Thierry Villar is a notorious tavern poet. If you find yourself sitting here wondering, “What could a tavern poet possibly be? How is it different from a normal poet?” You rube. You cultureless hack. Obviously, a regular poet is a refined individual who caters to the elite and the wealthy. But a tavern poet? A freestyle assassin who can snipe you with witty insults and observations at your local watering hole from more than 10 feet away (depending on the individual’s hearing). Thierry is a man with an intimate knowledge of the dregs of his city, which is why the provost of the guard has a job for him that he can’t refuse. A very important man has been murdered, cut down in the street. Investigating the crime is a very risky venture in an era when laws are often determined by the rich and powerful. Will Thierry step up to the plate and swim through the currents of history by helping bring justice to a murdered man? Or will he stay in comfortable notoriety, beloved but likely to only be a footnote in the annals of history?
As with all Kay books, Written on the Dark contains all of his signature elements: Small people in big times. Choices that alter the course of history. Proximity to power that drags you in its wake without the ability to meaningfully affect it. Written’s unique angle is its ties to poetry, both in plot and theme, and its exploration of how the choices we make pave our life’s story. All of the characters in this book, who come from different walks of life with very different dispositions, sit at interesting crossroads. Every one of them is presented with choices that lead to very different paths: one that will give up things they love, put them in danger, and make the world a very tiny bit better. The other, continued comfort and joy, but the shame of knowing you could have fixed something or saved someone, yet chose safety.
I really like how Kay dives into the minutia of the decisions. This is not a clear-cut “everyone should always do the right thing” hero story. These characters are taking on extreme risks in uncertain times for the chance that everything will work out to a better, more just world. In all cases, the decisions felt quite tricky, and I honestly see myself choosing safety in almost all situations. And because of this, their choices to place themselves at the center of turbulent times feel even more heroic and interesting.
As mentioned, poetry is a huge component of this book’s core identity. Written is actually quite short for a Kay book, clocking in at just under 300 pages for the copy I read. It favors more punchy observations and quick asides than some of Kay’s other, more lavish explorations of history and the human condition. It has a romantic soul, diving into its inhabitants’ lust for life and the passions that make them tick. It also loves poetic endings, in every interpretation of what that means. Also, the literal poetry that the various professional poets recited was quite fun. I imagine they must have been a labor of great love and energy for Kay, and I think the poems really tie the whole book together.
In terms of where I would rank Written on the Dark in the larger body of Kay’s work, I would put it somewhere around the middle. While still easily one of the best books of 2025, Written lacked the depth and weight of some of Kay’s bigger stories, like Sarantium or Lions. The choice to focus the book around essentially a singular event led to a more intimate story, but it also kept Written from achieving the more epic scope that Kay’s other books are known for. Written is a quiet and thoughtful member of Kay’s bibliography that you might forget is there, but it is full of shockingly emotive moments when you take a closer look.
Written on the Dark is a masterpiece of poetic scale and was a delightful entrant into the best books of 2025. Its smaller scope is refreshing, but it still packs a powerful punch despite its shorter length. If you are at all curious about the life of an underground guerrilla tavern poet, then the book you have been waiting for has finally graced your to-be-read pile.
Rating: Written on the Dark – 9.0/10
-Andrew
