adoptive mother to the powerful General An Li and makes suggestive overtures to Shen Tai. Wei Song, a Kanlin warrior, is sent by Spring Rain to prevent the first assassination attempt ordered by Wen Zhou. Thereafter she accompanies Shen Tai on his journey toward Xinan, and then south to collect the gift of the Sardian horses. Sima Zian, known as "the Banished Immortal", is a poet of renown some twenty years older than Shen Tai (historical poet Li Bai). Tai is a great admirer of Sima Zian's poetry and the two become staunch friends and drinking companions as Tai makes his way toward the capital. An Li, known also as "Roshan" (historical general An Lushan), is an aging general in command of the forces of three military districts. Disdained by many at court because of his non-Kitan origins, being a "barbarian" from beyond the Long Wall, his illiteracy and his huge size, he is drawn as a character of insight and intelligence, justly feared for his cunning and ambitions. Ultimately, he unleashes a brutal rebellion against the emperor which results in the collapse of control and order in large parts of the empire. Meshag is the eldest son of Hurok, the Bogü khagan or leader. A capable leader, Meshag is struck down by a shamanic spell several years before the novel starts, leaving him in a coma-like state near death. Another shaman attempts to perform another ritual on Meshag, but this is interrupted by Shen Tai, leaving Meshag in a partially transformed state between human and non-human, but nevertheless grateful to Shen Tai for having saved him from the dark magic. ReceptionUnder Heaven was given a favorable review by Toronto's The Globe and Mail. Here, reviewer Robert Wiersema described it as: "a sumptuous feast of storytelling, a beautifully written tale with a beating, breaking heart at its core that will have readers in tears by its final pages". Michael Dirda, in his review for The Washington Post, Beware Gift Horses'', noted that Kay has leavened the story with "appealing minor characters" that enhance the richness of the plot. References Further reading </ref> Novels by Guy Gavriel Kay 2010 Canadian novels Canadian historical novels Novels set in the Tang dynasty Historical fantasy novels