Ilario, A Story of the First History is ahistorical fantasy novel byMary Gentle. It was published as two separate novels in the USA.
Set in the samealternative history medieval world as Gentle'sAsh: A Secret History,Ilario, A Story of the First History is more limited in scope. Here,Carthage has become a powerful medieval empire. Protagonist Ilario, is anintersex person seeking to serve as apprentice to a master painter, a path that takes Ilario from Iberia to Carthage,Rome,Venice andConstantinople. Described as "part picaresque, part travelogue, part prosechanson de geste", the story serves to examine issues of gender, sexuality, and power.[1]
Roz Kaveney, reviewingThe Lion's Eye forTime Out described the book as "action-packed, deeply intelligent novel a focus for intrigue, intellectual debate and a fair amount of polymorphous hot sexual action".[2]Strange Horizons found the book "something of a disappointment", with "precious few changes of tone".[1]
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