review: the lions of al-rassan
the lions of al-rassan proves that standalone fantasy novels can accomplish the richness, worldbuilding, and character development that's typically associated with series. this novel reads as a tale, weaving together multiple story lines of micro and macro perspectives as kings, clerics, and generals contemplate holy war. the book's distinct lack of magic is only noticed because of how magical the world feels. i'd recommend the lions of al-rassan to any fantasy lover who hopes to touch the fabric of a books reality and fall in love with a few characters along the way.
spoilers from this point on. i'm going to divide this review into a few sections that are the main components i see in a story:
level of engagement: i simply could not put this book down. what was supposed to be a one-month book club pick turned into a marathon two-week finish. the novel opens with one of the best prologue's i've had the pleasure to read. barely two pages long, but more than enough for a hook, line, and sinker. this continues through the novel, with chapter endings turning the world on its head and character fights breaking my heart.
style of writing: okay there's a couple weird times where a distinct phrase will be repeated within a cluster of sentences, which felt bizarre and offputting. otherwise, Kay excites by telling you exactly what will happen: "She was twenty-eight years old, and nearing the moments that would mark her life forever," and in my opinion, always delivering. captivating storytelling and conversations replace typical infodumps, which is a pleasure. i also enjoyed the accessibility of this novel (essential to any standalone), with a constantly referenced "Principal Characters" and map page that helped me build a holistic understanding of the world.
speaking of world building: wow. this was a freaking delight and exactly why i love fantasy. the depth. the breadth. kings who are brothers and brothers who kill each other. a lush kingdom juxtaposed by desert clans. a woman doctor in the middle of it all. Kay's talent was knowing when to end a perspective without pissing me off. and each perspective offered genuinely unique bits and bobs about the lens and biases through which that character viewed the world as well as the external systems guiding, and even forcing, their actions.
characters: i was intrigued by them all and ended up loving most of them. here are a few highlights about each:
jehane: woman MC (yes). woman MC of the systematically oppressed people (hell yes). a grown woman MC of the systematically oppressed people (haven't seen that since Butler!).
alvar: i felt compelled to do him next because i love him (these characters hit a delicate balance of not having such detailed personalities that they're completely unrelatable while not having so little personality that they could be anyone). we always need and love someone that will question the system, thanks alvar.
the captain: he really didn't have to die. i wish he didn't die. one of the only things i didn't like about this book is that he died. good men are loyal to their families and those they love! and he was the most loyal of them all. putting the word valiant in knight.
ammar: multi-faceted, complex king. so happy he's booed up! i love that he's the most talented man in the kingdom???
otherwise, shoutout to jehane's family (legendary father, dedicated and loved servant, and the dutiful wife (?)), king almalik for being nutty as fuck, his son for killing him and then also begging, and his other son for being a religion zealot. zabria was magical but not very lasting, tarif was nasty as fuck (positive connotation), shoutout to Husari for most improved character. loved ramiro and ines (loyal!), miranda was a breath of fresh air and i'm so glad she was crazy and his sons were the most magical thing about the whole book.
and finally, this all comes together in a terribly inconsistently paced plot. this feels like it would fall to the The Blade Itself problem if it was more than one book (going absolutely no where). i mean, cmon, all the gearing up for a holy war with no holy war! i know, it was brilliant and i loved it but i'm just saying. the poor pacing is only really noticed in the later parts of the book and, combined with the few awkward sentences and the last chapter (the captains death) took away just enough for me to give this a 4.5 stars. would read again.