An atmospheric return to the Sarantine Mosaic, with an entertaining yarn as only GGK can spin.

On an icy winter night, a man is killed leaving the home of his lover, the victim of an assassination. And with that small act, a state already embroiled in a constant war with it's neighbor finds itself on the very edge of civil war, with the balance set to tip on the actions of a random tavern poet.

So let's start with some housekeeping. This book very much takes place in the shared Sarantium world, roughly a couple decades before the events of A Brightness Long Ago. It does contain some minor spoilers and teases for Brightness, so I actually recommend, if you want to get the absolute most out of this book, you read it after you've read both Brightness and All the Seas. Functionally, if you do choose to read this book before, that's also fine, as this is very much a standalone, I just think there's going to be some hints in here that have an impact on what you'll see in those books.

But let's get into this story itself. It very much draws on the violent history pf the Hundred Years War between England and France for a big part of the story, with at least one infamous battle included and also another surprise character who you'll absolutely love the shout out to when you get to. As to the other major plot, we have the fractious events within the city state we're visiting in this book, and of course the laundry list of characters and their lives and moments and events that comprise so much of GGK's story. This book is one of his better blends of character stories that move in tandem with major historical inclusions given a fantastical twist.

Poetry is a big part of the book, so if you're into that and even if you're not, you'll have fun with this one. I think fans of Daniel Abraham's LPQ will have some fun with this one for sure. Of course, this is without getting into the lyrical, poetic prose that is the backbone of his book, especially when we get to significant moments or reflect on a character's life and thoughts.

As far as the thematic work goes, it's very much a story that doesn't have a major theme it dives into so much as just the inclusion of so many of the things we see him like to talk about - finding a home for one's own, love, friendship, responsibility, self sacrifice for the greater good. If anything the big one he has fun with is sexuality, he's usually quite consciously inclusive but in this book we get characters all across the spectrum. And to be clear, there's no political statement about this, its simply included as a facet of the character's lives that very much affects their story in different ways.

What can I say, yet another enjoyable tale from GGK. At this point I only have Last Light of the Sun of all his books left to go, and then I suspect it won't be very long before I begin re-reading some of his books. I can't imagine a life where I don't have a GGK tale on my horizon.

NOTE: Youtube video goes public on 8th May 2025

Written on the Dark is a tapestry of lives, intersecting in various ways - so many more ways that one can imagine - at a time of civil unrest that starts with an assassination of a powerful man. It is a political intrigue as much as a family drama, a romance, a philosophy introspection, and an appreciation of arts, specifically poetry. Guy Gavriel Kay accomplishes an emotionally and intellectually engaging story in an artful yet seemingly effortless way that makes me feel as though this story really happened in the past, or that I have lived the lives of all these characters myself.

The characters are definitely this book's strongest suit. The story centers around Thierry Villar, who is the most enjoyable character for me. He's smart in some ways, slow in the other, but overall a hero in every sense that matters. But I also enjoyed many other characters, even those that only occupy one page or less or appear as little more than a footnote. They all have such a rich background, unique personality, and a clear space carved around them in the story, that you can pause and almost picture their entire life. That feeling like you get to know so many characters intimately makes for an incredibly immersive reading experience.

Personally, I think that the philosophical musing and frequent foreshadowing slightly lessen the tension of the story and my immersion in it, which is why I decided to go with 4 stars. There are many instances where the narrator says something along the line of "the character has no idea what's about to hit them", which got me to brace myself the first few times before the effect diluted. Also, the narrator often goes "such is life" or "life is unpredictable like that", which, again, felt thoughtful for the first few times and then felt a bit redundant later on.

Still, this was overall a very enjoyable reading experience, and many scenes in this book, which I could paint vividly in my mind as I read them, would remain imprinted in me for a long time.

First off, I love anything by Kay - my favourite author of all times.

I loved returning to the setting of Kay’s alternative Europe, this time Ferrieres. I loved seeing his version of Joan of Arc - the first time I’ve been able to recognize a character rather than just a place.

I very much valued the LGBTQ angle of this book. Characters ranged from straight to gay to bisexual to gender diverse and intersex, and done without making a big deal of it. People are simply people and live their lives much like anyone else.

I did find the overall plot here to be a bit less…intense? than some of Kay’s other works. It moved a bit slowly and the stakes felt less high for the central characters.

Overall, highly recommend. Then go back and read the Lions of Al-Rassan, the Sarantine duo, and all the other books that bring this rich world to life.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC! This was my most anticipated book of the year, and I can’t believe I am lucky enough to get to read it early.
 
A charismatic tavern poet is caught by the provost before a planned burglary. Instead of being sent for questioning and possible hanging, the provost asks Thierry for some help solving a murder. From then on, Thierry becomes entangled in a dangerous game of politics involving civil unrest, the threat of an enemy king across the channel, and assassination attempts, but also friendship, love, and art.
 
As always, Guy Gavriel Kay’s prose is breathtaking. Each word feels carefully chosen, and sentences are crafted in a way that conveys additional meaning. Because of this, even though the book is relatively short and a standalone, the characters, the world and the plot feel deeper and more intricate than what I sometimes read in lengthy series. I can feel the characters and the themes will stay with me for a long time. This is the type of book that necessitates some time for reflecting before it being possible to pick up another story.
 
The author excels at writing stories where characters that could be believed to be inconsequential (in this case, a tavern poet) get mixed up in politics and court intrigue. The MC must navigate difficult and deadly situations using his wit, his street smarts and his charisma. Because the cast of characters includes a lot of common people, it is easier to understand and empathize with them, making them particularly memorable.
 
Let’s not forget the incredible female and non-binary characters that play integral parts in the story. As a woman, I often have a hard time with women written by men. But in this case, I find it very refreshing to read about such strong and intricate characters.
 
The inspiration from our own history is very present, but I wouldn’t call it too obvious as a lot of interesting twists are given to these known tales. In fact, figuring out what the inspirations are and comparing them to what happens in the story can make for some fun nerdy research after having finished the book. I appreciated the acknowledgements for this reason, as they point to the biggest influences for certain characters or plot points.
 
Another aspect of Kay’s writing that I am very fond of is his inclusion of nods or references to his previous works. It heightens the reading experience for readers familiar with his backlog, without impacting the experience for first-time readers. In Written on the Dark, the epilogue in particular made me more emotional than it would have had I not read his other works.  
 
Although this book isn’t as exceptional and groundbreaking as A Song for Arbonne or Tigana, it was exactly what I expected and what I needed. I’ve had the hardcover pre-ordered since its announcement and I can’t wait to add it to my GGK shelf!