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Lions of Al-Rassan
Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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. Sharing their interwoven fate -- and increasingly torn by her feelings -- is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond.Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake -- or destroy -- a world.
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review
rmaclean4
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Pickpick
Lesanne One of my all time favorites!! 14mo
rmaclean4 @Lesanne as you can tell, I also loved it! Have you read other novels by him? Do you have any you would recommend? 14mo
See All 7 Comments
Lesanne @rmaclean4 Oh yes, I‘ve read many of his, and he‘s one of my favorite authors! My other favorite books by him are A Song for Arbonne, Tigana, and the Sailing to Sarantium series. Anything he writes is so good, though! (edited) 14mo
rmaclean4 @Lesanne thanks. I am excited to read more of his work. Looking forward to his new book in April! 14mo
Librarybelle Yay!! 14mo
Clwojick 💖💖💖 14mo
28 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
xicanti
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Pickpick

THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN hit me hard back in 2007 and even harder last week. It concerns itself with a small group of people who manage to create a bubble of beauty and respect amidst the violence and terror that dominate their religiously intolerant land. They know it won‘t last. They do it anyways because what they build is worth fighting for. 4.5 stars

32 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I decided to reread THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN before I finish the last couple books on La TBR, and this has been an excellent life choice. I last read the book in 2007, so it feels almost entirely new.

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AllisonM89
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
Bailedbailed

#doublespin @TheAromaofBooks
#bookspinbingo
Square 5

Not a bad book. Kay is brilliant, but not the right book for me right now. Maybe one day I'll revisit it

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes the time just isn't right. 3y
12 likes1 comment
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TuesdayReviews
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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“He opened his arms and she moved into the space they made in the world, and laying her head against his chest she permitted herself the almost unimaginable luxury of grief.”

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Kanarthi
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Pickpick

Gripping alternate history of medieval Iberian peninsula. Good choice for reading over a week or s longer period, as each chapter is meaty and substantial, as you slowly learn characters, their backgrounds, and the conflicts which surround them. Reader beware of some... gruesome depictions of violence, as the horrors of war is one of the messages of the book. (Image is fountain with lions from Granada.)

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BennettBookworm
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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#recsforbecks !! Check out the AWESOME giveaway by @LiteraryinLititz !! To enter, give a book rec for our sister who‘s joining Litsy, @TheArtsierTheBeckster ~ more details found in the original post!

I recommend the tagged book because it‘s one of my all-time favorites. I‘ve read it many times now and am always swept up in the lyricism and otherworldliness of it, similar to The Alchemist in that sense.
🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

TheArtsierTheBeckster I know YOU! Thanks for this rec! Top of my list and I know just the gal I could borrow it from! 🙃 4y
29 likes2 comments
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Becker
Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Pickpick

I admit that keeping the characters straight was a challenge but it was totally worth the effort. This author has a magic pen. Love ❤️ his work.

Oblomov26 Loved this book 4y
24 likes1 comment
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mountainsandlace
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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rmaclean4
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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#weeklyforecast I think I will be able to finish Ask Again Yes on audio this week. I hope to start In Cold Blood as my next audiobook. Don't think I will finish the two physical novels but if I do..fantasy is up next. The Lions of Al-Rassan. #boutofbooks is this week!!

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brilliantglow
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Part two of the thing I did haha some have made it to my shelves temporarily and very unorganized. Still haven't had a chance to get my books unpacked though. 😑

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MichCaron
Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I've been rummaging around my shelves and have finally come up with a book stack for #24in48. I'll be starting in the morning on my own and will have friends join me for the afternoon. The readathon is all I have planned for the weekend and I couldn't be happier. Yay books and snacks and blankets!

23 likes1 comment
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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Pickpick

I wish there were a rating between pick and so-so. I don't even know how you would describe the genre; it's barely fantasy, it's not exactly alternate history. Anyway, I did enjoy that aspect of the book. But the ending was a bit anti-climactic, and I have some issues with how he wrote the main female character. I liked Kay's Sarantine Mosaic books better.

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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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One awesome advantage of ereading: the ability to read outside in the dark on a summer night! 🌘✨#summerreading

krismac Looks nice! 7y
AlaMich @krismac Thanks! My wife is very into lights in the garden, so it's very twinkly out here. 🌟🌟🌟 7y
Zelma Your wife has good taste. Love those lights! 😁 7y
AlaMich @Zelma I tease her about it but I secretly love them... 7y
37 likes4 comments
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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Book+sun+coffee=ahhhh!! #bookandsun Also, my book is showing all the signs of an impending love triangle ❤️🔼 👍@tiffy_reads

Sace Can't wait to read your thoughts in this. It's yet another book that has been sitting in my shelves for years. 7y
saresmoore Love that mug! 7y
Leniverse Guy Gavriel Kay is hit or miss with me, but that one was a hit. 7y
AlaMich @Leniverse Which ones did you not care for? 7y
Leniverse Tigana. I rage quit that one and I almost never bail on books. But I really enjoyed the Fionavar Tapestry. I think I inhaled that whole trilogy. This was all many years ago though. 7y
29 likes5 comments
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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Always fun attempting to read while dodging the Tail Flick. And Maddie is a fidgety one, so she is constantly shifting her position, which is very distracting. But I will persevere!!#catsoflitsy

AmyG That looks like my cat! 7y
AlaMich @AmyG She sure does!! 😺😺 7y
LeahBergen 😂😂 7y
29 likes3 comments
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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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In my dotage I seem to have become a morning person...who knew? A quiet morning in the garden with my Kindle and a cinnamon dolce and I'm a happy girl 😊

saresmoore I want to go to there. 7y
Jess_Read_This I fully support anything Venti size from Starbucks!! 😂💕☕️💕 (edited) 7y
AlaMich @Jess_Read_This I am a recent convert to coffee (I know, what was I doing with my life before?) and I have embraced it wholeheartedly, as my venti dolce can attest 😁😁😁😁 7y
LauraBrook Okay, dotage? 😂😂😂C'mon, girl, you young! Glad you've come over to the dark, I mean, coffee side with the rest of us. 7y
AlaMich @LauraBrook You're awesome!! 😻 7y
33 likes5 comments
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AlaMich
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I loved Kay's Sarantium duology, so I'm embarking on this today. Kay is great if you like historical fiction (with a dash of fantasy), in that he sets his books in fictional places and times that are basically real, but with a twist. Al-Rassan is set in a fictional Spain during the time of Moorish rule. Since I am a fairly slow reader, this will probably be my #summerread.

Tnovo This sounds right up my alley. Never heard of him. Definitely checking this one out. Thanks! 7y
AlaMich @Tnovo Oh good!! I hope you enjoy him as much as I do 😊 7y
20 likes2 comments
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shanaqui
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
Pickpick

I haven't been reading enough lately, but maybe this broke the streak and got me back into rereading. One of Kay's best, I think: rich and heartbreaking.

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Vinjii
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An unorthodox fantasy novel but it made me cry and the writing is beautiful. GGK writes more alternate history than fantasy and this one is about medieval Spain. Highly recommended!

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Vinjii
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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#firstlines #andsoitbegins A buddy read with a friend after this came highly recommended to both of us.

Oblomov26 Loved this book 7y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Vinjii
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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We're doing a writing, reading and walking retreat in England with the dogs. This is where we stay. A converted chicken barn. It's lovely.

scripturient This is lovely! We're currently in Scotland and our place looks similarly quaint. :) Where in England are you? 7y
Vinjii @scripturient The Peak District! Scotland will be hopefully our next holiday. 7y
scripturient Lovely! :) If you want a recommendation for a super cute and quiet cottage in Scotland (roughly an hour from Edinburgh and 15 min from St Andrews) let me know. :) You can see pix on my Litsy page. :) 7y
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KarenUK Enjoy! Looks wonderful....💕 7y
Reviewsbylola Omg I love it! 7y
Vinjii @scripturient Are dogs allowed? It looks so lovely! can't believe it used to be the gardener's? 😍😍 7y
Vinjii @KarenUK Thank you :) 7y
LeahBergen 😍😍 7y
scripturient @Vinjii The webpage says no dogs. Sorry. :( But maybe you can still ask them. They have three dogs themselves so maybe they'll say yes anyways. :) 7y
MyNamesParadise Omg that looks so fabulous!! 7y
47 likes10 comments
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Pagesflutter
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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#riotgrams day 14 calls for #kissingbooks. Here are some of mine getting comfortable in front of the fireplace. My kindle holds many more titles. Thanks to Smart Bitches podcast, @bookriot and @SarahKat84 for all the recs!

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llwheeler
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I have quite a few #signed books actually, but my old beat-up used copy of Lions is one of my favourites. In undergrad another Eng class was studying Tigana and Kay came to give a lecture. My class was invited too so obviously I went. I was the odd one out in the signing line, my well-worn Lions among everyone else's brand new Tigana copies :) #readjanuary

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KatieLovestoRead
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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Very busy with life stuff but I have made some progress with this amazing book! It's very cinematic and immersive. #fantasy #currentlyreading

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KatieLovestoRead
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I am obscenely excited to be reading another Guy Gavriel Kay book but also am simultaneously dreading the day I'll exhaust his backlist. #book #fantasy #historicalfiction

RealLifeReading Adore GGK! But am rationing his books!! 7y
KatieLovestoRead @RealLifeReading I only have four after this and his poetry collection. I've read 8 from him so far this year. 7y
8 likes2 comments
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Oblomov26
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay

#favbookishfriendships thought about favorite book friendship and tried to come up with an unusual one and this one sprung to mind. Ammar and Rodrigo, two legendary warriors on opposite sides of a religious war who get a chance to meet and become firm friends on neutral territory. An when the war starts again they are drawn apart despite their bond. A fantastic book, which may have left me a little teary at the end.

RealLifeReading ❤️GGK! Must read more of his books!! 8y
kammartinez This book is why I love GGK - and now have a predilection for Arabic poetry (when I can find it in translation) XD. 8y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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sophiebillekens
The Lions of Al-Rassan | Guy Gavriel Kay
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I love a book with a map and a cast of characters on the first pages! Really enjoying my first Guy Gavriel Kay book. Historical alternative/fantasy fiction.