Reviews

The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip

asma_aj's review against another edition

3.0

When Phelan Cle chooses to write about Bone Plain-- a metaphor and a cautionary tale for poets, he expected it to easily be his pass out of the school on the hill. But as strange old relics are revealed through archeological digs, and a mysterious bard inserts himself in the city of Caerau, almost instigating the next most anticipated Bardic competitions through what can only be magic, Phelan begins to question the streams of historical lines that brought about the legend of Bone Plain.

This book took AGES for me to finish! I know I was singing praises about McKillip (and I still adore her stories), but I don't think I liked this one very much. To read the rest of the review, visit A Reading Kabocha @ http://areadingkabocha.blogspot.com

blackcatbinx29's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jeand's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emmc's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

veethorn's review against another edition

4.0

McKillip is a glorious writer.

lleullawgyffes's review

inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

_valentine's review

challenging mysterious medium-paced

3.0

linwearcamenel's review

challenging mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.75

lizshayne's review

5.0

Patricia McKillip is wonderful, as always. This story reminds me more of her Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy than of her shorter and more lyrical stories, but since I got into her work through Riddlemaster, that's certainly no bad thing. Her flair for words remains undiminished - the ordinary prose is musical and the poetry is excellent. Poetry in fantasy is very hit or miss, but McKillip (possibly by virtue of being married to a poet, not to mention one in her own right) always impresses.
Like the rest of her work, I highly recommend this book.

sophiaannew's review

3.0

I love Patricia McKillip and I'm happily reading my way through all her novels.

"The Bards of Bone Plain" is a fun read. The characters are compelling and their relationships with each other are fun to follow. Lots of snappy dialogue and movement to the story.

But I admit I found the plot confusing and hard to follow. I honestly had no idea what was going on. McKillip did a great job with the characters, who are well-rounded and engaging, and the setting is interesting and different from your average fantasy novel. But the events of the story were blurry and strange. I don't know how to begin to explain the plot. Maybe it will make more sense if I ever read it a second time.

If you've never read one of McKillip's novels, don't start with this one. Start with "The Riddle-Master of Hed" trilogy or "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" or "Winter Rose". Enjoy those and marvel at McKillip's skill and then read this one once you're an established fan.