All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You should read A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth and Sky before reading All the Seas of the World, if only to fully appreciate all the character arcs and superb worldbuilding in this nominal fantasy that borrows beautifully from our rich past. A student of history will see the plight of Jews, the Muslim nations, and the Christians on both sides of the Mediterranean in the Early Renaissance and/or Crusades.

But best of all, Guy Gavriel Kay is a master at prose, of careful and gorgeous characters set upon a long, beautiful story. This third book, even though it isn't billed as the third book in a trilogy and CAN be read alone, is naturally so much better with the others. The characters -- oh, the wonderful characters -- have come so very far.


This particular book is one of good fortunes and a culmination of freedom and ambition... and also the constraints of one's desire.

War is its own cage. Making war for one's people, for one's sense of justice, old rage, and for security, is simple to say, but truly wonderful to experience. And this novel delivers on every single level. I really can't recommend these books enough. It so reads like lush historical fiction, so fully fleshed out and epic. Every second was great enjoyment.

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