Having adored The Sarantine Mosaic, I’ve long sought another Guy Gavriel Kay novel that reaches the same dazzling heights. While his books are never disappointing, few have quite matched that brilliance—until now. Written in the Dark follows Thierry Villar, a humble tavern poet who unexpectedly finds himself the key to his country’s survival. The superb characterization and spot-on pacing make for a truly immersive read. This novel may just stand alongside The Sarantine Mosaic as one of Kay’s best. I liked it a lot!

It’s such a treat to get lost in Kay’s worlds, experiencing his unique spin on history with a splash of the fantastical. While this tale doesn’t break new ground or reinvent the genre, it’s an engaging and satisfying story that longtime fans of GGK and newcomers alike will certainly enjoy. The narrative isn’t as complex as some of his other works, featuring more accessible prose and POVs that stay close to the main action.

Though somewhat muted in its telling, there’s a glimmer of Kay’s storytelling spark shining through the fog – guiding us toward the light. His main character, Thierry Villar, who self-identifies as “inconsequential” to the world at large, is given his moment to shine as Kay builds his legend before our eyes.

I’ve always loved how Kay grants even the most minor characters narrative arcs – sometimes in just a sentence or a paragraph, or, in this case, an entire book. Here, a tavern poet of medium renown makes his own indelible mark on the world. Someone who might have been a footnote in another story instead steals the spotlight.

Kay's work seems to be dwelling more and more upon legacy these days. His themes also commonly include "small" people swept up in large events, the importance of art, and how power works upon ethics.

Thierry, one of the main characters in this book, is a poet who's made a name for himself in the taverns. He is a hedonist who lives for today and tries not to think too hard about tomorrow. He drifts from place to place and bed to bed. However, he ends up being in the right place at the wrong time and is drawn into a power struggle between powerful nobles. The person who draws him in is a lawman who also realizes that he and Thierry both are not nearly as powerful as those whose crimes he has committed to investigate.

Thierry's gift for words and his boldness end up being assets for the investigation, if not for Thierry's prospects for living to a ripe old age. Death can happen suddenly and brutally, but Kay assures that the reader knows that death always matters.

Kay likes to write about a world just sideways from our own and if you know your history a lot of his characters are recognizable. In this book he writes variations on Joan of Arc and Christine de Pizan, among others.

I wouldn't say that this is the best of Kay's books. I couldn't thoroughly attach to Thierry, who thought a lot of himself as clever man and as a poet. But the melancholy, nostalgic tone of the book felt deep and true. If you like reading Kay you'll like this one.

Written on the Dark is a mesmerizing blend of sci-fi and fantasy that left me in awe of Guy Gavriel Kay’s ability to craft something both profoundly human and breathtakingly vast. I love how seamlessly Kay marries the grounded, gritty reality of medieval struggles with speculative elements. And, the prose is nothing short of poetic, painting vivid scenes that feel alive while delving into the souls of his characters. This is a story about ambition and power, yes, but also about the beauty of creation and the fragility of human connections. It’s a book that lingers in your mind, not because of its plot twists, but because of its emotional resonance.