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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
An excellent book with a unique style of writing that creates great imagery in the reader's mind's eye.
Her writing is both beautiful and confusing. She creates compelling characters and stories, so I was never uninterested. But I was fairly constantly lost - Realizing on one page what I had missed on the last. Worth reading, but difficult.
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For me, this book feels like a mix between [book: Wizard of Earthsea], [book: Tales of the Dying Earth], and [book: Songmaster]. The story is set in a world of name magic, but instead of the usual power over the thing you name, you also get empathy with what you name. This small change has implications that flow throughout the book. Perhaps the part I liked best was the simple idea that the nobility had this name power over all from within their realm. This forces these people to be more kind and practical than what you would find in most novels of this type. My one complaint would be the the power escalation. Much like in [author: E.E. Doc Smith] books, the protagonists grow so quickly in power that they are quickly no longer recognizable. The author partially solves this in the second novel by switching points of view, but it merely delays the growing distance one feels from the protagonists and the reader
Was recommended to me by my boyfriend who said he and his brothers all read it while they were growing up. I loved it and will probably read it again one day. It is not available as a whole as far as I know and has been broken into 3 parts, the firs is called The Riddle Master of Hed
A bit melodramatic at times, with a very familiar hero's journey....but reading this book was like walking quietly through a forest after a snowstorm. I can appreciate any author who writes about nature that slowly and well. Especially one who seems to love the cold, isolated places of the world.
This book moved me immensely. Patricia McKillip uses language beautifully and deliberately, and her love for her characters and the world she's created come through very clearly. I can't help but fall in love with her characters, too, and root for the same characters she's obviously rooting for.
My heart broke a little at the end of this trilogy, and I cried through the last few chapters. I think I'll need to take a few days to recover from the shock of it before I start reading something new. I became very attached to the characters; I'll miss them.
One theme I've noticed running through McKillip's novels is the idea of Naming, (which is also a theme in LeGuin's Earthsea books, another new favorite series of mine) - the importance of knowing one's own true name, of giving a name to others, then both understanding and accepting the weight and responsibility that come with those names. It's something we all struggle with in our own ways. Morgon and Raederle are powerful characters because they are very human in their griefs, their joys, their loves, and hates. Their struggles may be larger than life, but the emotions they struggle with, and the existential dilemnas, are something I was able to relate to with every sentence and every page.
My heart broke a little at the end of this trilogy, and I cried through the last few chapters. I think I'll need to take a few days to recover from the shock of it before I start reading something new. I became very attached to the characters; I'll miss them.
One theme I've noticed running through McKillip's novels is the idea of Naming, (which is also a theme in LeGuin's Earthsea books, another new favorite series of mine) - the importance of knowing one's own true name, of giving a name to others, then both understanding and accepting the weight and responsibility that come with those names. It's something we all struggle with in our own ways. Morgon and Raederle are powerful characters because they are very human in their griefs, their joys, their loves, and hates. Their struggles may be larger than life, but the emotions they struggle with, and the existential dilemnas, are something I was able to relate to with every sentence and every page.
I love this trilogy! McKillip's lyric, restrained writing style is very evident. The world building is great and the characters are some of my favorites. Morgon breaks my heart every time. I have re-read this entire series at least five times and I still get worked up over my favorite scenes. That's how good it is. --Rebekka
I have read this series quite a few times by now and each time is as enjoyable and engaging as the last.
I would give this more stars if I could. =D
I would give this more stars if I could. =D