Play Book Tag discussion

The Summer Tree 3 1/2 stars

This is Guy Gavriel Kay's debut novel and it showed. A bit exaggerated and lengthy with description. A lot of Tolkien influence shines through. What I was not prepared for was the darkness and the sensualism of the story. Not that it was a bad thing, it was just surprising.

The universe is a Tapestry, Fionavar being the first of the worlds, into which all other worlds are woven. When Fionavar is need of outside help a mage is sent across into our world. Five students in Toronto have been lured into the first world. There is an evil in Fionavar awakening and these five unsuspecting people are needed to fight the darkness.

Five protagnists seems a heavy load for a first time novelist-but Guy Gavriel Kay handles it very well. Although each of their adventures leads them some place different, like the tapestry. it is all woven together.

I have only read 2 other books by this author and enjoyed them both. I set myself a goal to read everything he has written. I may not love them all but he is a gifted writer. I can only recommend this to true lovers of the genre-and remember I warned you, it gets very dark.

I concur with JoAnne. I read the triology from which this is the first book after reading other of his works -- ones that were not series -- and while I enjoyed it, I can't say I liked the series that much and it is at times very dark, with scenes that still trouble me. But there are also scenes of great imagery and imagination that also I remember.

I'm not a fantasy fan remember, and I still liked these. Author needed a Tim Gunn to say 'too many ideas, you need to use your editorial eye.' The writer is gifted, showing the promise that blossomed in his next books.