There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.

Tigana accomplishes in one book what others take two or three to complete.

A single standalone fantasy book may be overlooked because it is simple or not complex enough but that isn't the case here. There is a heavy layer of political and geographical conflict with just enough mystery about Ember Nights and the limited sorcerers to keep the reader engaged.

This was one of the most entertaining high/epic fantasy stories I've read and the fact it is contained within a single story is admirable.

The story doesn't handhold the reader. Kay writes long sentences that can get burdensome but each packs details and significance. If I rushed a sentence I had to stop myself and re-read it because everything matters. I was quick to judge this book because it was written in the 90's but it is a mature, well executed and not too dependent on magic to move the story along.