Tigana

by Guy Gavriel Kay
Tigana cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Fantasy
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Waterstones
Paperback • £14.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 4592
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9780007342044
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Tigana is a richly woven tale of a land enslaved by the dark sorceries of King Brandin, where even the name of the once-beautiful country has been erased from memory. The story follows a handful of determined individuals who embark on a perilous quest to reclaim their identity and freedom, driven by love, hope, and pride. Through masterful storytelling and vivid world-building, the author crafts an epic that transcends traditional fantasy, delving deep into themes of oppression and resistance. The novel is celebrated for its intricate magic system and the poignant exploration of a people's struggle to preserve their heritage. The author's lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance make Tigana a standout in the fantasy genre, offering readers a profound and unforgettable journey.

Reviews
Fantasy Faction · 2025-10-22
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its superb prose and vivid world-building, making the story engaging and immersive. The reviewer appreciates the lyrical quality of the writing and the depth of the characters.

The reviewer highlights the exceptional prose and world-building in Tigana, noting that the book is technically superb and the prose flows lyrically. They find the story engaging and the characters well-developed, making the world feel vivid and real. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the characters and the immersive quality of the narrative, which makes the book a standout in the fantasy genre.

Quick quotes

    Tigana is, admittedly, a well-written book.

    Technically, it is superb, the prose flowing and lyrical, making the world vivid and real.

    It's a good story, one that draws you in and keeps you engaged.

fantasybookreview.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-21
excellent 4.50

The Body Keeps the Score is a comprehensive guide to trauma, written by Bessel Van Der Kolk, a psychiatrist with over thirty years of experience. The book is well-structured, making it accessible to both trauma survivors and clinicians, and it normalizes the experience of trauma, helping readers understand and recover from it.

The Body Keeps the Score is a book that delves into the physiology and science of trauma, offering insights into people's experiences and potential recovery paths. Written by Bessel Van Der Kolk, a Dutch-born psychiatrist with extensive experience, the book is grounded in real-life research and provides a comprehensive picture of different types of trauma and their effects on the mind, brain, and body. The book's structure takes readers on a journey through trauma, from experiencing it to recovering from it, making it accessible to both trauma survivors and clinicians. The case studies and well-indexed sections make it a valuable resource that can be read in parts or as a whole. The book's format, while practical for on-the-go reading, could be improved with a larger print and color text for better accessibility. Overall, the book is highly recommended for its insightful and practical approach to understanding and healing from trauma.

Quick quotes

    Van der Kolk draws on thirty years of experience to argue powerfully that trauma is one of the West’s most urgent public health issues… Packed with science and human stories

    Breath-taking in its scope and breadth, a seminal work by one of the preeminent pioneers in trauma research and treatment

    Dr. can der Kolk’s masterpiece combines the boundless curiosity of the scientist, the erudition of the scholar, and the passion of the truth teller

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
essential 4.50

The Body Keeps the Score is a comprehensive and essential book on the effects of trauma on mental and physical health. It combines robust studies with real-life patient stories, offering insights into the neuroscience of trauma and various therapeutic approaches.

The Body Keeps the Score is a seminal work on the impact of traumatic experiences on both mental and physical health. Written by Bessel van der Kolk, the book is a blend of scientific research and personal patient stories, providing a deep understanding of how trauma affects the brain and body. It explores various therapeutic methods, including EMDR, yoga, and mindfulness, and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both the reality of traumatic events and the emotions they evoke. The book is particularly valuable for medical professionals, offering new tools and perspectives to better understand and help patients who have experienced trauma. While it is a long and detailed read, it is well worth the effort for the insights it provides.

Quick quotes

    The book takes you on van der Kolk’s own journey of learning about trauma

    The book explores the neuroscience of what happens to the brain when exposed to traumatic incidents

    This is a long, detailed, and, at times, harrowing book, but it is worth the effort

Captain Fez · 2023-01-05
great 4.00

The writing is commended for its humour and balanced approach to gore, making it an engaging read. The characters and their conflicts are noted as multi-faceted and well-developed.

This reviewer really likes the writing style in Tigana. They think there's plenty of humour and not too much gore, which makes it an enjoyable read. The characters are multi-faceted and their internal conflicts are well-explored. The reviewer also appreciates the balance of action and calmer moments that make you think. Overall, it's a book that's engaging and well-paced, with characters that feel real and relatable.

Quick quotes

    The writing has much to recommend it.

    There's plenty of humour, not a whole lot of excessive gore – though Kay can write a good gross-out scene when he wants to.

    It's a brilliant book which I felt was engaging, well paced, had multi-faceted characters and showed the conflicts the characters had with themselves and each other.

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