Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
6/10⭐️ una historia muy buena, pero el final me pareció algo flojo. Me hubiera gustado también que indagara más en las bestias como tal.
It took me far too long to get around to reading this. It has almost everything I love in a fantasy book: beautiful writing (the characters speak with a faerie accent, to borrow a phrase from Ursula K. Le Guin), a sense of wonder and longing, and thoughtful examination of spiritual realities.
"Elegant simplicity" is the term that springs to mind to describe the writing style. There were a few places where I thought the dialogue felt awkward because it slipped into modern colloquialism, but those were few and far between, and are understandable given that this was McKillip's first full-length novel.
I'm not sure if I totally "got" the ending, but I'm not sure if it's something you're supposed to completely understand--I suspect it's sort of like a literary koan that you're supposed to ponder. Throughout the book, I kept being reminded of Kierkegaard's statement that it is not pleasure we desire above all else, but power/control. Without spoiling anything, I think maybe the ending suggests that love and happiness can only be found when we moderate our desire for control. Which goes along nicely with the idea in LotR, Earthsea, et al, that power is dangerous and tends to corrupt.
I'm also curious: there are a couple of references to a Riddle-Master. Does this connect to McKillip's trilogy of the same name in some way?
"Elegant simplicity" is the term that springs to mind to describe the writing style. There were a few places where I thought the dialogue felt awkward because it slipped into modern colloquialism, but those were few and far between, and are understandable given that this was McKillip's first full-length novel.
I'm not sure if I totally "got" the ending, but I'm not sure if it's something you're supposed to completely understand--I suspect it's sort of like a literary koan that you're supposed to ponder. Throughout the book, I kept being reminded of Kierkegaard's statement that it is not pleasure we desire above all else, but power/control. Without spoiling anything, I think maybe the ending suggests that love and happiness can only be found when we moderate our desire for control. Which goes along nicely with the idea in LotR, Earthsea, et al, that power is dangerous and tends to corrupt.
I'm also curious: there are a couple of references to a Riddle-Master. Does this connect to McKillip's trilogy of the same name in some way?
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautiful writing! The characters didn’t stick to me like I thought they would, but I was also reading it halfway to delirium on a flight to Iceland.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
McKillip, you had me at talking animals.
In all seriousness, I found this plot fascinating. How could so much be shoved in 200 pages?
This book is like a slow dance. Going around in circles isn’t considered fancy but you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. You can’t name the song (See: Story Arc), but it reminds or something you’ve heard (See: Read) before.
And though it steps on your (See: Bookish Preferences) feet sometimes, you think, is this love?
In all seriousness, I found this plot fascinating. How could so much be shoved in 200 pages?
This book is like a slow dance. Going around in circles isn’t considered fancy but you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. You can’t name the song (See: Story Arc), but it reminds or something you’ve heard (See: Read) before.
And though it steps on your (See: Bookish Preferences) feet sometimes, you think, is this love?
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes