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All the Seas of the World

International bestseller

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All the Seas of the World

By: Guy Gavriel Kay
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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About this listen

 'Kay is a genius' Brandon Sanderson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Returning to the near-Renaissance world of A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth and Sky, international bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay deploys his signature 'quarter turn to the fantastic' to tell a story of vengeance, power, and love.

On a dark night along a lonely stretch of coast, a small ship, the Silver Wake, sends two people ashore to a stony strand. Their purpose is assassination. They have been hired to do this by two of the most dangerous men alive. The consequences will affect so many lives both great and small, and possibly alter the balance of power in the world.

One of those arriving on that night strand is a woman abducted by corsairs from her home as a child, escaping that fate, that destiny, years after, now trying to chart her own course - and bent upon revenge. Another figure, on the boat, bringing it to meet the secretive landing party at the city where they are going, is a merchant who still remembers being exiled as a child with his family from their home, for their faith.

Returning triumphantly to the brilliantly evoked near-Renaissance world of his most recent novels, international bestseller Guy Gavriel Kay deploys his signature 'quarter turn to the fantastic' to offer listeners a wide-ranging, vividly memorable set of characters in a story of vengeance, power, and love, built around profoundly contemporary themes of exile, loss, and memory.

In a narrative of high drama, All the Seas of the World also offers moving reflections on choices, fate, and the random events that can shape our lives.

(P) 2022 Penguin Audio©2022 Guy Gavriel Kay Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Military Revenge Fiction Destiny

Critic reviews

Praise for Guy Gavriel Kay
Tragic, stirring, romantic, meticulous, comic, rueful, worldly-wise, and written in the intimate, deceptively nonchalant voice of a storyteller offering up his great gift, All the Seas of the World is classic Kay, and to this reader, at least, there can be no higher praise.
Kay is a genius. I've read him all my life and am always inspired by his work
Guy Gavriel Kay has a wonderful talent. He tells stories in an invented world that is so rich in historical echoes that I found myself smiling with pleasure as I heard the echoes, while engrossed in the story. Warmly recommended
History and fantasy rarely come together as gracefully or readably as they do in the novels of Guy Gavriel Kay
Kay is peerless in plucking elements from history and using them to weave a wholly fantastical tale
The finest in his field
By making the familiar ever so slightly strange, GGK breathes new life into historical fantasy. Beautifully faceted, jewel-like scenes carry us beyond the doublets and daggers to create an emotionally charged, high-stakes world of love and hate, threat and reward
This is an immersive reading experience; readers will taste the dust in their mouths, see the high seas from the deck of a merchant ship, feel the bustle of the city market. What results is necessary sustenance for the starving reader. A masterpiece from a master of the craft
All the Seas of the World is as rich a tapestry as we've come to expect from Kay - perhaps one of the richest
Combined with Kay's masterful storytelling skills, these elements help make All the Seas of the World both an amazing story, and a beautiful examination of the nature of home and finding your place in a tumultuous world. A truly wonderful book which will enthral and delight readers over and over again.
A compelling historical fantasy, the novel depicts a world on the cusp of change, exploring both the heights of power and those affected by the decisions of the powerful. Steeped in detail and flush with memorable characters, it is a fine example of how Kay has become something of an institution in the world of speculative fiction, with works translated into nearly two dozen languages, a rucksack full of awards, and an appointment to the Order of Canada to his credit.
There's a moment in this book that had this cynical old reviewer trying to hold back the tears - and failing. That it comes halfway through is a testament to the novel's richness and depth. The story is epic and gorgeously detailed, warm and ruthlessly chilling as it follows her progress through battles and bedrooms to an ending that is exactly what she deserves, and we want.
Meticulously crafted in structure, pace, language, dialogue.... but crafted not just with skill but with heart ... so one is both saddened and gladdened in turn, moved and inspired throughout
All stars
Most relevant
I really loved this book. I loved the confident writing of the author, the characters, the world building and the story overall. not high fantasy. There are no dragons but a gentle and complete reimagined world with just a bit of magic.enough for me....narration is superb.

Fabulous fantastic reimagined renaissance world.

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A great book, amazingly read. GGK is one of my top 2 authors, he writes beautifully and whilst I didn't think this story was as engaging as some of his others it's still at the top of anything around at the moment.

A great book, amazingly read

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A further chapter in this series. Adds depth to previously developed characters. Made all the more enjoyable by the excellence of the narrator.

Revisiting Sarantium

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I enjoy a novel from Guy Gavriel Kay about once a year. The patterns of his prose are very much his own and immediately identifiable. I've also enjoyed listening to Simon Vance's narration on a number of occasions. This adaption though is very difficult to listen to, given the episodic and vast cast with, at times, indistinguishable and sometimes changing names. I would, given the chance to start again, buy the book and not bother with the audible version.

Had to buy the book

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I would have liked more personal details about the characters, more detailed plot, stuff to feel invested in.
I have read most of this writer's work, really enjoyed it, had high expectations- but this one felt too general. And I found some of the mannerisms irritating.
I found the narrator a bit irritating too - maybe I'm just grumpy!

Hmmmmm

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