4.25
WOW.
I do not think I have ever read a book this deeply thought provoking and philosophical for quite some time. Guy Gavriel Kay really brings his all in contemplating humanity, humanity's motives, and how the smallest decisions can make the greatest of impacts.
ABLA takes place in the fantastical world of Batiara, which is described as similar to Europe, specifically Italy during the Renaissance. Guy Gavriel actually cites his inspirations in the acknowledgements, and I'm very excited to read them when I obtain a finished copy.
My favorite part BY FAR was Guy's ability to emphasize the importance of memory and also the power within our choices. There are many characters who usually would be considered minor, but in the grand scheme of things, their decisions and attitudes lead to a new future they never intended to have.
Now the story begins with the main character Danio Cerra looking back on his youth, and all the events that led him to this moment of remembrance. Tones of melancholy and nostalgia are the primary emotional standpoints for Danio, and this only served to make me more intrigued about what actually happened in his youth.
Then the actual plot of his past and many others begin.
I won't say much because part of the magic is reading this initial set of scenes yourself, but Danio starts on the night the Beast, the count in the city of Mylasia, is murdered. On that fretful night Danio encounters Adria Ripoli, and the rest of his life is history. His future will never be the same because of her decisions that night as well as his.
They're an array of complex POVs throughout ABLA, and they all bring their own meaning and intensity to the story. It's one of those plots where all the characters are connected, and the reader just pieces them together bit by bit until everything makes sense by the end. It was SO WELL DONE too.
One of my favorite POVs was definitely Jelena the healer. She adds a unique viewpoint in a world that is run by money and pain. She also is the introduction into the LGBTQ+ rep within this world. Oh you heard me right! ABLA has some wonderful bisexual or pansexual representation (I don't like to label these characters, but they were attracted to both sexes), and I LIVED for it. Jelena is a complex character in general and brings up a lot of thought provoking ideas and just realities to the story. You'll never guess how her story ends.
The POVs range quite a bit from marginal groups to those in power. This creates such a mesmerizing and enthralling cast of characters. Some are so charismatic that you cannot help but root for them even if they aren't the most moral. The mercenaries are the prime example of this, and their plot is something I cannot begin to describe. Folco and Monticola are just fascinating individuals.
Lastly, I could gush about this story for hours on end, but I need to discuss Guy's fantastic writing and philosophical thought. It doesn't even feel philosophical because of how lyrical and smooth his prose is. He is realistic and compassionate in his writing, but also somehow meshes a historical fantasy world with our own contemporary one. I found so many instances where I could apply his insights to our world and our history. It's an engrossing story about love, power, and memory, and their effects on people's lives across the spectrum. I cannot wait to read ABLA again. It's so remarkable. The character's have such growth!
I'd definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and books with significant depth, especially when it comes to those deeper themes.
Thank you Berkley for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.