The Lions of Al-Rassan

John Walker is a professor of Spanish studies at Queen’s University.

Although Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the best-selling authors in Canada,
one has to admit that (paradoxically) his name is not well known here.
He has, however, gained an international reputation for previous novels
like The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Darkest Road (which
make up The Fionavar Tapestry), Tigana (which won the 1991 Aurora Prize
for the best English-language work of speculative fiction), and A Song
for Arbonne, all of which have been translated into 12 languages.

With The Lions of Al-Rassan, the Toronto-based author undoubtedly has
another success on his hands, replete with adventure, romance, action,
color, drama, customs-painting, lively characters, and evocative prose.
In a colorful novel that conjures up images of medieval Spain, Kay
relates the convincing story of several rival civilizations, such as the
Asharites, rulers of Al-Rassan, who from their desert home conquer and
force the sun-worshipping Jaddites to flee north. The novel tells the
story of the rise and fall of the various city-states and their warring
kings. The portrait of the life, loves, and military feats of the
various figures, such as the Jaddite leader Rodrigo Belmonte, and the
notorious Ammar ibn Khairan, adviser to the Cartada empire, is well
sustained by the author. The plot is complicated by the maneuvering of
fanatical religious leaders and the medical and sentimental achievements
of the beautiful physician Jehane, who is torn between the two men, as
they all face the prospects of a holy war.

Though The Lions of Al-Rassan may belong to the realm of speculative
fiction, Kay has painted a large, convincing, authentic canvas of
medieval Spain, while at the same time capturing the spirit of human
love, hate, loyalty, and betrayal.