Fantasy Book Club discussion

I read this a few years ago when it first came out. Many people complain of the lack of magic in Kay's books, but I have always found them so magical in the worlds they create, that I don't miss the lack of the usual magic tricks. This one, however, has more magic than most of Kay's newer books. I loved it - the hero, the horses, especially.... the world. A beautiful, sad story.

I finished this last week and it was a beautiful book. There are many things that I liked about this book :
GGK is writing is simply mind blowing. those lyrical prose are still fresh in my mind.
the way story is told.
multiple POVs but the way he switches between them is totally breathtaking.
magic is there but only where it is essential. I don't have to spend pages after pages learning and understanding the magic.
A beautiful story....

I think you sold it to me.

I read this in December 2013 and loved it. But I love nearly anything Kay writes. Here's a link to my review.

Sandra wrote: "I read this a few years ago when it first came out. Many people complain of the lack of magic in Kay's books, but I have always found them so magical in the worlds they create, that I don't miss t..."

Your favorite character in the book??

Manju wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I read this a few years ago when it first came out. Many people complain of the lack of magic in Kay's books, but I have always found them so magical in the worlds they create, tha..."

I don't remember names any more, but I loved the main character and also the woman who was an assassin. It's been a few years since I read it.

I read this when it first came out, and what I remember most about it are the female characters. I loved almost all of them. I loved their stories (Spring Rain heading to her far away home at the end...*big sad/happy sigh*). Kay wrote them with such a wonderfully deft hand, as he usually does. It's so refreshing.

Li-Mei and her story were by far the most interesting to me, though I can't pinpoint why exactly. It was just so interesting, with the wolves and Meshag and all the action. And her growth felt very authentic. I recall being very excited every time Kay took us back to her POV. She and Wen Jian were my favorite characters.

Of all the ladies, I felt that Wei Song was the weakest. The romance between she and Tai didn't compel me at all. It was the most forced thing about the story, I think. Could totally have done without it.

What I liked least was the way it ended. Not because of the plot, but because of the change in narrative style. It was jarring. But still a beautiful and intricate novel.

Writing these thoughts down reminds me that I haven't read River of Stars yet. Gotta move that up in my TBR queue.

Jaqui wrote: "I read this when it first came out, and what I remember most about it are the female characters. I loved almost all of them. I loved their stories (Spring Rain heading to her far away home at the e..."

It was great. I liked it better than this one.

Jaqui wrote: "I read this when it first came out, and what I remember most about it are the female characters. I loved almost all of them. I loved their stories (Spring Rain heading to her far away home at the e..."

I've read his Tigana other than this book. and women he told us about in both these novels are simply outstanding. More than that the way he narrates their story is breathtakingly beautiful......

It's beautiful,lyrical and haunting... but the story didn't engage me the way all of his other books do. I can marvel at how he creates the culture and weaves the lives of the characters... but I felt very distanced from the story. It's because he's so good at creating the world... too good. I hated "Rear Window"because I was so claustrophobic by the end of the movie- which is exactly what Hitchcock brilliantly intended. So Under Heaven and River of Stars I appreciate intellectually... just didn't capture my heart.

Sandra wrote: I don't remember names any more, but I loved the main character and also the woman who was an assassin. ..."

I liked her a lot also. The hero (the one with the horses) was cool also. I like fantasy novels where there is someone to root for.

Jaqui wrote: "Writing these thoughts down reminds me that I haven't read River of Stars yet. Gotta move that up in my TBR queue. ..."

The goodreads synopsis of River of Stars says that one is set 400 years later -- so all new characters --

I really love this book, it's one of my all time favourites. I was hugely into Chinese history as a teenager so the setting really appeals, and I love that the magic is just a subtle hint, not really dominating the story. And it's so beautifully written.

Just finished this, I spent all today reading it, here is my review. I loved the first part of this story but hated the ending of it. I love the political intrigue of the story and loved the first part at Kuala Nor. There was a lot of history and description but I didn't get bored at all.

I really liked watching Tai try to maneuver through all the intrigue going on around him and was constantly wondering what he was going to do about the horse and if he would be able to get Rain back. I also was intrigued with Meshag and Lei-Mei part of the story and how it was was going to effect Tai.

What I wasn't thrilled about was the ending. To me the historical document type narrative instead experiencing the story through the characters just killed alot of feelings for me. The war seemed outside of the story since none of the MC characters were fighting in it really. The "bad guys" all die pretty easily and I have no clue where the romance with Song came from. There was zero build up for it and suddenly we get a HEA with them. It left me shaking my head.

As for favorite characters beyond Tai, I though Meshag had the potential to be a great character, I was disappointed to see he shuffled off. I loved Sima Zian he made such a good advisor to Tai and I just liked his humorous personality. I also liked Wen Jian. She was a complex character being a woman yet having a great deal of influence and trying to balance power. I liked her whimsy and flirtatious manner that covered up deeper plots.

I just finished the book. I love the Chinese setting and all the political intrigues. I love the characters as well. I was most interested in Wen Jian that I looked up other books that have her as a character.

I lived in China for 5 years, and was surprised when one of the expat magazines in Guangdong mentioned this book back when it came out.

I wanted to get it, but didn't want to pay $180 HK (about $23 US). Never got around to it when I moved back to America.

So how does it compare to Tigana, which I think is his best book?

Greg wrote: "So how does it compare to Tigana, which I think is his best book? "

I loved it but I liked Tigana better....

Manju wrote: "Greg wrote: "So how does it compare to Tigana, which I think is his best book? "

I loved it but I liked Tigana better...."

LOL my opinion is exactly opposite, I liked this one better than Tigana

I also liked this a lot better than Tigana, but given that part of my degree in Asia-Pacific studies focused on China, I'm kind of a sucker for the period.

I liked River of Stars as well, though it was quite different.

I just started the Summer Tree last night, and given that it starts at the University of Toronto campus, my alma mater, he kinda had me hooked from the beginning.

But I'd also have to agree with those who don't get as connected to his characters as you do with those of some writers.