Kay, Guy Gavriel
A SONG FOR ARBONNE IS FULLY UP TO THE HIGH STANDARDS KAY HAS SET IN HIS PREVIOUS NOVELS: IT IS A COMPLEX AND RIVETING ADVENTURE, A TALE OF LOVE AND PASSION AS WELL AS AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT MAKES FOR HONOURABLE PATRIOTISM, AND A LOVING EXPLORATION OF THE ROOTS OF ART, HERE THE ART OF THE TROUBADOURS AND JOGLARS OF ARBONNE, A SOUTHERN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE GODDESS RIAN IS WORSHIPPED EQUALLY WITH THE GOD CORANNOS. TO IT, FROM ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOUR GORHAUT, WHERE CORANNOS ALONE IS WORSHIPPED, ESPECIALLY AS A GOD OF WAR, COMES A YOUNG MERCENARY; HIS FATHER, AS HIGH PRIEST, SEEKS TO INVADE ARBONNE IN ORDER TO BURN ITS GODDESS-WORSHIPPING INHABITANTS, ESPECIALLY THE PRIESTESSES, IN A GRAND CONFLAGRATION \"HONORING\" HIS GOD. THIS MAN CONTROLS A NEW YOUNG KING, AND HAS SOLD OUT THE NORTHERN REACHES OF HIS COUNTRY IN ORDER TO BRING HIS TERRIBLE DREAM TO FRUITION.