Written on the Dark

Written on the Dark is a historical fantasy novel by Canadian writer Guy Gavriel Kay published May 27, 2025 by Viking Press. It is inspired by 15th century France and the Hundred Years' War. Specifically, it depicts versions of the figures Charles VI, Joan of Arc, and Henry V's campaign in France culminating in the Battle of Agincourt, while the story focuses on the life and deeds of a tavern poet, inspired by François Villon. The book uses major historical events as a backdrop to convey the themes of power and justice, and of women finding a space for themselves and their desires in the world. It is set in the same fantasy world as his recent novels, but in Ferrieres, Kay's analogue of France.