerific to say that the situation is one in which Ned discovers hidden abilities in himself, and it becomes more and more clear that he is the only one who can save the day. And what happens in the last chapter or so emphasized my feeling of aimed-at-adolescent-boys.
It was a pop culture reference smorgasbord – from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid to Spongebob Squarepants, which coming from GGK just seemed bizarre. It’s been a long while since any of his books took place in the here, never mind the now – so it was perhaps inevitable that there’s a crossover between Ysabel and that last time. It surprised me (though maybe it shouldn’t have), so I’ll shut up about that.
There were some very beautiful moments, and some very powerful moments. That’s sort of the law of the universe when it comes to GGK. But … usually a GGK takes preparation for me to read it; sort of mental calisthenics to get into shape for a challenge. Reading GGK isn’t like picking up a British Cozy and dipping in – I can’t “dip” into GGK. This was different, almost dilute (for one thing, the general tone of the book was indeed almost suitable for younger readers – which GGK never really is. This is the only time I can think of where there were no R-rated (or higher) scenes), and a surprisingly quick read. (GGK’s never a quick read.) Almost average – though high average. I still recommend it, as it was very good indeed. I loved the Story. It was just a different sort of animal from the usual by Mr. Kay.
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LibraryThing member jolerie
Their names are Ysabel, Cadell, and Phelan. At least this time around, that is what they are called. This isn't the first time. In fact, they've played out this story for over two thousand years. It has become an endless cycle of love and sacrifice. This time, with Aix-en-Provence as the backdrop,
Yasbel held me rapt from the very beginning. Like any good story, the plot and mystery are revealed page by page, line by line, causing a tension and anticipation that bordered on torture. This would be a book that I would have devoured in one sitting if time was a luxury I could afford.
It took a little adjusting to the style of the writing since I have become so accustomed to Kay's usual pattern of character and world building. In comparison Ysabel was nowhere near as intricate or complex as his other works and because of that the ending was the only negative component in the book. I was left wanting more, as if there should have been more answers. But in some ways, perhaps that is a sign that I truly enjoyed the book - I didn't want to leave the characters the way they were and yet I was relieved that I had reached the climax and characters had found their resolution even if I was a bit reluctant to let them go.
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the story will unfold once again, but this time Ned Marriner, a teenage boy from Montreal Canada will become the wild card that will force Ysabel to choose differently - a choice that will change the fates of not only herself, but of the two men that she has loved for over two millennia.Yasbel held me rapt from the very beginning. Like any good story, the plot and mystery are revealed page by page, line by line, causing a tension and anticipation that bordered on torture. This would be a book that I would have devoured in one sitting if time was a luxury I could afford.
It took a little adjusting to the style of the writing since I have become so accustomed to Kay's usual pattern of character and world building. In comparison Ysabel was nowhere near as intricate or complex as his other works and because of that the ending was the only negative component in the book. I was left wanting more, as if there should have been more answers. But in some ways, perhaps that is a sign that I truly enjoyed the book - I didn't want to leave the characters the way they were and yet I was relieved that I had reached the climax and characters had found their resolution even if I was a bit reluctant to let them go.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Even though Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay will never be on my list of favorite books by him, it was still an interesting and engaging read. Those used to his usual epic story-telling will find this book quite different. I felt it was more of a YA read, set in our world with fantasy aspects, instead of
An event which transcends time, and has been recreated through the last 2500 years is on the verge of being triggered when the story opens. A romantic triangle that is destined to be played out over and over again. Ned, a fifteen year old, has come to Provence with his world famous photographer father and a group of his assistants. With time on his hands, he explores the cathedral in Aix-en-Provence, meets a young exchange student, Kate, and they are swept up into a time spanning saga that eventually involves the whole group.
I found the addition of a couple of characters from the Finovar Tapestry provided an link to this authors other work, and eventually went a long way to explain some of the things that Ned was experiencing. It isn’t necessary to have read the Finovar Tapestry beforehand, but I think it would aid in the overall understanding of Ned’s abilities and his family connections.
Ysabel has such a different feeling to it from his other books, that I was glad this wasn’t my first Guy Gavriel Kay book. A fast read, a lighter read that I normally expect from this author, but still an above average fantasy with lots going on to hold the readers attention.
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his usual rich and deep historical fantasies set in worlds of his own creation.An event which transcends time, and has been recreated through the last 2500 years is on the verge of being triggered when the story opens. A romantic triangle that is destined to be played out over and over again. Ned, a fifteen year old, has come to Provence with his world famous photographer father and a group of his assistants. With time on his hands, he explores the cathedral in Aix-en-Provence, meets a young exchange student, Kate, and they are swept up into a time spanning saga that eventually involves the whole group.
I found the addition of a couple of characters from the Finovar Tapestry provided an link to this authors other work, and eventually went a long way to explain some of the things that Ned was experiencing. It isn’t necessary to have read the Finovar Tapestry beforehand, but I think it would aid in the overall understanding of Ned’s abilities and his family connections.
Ysabel has such a different feeling to it from his other books, that I was glad this wasn’t my first Guy Gavriel Kay book. A fast read, a lighter read that I normally expect from this author, but still an above average fantasy with lots going on to hold the readers attention.
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LibraryThing member katylit
Good fantasy about a teenage Canadian boy in Provence with his famous photographer father. Hero encounters 2 men from 2500 years ago, one Roman, one Celt. Not as good as other Kay books, but still evokes beautiful imagery, with the past and present merging.
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
I understand why some people are disappointed in this book; if you get into Ysabel thinking you're getting a regular Guy Gavriel Kay, than this might be a bit of a let down. The writing style is different. Every now and then it shows flashes of regular GGK, but overall it's more superficial and
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less dramatic. On the other hand, if you make a habit of checking out reviews before you read a book, then you know this, and are not surprised. Such was the case with me, and I really enjoyed this book. I knew there was a link to Fionavar, and I was very happy to see Kim and Dave again. I would have liked it better if Kim had had a bit more power. After all, I think she says Earth has need of a dreamer too when she returns here. I would have liked to see a bit more evidence of that. Still, nice story, nice characters, swift pacing. Not as compelling as a normal GGK, but a good read nonetheless. Show Less
LibraryThing member NancySharkey
SETTING
Modern-day Provence in France, with flashes to previous time periods in the same geographic region. Touches on the history of the area, weaves together the stories of the conflicts in the region … Celts vs. Greeks, Romans, Catholic church and heretics, etc.
CHARACTERS
Significant characters
PLOT
Good for YA audience in that plot is linear, and there no fully developed subplots; POV rarely changes from that of main character, Ned; occasionally the focus shifts to Ysabel, but never as first person (she is “she”); a few times we are in Phelan’s head.
Although this storyline resolves, many questions are left unanswered, e.g. the backstory about Ned’s Aunt and Uncle, ‘white boar’, even Greg, the assistant, and, of course, Ned’s relationship with Kate Wenger. I smell “sequel”!
PACING
A bit slow to start, but once the central story reveals itself, the pace accelerates toward the climax. A mix of action and danger with ideas – history, ways of life, cultural succession, etc. – and the supernatural
TONE/STYLE
Attempts to be ‘edgy’ at the beginning, as Ned is introduced and we are told about his adolescent angst (note: told, rather than shown).
One disappointment in the book – Kay is NOT a YA writer; he doesn’t really shape Ned as a believable teenager. Elements of stereotyping creep in, and Ned strikes me as more of ‘what adults THINK teens are like’ rather than what they really are.
READING LEVEL/LEVEL OF DETAIL
Due to connection with photography, some places are described in great detail, which sometimes becomes a bit ‘clunky’. Kay does a better job of setting the stage when the supernatural elements come in to play – the passages set in Entrement at Beltaine, for instance, have much more drama and atmosphere than at the cathedral, or the Roman ruins
THEME/BIG PICTURE
The ‘big’, ‘true’, stories repeat themselves; history as a spiral, rather than a line
The coming-of-age theme is embedded more in Ned developing a sense of himself within his family’s heritage / lineage, than in coming to know himself better. He always had confidence, but now his parents see him in a different light, rather than his self-image changing dramatically. In fact, some rather surprising things that he learns about himself (his ability to sense others with supernatural power, his ability to “zap” others with power) are not discussed, let alone resolved/explained within the world of the supernatural or everyday. Don’t know if this is due to an intended sequel, or if the book ‘fits’ with others that Kay has written, and it is my unfamiliarity with his work that leaves these things unresolved.
Modern-day Provence in France, with flashes to previous time periods in the same geographic region. Touches on the history of the area, weaves together the stories of the conflicts in the region … Celts vs. Greeks, Romans, Catholic church and heretics, etc.
CHARACTERS
Significant characters
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are fictional people who discover an internal supernatural connection or power; the ‘love triangle’ members are bordering on mythic, as they re-live the central conflict repeatedly throughout the ages, and become intertwined with local legendPLOT
Good for YA audience in that plot is linear, and there no fully developed subplots; POV rarely changes from that of main character, Ned; occasionally the focus shifts to Ysabel, but never as first person (she is “she”); a few times we are in Phelan’s head.
Although this storyline resolves, many questions are left unanswered, e.g. the backstory about Ned’s Aunt and Uncle, ‘white boar’, even Greg, the assistant, and, of course, Ned’s relationship with Kate Wenger. I smell “sequel”!
PACING
A bit slow to start, but once the central story reveals itself, the pace accelerates toward the climax. A mix of action and danger with ideas – history, ways of life, cultural succession, etc. – and the supernatural
TONE/STYLE
Attempts to be ‘edgy’ at the beginning, as Ned is introduced and we are told about his adolescent angst (note: told, rather than shown).
One disappointment in the book – Kay is NOT a YA writer; he doesn’t really shape Ned as a believable teenager. Elements of stereotyping creep in, and Ned strikes me as more of ‘what adults THINK teens are like’ rather than what they really are.
READING LEVEL/LEVEL OF DETAIL
Due to connection with photography, some places are described in great detail, which sometimes becomes a bit ‘clunky’. Kay does a better job of setting the stage when the supernatural elements come in to play – the passages set in Entrement at Beltaine, for instance, have much more drama and atmosphere than at the cathedral, or the Roman ruins
THEME/BIG PICTURE
The ‘big’, ‘true’, stories repeat themselves; history as a spiral, rather than a line
The coming-of-age theme is embedded more in Ned developing a sense of himself within his family’s heritage / lineage, than in coming to know himself better. He always had confidence, but now his parents see him in a different light, rather than his self-image changing dramatically. In fact, some rather surprising things that he learns about himself (his ability to sense others with supernatural power, his ability to “zap” others with power) are not discussed, let alone resolved/explained within the world of the supernatural or everyday. Don’t know if this is due to an intended sequel, or if the book ‘fits’ with others that Kay has written, and it is my unfamiliarity with his work that leaves these things unresolved.
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LibraryThing member porch_reader
Guy Gavriel Kay is an author that I learned about through LT. I've never read any of his books, but when I found this book on a sale table, I decided to start with it. When Ned Marriner is visiting France with his father, he meets Kate Wenger, an American exchange student, at a cathedral. Together,
This was a great story and an excellent summer read. Two things made it stand out. First, the storyline was beautifully constructed - pulling me along at just the right pace, never failing to surprise me. Second, the characters were very believable. Ned and Kate are teenagers, and their relationship felt very much like a relationship that would develop between two teenagers on holiday. Each of the other characters also felt distinct and believable, and the relationships between then were excellently written. This is an excellent fantasy novel, but even if you don't consider yourself a fantasy reader, you might give this one a try.
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they stumble upon a stranger with whom Ned feels some connection. As the story unfolds, Ned and Kate are pulled into an ancient conflict, and together with Ned's family, they must summon all of their resources to figure out what's going on and save someone they love. This was a great story and an excellent summer read. Two things made it stand out. First, the storyline was beautifully constructed - pulling me along at just the right pace, never failing to surprise me. Second, the characters were very believable. Ned and Kate are teenagers, and their relationship felt very much like a relationship that would develop between two teenagers on holiday. Each of the other characters also felt distinct and believable, and the relationships between then were excellently written. This is an excellent fantasy novel, but even if you don't consider yourself a fantasy reader, you might give this one a try.
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LibraryThing member seitherin
For a Kay book, this was very light reading. Although I suspected the book would end the way it did, it was somehow unsatisfying.
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
I really like Kay's Fionavar Tapestry and don't actually like a lot of his other books. He tends to be just a little too flowery for me somehow and I haven't found his other books as compelling. What makes the Fionavar Tapestry so wonderful is its mix of modern and fantastical and the sense of
Young people discovering an unknown talent for magic or walking through a wardrobe into another place and getting caught in some sort of epic conflict is a tried and true trope in the fantasy genre. The tragic love triangle is another familiar story (think Tristan/Isolde/Marc, Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere). In Ysabel Kay combines these two familiar storylines into one book that is well-written and fun to read with a central character, Ned, who feels like a 15-year-old boy. The journey of Ned, his family, and his friends into an ever-repeating cycle of ancient history in a beautiful corner of the world was above all entertaining - and that's what a good story should be.
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magic it conveys. Ysabel also has these qualities in spades.Young people discovering an unknown talent for magic or walking through a wardrobe into another place and getting caught in some sort of epic conflict is a tried and true trope in the fantasy genre. The tragic love triangle is another familiar story (think Tristan/Isolde/Marc, Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere). In Ysabel Kay combines these two familiar storylines into one book that is well-written and fun to read with a central character, Ned, who feels like a 15-year-old boy. The journey of Ned, his family, and his friends into an ever-repeating cycle of ancient history in a beautiful corner of the world was above all entertaining - and that's what a good story should be.
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LibraryThing member VivalaErin
My first book by GGK, and it certainly will not be my last! I very much like his style, and this book moved seamlessly between 15-year-old Ned's perspective and another deeper voice. Any sort of myth stoey can draw me in. Provence is beautiful and filled with legend as well as history, so the
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Celtic backgound suited the setting perfectly. I enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read read another by Kay. Show Less
LibraryThing member seekingflight
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, as a simple retelling of the plot would possibly have discouraged me from reading it. But I have enjoyed Kay’s books in the past, and enjoyed this one also, although it’s perhaps difficult to really capture a sense of what it’s about while
Essentially, 15-year old Ned is with his famous photographer father in Provence, France, and stumbles upon a mysterious stranger with a knife while exploring a historic cathedral. The stranger tells Ned and Kate, the exchange student he encounters in the cathedral, that they have “stumbled into the corner of a very old story”, and should back away now, and the story sort of evolves from here ...
Part of what I liked, I think, were Ned’s musings on time and history and narrative, and their resonances through the ages ...
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avoiding spoilers ... Essentially, 15-year old Ned is with his famous photographer father in Provence, France, and stumbles upon a mysterious stranger with a knife while exploring a historic cathedral. The stranger tells Ned and Kate, the exchange student he encounters in the cathedral, that they have “stumbled into the corner of a very old story”, and should back away now, and the story sort of evolves from here ...
Part of what I liked, I think, were Ned’s musings on time and history and narrative, and their resonances through the ages ...
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LibraryThing member Watty
Kay's books have a curious effect on me. I never want to start them, for fear that they won't live up to the others. Equally, once started, I dread the ending - not because it might be emotionally harrowing, or somehow disappointing (in the first case, not so unusual, the second case not unknown,
I read Kay not because I am a particular fantasy fan - I'm not - but because he writes so magnificently that, once begun, I can't not read him. Ysabel may be a departure from his usual style, and it does connect back to the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, which are my least favourite of his books, but it's Kay - you have to read it. All of it. Now.
The sense of place in the story is overpowering - Kay clearly loves Provence, and it shows. The characters are magnificently well-defined; when one 'disappears' about a third of the way into the story, it feels like a physical loss - and the teenage protagonist, never an easy trick to pull off, comes across note-perfect; he is clumsy and awkward not because he's stupid, but because he's young.
The story is, perhaps, a little thin compared to the complexities Kay normally offers us, but it resonates and hints at complexities not explored - there is scope for more in this universe, and while I wouldn't rush to use the same characters, I would like to know what happens to them, in the way that this story gives us a hugely satisfying update on two of Kay's earliest characters.
It's four stars, rather than five mainly because I miss the density of plot from the other stories, and I can't in all honesty recommend it as the place to start if you don't know this most enthralling of writers - but if you're a Kay fan unsure about the 'new diresction', don't worry: you're still in the most capable of hands.
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but rare), but because once I turn that final page, there is no more of that prose to come.I read Kay not because I am a particular fantasy fan - I'm not - but because he writes so magnificently that, once begun, I can't not read him. Ysabel may be a departure from his usual style, and it does connect back to the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, which are my least favourite of his books, but it's Kay - you have to read it. All of it. Now.
The sense of place in the story is overpowering - Kay clearly loves Provence, and it shows. The characters are magnificently well-defined; when one 'disappears' about a third of the way into the story, it feels like a physical loss - and the teenage protagonist, never an easy trick to pull off, comes across note-perfect; he is clumsy and awkward not because he's stupid, but because he's young.
The story is, perhaps, a little thin compared to the complexities Kay normally offers us, but it resonates and hints at complexities not explored - there is scope for more in this universe, and while I wouldn't rush to use the same characters, I would like to know what happens to them, in the way that this story gives us a hugely satisfying update on two of Kay's earliest characters.
It's four stars, rather than five mainly because I miss the density of plot from the other stories, and I can't in all honesty recommend it as the place to start if you don't know this most enthralling of writers - but if you're a Kay fan unsure about the 'new diresction', don't worry: you're still in the most capable of hands.
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LibraryThing member craso
This book is a story of magic, love, desire, violence and the history of a long forgotten people. It is also about family and what makes a family. Ned, an ordinary 15 year old Canadian kid, is drawn into an old story full of magic and mystery. Melanie, his father's assistant, is also drawn into the
The plot is interwoven with the Celtic, Greek, and Roman history of Provence, France. In the Acknowledgements the author writes about how he actually visited the cities, historical sites and excavations mentioned in the book. He did extensive research into the Celtic, Greek and Roman people who lived in the area.
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story. Ned must find her before two other men, a Greek-Roman and Celt or she will be lost forever. He searches for her with the help and support of his family and friends and learns about his own family history along the way.The plot is interwoven with the Celtic, Greek, and Roman history of Provence, France. In the Acknowledgements the author writes about how he actually visited the cities, historical sites and excavations mentioned in the book. He did extensive research into the Celtic, Greek and Roman people who lived in the area.
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LibraryThing member rocalisa
I read and loved the Fionavar books when they came out. Part of that was a matter of timing - I read them just as I was really becoming a dedicated fantasy reader and I would have been in my mid to late teens at the time. These were the first "out of our world" type books I'd read that had adult
In Ysabel it seemed that I might get the best of both worlds - that unreality in our reality theme I like combined with Kay's more matured writing talents.
For the first half of the book, I wasn't exactly sure. The book moved well, the charcters were excellently drawn and I was very interested - but I admit I wasn't captivated. I wondered if I had been expecting too much; if the combination of probably inaccurate memories of books I'd really liked joined with Kay's current reputation built on the books I hadn't read had made me demand far too much from one book. Then, about half way through, some new, but familiar characters turned up, their presence made some of the previously mysterious illusions make sense and the book really took off. And in the end, I loved it. It loses out on a perfect score because of that marginally weaker first half, but I recommend Ysabel whole-heartedly. And for all that I said the presence of those other characters (I didn't guess who they were going to be, so don't want to spoil it for anyone else who might otherwise be surprised) marked the turn in the book, I still believe the book would be just as satisfying for anyone who hasn't read Kay before. Their arrival in the turning point, but I doesn't matter if the reader has met them previously or not.
So, the book itself.
Nick, the protagonist, seems to me to be very well drawn. I admit I don't have any personal experience with 15 year old boys in 2007, but he felt real to me. He runs, listens to his ipod (verisimilitude or pop culture reference that will date?), emails his friends back at school and embarks on a tentative friendship with an American girl his own age on an exchange in Provence. But all is not as simple as it seems and an encounter with a strange man in a cathedral sets Nick and Kate on a strange journey, caught up in a centuries old love triangle. He's forced to discover, first that he isn't as grown up as he imagined and then to do that growing up as he must deal with adult issues and new mental abilities waking inside him.
The minor characters are also well drawn, especially Melanie with her green hair, organised mind and post-it notes. Of all the people filling the book, it is probably Kate who is the most broadly drawn, an odd situation considering that she, along with Nick, is part of the story from the beginning. Yet somehow, she never truly became part of the central, or at least it seemed that way to me. I'm still not sure if this was intentional or accidental.
The first half of the book is full of mysteries and unanswered questions; something I found a little frustrating and that reduced my enjoyment of that part of the book. There were so many hints of what was going on without telling me anything and that drives me nuts! However, my faith and persistence was rewarded, because once the answers started coming, around the halfway point, all the pieces that had been so carefully set up began to fall into place and everything began to pick up pace beautifully.
This is a tale about how history impinges on the present, not only the ancient history that is the central plot of the book, but family history as well. As the book progresses we discover that Nick's mother, a doctor working in the Sudan with Doctors Without Borders is running from her own past issues, focussing on her estrangement with her sister that has lasted the better part of twenty years. This is addressed and developed as Nick's aunt arrives to help with the mystical aspects of the tale and while a healing is begun, I was pleased that the two women still had work to do and it wasn't possible to dismiss two decades of acrimony overnight, no matter what the pressing world issues they might be facing.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. While it is absolutely a stand alone novel, it would also be possible to see Nick and Company return in a future novel and I would be delighted to do so. A lovely book, it has also inspired me to put A Song for Arbonne on my TBR pile and The Summer Tree on my to-be-reread pile.
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protagonists - before that I'd been reading books about teenagers having adventures - and to meet these university students (or they may even had been graduates, I don't 100% remember now) was like entering a new world. I loved it. And as good (but depressing) as I found Tigana, I missed that element in Kay's second work. Historical fiction/fantasy isn't as much my thing and I think that's a significant factor in my I didn't read Kay's other books.In Ysabel it seemed that I might get the best of both worlds - that unreality in our reality theme I like combined with Kay's more matured writing talents.
For the first half of the book, I wasn't exactly sure. The book moved well, the charcters were excellently drawn and I was very interested - but I admit I wasn't captivated. I wondered if I had been expecting too much; if the combination of probably inaccurate memories of books I'd really liked joined with Kay's current reputation built on the books I hadn't read had made me demand far too much from one book. Then, about half way through, some new, but familiar characters turned up, their presence made some of the previously mysterious illusions make sense and the book really took off. And in the end, I loved it. It loses out on a perfect score because of that marginally weaker first half, but I recommend Ysabel whole-heartedly. And for all that I said the presence of those other characters (I didn't guess who they were going to be, so don't want to spoil it for anyone else who might otherwise be surprised) marked the turn in the book, I still believe the book would be just as satisfying for anyone who hasn't read Kay before. Their arrival in the turning point, but I doesn't matter if the reader has met them previously or not.
So, the book itself.
Nick, the protagonist, seems to me to be very well drawn. I admit I don't have any personal experience with 15 year old boys in 2007, but he felt real to me. He runs, listens to his ipod (verisimilitude or pop culture reference that will date?), emails his friends back at school and embarks on a tentative friendship with an American girl his own age on an exchange in Provence. But all is not as simple as it seems and an encounter with a strange man in a cathedral sets Nick and Kate on a strange journey, caught up in a centuries old love triangle. He's forced to discover, first that he isn't as grown up as he imagined and then to do that growing up as he must deal with adult issues and new mental abilities waking inside him.
The minor characters are also well drawn, especially Melanie with her green hair, organised mind and post-it notes. Of all the people filling the book, it is probably Kate who is the most broadly drawn, an odd situation considering that she, along with Nick, is part of the story from the beginning. Yet somehow, she never truly became part of the central, or at least it seemed that way to me. I'm still not sure if this was intentional or accidental.
The first half of the book is full of mysteries and unanswered questions; something I found a little frustrating and that reduced my enjoyment of that part of the book. There were so many hints of what was going on without telling me anything and that drives me nuts! However, my faith and persistence was rewarded, because once the answers started coming, around the halfway point, all the pieces that had been so carefully set up began to fall into place and everything began to pick up pace beautifully.
This is a tale about how history impinges on the present, not only the ancient history that is the central plot of the book, but family history as well. As the book progresses we discover that Nick's mother, a doctor working in the Sudan with Doctors Without Borders is running from her own past issues, focussing on her estrangement with her sister that has lasted the better part of twenty years. This is addressed and developed as Nick's aunt arrives to help with the mystical aspects of the tale and while a healing is begun, I was pleased that the two women still had work to do and it wasn't possible to dismiss two decades of acrimony overnight, no matter what the pressing world issues they might be facing.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. While it is absolutely a stand alone novel, it would also be possible to see Nick and Company return in a future novel and I would be delighted to do so. A lovely book, it has also inspired me to put A Song for Arbonne on my TBR pile and The Summer Tree on my to-be-reread pile.
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LibraryThing member PirateJenny
Oh, this was mighty interesting. Ned is with his father, a famous photographer, in France. One day, while his father is shooting a church in Aix-en-Provence, Ned not only runs into a girl, but into a man who puts him into the middle of a story that's been repeating for 2600 years. The story centers
I love Kay's work especially when he works with mythic themes like this. I had a hard time putting it down.
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around, you guessed it, Ysabel, loved by two men fated never to die because of their love for her. The tragedies that have occurred because of that love are nothing short of horrific, and now Ned and Kate (the girl he met in Aix) are being pulled into the story.I love Kay's work especially when he works with mythic themes like this. I had a hard time putting it down.
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LibraryThing member specialibrarian
Ned Marrier is on a photoshoot in Franc with his famous, photographer dad. He meets an American girl and they stumble into "a very old story" that just might get them killed.
LibraryThing member Niecierpek
An excellent YA book set in France around Glanum. There must be something magical and very inspiring about the place- Margaret Atwood's first short story in the new Moral Disorder collection is also inspired by the place.
LibraryThing member Cecrow
One of my favourite authors, so of course I had to read this. At first I was thrown off by the switch from his historical fantasy style - which I still prefer - to a more modern fantasy, but I liked the characters and enjoyed the story. Something I especially like about Kay is the power of his
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endings, even when they prove somewhat predictable. Whether this one is predictable - well, you'll have to read for yourself. If you're new to Kay, I recommend starting with "Tigana", or the two volume Sarantine Mosaic if you're willing to tackle that. His only work I haven't liked so far, perhaps ironically, is his original Fionavar Tapestry. Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
A very enjoyable book by one of my favorite fantasy authors. Fans of the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy will find some old friends. For some reason, the main plot seems derivative of something, but I can't figure out what.
LibraryThing member taylorh
absorbing and magical
I just finished this after a two day reading marathon. I found myself thinking about it at work and could hardly wait to settle in for a good read when I got home. Now I know what all the fuss was about. With believable characters, nicely layered history, and just enough
I just finished this after a two day reading marathon. I found myself thinking about it at work and could hardly wait to settle in for a good read when I got home. Now I know what all the fuss was about. With believable characters, nicely layered history, and just enough
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mystery. And an ending that was actually satisfying. Man, I hope Kay writes some more of this... Show Less
LibraryThing member fingerpost
I rarely read fantasy, and indeed it was the fantastic cover art that made me pick up the book in the first place. 15 year old Ned accompanies his father, a world renouned photographer, on a working trip to Provence, where he quickly bedcomes involved in a 2500 year old story involving druids and
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ancient pagan rituals. The story was fascinating, and the characters well painted. I was left with some unanswered questions, or perhaps things I just didn't understand, and that is what places my rating at four stars instead of five. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmaziarz
Fifteen-year-old Canadian boy Ned Marriner is visiting Aix-en-Provence with his famous photographer father, who is there taking photos for a book about the region. While his father is shooting the Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, Ned wanders inside and meets an American exchange student,
Set mostly in the present day, “Ysabel” weaves elements of Celtic, Greek and Roman mythology and history together into a fascinating and lyrical story of love, rivalry, and change. With well-imagined and fully-realized characters, a fast-paced plot, good historical detail, and a vividly realized sense of place, this is a fantasy that will be equally enjoyable for those who do not normally read fantasy as for those who do.
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geeky-but-pretty Kate Wenger. As the two walk around the cathedral, they come across a scarred, knife-wielding man who tells them to leave because they have found their way “…into the corner of a very old story.” The moment Ned sees the man, however, he begins to feel strange, with extraordinary insights coming to him in flashes. When he encounters the scarred man again in a café in town and realizes the man is following them and they are then attacked by strange dogs when leaving the café, Ned knows he’s trapped in that old story no matter how much he might want out of it. As events unfurl, Ned’s entire family—his mother, a physician with Doctors Without Borders; his estranged and rather strange aunt and her husband; his father; and his father’s staff of assistants—are drawn into the story that Ned and Kate stumbled into.Set mostly in the present day, “Ysabel” weaves elements of Celtic, Greek and Roman mythology and history together into a fascinating and lyrical story of love, rivalry, and change. With well-imagined and fully-realized characters, a fast-paced plot, good historical detail, and a vividly realized sense of place, this is a fantasy that will be equally enjoyable for those who do not normally read fantasy as for those who do.
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LibraryThing member trinibaby9
I enjoyed this in the respect that it had a continuation of some of the characters of the Fionavar tapestry. I'm not sure how it would read or come across for anyone who hadn't read that trilogy as it is alluded to several times. This was beautiful at times and swept you along at the end, but is
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sorely lacking in development. The lack of development is surprising when compared to some of his other works. This will be good for anyone who enjoys history but maybe is not a fan of long reads. Overall not bad at all, just not great. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheIdleWoman
Guy Gavriel Kay can be a very, very good writer and it's precisely for this reason that I felt so disappointed by this book, because I know how much more he is capable of. "Ysabel" covers ground which is similar to Kay's early "Fionavar Tapestry": people in the modern, real world suddenly find that
Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner, accompanying his photographer father to Provence, becomes inadvertently involved in a timeless cycle of desire and retribution. Two men and a woman are bound to eternally re-enact their ancient love triangle among the forests and Celtic sites of the South of France, and the most recent incarnation of their story threatens Ned and those he holds dear. In trying to blend the ancient and modern, Kay shuttles between two styles of writing which sit together very awkwardly. The modern-day characters exchange banter which is full of slang and pop-culture references which already risk becoming dated, and which make the novel feel as if it's aimed directly at a 'young adult' market rather than the broader range of readers who enjoy Kay's other books. The mystical side of the story is dealt with in a richer, more archaic kind of prose which is closer to Kay's style in "Sarantium" or "The Lions of Al-Rassan." The problem is that, by having two markedly different styles, Kay doesn't seem to know what kind of book he wants to write. Moreover, the changes in tone are very noticeable and, by drawing the reader's attention to the construction of the book, it actually destroys any faith we have in his imagined world. Part of the difficulty is in the choice of Ned Marriner as the protagonist. Kay apparently feels it necessary to fill the book with references to iPods, Google and mobile phones, which actually often makes it feel as though he's trying too hard to show that he's down with the kids. The teenage narration feels even less convincing when it sits side by side with the rare moments in which Kay forgets himself, and soars away with some stirring scene, like the ritual at Entremont. I felt that the characterisation of Kate Wenger during that scene was particularly poor.
Objectively, this is not a bad book, but (being in my mid-twenties) I felt ten years too old for it. At his best, Kay can create complex, believable characters and richly engaging worlds. I just hope that with his future novels he'll return to the historical fantasy which he does so well. It is difficult to believe that such a magisterial author could write such a technically clumsy book at this stage in his career. Judging by some of the other reviews here and on Amazon, I am not the only person who feels like this.
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they have a central role to play in ancient or magical events. I confess that I didn't enjoy the "Fionavar" books, which felt clunky and immature after books such as "Sailing to Sarantium", through which I first discovered Kay's work. "Ysabel" turned out to owe much more to "Fionavar" than I'd initially realised, although the penny didn't drop until I was close to the end. By that point the link felt like a rather needless gimmick.Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner, accompanying his photographer father to Provence, becomes inadvertently involved in a timeless cycle of desire and retribution. Two men and a woman are bound to eternally re-enact their ancient love triangle among the forests and Celtic sites of the South of France, and the most recent incarnation of their story threatens Ned and those he holds dear. In trying to blend the ancient and modern, Kay shuttles between two styles of writing which sit together very awkwardly. The modern-day characters exchange banter which is full of slang and pop-culture references which already risk becoming dated, and which make the novel feel as if it's aimed directly at a 'young adult' market rather than the broader range of readers who enjoy Kay's other books. The mystical side of the story is dealt with in a richer, more archaic kind of prose which is closer to Kay's style in "Sarantium" or "The Lions of Al-Rassan." The problem is that, by having two markedly different styles, Kay doesn't seem to know what kind of book he wants to write. Moreover, the changes in tone are very noticeable and, by drawing the reader's attention to the construction of the book, it actually destroys any faith we have in his imagined world. Part of the difficulty is in the choice of Ned Marriner as the protagonist. Kay apparently feels it necessary to fill the book with references to iPods, Google and mobile phones, which actually often makes it feel as though he's trying too hard to show that he's down with the kids. The teenage narration feels even less convincing when it sits side by side with the rare moments in which Kay forgets himself, and soars away with some stirring scene, like the ritual at Entremont. I felt that the characterisation of Kate Wenger during that scene was particularly poor.
Objectively, this is not a bad book, but (being in my mid-twenties) I felt ten years too old for it. At his best, Kay can create complex, believable characters and richly engaging worlds. I just hope that with his future novels he'll return to the historical fantasy which he does so well. It is difficult to believe that such a magisterial author could write such a technically clumsy book at this stage in his career. Judging by some of the other reviews here and on Amazon, I am not the only person who feels like this.
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Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2008)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2008)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2008)
Sunburst Award (Honourable Mention — Adult — 2008)
White Pine Award (Nominee — 2008)