I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre and it is usually very rare to find me reading a book outside of this genre. While The Lions of Al-Rassan can be labeled as a fantasy book, it is more closely related to a book in the history genre. Most reviews I have read about it call it a historical fantasy but to me there were few of the elements of fantasy I am used to. No fantastical, other worldly type characters, no magical powers, just real people existing in a world of many religious differences. The Author, Guy Gavriel Kay, describes an unbelievably detailed land based upon Moorish Spain. There are three different religions covered in the book. The Kindath (jews), The Asharites (Muslims), and The Jaddites (Christians) are constantly at battle with each other throughout the book, but the books main focus is on a group of characters from all three religions that have come together to help each other in their times of need. The books message is very powerful. We are all human beings at heart, despite religious differences. If we could find a way to realize that religion does not have to define an individual we could look beyond petty differences and live in a peaceful world. Overall the characters in this book are some of the most intriguing characters I have ever read. Ammar Ibn Khairan and Captain Rodrigo Belmonte become legendary characters in a world filled with powerful men. I would recommend this book to anyone regardless of your affection for fantasy novels. It is well worth the read and could very well change your perspective on life and religion.
-IB