published 1992, Crown

A Song for Arbonne is a story about the clash of two religions, with the underlying theme of sexism. It's a powerful book, with real, unstereotyped characters and breathtaking description.

The beginning of the book is slow, and the time gap between the prologue and the actual beginning is confusing, but once you begin to understand the connection between the events of the prologue and the events of the current time, the book really begins to roll. At its simplest, A Song for Arbonne is the tale of the impending war between Arbonne, a country ruled from the courts of love by a woman, and Gorhaut, a fire-and-sword warrior country. Arbonne is a lush, fertile land near the sea, and its people revere music and the Goddess Rian. In Gorhaut, the God Corannos and war are the only considerations. Gorhaut wishes to stamp out woman-loving Arbonne, but a potential heir to the throne of Gorhaut is living in Arbonne. How Blaise, son of the religious leader of Gorhaut, comes to lead Arbonne against the onslaught of the Gorhautians is a rich, intricate tale, full of subplots.

There are many characters involved who are very different from each other in background and outlook, but they still manage to form true, believable friendships. Kay makes each character wonderful, even those who are considered evil. At the death of one of the main "evil" characters, I found myself crying. The strange relationships between all the characters, and what these relationships lead them to do, make the book rich and compelling.

The setting is as beautiful as a fantasy world can get. Despite the lack of true fantasy "magic," this two-mooned world is still very unlike our own. The depth of the societies Kay has built is wonderful.

This is one of the best books I've ever read, though not as strong as some of Kay's other books. Both the beginning and the epilogue could have used some work, I felt. None of the character work can be criticized, and the intricacy of the plot is wonderful.

Review by Cate George
Reviewed March 9, 1997

ISBN 0-517-59312-2

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