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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully told fantasy, September 3, 2000
This review is from: Lady in Gil (Gil trilogy, Book 1) (Paperback)
Years ago, before the advent of internet shopping, I used to journey to the city a few times a year, to visit bookstores that carried imported British science fiction. This book, first published in Britain, reminds me why British fantasy remains among the best. In "Lady in Gil" Rebecca Bradley has managed to take that classic fantasy plot of the reluctant hero, and turn it in to something that is uniquely and wholly her own. From the first, the reader suspects that the scholarly and hopelessly unathletic Tigrallef will make a far better hero than his musclebound and unimaginative brother. The wonder of the story is in how Tigrallef achieves this transformation, as the author turns familiar cliches on their head, culminating in Tigrallef being transformed into something that even he did not expect-- a genuine hero, who achieves success for his people, but at a terrible cost to himself. Here's hoping that Ace will soon release the sequel in the US.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Last Resort, June 20, 2002
This review is from: Lady in Gil (Gil trilogy, Book 1) (Paperback)
Lady in Gil is the first of a trilogy that follows the adventures of Tigrallef. Told in first person narrative, the novel has a punch lacking in quite a few fantasy novels with a quest storyline. Put simply, a nasty group of conquerors, the Sherank, have brutally acquired Tig's homeland. The conquered native people are treated viciously, but a group of exiles keeps trying to retake what was once theirs. Within the boundaries of the conquered kingdom lies a statue said to have powers that would defeat the Sherank if only one of the exiled Scions could but get his hands on it. Unfortunately, the first string Scion has a mishap that sidelines him. His brother Tig, a glorified librarian/historian, is selected to replace him as a last resort. Lady in Gil is a stand alone book. One does not need to read the other two books that follow, but most will feel compelled to continue reading about Tig and his misadventures. Rebecca Bradley does a masterful job of characterization, but her strongest point is plot development and pace. She is a savvy writer that delivers a completely satisfying story full of love interest, betrayal, humor, despair, and perhaps one of the most intriguing harems ever detailed within any fantasy work.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Writing and Great Characters, March 20, 2001
This review is from: Lady in Gil (Gil trilogy, Book 1) (Paperback)
Tig is a reluctant 'hero'. He thought he had escaped the duty of the princes of his family by becoming a librarian - something he loved. However, an unfortunate accident by his very heroic elder brother leads him being sent to find the 'lady in gil' and save his homeland island of Gil from invaders who have held for the last 70 years. Tig is great character, intelligent and sceptical of heroics - and their ability to get you killed quick. The story is told with a realism and a regard for the consequences of actions rare in fantasy novels. The author has also given Tig a great dry sense of humor. I'm reading the second book at the moment, and it's also excellent. So far these have been much better than your 'average' fantasy. An author whose work I intend to keep an eye out for from now.
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