A review of Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay; a picturesque walk through a close fictional rendition of Tang Dynasty China

Under Heaven is a story set in a fictional rendition of Tang Dynasty China, closely adapting the events of the An Lushan rebellion. This was my entryway into the world of Guy Gavriel Kay's works; Kay is best known for writing stories that are very closely inspired by history, which takes a quarter turn towards the fantastical. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book, and in this review I'll explain exactly why.

In this story, Kay focuses on smaller strands in history's grand tapestry, which is evident in the protagonist's writing. Shen Tai is a gravedigger at Kuala Nor, working to bury dead corpses left behind in the aftermath of a war, often accompanied by the hallowing voices of souls. His solitude is soon brought to an end, as a letter from the Taguran Empire's Queen arrives, announcing a personal gift of two hundred and fifty Sardian horses for Shen Tai. The plot then ensues, and we as readers can then see how a normal man can be swept right into the tides of history because of the actions that other people take. This deliberate choice to use a protagonist who isn't the king or queen or a disgraced princess gives a more holistic picture of the history that Kay attempts to depict and strays away from trite, tropey stories.  It is also realistic because the people affected by events in history are not limited to the people behind the causing of these events. Not to mention, this choice also makes the story more grounded, because the smaller strands could one day be strands we find ourselves walking. 

The characters were deep, complex, and interesting. I loved seeing how they acted and reacted to events both major and minor, and at no point did their reactions feel out of character. Their best moments came when they directly acted out against the wry manipulations and threats that were constantly thrown against them throughout the book, Shen Tai being a great example of this. Kay strikes the perfect balance between characters advancing the plot and their individuality when it comes to making decisions that concern the aforementioned. 

Of course, when it comes to discussions surrounding Guy Gavriel Kay's works, the prose is an essential talking point. Kay's prose is poetic, smooth, and beautifully evocative. He paints each and every scene with exquisite detail, drawing your attention down to the minute, from the fluttering of birds under pale moonlight to the cherry blossom trees. and he gets the occasional soliloquy across expertly with insight and perspective that feels almost omniscient.

"Full moon is falling through the sky.

Cranes fly through clouds.

Wolves howl. I cannot find rest

Because I am powerless

To amend a broken world." 

Politics and dialogue were excellent. This is the first time I've been so absorbed by a political plot inside a book. Kay's use of dialogue and character, while slow at times, perfectly builds up to the resolution, both of which are executed neatly. Every moment of dialogue and plotting had just enough nuance and underlying context, and because of it, readers feel the simmering tension behind every word. No plot thread is purposely left unclosed, and the ones left ambiguous serve the greater theme; of how fate goes both ways. 

Overall, Under Heaven is an exploration of how even the lowest of people contribute to history, and how people keep true to themselves even when politics and schemes drag them into plots they never wanted to be part of. It acknowledges our powerlessness in the grand scheme of things while encouraging individuality in our lives. I love this book, and it gets an easy 5 stars from me. But I now also fear that the rest of Kay's works won't be able to match the standard he has set in Under Heaven.