Ysabel

By Guy Gavriel Kay

The multiple award-winning fantasy author of The Fionavar Tapestry brings his extraordinary imagination to a tale of mythic figures in contemporary times...

Ned Marriner is in France with his father, a celebrated photographer shooting the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral of Aix-en-Provence. While exploring the cathedral, Ned meets Kate, an American exchange student with a deep knowledge of the area’s history. But even Kate is at a loss when she and Ned surprise a scar-faced stranger, wearing a leather jacket and carrying a knife. “I think you ought to go now,” he tells them. “You have blundered into a corner of a very old story...”
 
In this ancient place, where the borders between the living and the long-dead are thin, Ned and his family are about to be drawn into a haunted story, as mythic figures from conflicts of long ago erupt into the present, changing—and claiming—lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Feb 5, 2008
• ISBN: 9781101052860

Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay was born and raised in Canada. He lives in Toronto, although he does most of his writing in Europe. His novels include ‘The Fionavar Tapestry’ trilogy (described by ‘Interzone’ as ‘the only fantasy work… that does not suffer by comparison with ‘The Lord of the Rings’), ‘Tigana’ and ‘A Song for Arbonne’.

Reviews for Ysabel

[romsfuulynn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am still hoping that Rozan will go back to her Bill Smith/Lydia Chin books but this New York set book about building inspection/investigation has a good mystery and a nicely romantic subthread, with some fairly intricate political plotting and a very pleasingly twisty plot, with a couple of great reveals and a satisfying albeit catastrophic conclusion although with an element of tragedy that gives it a poignant edge.

[weeturtle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first G. G. Kay book I have read. I picked it because of the Celtic connection. Ysabel is something of an ancient love story, playing out in modern times in a supernatural fashion and into which a teenage boy gets involved. The writing was good, and in some places felt almost sublime to the point where I would read it over and over again, trying to find how Kay put his words together to create the scene. However, the story pacing was slow, and didn't seem to change much throughout the book, so it's not a something I would read for action or excitement, even if there might be such moments. It is the singular moments that I recall most about the book, rather than the overall story. Everything felt well crafted, but I wasn't glued to the pages.

[ilirwen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've seen negative reviews of this book (but I hadn't seen them when I bought it), but I hadn't read anything by Kay yet, so I wasn't disappointed. Maybe it's because I didn't have anything to compare it to, but in any case I liked it. Well, maybe I should specify that I wasn't too thrilled with the characters, but the setting and the plot were both great.

[sakerfalcon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am a huge fan of GGK's work, though looked forward to this book with a little trepidation as I am not such a huge fan of teenage boys! I had recently read Robin McKinley's Dragonhaven (a very different book!), which has a teenage boy narrator, and found it heavy going. But Ned Marriner has a likeable personality, realistic but not annoying, and is a sympathetic viewpoint character. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between him and the adults around him, as he seeks both their support and his independence.Provence is gloriously depicted, and the rented villa sounds idyllic! Into this paradise come violent events from prehistory, as mysterious figures loom, appear and threaten. There are violent scenes, but things never get as dark as, say, the events of Fionavar. I don't feel this is a bad thing though, as the characters and atmosphere are all as strong as one expects from Kay.Many readers seem to have been disappointed by this book, and to be sure, it is not in the same class as Fionavar (to which this book is related) or Sarantium. But Kay is doing something different here, looking at the invasion of the distant past into our modern world, and the effect this has on a couple of teenagers and those who seek to protect them. As such, I think he succeeds admirably in showing how they are all forced to change their assumptions and broaden their horizons, as well as writing a thoroughly compelling story. This book could appeal to a younger audience than is usual for Kay's writing, which can only be a good thing for his continuing popularity.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a quick read once I settled into the fantasy aspect of it. I have to admit, the historical side was a little easier to cozy up to at first. The premise is an interesting one. Ned Marriner is traveling with his father in Aix-en-Provence, France on a photography assignment. Edward Marriner has made a name for himself as a professional photographer specializing in coffee table books of unusual landscapes and architecture. Ned's mom is a doctor with Medicine Sans Frontiers and a source of angst for her family as she insists on being sent to treat people in warring regions like Dafur and Bosnia. While in Provence Ned befriends sarcastic and bold Kate and together they uncover an ancient mystery that borders on the supernatural. It seems like a great fantasy until Edward's super assistant Melanie goes missing, sucked into that fantasy world.

[deva1984 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story of Ysabel centers on Ned, a teen from Montreal. With his celebrated photographer father and his team, he took a sojourn in Aix-en-Provence. There he met a NYC girl Kate and then a mystery man in leather jack while exploring the Cathedral Saint-Sauveur. The man turned out to be ancient, returned to continue a millenniums old love triangle invoking many blood sheaths throughout local history. This is a enjoyable page-turner. No serious themes discussed within you. Characters are well developed and colourful distinguishable. Ned's adventure is thrilling, lightly romanced, and let me say quite dusky but not grim. In the end he saved Melanie, his father's assistant, possessed by Ysabel the Red. And the "Roman" and the "Celt" ended their fierce feud in kinda peaceful although tragic way, as we could expect from the plot. Kay weaves the history of Provence and Ned's family story into this main plot. Surely he alters some historical events here to serve the story. But you could not suspect that of which is made by him. They fit the narratives like oliver oil filling spaghetti. I read the book much as a travel blog (might visit those sites if I have a chance to Aix.)

[marciathing · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This man can write!

[leander2010 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Guy Gavriel Kay can be a very, very good writer and it's precisely for this reason that I felt so disappointed by this book, because I know how much more he is capable of. "Ysabel" covers ground which is similar to Kay's early "Fionavar Tapestry": people in the modern, real world suddenly find that they have a central role to play in ancient or magical events. I confess that I didn't enjoy the "Fionavar" books, which felt clunky and immature after books such as "Sailing to Sarantium", through which I first discovered Kay's work. "Ysabel" turned out to owe much more to "Fionavar" than I'd initially realised, although the penny didn't drop until I was close to the end. By that point the link felt like a rather needless gimmick.Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner, accompanying his photographer father to Provence, becomes inadvertently involved in a timeless cycle of desire and retribution. Two men and a woman are bound to eternally re-enact their ancient love triangle among the forests and Celtic sites of the South of France, and the most recent incarnation of their story threatens Ned and those he holds dear. In trying to blend the ancient and modern, Kay shuttles between two styles of writing which sit together very awkwardly. The modern-day characters exchange banter which is full of slang and pop-culture references which already risk becoming dated, and which make the novel feel as if it's aimed directly at a 'young adult' market rather than the broader range of readers who enjoy Kay's other books. The mystical side of the story is dealt with in a richer, more archaic kind of prose which is closer to Kay's style in "Sarantium" or "The Lions of Al-Rassan." The problem is that, by having two markedly different styles, Kay doesn't seem to know what kind of book he wants to write. Moreover, the changes in tone are very noticeable and, by drawing the reader's attention to the construction of the book, it actually destroys any faith we have in his imagined world. Part of the difficulty is in the choice of Ned Marriner as the protagonist. Kay apparently feels it necessary to fill the book with references to iPods, Google and mobile phones, which actually often makes it feel as though he's trying too hard to show that he's down with the kids. The teenage narration feels even less convincing when it sits side by side with the rare moments in which Kay forgets himself, and soars away with some stirring scene, like the ritual at Entremont. I felt that the characterisation of Kate Wenger during that scene was particularly poor.Objectively, this is not a bad book, but (being in my mid-twenties) I felt ten years too old for it. At his best, Kay can create complex, believable characters and richly engaging worlds. I just hope that with his future novels he'll return to the historical fantasy which he does so well. It is difficult to believe that such a magisterial author could write such a technically clumsy book at this stage in his career. Judging by some of the other reviews here and on Amazon, I am not the only person who feels like this.

[jercox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ancient enemies at war in an ongoing love triangle get tangled up in modern reality. This pulled me in far more effectively than other Kay novels I have read recently. The plot was much tighter, with fewer far flung threads to reconcile, and better characters.

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had some problems with the story, partly to do with the reader not putting enough emotion into the reading, but also because the pathos seemed forced and the whole main plot unbelievable. I enjoyed the historical underpinning of Celtic, Roman themes but it wasn't enough to save the novel as a whole.

[cjservis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Engaging story. Good Halloween read.

[renbedell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Took a little while to get into, but once it gets going I could not put it down. The story is very engaging with characters that are very believable and diverse. The banter between characters is amusing. The suspense and twists are written very well that you never know what is coming. While it is a contemporary novel, it is still based on historical fiction themes that GGK usually explores. Fantastic book!

[memccauley6 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I had such high hopes for this story… It starts out at the funky Aix-En-Provence Cathedral… I love Provence! So, I’m reading…. and I’m asking myself “What’s the deal? I’ve seen rave reviews of this book”. So I tell myself that maybe the prose is so muddled because this book had been translated into English. However, I quickly discover that the author is Canadian.
The main character is a fifteen year-old boy who bears no resemblance to any fifteen year-old human I have ever heard of. As a former fifteen year-old myself, I feel insulted on behalf of teenagers everywhere. It’s like the author thought if he threw in enough brand names and buzz words the readers wouldn’t notice. (Coke, Nike, iPod, earbuds, jpeg, etc.) Needless to say, I didn’t finish, but I could see where the author was going, and it reminded me of Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (Which I can’t recommend either, although it is set in another French town I love – Carcassonne)

[wishanem · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I still like Guy Gavriel Kay's flowery writing, but this particular story didn't ever click with me. I've always had that problem with Fantasy in a modern setting. For some reason every logical inconsistency and irksome details bothers me, in a way they don't when a story is set long ago or far away. On top of that I didn't connect with any of the characters in this one. They were a bit too flat and their interactions with one another seemed artificial too often.

[wealhtheowwylfing · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Two chance-met modern teenagers involve themselves in a struggle that has continued for millennia. The beginning is too larded with “with-it” details (in the first few pages, Ned contemplates his iPod, Coldplay, and skate-boarding) that will quickly seem more dated than hip. The story kicks in soon after, though, when Ned and Kate encounter a dangerous looking stranger in the catacombs of Provence. Sheer curiosity gets them sucked into a battle between the Celts and the Romans, a battle that eventually takes the form of a treasure hunt and requires all of Ned’s family and friends as well as his own skills. Ned’s family and their friends feel very natural together, and the dialog was easily as interesting as the magic.

[zjakkelien · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I understand why some people are disappointed in this book; if you get into Ysabel thinking you're getting a regular Guy Gavriel Kay, than this might be a bit of a let down. The writing style is different. Every now and then it shows flashes of regular GGK, but overall it's more superficial and less dramatic. On the other hand, if you make a habit of checking out reviews before you read a book, then you know this, and are not surprised. Such was the case with me, and I really enjoyed this book. I knew there was a link to Fionavar, and I was very happy to see Kim and Dave again. I would have liked it better if Kim had had a bit more power. After all, I think she says Earth has need of a dreamer too when she returns here. I would have liked to see a bit more evidence of that. Still, nice story, nice characters, swift pacing. Not as compelling as a normal GGK, but a good read nonetheless.

[stuart10er_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. A young Canadian gets embroiled in a a story retold over two thousand years. This was aimed at young adult readers as there is a fair amount of teen angst over sex and their place in an adult world. It is typical high quality writing by Kay.

[babybelle-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ah.Not so good.The weakest of all his books.Well enough written but dull.Girl goes back in time as her ancestor

[brookeashley-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit of warning: Guy Gavriel Kay is only my most favorite author in the entire world. Given how many different authors I admire and follow, that's a pretty big honor for me to bestow. His novels evoke a certain range of emotions that no other author has ever been able to achieve, and without a doubt makes it impossible for me to honestly critique any of his books' weaknesses. Ysabel is no different, and if you take one thing from this review, it's that you should read it. Now.Kay has mostly written historical fantasy books; he chooses a historical conflict or time period and then weaves a fantasy novel out of his lengthy research. Sometimes the 'fantasy' tag indicates the use of mystical elements, and other times it simply allows him to twist fact into fiction without being admonished for being historically inaccurate. Ysabel is a slight departure from this; the historical elements smash head-first into modern-day France when 15-year-old Ned stumbles upon a 2,500-year-old love triangle.Ysabel is written very informally and much more simply compared to Kay's previous novels. This is due to the main character being a teenage boy, as well as the fact that it takes place in a modern setting and has a far less epic scope than his other books. I had some problems with the dialogue feeling a little forced and insincere in a few places (most notably when large groups of characters were talking with each other), but for the most part, it still retains the elegance of Kay's voice. The only word I can summon to describe his prose is "beautiful," as trite as that might be.One of the touches that Kay adds to his novels are the subtle "grace notes" that nod to his past works and suggest that his stories are all part of a shared history of one world. I'd been wondering how he was going to do that in Ysabel, since it clearly takes place in our world, not a world where there are two moons in the sky. To my surprise, Ysabel is nearly a coda to one of his earlier books. As I was reading, I started musing to myself, "Why is Kay re-using character names? This is only his tenth book, he has plenty of names to pick from." At one point, the realization struck me rather forcefully that the name was not being reused, and was in fact referring to the same character. Ysabel is still a fully stand-alone novel, and can be understood and appreciated without reading any of Kay's other works, but knowing the history of the reused characters makes it even deeper.For those who haven't read Kay's other novels, this untold back story simply folds into another of the author's signature touches: the hints that there is far more to the world than the current story can show. It's as if Kay is saying, "There are many, many stories in this world, and they often collide with each other, but this is the one I'm telling right now." This is illustrated in Ysabel, particularly when the members of the love triangle insist repeatedly, "This is only about the three of us," while everyone else replies, "No, it's not." There are many things in Ysabel that are left untold and unexplained, but it's done purposely and leaves the reader imagining those stories as he or she feels they might be told.I always feel depressed when I reach the end of a brand new Kay book far too quickly and realize I have roughly a three-year wait until the next one. At the same time, I'm thankful that he doesn't crank them out at the high frequency that publishers often demand when the author is a mainstream hit who guarantees massive sales. I highly, highly recommend any of his books, although Ysabel might be the best starting point for a Kay newbie, since its prose is the least dense out of all of them.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reread in February 2010.

Since I first read Ysabel, I discovered all the rest of Guy Gavriel Kay's work and found that, really, Ysabel wasn't anything like the best he could do. I wouldn't say, now, that I loved Ysabel -- I loved the Fionavar trilogy, I loved Tigana, but I only liked Ysabel. The details I mentioned liking in my first review hold true, except that now I wish there was more of everything. The Darkest Road fits an amazing amount of things in 450 pages, enough to make me cry every time -- Ysabel doesn't quite get there. It could, given time, though of course, there doesn't seem enough material here for a trilogy, not with just one story going on.

Read in July 2008.

I loved Ysabel. It's a semi-sequel to the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, though it only involves two of the characters from that, and those much older than they were. The little glimpses you get of how their lives have gone are believable, and interesting, and just about right, I think, for a book that isn't really about either of them. The main character is really Ned, Kim's nephew.

The core story is a little like the Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot thread in Fionavar, except that it isn't as clear why the story is repeating itself. The Celtic influences are very, very interesting -- to me at least. The resolution of the main plot is neat and well-done, in my opinion, although I think I could've stood to hear a lot more detail about Phelan, Cadell and Ysabel, and more about how Ned's abilities develop. The characters themselves don't quite have the depth that Guy Gavriel Kay brought to Fionavar, but at the same time, I think that's to be expected.

The descriptions in the book are lovely. There's not too much of them, but there's enough to bring a real flavour of the setting. It couldn't be set anywhere but Provence, I think, the way it's written.

So... I wouldn't have complained had it been longer, and a bit more detailed when it comes to characters and background, but I did enjoy it and still want more of Guy Gavriel Kay's work, despite being warned that I probably wouldn't find it up to the standard of the Tapestry trilogy.

[amaraduende · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

WONDERFUL. So different from his other books! This is from a young man's perspective, in the "real world." Kind of like Kay's version of McKinley's "Dragonshaven," with the very different narrator.

[cecily2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure why it seems to be getting such a lot of average reviews. One person commented that they liked Kate more than Ned and wished she had played a larger role. And yeah, actually, I don't think Ned is an amazing character; I'd probably have liked it more if they had switched places and the story was from her perspective. I also felt that I would have enjoyed a slightly less abrupt writing style, with longer sentences and paragraphs and some slower-paced scenes. But even despite those things I would still give it an enthusiastic 5 stars.

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm not really a lover of fantasy but I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I've always meant to read something by Guy Gavriel Kay since he is from my hometown, Winnipeg, but his being a fantasy writer gave me second thoughts. Then, when my work book club was looking for something to read I noticed that the Library Book Club Kit for this book was available. I proposed to the club that we give it a try. We'll be discussing it in about a week but I think that it will be quite well-received.Ned and his father, a famous photographer, are spending a few months in Provence while his father photographs for a new book. Ned has been taken out of school in Montreal to go with his father while his mother, a doctor with Medecins Sans Frontiers, is in Darfur. Along with Ned and his father are Melanie, the hyper-organized personal assistant and two other helpers, Greg and Steve. On the first shoot, of the cathedral in Aix-en-Provence, Ned goes into the cathedral while his father is shooting the exterior. He meets Kate, an exchange student from New York City, who is very knowledgeable about history. Together they encounter a strange man coming out of the tomb under the baptistry. And that's just the start of strange things. Two men, one Roman, one Celt, have been coming back to this area for 2500 years to vie for the love of a woman. This time of year, Beltain or May Day eve, brings the spirit world very close to the temporal world. Ned is somehow able to sense things connected with the time these men first met. He and Kate stumble onto a gathering at the start of Beltain and they draw Melanie into it. In an effort to save Melanie, Ned, his father, Steve, Greg, Ned's mother, aunt and uncle come together. They encounter druids, shape-changers, wolves, wild boars and other dangers. I'll never think about Provence the same again.

[Tiana Warner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining but forgettable.

[rarebagpiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely weaving of myth and history. Guy Gavriel Kay is a master storyteller.

[theidlewoman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Guy Gavriel Kay can be a very, very good writer and it's precisely for this reason that I felt so disappointed by this book, because I know how much more he is capable of. "Ysabel" covers ground which is similar to Kay's early "Fionavar Tapestry": people in the modern, real world suddenly find that they have a central role to play in ancient or magical events. I confess that I didn't enjoy the "Fionavar" books, which felt clunky and immature after books such as "Sailing to Sarantium", through which I first discovered Kay's work. "Ysabel" turned out to owe much more to "Fionavar" than I'd initially realised, although the penny didn't drop until I was close to the end. By that point the link felt like a rather needless gimmick.Fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner, accompanying his photographer father to Provence, becomes inadvertently involved in a timeless cycle of desire and retribution. Two men and a woman are bound to eternally re-enact their ancient love triangle among the forests and Celtic sites of the South of France, and the most recent incarnation of their story threatens Ned and those he holds dear. In trying to blend the ancient and modern, Kay shuttles between two styles of writing which sit together very awkwardly. The modern-day characters exchange banter which is full of slang and pop-culture references which already risk becoming dated, and which make the novel feel as if it's aimed directly at a 'young adult' market rather than the broader range of readers who enjoy Kay's other books. The mystical side of the story is dealt with in a richer, more archaic kind of prose which is closer to Kay's style in "Sarantium" or "The Lions of Al-Rassan." The problem is that, by having two markedly different styles, Kay doesn't seem to know what kind of book he wants to write. Moreover, the changes in tone are very noticeable and, by drawing the reader's attention to the construction of the book, it actually destroys any faith we have in his imagined world. Part of the difficulty is in the choice of Ned Marriner as the protagonist. Kay apparently feels it necessary to fill the book with references to iPods, Google and mobile phones, which actually often makes it feel as though he's trying too hard to show that he's down with the kids. The teenage narration feels even less convincing when it sits side by side with the rare moments in which Kay forgets himself, and soars away with some stirring scene, like the ritual at Entremont. I felt that the characterisation of Kate Wenger during that scene was particularly poor.Objectively, this is not a bad book, but (being in my mid-twenties) I felt ten years too old for it. At his best, Kay can create complex, believable characters and richly engaging worlds. I just hope that with his future novels he'll return to the historical fantasy which he does so well. It is difficult to believe that such a magisterial author could write such a technically clumsy book at this stage in his career. Judging by some of the other reviews here and on Amazon, I am not the only person who feels like this.

[thecrow2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A 15 years old teenager entangling the magical myths of Provance. A rather interesting coming-of-age type of novel sometimes not with the most convincing characters and best storyline but overall a good read. But really, as someone else noticed, Coldplay as a rockband???

[porch_reader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Guy Gavriel Kay is an author that I learned about through LT. I've never read any of his books, but when I found this book on a sale table, I decided to start with it. When Ned Marriner is visiting France with his father, he meets Kate Wenger, an American exchange student, at a cathedral. Together, they stumble upon a stranger with whom Ned feels some connection. As the story unfolds, Ned and Kate are pulled into an ancient conflict, and together with Ned's family, they must summon all of their resources to figure out what's going on and save someone they love. This was a great story and an excellent summer read. Two things made it stand out. First, the storyline was beautifully constructed - pulling me along at just the right pace, never failing to surprise me. Second, the characters were very believable. Ned and Kate are teenagers, and their relationship felt very much like a relationship that would develop between two teenagers on holiday. Each of the other characters also felt distinct and believable, and the relationships between then were excellently written. This is an excellent fantasy novel, but even if you don't consider yourself a fantasy reader, you might give this one a try.

[yarrow_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There were a few things wrong with this book but I really enjoyed it anyway. It reminded me a lot of the Dark is Rising series, but set in the south of France. I also enjoyed reading about the history Provence and would like to read more. Really fun :)

[jolerie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Their names are Ysabel, Cadell, and Phelan. At least this time around, that is what they are called. This isn't the first time. In fact, they've played out this story for over two thousand years. It has become an endless cycle of love and sacrifice. This time, with Aix-en-Provence as the backdrop, the story will unfold once again, but this time Ned Marriner, a teenage boy from Montreal Canada will become the wild card that will force Ysabel to choose differently - a choice that will change the fates of not only herself, but of the two men that she has loved for over two millennia.Yasbel held me rapt from the very beginning. Like any good story, the plot and mystery are revealed page by page, line by line, causing a tension and anticipation that bordered on torture. This would be a book that I would have devoured in one sitting if time was a luxury I could afford. It took a little adjusting to the style of the writing since I have become so accustomed to Kay's usual pattern of character and world building. In comparison Ysabel was nowhere near as intricate or complex as his other works and because of that the ending was the only negative component in the book. I was left wanting more, as if there should have been more answers. But in some ways, perhaps that is a sign that I truly enjoyed the book - I didn't want to leave the characters the way they were and yet I was relieved that I had reached the climax and characters had found their resolution even if I was a bit reluctant to let them go.