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grid's review
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I started reading My Journey to Catan, by Klaus Teuber last week after finding a copy at a local game shop. Initially I balked at the price and left the store without purchasing. But I'd noted the high production value, and when I did a search online, copies appeared scarce (though not unobtainable, I'd have had to pay shipping). Eventually my curiosity got the better of me, and I went back to the store a few days later and bought their only copy. About a third of the way through the book, while relating the story of how he came up with his game _Barbarossa_, he described his love for a fiction book, _The Riddle-Master of Hed_, which gave him the initial inspiration for that game.
Of course yesterday I went out and bought a copy of the three books in the Riddle-Master trilogy. They were old paperback copies with cover-prices of $1.95 each. (Of course the store I bought them from has a minimum price of $4/book.)
And now I've finished this, the first novel, the one Klaus gushes about. It's well written, relatively short, and very fast paced. I'm very glad I bought all three books in the trilogy, because this book very much ends in a cliffhanger.
The main character spends a lot of time protesting his destiny, and lamenting that he cannot control his fate. It's about as stereotypical a "chosen one" story as they come, but I've been known to enjoy those on occasion, and I'll happily keep reading them until I've finished the series.
Of course yesterday I went out and bought a copy of the three books in the Riddle-Master trilogy. They were old paperback copies with cover-prices of $1.95 each. (Of course the store I bought them from has a minimum price of $4/book.)
And now I've finished this, the first novel, the one Klaus gushes about. It's well written, relatively short, and very fast paced. I'm very glad I bought all three books in the trilogy, because this book very much ends in a cliffhanger.
The main character spends a lot of time protesting his destiny, and lamenting that he cannot control his fate. It's about as stereotypical a "chosen one" story as they come, but I've been known to enjoy those on occasion, and I'll happily keep reading them until I've finished the series.
bkoser's review
5.0
The standard hero formula is here: young boy with humble background, finds he has a Destiny, initially rejects it, goes on a quest, etc.
However, McKillip puts her own twists on the story that make it unique. I’m not sure where the story is going, which is good. The world feels real, with a real history. The writing is smart, occasionally poetic. I’ll be checking out the rest of the trilogy.
It's too bad I didn’t read this when I first heard of it in junior high, back when fantasy adventure was my favorite genre.
However, McKillip puts her own twists on the story that make it unique. I’m not sure where the story is going, which is good. The world feels real, with a real history. The writing is smart, occasionally poetic. I’ll be checking out the rest of the trilogy.
It's too bad I didn’t read this when I first heard of it in junior high, back when fantasy adventure was my favorite genre.
bookishblond's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
This is one of those books where everything is very High Stakes, which is patiently explained to the reader every time the plot takes a new turn, or an Important new character is introduced. But... it never really feels high stakes.
Full review to come!
This is one of those books where everything is very High Stakes, which is patiently explained to the reader every time the plot takes a new turn, or an Important new character is introduced. But... it never really feels high stakes.
Full review to come!
tarugani's review
2.0
I wanted to love this but honestly it was a bit of a chore. Not to mention that the riddles aren't actually riddles. And the whole bit about magic shouting makes me want to knock off another star. And every character Morgon meets after the first 100 pages has the depth of a wading pool.
It felt like each kingdom Morgon crossed through is approximately three times smaller Ely, Nevada. And no one's ever played an instrument except for the harp. What sort of name is Deth?
This book just gets more irritating the more I think about it.
It felt like each kingdom Morgon crossed through is approximately three times smaller Ely, Nevada. And no one's ever played an instrument except for the harp. What sort of name is Deth?
This book just gets more irritating the more I think about it.
bookishvice's review against another edition
3.0
Check out my review: http://amarilysacosta.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-riddle-master-of-hed-of-riddles-and.html
coriandercake's review
3.0
The writing is very different and it took me a bit to get used to it and into the story.
tzurky's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a different approach to high fantasy than I’ve come across before. I particularly loved the rich and dreamy atmosphere that is created by the excessively poetic language. I’ve read reviews saying that this type of writing is typical of the seventies, which I can’t judge, but YMMW. I may have loved the turns of phrase but they are somewhat overwrought and can be confusing. I just think they work well with the book’s atmosphere.
They also work well with the theme, which is that being chosen by destiny for some grand task and being forced to leave everything one knows and loves behind is no great blessing. The protagonist chafes at his destiny throughout the book and I found that very refreshing and well delivered - it comes across as earnest and believable. And yet, despite his struggles the plot continues to happen at him. Quite literally. He is only the protagonist by dint of being the chosen one and the character the story follows but his agency is virtually non-existent. Paradoxically, this made him an engaging protagonist for me.
On the other hand, he doesn’t get to do much and what he does do is not only contrived but wholly unrealistic given his background as a humble farmer (and simultaneously a prince because the author wants to eat her cake too!). In my view this is explained by the main theme. The protagonist is given the powers needed to do what he needs to get done in order for his destiny to materialize. He also moved through most of the key plot points as if in a dream or actually dreaming. But I do hope that the next books will give him more agency and have him take some decisions instead of just being dragged along by unknown forces.
I also enjoyed a lot of the world-building although it was done in fits and starts instead of solidly and comprehensively. For instance, the land-rule is explained quite well and in a very intimate way. The same is true of the shape-changing and riddling. They feel like an integral part of the characters’ lived and are woven in organically. Nevertheless, there are other aspects wherein the book is completely lacking. Shouting is introduced in the beginning but remains unexplained until almost the last page (because that’s when it became immediately plot-relevant) and it’s unclear whether it’s a special power or anyone can learn it. Similarly, there is no concrete sense of geography and the paths taken by the characters could be virtually anything. I got confused about the directions more than once. The make-up of the kingdoms, their relationships with each other, their social hierarchies and stages of development relative to one another are also a blank page. We get a sense of unity and trade but apparently wars are happening all over the place in the meantime? Also, usually kingdoms seem to be ruled by men but there is one ruled by a woman with an honor guard of women and I have no idea whether that is an anomaly in the world or just coincidence at this point. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! Immortals. The book is full of them, but most people seem to be regular people with regular life spans and I have no idea what the difference is or if the characters themselves are aware of it. They don’t seem to find it weird, in any case.
To sum up - you either give in and go under in the oppressively dreamy atmosphere and weird and meandering plot and confusing world or you should just not read the book. Because it never becomes more logical and structured and most things remain a mystery. I could let myself go with the flow so to speak and so I enjoyed it.
They also work well with the theme, which is that being chosen by destiny for some grand task and being forced to leave everything one knows and loves behind is no great blessing. The protagonist chafes at his destiny throughout the book and I found that very refreshing and well delivered - it comes across as earnest and believable. And yet, despite his struggles the plot continues to happen at him. Quite literally. He is only the protagonist by dint of being the chosen one and the character the story follows but his agency is virtually non-existent. Paradoxically, this made him an engaging protagonist for me.
On the other hand, he doesn’t get to do much and what he does do is not only contrived but wholly unrealistic given his background as a humble farmer (and simultaneously a prince because the author wants to eat her cake too!). In my view this is explained by the main theme. The protagonist is given the powers needed to do what he needs to get done in order for his destiny to materialize. He also moved through most of the key plot points as if in a dream or actually dreaming. But I do hope that the next books will give him more agency and have him take some decisions instead of just being dragged along by unknown forces.
I also enjoyed a lot of the world-building although it was done in fits and starts instead of solidly and comprehensively. For instance, the land-rule is explained quite well and in a very intimate way. The same is true of the shape-changing and riddling. They feel like an integral part of the characters’ lived and are woven in organically. Nevertheless, there are other aspects wherein the book is completely lacking. Shouting is introduced in the beginning but remains unexplained until almost the last page (because that’s when it became immediately plot-relevant) and it’s unclear whether it’s a special power or anyone can learn it. Similarly, there is no concrete sense of geography and the paths taken by the characters could be virtually anything. I got confused about the directions more than once. The make-up of the kingdoms, their relationships with each other, their social hierarchies and stages of development relative to one another are also a blank page. We get a sense of unity and trade but apparently wars are happening all over the place in the meantime? Also, usually kingdoms seem to be ruled by men but there is one ruled by a woman with an honor guard of women and I have no idea whether that is an anomaly in the world or just coincidence at this point. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! Immortals. The book is full of them, but most people seem to be regular people with regular life spans and I have no idea what the difference is or if the characters themselves are aware of it. They don’t seem to find it weird, in any case.
To sum up - you either give in and go under in the oppressively dreamy atmosphere and weird and meandering plot and confusing world or you should just not read the book. Because it never becomes more logical and structured and most things remain a mystery. I could let myself go with the flow so to speak and so I enjoyed it.
mifterkim's review
5.0
Reviewing the Riddle-Master trilogy of books together, as I read them together as an omnibus paperback edition.
I read these as a part of my ongoing mission to read older fantasy books that are out-of-print or I haven't run into because they don't turn up on 'classics' lists.
I really love this trilogy of fantasy books. The tone of them is so different to most modern fantasy, with less world-building and specific descriptions of how magic is used or how cultures work, and more fairy-tale-like wonder and mystery. It was such a breath of fresh air. There is a constant feeling of wonder about the world and the events of the plot, as well as a sense of destiny playing out through the characters. The names are also fantastic, with many names and places derived from the Welsh language as well as just general fantastical whimsy.
The story of this book is lovely and almost dreamlike, with lots of adventure and magic, as well as plenty of riddles and poetic language. My favourite of the three books was the first book, The Riddle-Master of Hed, where the hero goes on an adventure to learn (and outrun) his destiny, meeting shape-changers, musicians, kings and all manner of strange folk on the way. It's not really like anything else I've ever read and I would highly recommend it.
I read these as a part of my ongoing mission to read older fantasy books that are out-of-print or I haven't run into because they don't turn up on 'classics' lists.
I really love this trilogy of fantasy books. The tone of them is so different to most modern fantasy, with less world-building and specific descriptions of how magic is used or how cultures work, and more fairy-tale-like wonder and mystery. It was such a breath of fresh air. There is a constant feeling of wonder about the world and the events of the plot, as well as a sense of destiny playing out through the characters. The names are also fantastic, with many names and places derived from the Welsh language as well as just general fantastical whimsy.
The story of this book is lovely and almost dreamlike, with lots of adventure and magic, as well as plenty of riddles and poetic language. My favourite of the three books was the first book, The Riddle-Master of Hed, where the hero goes on an adventure to learn (and outrun) his destiny, meeting shape-changers, musicians, kings and all manner of strange folk on the way. It's not really like anything else I've ever read and I would highly recommend it.
adru's review against another edition
Võib-olla olen ma ise syydi, et see oli mul paar nädalat bussilugemine, aga see on esimene McKillipi muidu nii õhuliste raamatute seas, mis oli kuidagi.. tihkem ja seega vaevalisem lugeda. Siiski, viimane lõik oli selline, et kohe tuli triloogia järgmine osa kätte võtta ja no kellele siis ei meeldiks mõistatuslikud lollikujud (siin harfimängija kehastuses).
kidgoldenarm's review
3.0
The prose and craftsmanship in this work are wonderful.
The world is well built, and its magic and cultures are a breath of fresh air. The characters are a bit sparse, but the protagonist is well-rounded, if a bit flat.
The plot structure and the cliff-hanger ending were the biggest problems with this book.
The reluctance of the hero and the abrupt ending was really frustrating to say the least.
Worth the read for its originality and the wordcraft at work here. But unless you are willing to commit to reading the rest of this series from the get go (I believe the 2nd book is already out). I would have to recommend a pass.
If you are a completist, knock yourself out.
The world is well built, and its magic and cultures are a breath of fresh air. The characters are a bit sparse, but the protagonist is well-rounded, if a bit flat.
The plot structure and the cliff-hanger ending were the biggest problems with this book.
The reluctance of the hero and the abrupt ending was really frustrating to say the least.
Worth the read for its originality and the wordcraft at work here. But unless you are willing to commit to reading the rest of this series from the get go (I believe the 2nd book is already out). I would have to recommend a pass.
If you are a completist, knock yourself out.