[Pamela]

I just picked up the hardcover Lord of Emperors from the Sarantine Mosaic series for $5 (can) at Coles bookstore.

I know absolutely nothing about this series due to being so new in the world of fantasy but for $5 I was not going to leave it there!

Could you guys please tell me the books involved with the series and in which order they come in? Could you also please tell me what the series was about (without giving anything away) and if it was any good?

Thank you in advance

[Kingslayer]

Lord of Emperors is actually the second book in a duology(sp?).

1.Sailing to Sarantium
2.Lord Of Emperors.

The only G.G. Kay book I've read is A Song for Arbonne, so I can't really comment on the that book but Arbonne was one of the the best I've read.Kay's prose is beautiful and his description are wonderfully vivid.His books aren't standard fantasy, more Alternative History with fantasy lands based on Middle Ages France, Spain and Byzantium etc.If you've got one of his books your on to a good thing :)

[Sammie]

A Song for Arbonne is very good. Tigana is better :).

(and that's all i've read so far, folks.....:))

[Alle]

Originally posted by Pamela

Could you guys please tell me the books involved with the series and in which order they come in? Could you also please tell me what the series was about (without giving anything away) and if it was any good?

Thank you in advance

Sailing to Sarantium and then Lord of Emperors, as already stated, are the books in this series. I personally think GGK is one of the best fantasy writers out there, so you got yourself a bargain. *s* But, you'll need to read the forst book in the series before enjoying your find.

Sailing is not one of my favorite GGK books, but it is interesting and involving. LoE is very exciting and one of GGK's best, imo. His best still is Lions of Al-Rassan, and he is one author who has yet to write a bad book.

[Pamela]

Thank you so much! I don't think I'll mind paying full price for the first book if the series is so good.

[Valada]

I'm currently reading 'Sailing to Sarantium' (almost finished), and it's quite good, although far from brilliant. Its world is based upon old Byzantium, and I was immediately attracted to this book because, having studied Yeats, I recognised the reference to his poem 'Sailing to Byzantium'. Some of the recurring motifs of this book reflect the influence of Yeats, but primarily the book is "historical fantasy", if you know what I mean. I will definitely finish the book, and will probably read the second, but can't say I'm a huge fan. I've heard that his other series are better, especially the Fionavar tapestry and some of his stand-alone novels, but I haven't read anything else of GGK's. It's definitely an interesting read, I just find certain of his techniques to be a little grating.

[Mithfânion]

Pamela, I know a lot of people who adore Kay's books, and the Sarantium duology usually gets good reviews. Haven't read it myself, but plan to. I'm told the main character, red-haired Crispin, is particularly interesting, especially as the books progress.

What does the fact he is red-haired have to do with anything? Nothing except that I picked up from discussions that he attracts a good deal of women and is a bit of a larger-than-life character.

[Pamela]

Mithfânion,
It's funny that you mentioned that the main character has red hair… because so do I. I have been told that red heads tend to share a lot of the same characteristics. It will be interesting to see how easily I relate with this character.

[MyriadStars]

I bought Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors last week from chapters. The first one is mass-market paperbound and its price is $10.99. The second is hardcover and its price is $6.99. Both are in Canadian dollars. You got a bargain:)

I haven't started to read them but I have read the Fionavar Tapestry (by the same author) before and I really enjoyed that triology. This duology (Sarantium Mosaic) got quite good reviews and I believe I will enjoy them, and that's why I bought them. Since you got the second book, why not buy the first one? Kay's books are always very moving, and I like his style in Fionavar Tapestry.

[Hobbit]

Keep meaning to get round to reading Tigana..... :)