Regarding Tigana - Despite the fact that Brandin of Ygrath was one of the villains, or at the least an antagonist, I really liked him as a character. In fact, if it wasn't for his invading in the first place, I could almost cheer for the man. What he does initially in remembrance of his son is impressive and I have never come across anything like it in literature before or since. And what he does for love at the end is tragic also. I certainly like him more than Alberico, who I disliked from the get-go. I presume this was intentional on Kay's part. Something that always bothered me in the book was the wizard who gets bound, Erlein. I know and understand perfectly well all of the reasons and arguments put forth why it happens to him, but it still bothers me that it happens to him. Just on a gut, instinctual level; I really cannot logically explain why. Regarding a Song for Arbonne - I consider this the least of the three stories that are the "early" standalones that Kay did, but that does not mean that it is not a good story. One of my favorite characters is in that one, Urte de Miraval. I do not consider him to be a villain, but an antagonist. I actually am on his side regarding the whole dispute between him and Bertran de Talair. Granted, I know the whole story, so it is easy to say that. And it also features a good legitimate villain, Galbert de Garsenc, a person who uses his intellect in a fashion not dissimilar to that of Tywin Lannister.
