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dilliemillie's review against another edition
lighthearted
4.0
Cozy and beautiful.
The stories of multiple characters intertwine throughout a gentle tale of magic, exploring the effects of bureaucracy and strict educational systems as they progress. Magic manifests in many styles, each more fascinating than the last. With only a little tension and some light romance, the lovable cast finds their way to a happy ending with a bright future.
This is my first Patricia A McKillip book, but it definitely won't be the last!
The stories of multiple characters intertwine throughout a gentle tale of magic, exploring the effects of bureaucracy and strict educational systems as they progress. Magic manifests in many styles, each more fascinating than the last. With only a little tension and some light romance, the lovable cast finds their way to a happy ending with a bright future.
This is my first Patricia A McKillip book, but it definitely won't be the last!
flaweddimension's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nicwelday's review against another edition
5.0
I had picked up this book to read for about an hour a day until completion, something I could read a little but ultimately set down. That was a mistake and being a fan of McKillip I should have foreseen as much.
This book was absolutely stunning. It was beautifully written, she provides plenty of detail without overdoing it and her words are like poetry without losing sight of clarity. The characters and story were perfectly executed, they had strong morals and ended by making a very beautiful point. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
This book was absolutely stunning. It was beautifully written, she provides plenty of detail without overdoing it and her words are like poetry without losing sight of clarity. The characters and story were perfectly executed, they had strong morals and ended by making a very beautiful point. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
nineteen_adze's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely read, right at 4 stars for me. As usual, McKillip's plot seems a little out of focus and the conclusion feels rushed, but almost no one is better at writing magical settings in beautiful prose.
The story opens on Brenden Vetch, an untrained wizard lost in grief, who is invited to attend the magic school in Kelior as its gardener. McKillip then goes on to introduce five more POVs. In the end, I think they were all useful for understanding the way the king and the school have lost their way, but it means that some characters get only the barest sketch of distinguishing features, let alone an arc. Brenden in particular seems to be a blank page full of fear and magical talent. Some are better, though-- I particularly enjoyed the arcs of Princess Sulys, who practices small magic in secret but is tired of hiding it, and Mistral, the daughter of the great magician/illusionist Tyramin.
The prose is wonderful. McKillip writes like a poet. A lot of authors who are described as having flowery prose simply use a lot of adjectives and similes to enrich their imagery. McKillip does some of that, but she also uses a lot of alliteration and assonance and changes the rhythm of her sentences to enhance the mood. The descriptions of the Twilight Quarter, home to artists and magicians and all things unusual, were a particular highlight of the book for me. I also loved the passages about the labyrinth beneath the school, which shifts its layout and difficulty in response to the thoughts of the students walking it.
The conclusion is where this got most spotty for me. There are some fascinating elements around how people think of magic differently (according to certain structures, as something to control), but those are never fully explained. Unfortunately, that (and everything else) wraps up in a wall of people having persuasive monologues or long chunks of background exposition at each other. It's refreshing to see a conclusion that isn't a pitched battle, but this one didn't quite land for me.
The story opens on Brenden Vetch, an untrained wizard lost in grief, who is invited to attend the magic school in Kelior as its gardener. McKillip then goes on to introduce five more POVs. In the end, I think they were all useful for understanding the way the king and the school have lost their way, but it means that some characters get only the barest sketch of distinguishing features, let alone an arc. Brenden in particular seems to be a blank page full of fear and magical talent. Some are better, though-- I particularly enjoyed the arcs of Princess Sulys, who practices small magic in secret but is tired of hiding it, and Mistral, the daughter of the great magician/illusionist Tyramin.
The prose is wonderful. McKillip writes like a poet. A lot of authors who are described as having flowery prose simply use a lot of adjectives and similes to enrich their imagery. McKillip does some of that, but she also uses a lot of alliteration and assonance and changes the rhythm of her sentences to enhance the mood. The descriptions of the Twilight Quarter, home to artists and magicians and all things unusual, were a particular highlight of the book for me. I also loved the passages about the labyrinth beneath the school, which shifts its layout and difficulty in response to the thoughts of the students walking it.
The conclusion is where this got most spotty for me. There are some fascinating elements around how people think of magic differently (according to certain structures, as something to control), but those are never fully explained. Unfortunately, that (and everything else) wraps up in a wall of people having persuasive monologues or long chunks of background exposition at each other. It's refreshing to see a conclusion that isn't a pitched battle, but this one didn't quite land for me.
mhall's review against another edition
4.0
Od is the founder of a school of magic. She appears one day when Brenden is eating lunch in his garden:
Od says that Brenden should journey to the school to work as a gardener, because he has mysterious ways of knowing plants.
Any number of animals seemed to be crawling over her. Mice peered from one shoulder; a raven with a missing claw perched on the other. Lizards clung to her hair. A ferret stuck its head out of her cloak pocket. A great albino ox with a broken horn stood at a polite distance behind her, downwind, or Brenden surely would have smelled it coming. It carried an owl on its unbroken horn. A few mongrels, feral cats, and an old blind she-wolf sat waiting behind the ox."
Od says that Brenden should journey to the school to work as a gardener, because he has mysterious ways of knowing plants.
tyrshand's review against another edition
4.0
The audiobook reader was excellent.
What I loved most about this book was the characters. They were such lovely, lonely characters trying to figure out how they fit in the world. Their relationships enhanced all this whether they were learning to understand an old love, creating a new one, reforming family bonds, learning to be a better teacher, or anything else. Almost every single one found their way into my heart and just resonated.
I also loved how much power could hide within grief and sorrow, as if the troubles of the world really have a purpose.
Sadly, the ending felt like a jarring change of pace, but this was a very good listen over all.
What I loved most about this book was the characters. They were such lovely, lonely characters trying to figure out how they fit in the world. Their relationships enhanced all this whether they were learning to understand an old love, creating a new one, reforming family bonds, learning to be a better teacher, or anything else. Almost every single one found their way into my heart and just resonated.
I also loved how much power could hide within grief and sorrow, as if the troubles of the world really have a purpose.
Sadly, the ending felt like a jarring change of pace, but this was a very good listen over all.
piratenami's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, lyrical language, as usual for McKillip. I listened to this as an audio book, however, and I found the reader's voice so soothing that it made me sleepy. I definitely want to read a paper copy of this book sometime, though, because I loved the characters and the gentle, slow pace.
jaelsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
sartreia's review against another edition
4.0
Currently reminds me of a cross between Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus + Wizard of Earthsea