All the Seas of the World

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars, but I'll be generous, because there was so much to like about this book. Kay is reliably excellent, and All the Seas of the World is no exception.

Things I liked:

Multiple complex female characters (one of them a main character), each with her own strengths and weaknesses. Kay is one of those rare male writers who a) can reliably write female characters well and believably, and b) patently understands that “strong female character” need not mean that the character in question is physically strong or a good fighter... or that if she is, that need not be the only thing that makes her strong. (In fact, it may not make her strong at all.) Kay's ability to write women has not always been very good, in all honesty, but that fact makes his skill at this now all the more welcome and impressive – many male writers would not have noticed or tried to rectify a weakness in this area. It means a lot to me that Kay has.

Multiple Jewish (well, Kindath, but...) characters, including Raina Vidal, an interpretation of the real-life Doña Gracia Nasi, who I had never imagined I'd get to read about as a fictionalized character in a fantasy novel, let alone get to see her have hot lesbian sex with the book's heroine (it's fade to black, which is just as well. Her appearance in the book as a background player is excellent – I guess we may know little about the real woman's personality, but I really liked how Kay chose to characterize her, incredibly strong-willed, sharp as a tack, and still with a warmth and sensitivity to her, because she was after all a human person, even if she was everything else that she was – businesswoman, humanitarian, philanthropist, political strategist, and community leader.

Rafel ben Natan was a delight. A friend of mine pointed out that his was a rare example in fiction of Jewish ideals of masculinity rather than goyish ones – Rafel is quick-witted, smart, subtle, courageous, creative, and tenacious. His experience of migration under duress continuing to affect his life is one that resonates with many Jews (and others) today.

Other Kindath characters include Gaelle (another excellent female character, though one that could have used a bit more development), Rafel's absconded gett-refuser brother, Elie the mariner, and Tamir, Raina Vidal's fool of a sister-in-law.

Things I liked a little less:
Not much to complain about! I will say some characters could have used a bit more development (Gaelle, mostly), but insofar as I'm left wanting, it's just because there are so many tertiary characters whose lives I want to know more about... Antenami Sardi, Guidano Cerra, Gaelle again, and Rafel's brother.

The middle section of the book dragged a tiny bit in places.

On reflection, there were some places where the resolution seemed a bit... neat, and there were some allusions to previous books (not in this series) that felt more like Easter eggs than real enhancements.

Final thoughts:
This isn't my favourite Kay book (that probably is still Lions, followed by the Sarantine Mosaic), but it makes a fabulous capstone to the series (preceded by Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago, both of which I loved) of which it is a part. Emotionally resonant, exciting, thought-provoking, and with a satisfying ending.

This can be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't advise it. You'll get much more out of it if you bother to read Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago first.