This is actually my first novel by this author, and I can't wait to pick the rest up!
Written on the Dark is a sweeping novel, where tavern poet Thierry finds himself thrown head first into a deadly world of court assassinations, ambitious rulers and war. The novel cleverly comments on power and ambition, while keeping the reader glued to the pages.
The novel is so action packed, it's a wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy!
Huge thank you to Hodderscape for the proof of this book!

As with all of Guy Gavriel Kay's books, the prose is breathtakingly beautiful and a joy to read. This story felt more straightforward than his other books. The focus was largely on the main character, Thierry Villar, a tavern poet. The direction of Thierry's life changes significantly one winter's night when he finds himself ordered to become involved in political matters. The story that follows is a wonderful historical fantasy version of events in medieval France. I loved the cast of characters. Even the most minor character is given solidity and substance. As soon as I finished the book, I was yearning to read more.
Highly recommended.

A solid blend of character-driven storytelling and plot-driven tension. The stakes feel real, and the emotional beats land. It’s well-crafted and hard to put down once it gets going.

Written on the Dark is a fascinating, beautifully written blend of historical fiction and fantasy. This was my first time reading Guy Gavriel Kay—and it won’t be my last.

Like much of Kay’s work (or so I’ve heard!), the story is set in a fictional world that closely mirrors real historical events. This one draws inspiration from France during the Hundred Years' War (14th and 15th centuries) and is loosely based on the life of François Villon, the most well-known French poet of the Late Middle Ages. The plot echoes historical events such as the Battle of Agincourt, the murder of Louis I, Duke of Orléans, Joan of Arc’s campaign, and the troubled reign of Charles VI, the so-called “Mad King”. You don’t need to know the history to enjoy the book, but if you do, it adds an extra layer of richness. Kay plays with these inspirations in clever ways, often veering from the facts to craft something uniquely his own.

The prose is quick, sharp, and immersive—it pulled me in right from the first page. Yes, there’s the expected brutality of the medieval setting, but it’s also balanced with wit, humor, and a surprising amount of warmth. The characters are vivid and compelling, especially Thierry Villar—a poet who spends most of his time in taverns and somehow finds himself swept up in a plot much bigger than he ever expected.

If I had one small critique, it’s that I wanted a bit more from the characters’ internal worlds. We see what happens to them, but I would've loved a deeper dive into their emotional struggles too. That said, I was still completely hooked.

Highly recommend for fans of rich, lyrical historical fantasy. Can’t wait to read more from Kay!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Incredible prose, compelling and real characters, emotional reflections, an ode to art and artists.
My new favourite Guy Gavriel King book.

Thierry Villar is a tavern poet who gets caught up in an investigation following the assassination of a Duke who is the mad King’s brother, trusted advisor and acting as regent in the King’s sickness. It could lead to civil war.

Thierry chases laughter which makes him beloved of the populace, but not so the nobles who he mocks in his verses. He is charismatic and has a compassionate heart despite not seeing himself as a hero.

This is a story about how people of no importance become key players in court intrigue, ploys made with power, and murder.
How does justice and power obstruct each other?

<b>We regard our own memories as truths, when they are often just the stories we have told ourselves over time. They become the truth we live by, or with. They become our lives.
</b>
Per usual for GGK, there are many perspectives which makes this feel epic and expansive. I couldn’t believe this book was only 400 pages due to the amount of information, description, and depth we get.
Even interrupting perspectives from random characters to give you an added insight. Before death, from a stranger, from those overlooked.

There are beautiful love stories.
Witty poetry and riffing.
Battles, friendship, family.
A character reminiscent of the Fool from the Realm of the Elderings and homage to the Sarantium duology.

<b>Medor nodded. “Barratin wouldn’t have cared if they killed you. You aren’t important.”
“My mother loves me,” Thierry protested.</b>

You don’t have to have read any prior works of GGK before this one, but you may get more out of the experience if you do through the Easter Eggs.

GGK cleverly shows us how history is written by the victors, but also to highlight who history highlights.

Arc gifted by Hodder and Stoughton.

It is rare and wonderful to discover a writer who is able to combine heart, mind and poetic skill in a way that engages, challenges and charms. For me, Guy Gavriel Kay does just that.

Kay is a new writer to me, yet he has a long and celebrated writing career. Although I am reviewing this novel as a novice to his work, I will certainly be spending many happy hours exploring Kay’s extensive back catalogue.

'Written on the Dark' is inspired by fifteenth century France and is loosely based on the life of François Villon. The setting is brilliantly evoked and, although not strictly purporting to be historical fiction, the places and atmosphere of late medieval France are brought vividly to life. The novel opens in the depths of a freezing winter and the impact of the seasons on daily life is a central and developing theme throughout the entire story-line. We also experience the dangers and delights of medieval Paris: the taverns, the religious sanctuaries, the opulent palaces and the dark shadow cast by the Chȃtelet, the police headquarters where dark interrogations and judicial punishments take place. There is also a strong sense of the contrast between the noisy, dirty city and the serene countryside (although dangers also lurk there in the form of a band of outlaws).

I love the way that Kay develops his narrative, with hints and allusions before the story unfolds. The plot itself is largely based not just on Villon’s life but on historical events of that time, particularly the reign of the ‘Mad King’, (Charles VI in history, King Roch here), and the political instability that came from this weakness, all taking place against the broader canvas of the Hundred Years’ War. Indeed, the story opens with the murder of the Duke de Montereau, again loosely based on the assassination of the Duc d’Orléans, recreated with all the horror and awe that the murder of such an important personage would inspire. And the events that follow stem from this, with all the characters caught up in one way or another with the political and personal ramifications. This is not, though, a novel for historical purists; Kay makes full use of his artistic licence to challenge our expectations. We follow the events of the Hundred Years’ War – the invasion of Henry V and Agincourt, the appearance of Joan of Arc – but not always quite as we know them.

The characterisation is superb. I loved all the main characters and wanted to see how their stories unfolded. This is true not only of the main protagonists, but also of minor characters and special mention here should be made of Medor Colle and his strangely androgynous uncle, Gauvard Colle. While the religion of Jad and his pious sanctuaries are the sanctioned means of worshipping the deity, a darker, twilight world also exists in parallel, a world that ultimately takes us to Sarantium (Constantinople) and alternative, heretical, ways of thinking and living.

The writing is often poetic in its intensity, but also tells a good story as is to be expected of a master wordsmith. Villar/Villon’s short philosophical interludes are utterly beautiful and always illuminate rather than obstruct the narrative. For example, Part II ends with the following:

'It seems to me that most moments in life can be called interludes: following something, preceding something. Carrying us forward, with our needs and nature and desires, as we move through our time. It also seems to me that it is foolish to try to comprehend all that happens to us, let alone understand the world.'

This could serve as an epigraph for the whole book. I loved this novel from start to finish and devoured it in every spare minute. Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC – but I will now buy my own copy to treasure! My only dilemma now is: should I read it again or read another from Kay’s oeuvre?

A new Guy Gavriel Kay novel is always a treat, something to savour for the lyrical prose, the wise eye, and the compassionate characterisation. This one returns us to the world of Sarantium, albeit around a thousand years on from those books, around the time of the Hundred Years War, or it’s equivalent in the Kayverse (I just made that term up and I hate it already).
It’s a briefer book than some of his best, and I missed the opportunity to wallow in the world and the characters. The shorter length means you don’t get under the skin of anyone apart from the lead in quite the same way as you do his longer works, but it also fits the fancy that this is a recounting of something that actually happened long ago. It’s like the best history lecture you ever went to, and Kay is still probably our greatest living fantasy writer.

Please see the attached link for the full review.

I’ve reviewed Written on the Dark for book recommendation and sales site LoveReading.co.uk. I’ve chosen this title as both a Liz Pick of the Month for June, and a LoveReading Star Book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I am not usually a fan of historical fantasy, but was curious about the author. I did enjoy this one overall, mainly because the book is crafted beautifully and the writing style is very immersive. If there had been more fantasy elements, this would have easily been a 5 star for me.