A Brightness Long Ago

De: Guy Gavriel Kay

Narrado por: Simon Vance

In a chamber overlooking the nighttime waterways of a maritime city, a man looks back on his youth and the people who shaped his life. Danio Cerra's intelligence won him entry to a renowned school even though he was only the son of a tailor. He took service at the court of a ruling count - and soon learned why that man was known as the Beast.

©2019 Guy Gavriel Kay (P)2019 Recorded Books

A bit boring

The first two-thirds of the story are quite entertaining, but after the demise of (in my opinion) its best character, it goes steadily downhill. Battle scenes and commanders talking about strategizing and power, etc. I had to keep rewinding it because my mind would drift. I finally gave up with about two hours left.

Good

Guy Gavriel Kay and Simon Vance are beautiful. But this book isn’t up to the level of under heaven or tigana.

Very fine

This latest of my favorite living author has been a fine read. The characters take a lot from earlier parts of the story. They are not as strong as many have been but the tale carries them as Kays characters have often taken the weight of a story line. Nothing approaches the keenness of my favorites, Tigana and Under Heaven, surely the best of the best.

A fine novel, well worth reading

This is a fine, enjoyable book and an exploration of the human condition. It is one of Guy Gabriel Kay's best and displays his talents in character development, sense of place, and realistic plotting fully. Simon Vance brings exactly the right tone to his portrayal of the main character and narrator. The book is set just before and during the fall of Byzantium and start of the Italian Renaissance. To get the most out of it, you should first read Kay's "Sailing to Sirantium" trilogy, set at the height of that great city and the construction of the Haggia Sophia. In a sense this is the conclusion of that series, although most of the references are subtle and this book can be read separately and should be seen on its own merits. Those who know the history and something of Italy may get amusement at identifying the cities, which he has renamed but otherwise left the same. Fiorenza, of course, is obvious, but clues are there for the identities of others as well. The main characters, of course, are fictional. Overall, this is among the finest of Kay's works, and I have read all but one, and well worth reading.

An Excellent Marriage between Kay and Vance

Kay's lavish world building and lyrical prose continue to be at the head of the pack in this prequel to "Children of Earth and Sky," while Vance's narration is as on point as ever. The plot involves mercenaries and political maneuvering. "Children of Earth and Sky" is a slightly better book but this one is still an amazing fantasy novel especially for those who enjoy rich world building and prose.

Fantastic Reader, Wonderful Story.

Guy Gavriel Kay simply doesn’t disappoint. His stories are always entertaining and he masterfully pulls you into the characters lives, so you feel a strong connection to each storyline.

If you’re already a Kay fan, I’d say this ranks in his top 5 books.

As for the audio portion, Simon Vance is a master of his craft. I’d listen to a book based on his reading alone.

A Rewarding Slow Burn

I found this book to be a great tapestry of storytelling. It is a slow burn - Guy Gavriel Kay takes time to set up characters and events at his own pace, and is not afraid to set the story aside to ponder philosophy or follow the stories of seemingly unimportant characters.
As an audiobook, this sometimes was a little confusing - viewpoints and even the tenses of writing can change multiple times within a chapter.
However, after getting used to this style and pace, I was rewarded with a meaningful look into characters who were swept up by the choices they made and the dynamic world they lived in.

Exquisite

As always, G.G.K. delivers a soulful, gripping and memorable story. And, a great oblique view of what life may have been like in the Italian States around the end of the Byzantine era.

One of the best books I’ve ever read

I probably have 1,000 books in my Audible library, and this is undoubtedly in my top 10. Simon Vance — who’s in my top 5 narrators — does beautiful service to Kay’s indescribably evocative prose, and imbues well-drawn characters with humanity. This is the first book I’ve read by Kay, but will not be the last. His masterful command of language — while completely different in style — reminded me of Hilary Mantel or Erin Morgenstern. Kay shows deft control of tempo, scene-setting, atmosphere, characterization, and dialogue. Others will give a more descriptive review of the plot. I’ll just say that for someone wanting to get lost in a fascinating story, with characters (major and minor) they’ll think of long after reading, they won’t do better than this book.

Enjoyed it twice

Complex weave is both fascinating and frustrating. For me, multiple characters with unfamiliar names force me to rewind often to figure out who is speaking or in the scene. The second listening was rewarding because so many “incidental” details turn out to be pointers to later events. It definitely feels like a prequel, almost to the point of having too much detail- perhaps pointing to the book it precedes.