The story begins with a tavern poet stepping out into a winter’s night to thieve but he finds himself facing a far more deadly situation than he expected—the political murder he’s coerced into investigating will take all he is and all he can become to survive. Kay writes fantasy a quarter turn from history, so there are more than hints of Francois Villon, Christine de Pisan, and Jeanne d’Arc; the quarter turn means Kay isn’t bound to it. This is a tale of politics both national and personal, of treachery and faith, but more importantly, it’s a story of love and art and shaping your own future from a less than promising present. This is an excellent entry to Kay’s not-quite-medieval Europe, and you’ll want to read the Sarantium novels next. After you’ve savoured the lives bound together here.

Guy Gavriel Kay’s latest novel, at a reasonable 320 pages, took me nearly a month to read. It was not because I was struggling to find time to read, or that my eyes would slide off the page whenever I picked it up and tried to get through another chapter, but rather, it was the weight of the story of a tavern poet caught in the political machinations that threatened his life and his beloved home. Kay’s writing isn’t dry, dense, or needlessly archaic, but rich, poetic, beautiful and left me to reread sentences over again so I could understand their weight before moving on. The narrative is sprawling, progressing through events that may not coalesce until viewed in retrospect, but it is undoubtedly the best book that I’ve read this year.
A body in the streets of Orane on a cold winter’s night dissuades tavern poet Thierry Villar from robbing a sanctuary and throws him into a criminal conspiracy that is far more dangerous than blasphemous petty theft. This is the setup of Written on the Dark, but the story moves from what I assumed was going to be a detective story in a medieval near-France into something else altogether. A duke is murdered, and the provost of the city is tasked with finding the culprit, with an at-first reluctant Thierry enlisted to help solve the crime. The narrative never loses its sight on Thierry, but it shifts and moves through the years, turning into a greater meditation on small choices reverberating through time. Despite its narrow focus, Kay’s work feels epic as the narrative draws to a conclusion, one that feels almost inevitable as all the various players finally click into place. Admittedly, this is my first novel from Guy Gavriel Kay, and I immediately made a list of his other books to read through as soon as possible.
Beyond the plot, the heart of Written on the Dark rests in the cast of characters. Thierry is a remarkable protagonist, full of faults and aspirations to do better, though his growth over the course of the novel feels remarkably human. He has moments of insight that illustrate his empathy and understanding of the world around him, but he can be an insufferable ass and often is so to his own detriment. The balance of his personality is incredible, as he never veers into his virtues or vices enough to become a caricature of a young man with more potential than he knows what to do with. The rest of the cast, though they come and go throughout the novel, feel as vital as Thierry by the end. A whole series could be published following each of the secondary cast, from Silvy and Marina to de Vaux and Medor Colle, but I guess that is the mark of a strong cast. Better for those stories to exist alongside Written on the Dark and exist in the margins to create a deep, intriguing world than to have every mystery explained and explored.
Kay’s writing, despite its rather brief page count, is nothing short of beautiful. Instead of breezing through pages, knowing that I would eventually have to write a review and the sooner I could finish the better, I found myself highlighting passages and reading under my breath to get the cadence of his words. Fittingly, Thierry Villar is a poet, and Kay’s sentences convey a staggering amount of meaning without becoming overly verbose or veering into purple prose — an act I’m afraid I’ve no doubt committed by this point. The novel is not complicated, for a murder investigation, it's pretty straightforward, but Kay touches on ideas of faith, what we owe to others and matters of life and destiny without trying to offer easy answers. His writing wants me to be a better writer, while offering an incredibly entertaining story that I know I’ll revisit in the future. I don’t think there is any more I can ask from a novel or any piece of art I have the chance to encounter.

Written on the Dark is GGK's shortest novel, and in a lot of ways, I think it needed to be longer. Brightness Long Ago, his next shortest, is over 100 pages longer, and is my second favorite GGK novel. So it's not like it needed to be huge! But a lot of it felt rushed or haphazard in the exploration of its themes and characters. The plot just kinda comes in for awhile and then is over, and then people hang around for awhile, and then more plot stuff happens....all of this, in isolation, is great. But it left the novel feeling like it was not as good as the sum of its parts. This sounds negative, and in comparison with Guy's other novels that I've read, it is. But it's still a GGK book, which means it is still very good. The prose is still great, every minor and major character's inner life is accounted for, and there are some great characters in this one. Theres a chapter in this book that is primarily following Joan of Arc (but GGK twisted, so not really) that is spectacular.

And part three of this book is incredible. The whole climax was extremely gripping and moving. And then the epilogue is...maybe, just maybe, the best epilogue I've ever read. It ties into Sarantine Mosaic and Brightness Long Ago, my two other favorite works from GGK, and it made me so incredibly emotional.

So I can't fault it too much.

8.5/10

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
There are pros and cons for this book.
I like the historical nature of it. I also like how it put names to the events. Also brings to light how few could survive when it’s every man for himself and there is no real emergency plan.
However this just became a roll call for the ones lost.
I do think the author lost focus at times and digressed, which caused problems for the reader.
And, I felt like he could have gone deeper in the story.
Overall….meh.

Written on the Dark is another stunning historical fantasy from the masterful pen of Guy Gavriel Kay, who this time turns to medieval France for inspiration.

In many ways, this is a story about stories – about who tells them, how they tell them, and how we interact with them. As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but so is history. We get history told by those who were there and those who weren’t, but those who insist on being remembered and those who are content to be forgotten. All of this is wrapped up in the story of a poet (Thierry Villar) who even steps outside the narrative at times to offer brief asides to the reader, some adding color to what’s passed, and some foreshadowing what’s to come.

While much of this is precisely what you’d expect of Kay – history, drama, politics, and storytelling – there are two elements that stood out for me. The first is the women of the tale, probably my favorite in anything Kay has ever written. Silvy and Marina, their lives intertwined with that of Thierry, are wonderfully written characters, and the crossing of their affections is a quiet, subtle, but wonderful moment. Jeannette was an interesting character (as much as I chafed a bit against the introduction of a Joan of Arc figure), and Alaina, for the very little that we see of her, is just magical. The second is the character of Gauvard Cole, easily my favorite creation of Kay’s since Fionavar. Described as having an “element of uncertainty” and “a name wrapped in mystery,” who isn’t “exclusively male or female” but “changeable,” it’s not clear whether they’re transgender, nonbinary, or intersex, but I loved them and their role in the story.

Narratively, it’s a bit of an odd story, skipping between characters, places, and plotlines, with those asides I mentioned earlier, but it all works . . . all comes together . . . all accentuates the story or the history or perhaps both.

Guy Gavriel Kay once again delivers a masterful blend of history and fantasy in Written on the Dark. Set in the richly imagined world of Ferrieres—Kay’s version of medieval France—the novel follows Thierry Villar, a tavern poet who unexpectedly finds himself entangled in the dangerous political intrigues of royals, assassins, and war.

Beyond Thierry, the novel introduces a compelling cast of side characters who add depth and intrigue to the story. Robbin de Vaux, the sharp-witted Provost of Orane, recruits Thierry for a murder investigation that quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. Meanwhile, Marina di Seressa, a noblewoman and poet, challenges Thierry intellectually and emotionally, offering a fascinating contrast to his rough-edged charm. And then there’s Medor Colle, a mysterious figure whose insights into fate and the unseen world make him an unsettling yet captivating presence in Thierry’s journey. Has Thierry finally found a friend worth having? We also get to fall in love with Silvy and the others that grace the pages of this remarkable story.

Kay’s signature lyrical prose (so good!) brings the era to life, weaving a tale of ambition, art, and survival. Fans of his previous works will appreciate the depth of historical inspiration and storytelling prowess. This is prime Kay and I loved it.
My rating is 4.5 rounded

Thanks to #NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC opportunity. My thoughts are my own.

3.75⭐ rounded up to 4. Guy Gavriel Kay is *the* author who got me hooked on fantasy novels when I was a teenager. The Fionavar Tapestry introduced me to the genre, and more specifically to portal fantasy, and it’s been my thing ever since. (It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I picked this subgenre for my debut fantasy series!)

When I grabbed this arc, I was expecting another epic fantasy story. However, I’d say this book is best described as a semi-fantasy historical fiction story, with a focus on political intrigue, murder mystery, and social critique, with just a touch of fantasy elements. The setting is familiar (like an alternate-reality France in the Joan of Arc era) and includes very subtle magic. There are many, many things I loved about this book, but at the end of the day it wasn’t really for me. I just couldn’t feel invested in the plot or characters. I think I was too distracted by the annoying and confusing mid-chapter POV switches and the absurd amount of foreshadowing, philosophical musings, and allegories to truly enjoy this. I also found that male characters were much more developed and much less stereotypical than the female ones, which always gives me the ick.

If you’re a fantasy reader who enjoys standalone novels, loveable antiheroes, political intrigue, “whodunit” stories, LGBTQ rep, and poetry, you’ll probably love this short, easy read. Oh, and it was written by a Canadian author! 🍁

Tropes to expect: the antihero, reluctant allies, loveable rogue, friends on the force, unrequited love, The Savior

❤️ Medor Colle & Thierry Villar
❤️ Alternate reality feel
❤️ Atmosphere
❤️ Very subtle magic
❤️ Minor character story arcs and interludes
❤️ Short, easy read
❌ The MMC’s love interest
❌ Underdeveloped key characters
❌ Hints at “what could have been”
❌ Mid-chapter POV switching
❌ Redundant prose with too much foreshadowing
❌ Allegories

Trigger warnings: violence, murder, death and grief, fire and fire injury, blood and gore, mental illness, injury and injury detail, misogyny, sexism, homophobia, classism, sexual assault (hinted at), etc.

This book ended up being a bit of a miss for me, but I was fairly entertained for the most part. The final chapters were okay, but overall, I’d rate it around 3 stars. GGK’s prose is always excellent but something felt off about his prose here. It felt a little clipped and choppy at times.

Character wise, I found myself missing the banter and relationships we saw in The Lions of Al-Rassan (my favorite to date from GGK). The dynamics in Written on the Dark didn’t resonate with me in the same way. I wanted more depth from characters like Gauvard (who felt like he was channeling the Fool from Farseer, but not quite), Marina di Seressa, Silvy, and Medor. There wasn’t one character who I felt deeply invested in. I do appreciate that this story revolved mostly around characters who are typically on the sidelines of large historical events, I found that interesting but I just needed the characters themselves to be more..interesting. I also wish we spent a bit more page time exploring character relationships and motivations.

I’ll admit, I’m not super familiar with the historical references the book draws from. Figures like the “mad” king, Joan of Arc (who barely got any page time?), and François Villon (who Thierry is based on) might have added more nuance if I had that context, but as is, it didn’t do much for me.

Plot wise, the pacing started off quickly with a murder mystery (which sort of failed to keep me interested), but soon meandered. The middle dragged and felt like it included scenes that didn’t add much. The ending was the strongest part, but even then, some elements felt a bit too convenient. Not quite on the level of Tigana’s convenient plotting though.

A part of my lukewarm response maybe also comes from feeling like this story is loosely tied to the author’s other works (which I haven’t read all of yet). For instance, the reference to “the weaver at the loom” pulled from Fionavar tapestry lore went over my head. I think I would’ve appreciated more of those connections had I read his backlist first.

All in all, I don’t see this book leaving much of a lasting impression on me.

Firstly, before diving into the review, I believe it’s appropriate to state that I was provided with an eARC by NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada, and while I appreciate being provided with the book, that won’t affect the review in anyway.

I tried to avoid reading other early reviews or learning too much about the work before my own read through. However, coming in, I knew this book was short compared to his other works. I like to think that I don’t believe that more of something is inherently better, so I don’t have any specific problem with the length, but it did give me pause. Kay’s works, with the exception of Ysabel, are large scale, set-piece, sweeping epics. This book is not that though, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I don’t believe the length works against Kay here.

Guy Gavriel Kay’s work generally has a harmony between the prose and the narrative. I won’t get into spoilers for other works, but the narrative structure and style always seem to be in harmony (or deliberate disharmony) with the story. This book feels like a story told in tavern over ale or wine, and it works. It’s not what I was expecting, but it very much works.

Since finishing the book I’ve seen a lot of people say that this is very classic or vintage Kay. I disagree. I think that while the quality of the work is typical of Kay, the structure and story, especially the epilogue represent a culmination of his work.

This story feels incredibly personal, and close. While The Sarantine Mosaic, Tigana, or A Song For Arbonne are stories that could be recited in great halls and royal courts, this work very much feels like it should be told over a flagon of ale or a wine skin passed between riders on a long journey. It’s a very intimate and personal tale, the large events more often than not happen at a distance and come to us second hand, which sounds as though it should be dull, but the nature of the story and the writing benefit from this.

This is a book that celebrates ordinary folks, craftsmen, poetry and history, and in that sense is very classic GGK, but in scale and scope, this feels like something genuinely new.

I hope I’m wrong about this, but it also felt like a farewell. Reading the Epilogue, I couldn’t help but feel as though we were saying goodbye to the world of the Jaddites, Kindath, and the Asharites.

While this is a short book, and I wouldn’t haven’t been upset if there were more of it, I do think that it’s beautiful. While, in some ways, I think this represents a significant divergence for Kay, lovers of GGK will still find the hallmarks of his work: the wheel of fortune, the impact of ordinary folks on history, love of history and historiography, and the beautiful wistful prose that you will find nowhere else.

5/5

received an arc from netgalley, consider this a disclaimer!

alright, so guy gavriel kay has been one of my favourite authors since i was probably younger than i should have been (i have always scrounged my dad's bookshelf, with varying levels of success), which means i was ready to Immerse Myself in this, and Immerse Myself i did. anyone who has read guy gavriel kay knows that he follows the threads of so many stories in each book and between his books, and i am always looking out for this when i read (and definitely failing to notice even more).

beautifully written, like always. i read this in a craze on the train to and from work, couldn't put it down. i have zero complaints, and only incomprehensible praise.

i even have more praise than usual, because (spoiler warning): there are queer characters that don't die!! <i>this</i> is unusual in a guy gavriel kay, he loves to bury those gays (except for the occasional bisexual woman, who has been known to survive) and that didn't happen this time, and i am genuinely celebrating. i feel like the world is healing, amen, praise be, i am going to find religion, etc.

anyways, do read, because this is excellent!

I loved this book; storytelling at its best. The characters are vivid and they drive the well-paced story. Guy Gavriel Kay created characters I cared about, and the action and political intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I loved the way the foreshadowing was done, creating intrigue without giving anything away. Thank you to Netgalley and Viking for the advance reader copy.

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!