LyonesseLyonesse
Score Classic
What it's about
In the Elder Isles, a lost archipelago off the coast of France before the time of King Arthur, kings scheme for power and wizards and fairies meddle in human affairs. Suldrun, a princess who defies her cold, ambitious father, is imprisoned in a garden, where she falls in love with a shipwrecked prince.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula finalist. It's a rich, witty fantasy by a master stylist.
You'll love it if you liked
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
The Privilege of the Sword
The Curse of ChalionGood to know
It's the first of a trilogy and has some cruelty.
By the numbers
- Readers31 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller9 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #384 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #710 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2500 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Lyonesse worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula finalist. It ranks #2,500 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lyonesse about?
In the Elder Isles, a lost archipelago off the coast of France before the time of King Arthur, kings scheme for power and wizards and fairies meddle in human affairs. Suldrun, a princess who defies her cold, ambitious father, is imprisoned in a garden, where she falls in love with a shipwrecked prince.
How long does it take to read Lyonesse?
About 11 hours (452 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Lyonesse?
If you liked it, try Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner or The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.