Tigana

Tigana.  It's a name you won't be able to hear, understand or remember if you weren't born there, or are not a sorcerer or wizard.  But Tigana (#583) is the name of an epic fantasy novel from author Guy Gavriel Kay.


In this book, Kay explores the positive effects memory can have, as well as the corrosive and destructive effects when taken too far, or hatreds are nourished down the generations.  In this case, a peninsula standing in for Renaissance Italy with its feuding city states is The Palm.  It's been conquered by Tyrants from both the East and the West because the nine provinces of The Palm could not unite to fend off their attackers.  It is now divided territory with the Tyrants kept in check by their opposite numbers, strong sorcerers both.  When the Tyrant Brandin's son is killed by the Prince of Tigana, Brandin's revenge on the province includes wiping the memory of Tigana from the remaining  inhabitants of The Palm.  But a small number remember, and the Prince of Tigana's son has survived to carry on the fight, biding his time.


There is plenty of action to be had in this absorbing novel, but there's also plenty of food for thought.  Brandin, for instance, is portrayed as principled in his own way, and is a sympathetic character throughout much of the book.  It's hard sometimes as you are reading to know who to root for as motivations are revealed and plot twists uncovered.  Another thing that's difficult about this book is to put it down, both because of the plot and the beauty of the language.  You owe it to yourself to discover Guy Gavriel Kay.