Corleu, a young Wayfolk man, is trapped into a search for the heart of the Cygnet by one of the legendary powers of his world in order to free his love from being eternally trapped. He finds help from the sorceress Nyx, daughter of the ruling family of Ro House, though he is not allowed to tell her what he seeks, and the two of them release the powers of legend. But another daughter of Ro House is destined to protect the Cygnet, even from her own. Each riddle surrounding the Cygnet is answered with yet another riddle that only another legend can answer until Corleu, followed by a power hungry sorceress, and legendary powers that have come to life, finally reaches the hiding place of the Cygnet itself where discovers his past and frees his future.
Impression: While not one of my favorite McKillip reads, I found The Sorceress and the Cygnet enjoyable -- not fantastic enjoyable, but okay enjoyable. The title and the book don't actually quite fit together, though Nyx is a big part of the story, she is not the important part of the story. However, I also understand why it the title is what it is, I just feel it misleads the prospective reader. In any case, the story itself in interesting, though the style lacks the lyrical quality I have appreciated in a number of her past books. I'm honestly not sure why I didn’t feel more drawn into the book than I was -- it's not a bad read, just an okay one. The world is intriguing and the writing solid. The weak link, I think, was the characters. Corleu does have a compelling reason for his actions which are the foundation for the plot, but I didn't feel there was as much depth to these characters as there could have been. The one exception was Meguet. It really seemed as if the story should be about her, but not in the round about way it happened. The ties of discovery that seemed to link Corleu and Meguet were not as strongly written as they could have been.
So, an okay read, but not a particularly impressive one. It falls short of McKillip's usual care in her writing. I can see it being more interesting to pre-y.a. readers, actually. When I finish the next book, I may just pass it along to my 12 year old and see if she likes it. ;)
Sylvia left her childhood home to avoid revealing a secret that she instinctively knew her watchful grandmother would not accept. Now, years later, she returns to help her grandmother bury her grandfather. Though she plans to leave again as soon as possible, she finds herself drawn once more into the same tangle she fled before, only this time she is unable to extricate herself. The mysteries of the wood behind her grandmother's house, the secrets of her past, and the secrets of those she's known her entire life all become entangled with tradition and the world of the fairy, threatening to reveal the truth she's held close all these years and risking the well being of those she loves.
Impression: I loved Solstice Wood. Though written in a style that is unusual for McKillip, the writing still retained her ability to draw you into the story. Not as poetic as most her books, it still had its own kind of poetry that was expressed in the story itself rather than in the way it was written. McKillip also chose to use several different characters to tell the story rather than remaining in Sylvia's perspective throughout the novel, and yet the story remains Sylvia's. And yet, it also belonged to the other characters, who were all touched in some way by the pull between tradition and the wonder of the unknown. Rich description made the story easy to "see", and I am a reader who loves to just sit back and immerse myself in the vision of the author rather than be forced to create my own ideas of a story's sights and sounds and smells.
I did suspect part of the ending before I came to the conclusion, but this actually did not detract from the story at all. The plot was solid, the ending still had its twists, and waiting to see if the other characters would realize what I knew as a reader was part of the enjoyment. McKillip has a way of making you care about her characters, ALL her characters. While I wouldn't say that Solstice Wood is my favorite McKillip book, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Brenden Vetch is a gardener, a gardener chosen by the ancient wizard Od to go to her school. Little does he realize that his presence, and that of an illusionist by the name of Tyramin will stir up the fears of a king who controls the use of magic in the kingdom of Numis. Little does the king know that his own daughter practices forbidden magic, magic she was born with, and magic she must reveal before she can marry his most trusted adviser. When an illusion goes awry, Brenden flees in fear, and the king's daughter disappears, the king and Valoren, his adviser, fear the worst and seek to capture those who would endanger the kingdom. What they find at the end of this search is something neither man expected.
Impression: While the usual rich language seems toned down here, McKillip hasn't lost her ability to enchant a reader. She draws you into the kingdom of Numis and the lives of the characters there, and skillfully keeps the reader guessing as to what's truly going on until the end. It's a skill I've seen in all her books, where nothing is quite what it seems but all the threads are there, leading to an ending that is neither predictable nor surprising. You can't see it coming, but can see where it came from. With Od Magic, I actually did guess some of the truths of hidden identities, but it wasn't disappointing to do so because there's always another mystery to unravel.
I enjoyed how there was a feel of a mystery to it, a mystery in the story, a mystery in the characters. And I loved the theme of seeing beyond the boundaries of what's in front of us, being willing to explore the wild and unknown. As with many of McKillip's novels, there's so much depth here that the story will need to be read again and again to appreciate all the layers within it. It is a beautiful novel that I highly recommend.
Megan, an artist who draws seascapes, and Jonah, a shop owner, are a couple with a quiet life until Adam, a mysterious maker of jewelry enters their lives. As Megan is drawn to him, so Jonah is drawn to Adam's sister, a singer with an unearthly voice. The two are beckoned away from their home and life to the sea, neither realizing the cost of their actions until it's nearly too late. When Megan realizes the truth, she risks everything to bring Jonah back.
Impression: As always, McKillip's writing is beautiful, deep, and multi-layered, needing more than one read to catch all the nuances. However, her "message" of conservation and environmentalism was quite a bit more heavy handed than in her other works, particularly at the end when it became too obviously the point of the whole tale. While I don't mind authors having such messages or themes in their writing, I think they need to be handled with more care than it was in Something Rich and Strange. The characters were also well drawn until near the end when Jonah, completely enthralled by Adam's sister's song, suddenly does an about face. There seemed to be no real motivation to it other than seeing Megan, who he has seen before when under the song's spell. That he was in the presence of the singer and she wanted him should have made that desire in him stronger, so that merely having Megan present wouldn't be enough to bring him back to her.
Up until the ending, however, I truly enjoyed the book. I wouldn't classify it as one of my favorites, even if the ending had worked, but it was in McKillip's typical beautiful and evocative style. She uses language masterfully, expertly weaving in words that make the setting ever present. And this alone makes it worth a read for me as a writer, since her style is something I wish to develop in my own voice.
A transcriptor caught in a book written in an unknown language of thorns. A queen not ready to rule and with unnoticed, unknown mage talent. A magician whose uncle draws him unwilling into his uprising against his lawful ruler. Two legendary figures of the past who conquered their world. These four strands weave together in two intertwined stories where past, present, and future collide to determine the fate of the empire of the Twelve Crowns and two people long separated by time.
Impression: While not as well written as previous books, Alphabet of Thorn is an intriguing story, a story that shows how past and present combine and can make or unmake a moment in time. How the two stories intertwine is both expected and unexpected, and her writing still draws you along and even leaves you breathless in places. But there's more awkwardness in this novel than in the previous books. The opening itself stumbles, though the writing does pick up in quality and smoothness as the story goes along, and the plot is a bit slower to make sense of the fragments. The story is still worth reading, and quite enjoyable, and the ending is one, just like the rest of the book, both expected and unexpected, and a very satisfying ending indeed.
A prince is cursed by a witch until he repays her for her white hen he killed, a princess is sent to marry the prince so her kingdom will not be overtaken by his father, a wizard is sent to protect the princess, and a beautiful firebird binds them all. These threads intertwine in a story about accepting what life brings and love. Ronan, the prince, grieves for his dead wife and child, earns the curse from the witch on his way home from war. Arriving at his father's castle, his father informs him that a new wife is on her way and that he will marry her. Later he follows a beautiful firebird and loses himself in a world where his father's palace and wishes no longer exist.
Sidonie, his bride to be, travels from her country to Ronan's father's palace, a sacrifice on the alter of politics, and to a marriage that she does not want and knows will be a loveless one. With her is Gyre, a wizard sent in the stead of another who has been weakened in a battle of wills and magic. When they meet with Ronan, who still follows the firebird, the future intended for them all is both changed and made the same. Gyre tries to gain the princess and Ronan's inheritance for himself, and Sidonie tries to save Ronan from the witch's curse, and all three end in the same place but with far different purposes than what they started out with.
Impression:In the Forests of Serre was an interesting novel, though I wouldn’t call it one of my favorites of McKillip's. The language used is less poetic, although she still uses some very clever and beautiful imagery, and the story itself is interesting enough. It just didn't hold my interest as well as most of the novels of hers that I had read before. As always in her books, nothing is what it appears to be and everything intertwines in unusual ways, but, in a rare thing for her, the ending is almost predictable. While I can't say I would not recommend this book, there are other novels of hers that I would definitely recommend more - Ombria in Shadow, The Tower At Stony Wood, The Changeling Sea, and The Book of Atrix Wolfe.
Sybel was born and raised on Eld Mountain, her only contact with other humans her father. Her playmates were creatures from myth, her learning from the magic given to her father which he passed on down to her. She had no desire to mingle with men until a knight came to her door with a baby boy, a child of a king, to be protected and nurtured. She raised him until one day the knight returned and destiny called her son away, and the plots of the men who lived in the valley kingdoms called her from her mountain. In trying to protect those she loves, she discovers her own humanity, both the good and the bad, and finds the path to wisdom.
Impression: While I enjoyed Beasts, it's not one of my favorites from McKillip. The story is unique, the characters strong, but it was told in a way plainer than the books I count among my favorites. She still has a wonderful story telling style, and pulls you into the story with the action, setting, and characters, it was just less poetic. But even at her least poetic, Patricia McKillip has a way with words that's wonderful.
During the wedding celebration of his king, Cyan Dag, a loyal knight who sees what others do not see, is told that the new queen is a lie created of sorcery by the being who masquerades as her. To save his king, the knight goes on a journey to free the true queen from her tower prison. Along the way he reaches two other towers, makes a deal with a dragon for his enemy's life, saves the life of a selkie, and befriends and helps others as any honorable knight would. While he seeks the queen, the son of a land held as part of the kingdom he serves, seeks a dragon and its gold to find freedom for his people. On his journey towards war, Thayne Ysse finds the man who saved his younger brother from death and learns that not all men who would seem enemies actually are so.
Impression: I loved this books almost as much as Ombria in Shadow. Told in the same poetic style, it's a fairy tale for adults with the same convoluted plotting that marked Ombria. Unlike Ombria, however, McKillip gives an explanation for the ending, which I thought was a nice touch, though the book would have been just as intriguing without it, I think. what's nice about it is that the explanation makes sense and doesn't intrude upon the story. It comes about very naturally. As always the setting is strong. The characters, while following something of an archetype, are still unique in both how they present the archetype and in their own voices in the novel. Another truly enjoyable novel by one of the best authors of fantasy.
The second in the omnibus edition of the Riddle-Master trilogy, Heir of Sea and Fire changes focus and follows three women: Raederle, Morgon's promised fiancé, Tristan, his sister, and Lyra, a guardswoman to the Morgol. Word reaches Raederle that Morgon has died, and the land rule that makes him the ruler of Hed - the sense that ties rulers to the land they govern - has passed to his brother. She goes to inform her brother of Morgon's death and crosses paths with the Morgol, discovering that the day that Morgon died is the day the shapechangers were freed from their shape prisons. Choosing to go in search of the truth, to Morgon's death and the shape changers and why the High One would let Hos own harper betray a ruler, Raederle begins a journey to Erlenstar Mountain, home of the High One. She is joined by Lyra and Tristan on a journey that never reaches the mountain itself, but reveals to her who she is, her ancestry, and the power than both give her.
Impression: While still less poetic than Ombria In shadow, I definitely liked Heir of Sea and Fire better than the first book in the trilogy. I don't know, maybe I have a thing for strong female characters. The plotting is a little more predictable, but the world and the characters are far better revealed. Her writing is stronger as well, and the story is a bit more complex, so you can see the beginning of the incredible author she becomes in her later work. It's as if this early trilogy, written in a more traditional way for the genre, were her "learning novels," used to explore her voice and strength as an author. You can definitely see hints of the author she becomes in them.
Yes, I missed a month, but I read 3 books in February, so I'm okay. ;) It's a busy time for me at the moment, so I'm actually surprised I've gotten much reading in at all! Anyway, on the review . . . .
Morgon is a Riddle-Master and prince of Hed, a small, island country that few pay much attention to . . . until now. Born with three stars on his forehead, Morgon finds himself in the center of destiny when he goes to claim a wife won by a riddle. The ship goes down and he is set on the path of destiny, a path he would rather ignore so he can go home and just be a prince of Hed. His journey brings him to a harp made for him 700 years earlier, also marked with three stars, a sword with three stars, and, eventually, to the home of the mysterious High One who rules over all.
Impression: One of the earliest novels by Patricia McKillip, it lacks the poetic, language rich style of Ombria In Shadow and some of her other books, although a foreshadowing of it can be seen throughout the novel. What is apparent is McKillip's gift for the unusual, for events that are unexpected and yet you can see how you got there when you look back. While not among my favorites of her books, the story was still enjoyable and well worth reading. She's a strong author, with distinct characters and beautiful settings, but this particular book is obviously an earlier one for her and does not show the complexity or full power of her writing as seen in later novels.
Rois is a wld thing, a daughter of a farmer who loves the woods. One day she sees a man appear out of no where. Corbet returns to his father's manor, left by his father when he supposedly killed his own father and was cursed (though none can seem to remember exactly what the curse was), to restore it an live. Rois is fascinated by the man who appears to have no past, her sister Laurel falls in love with him. Then he disappears and a dead man is found in his home. Rois must unravel the mysery of his disappearance to save her sister.
Impression: While all of McKillip's books have places that can be hard to follow, they seem to be more dreams told as stories and far less concrete than most, Winter Rose was the most difficult to follow of them all. I still enjoyed her word play, her descriptions, but I found the story a very difficult read, and, in many ways, I'm still not quite sure what happened in much of it. The writing is all McKillip, but I think I'm going to have to read it again to understand it. This one went just a little too deep for me, I guess.
A friend told me she read this particular book when she had a fever over 100. Man, that must have been pretty surreal!
Peri is a simple fisherman's daughter who has lost both mother and father to the sea--her father in the physical sense and her mother in an emotional sense. Left to her own devices, she learns simple magic that brings together the sea, 2 princelings, a young magician and Peri herself, and changes them all.
Impression: I enjoyed this one as much as Ombria in Shadow. McKillip uses the same rich language and takes the ambiguity of the ending of Ombia and spreads it through the whole book in Changeling. While Ombria's ending leaves you questioning what has happened, however, the story in Changeling is clearly told as it uncovers the mysteries of the past and their effect on the present. It's definitely another book I will need to read again to catch all the nuances of the story and the story telling.
Atrix Wolfe, the greatest known mage in the world, released his magic 20 years ago and the world, both real and fey, is still paying for that one terrible night when he ignored the rules that guide mages and their power. A queen has lost her consort and daughter, an evil has been released, and a princeling mage has a book once hidden. Past and present, the real and the magical, and all these elements come together as the characters try to save and find the balance once again in their world.
Impression: I still think Ombria in Shadow is the best I've read from McKillip, but this would have to be my second favorite so far. Unlike Song of the Basilisk, the writing is closer to the richness and depth of Ombria and the same layered writing that I originally fell in love with. I do have to say I liked the ending of this one better than Ombria's though: the Ombria ending requires that you reread it to figure out what happened, maybe even make a judgment without being sure; this one was clear, concise, and very touching.
I like how McKillip ties the past and present together in her novels, and presents a view of the magic and real that is both separate and inclussive. Those elements are more clearly presented in Atrix Wolfe than the other novels I've read. It looks like the depth of language was not something she developed over time though. Atrix Wolfe was published before Song but Ombria was published after. I wonder why she changed for Song? Anyway, I still prefer the richer language. :)
Rook remembers fire. Saved by an uncle and sent to the bards of Luly, he avoids remembering the past. When the past will not leave him alone, he sojourns in the hinterlands and finds a new magic in music that is actually very old. He returns to Luly to find the past has not forgotten him, and finally turns to the land of his birth to remember and to avenge those lost in the fire of his childhood, becoming a true bard and restoring his heritage as he does so.
Impression: This story was very different than Ombria in tone and style and I'm very curious to see if the next book I'm about to read is different from them both. McKillip just might be one of those versatile authors who changes with every new story, or her writing became more rich the longer she wrote. Regardless, Basilisk was an enjoyable read, though not as dense and layered as Ombria (which remains my favorite so far). As with Ombria she has an ending that surprises, though in this case it's not as strong since she doesn't foreshadow it at all earlier in the novel (if she does, I missed it). The story is still a good one and, in this case, leaves us with the question: who really did defeat the basilisk?
The ruler of Ombria has died and his great-aunt, Domina Pearl wastes no time in taking over as his young son's regent. Lydea, his mistress, must find a way to protect the poor prince, Kyel, even though she's been kicked out of the palace with only the clothes on her back. With the help of Mag, a mysterious girl who serves a sorceress known as Faey, and the bastard son of the ruler's younger sister, Ducan, Lydea unravels the mystery of the shadow Ombria and reaches out from her lowly position as an innkeeper's daughter to protect not only the prince, but Ombria itself.
Impression: Wow. Just . . . wow. McKillip is the author I want to be (in my own voice, of course, and probably a bit more actual description, but still the author I want to be) with thick, rich sentences full of texture; depth of character and setting; and a tale that is deep and bautiful.
The story itself is an unexpected, imaginative, engaging tale. Unexpected and imaginative in that it's a unique world and the events that happen fit perfectly within this tale but are not events I've encountered elsewhere. She took some very famililar basic elements and turned them into something never seen before. Her ending, even more unexpected than the rest of the story, leaves you wondering what really happened, but doesn't leave you disatisfied. It's just an incredible story incredibly written.
This book must be reread because there's no way to get it all in one sitting. It's one of those books, the ones that are so layered that rereading it again and again reveals something new every time. It is well worth the price of even a hardbound or quality paperback, editions I do not buy too often because of the price. I've already ordered more of her novels, including an oop recommended by the friend who introduced me to McKillip. And I'm really looking forward to reading them. A lot.
