Book Review – The Last Light of the Sun

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Publisher: ROC
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 2003

As with his previous work, Guy Gavriel Kay’s “The Last Light of the Sun” draws from our own past and reshapes it in his own unique vision. The re-imagined world here is that of “The Lions of Al-Rassan” and “The Sarantine Mosaic”, but the story moves north to the lands of the Erlings (Norsemen), the Cyngaels (Celts/Gaels) and the Anglcyn (Anglo-Saxons).

The story weaves together the stories of characters from all three peoples as the Cyngaels and Anglcyn are forced to make peace with one another and amongst themselves, in the face of savage Erling raiders from across the sea. Even the faerie of legend who haunt the dark forests of the Cyngaels are stirring, to walk among mortals once more.

One of the reasons I liked Kay’s previous work was his thoughtful insight into life and human nature woven into the fabric of the larger story. His characters may not be of our world, yet they’re always painted as human with all the attendant fallibility. “The Last Light of the Sun” doesn’t fail in this regard as well.

In particular, I really liked the recurring theme of showing snatches of the greater story through the eyes of a minor player as it crosses ways with their own life. In Kay’s own words: “For these figures, living their own sagas, the tale they intersect is the peripheral thing. A moment in the drama of their own living and dying.”

However, I was surprised that in this book, Kay seems to have taken a different approach from the usual smooth, silk-like prose that was a hallmark of his earlier work. The narrative here seems a bit clipped and unpolished by contrast, as if in response to the often harsh setting and events depicted. I got used to it after a while, but it was a change from the style I was used to.

Additionally, Kay seems to have focused more on the changes each of his major players undergoes throughout the course of the story, so there isn’t an incredible amount of action, which may turn some readers off. The plotline of the Anglcyns/Cyngaels defending agains the Erling raiders is fleshed out gradually, but is not the main focus, in other words. I enjoyed the book, but I did find myself wondering for a while where he was going with this. However, in the end it all comes together very well in typical Kay fashion.

I wouldn’t recommend this as a starting point for getting into Kay’s work, but readers who have read and enjoyed his other “historical fantasy” novels will likely enjoy this one as well.

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