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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Garner wrote several books based on retellings of old myths of the ancient British Isles. This one featured a female protagonist, which makes perfect sense for this story. Nothing else I've yet read of Garner's is nearly as wonderful as the first story in his The Stone Book.
This is one of his better books. It's clearly written and interesting at least. He seems to be more plot-oriented than character-oriented, and so most of the characters are rather one-dimensional and plain.
I really appreciate both the attention to landscape and the incorporation of local legend/ folklore/ mythology. The folklore referenced is very specific to the real-life setting of the story, adding to the sense of place (and to the novelty from my perspective - this didn't feel like the same old fantasy tropes repackaged). I also like the concept of "old magic" (i.e. nature/pagan magic) vs. "high magic" (think wizards).
My one complaint is that while the landscape feels real and well-developed, the characters do not. They tend to feel flat and to have banal dialogue. I've learned from reading a few interviews of the author that he felt the same way about the characters and dialogue in this book and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (his first two novels), so I would definitely be willing to read some of his later work to see where he developed from here.
My one complaint is that while the landscape feels real and well-developed, the characters do not. They tend to feel flat and to have banal dialogue. I've learned from reading a few interviews of the author that he felt the same way about the characters and dialogue in this book and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (his first two novels), so I would definitely be willing to read some of his later work to see where he developed from here.
Having just read it for the 5th (or is it the 6th?) time, I think I notice some flaws I did not spot in earlier readings, but would still give it 5 stars for the tension, the excitement, the facing of strange dangers. Though the blurb describes it as "Celtic", the Einheriar of the Hearlathing sound pretty Anglo-Saxon to me, and the "old straight track" is anything but old, and was concocted by a 20th century businessman, but it still makes for a good exciting story, not of other worlds far away, but other worlds impinging on this one.
The flaw I noticed this time, however, was the heavy commuter traffic between Alderley Edge and Shining Tor. They rush the 9 miles to Shining Tor, on horseback or sometimes on foot, only to discover that they have to rush back again to consult the wizard Cadellin Silverbrow about something. This shuttling back and forth makes it seem that something is happening, but it isn't really. It gives it the feel of one of those comedy films or stage shows where people are rushing from room to room in a house looking for someone who is looking for them, each one looking in the rooms that the other has just vacated.
I still like it, though.
The flaw I noticed this time, however, was the heavy commuter traffic between Alderley Edge and Shining Tor. They rush the 9 miles to Shining Tor, on horseback or sometimes on foot, only to discover that they have to rush back again to consult the wizard Cadellin Silverbrow about something. This shuttling back and forth makes it seem that something is happening, but it isn't really. It gives it the feel of one of those comedy films or stage shows where people are rushing from room to room in a house looking for someone who is looking for them, each one looking in the rooms that the other has just vacated.
I still like it, though.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Nowhere near as good as The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and filled with fantasy tropes like fighting dwarves, aloof elves, and evil creatures like goblins, wild-cats and a shapeshifter. The story started out in a promising and creepy way, with a devilish creature called the Brollachan being released from its pit by men doing excavation work. But things got convoluted quickly with too many different magical folkloric beings to keep track of and no backstory to make you care about any of them. Even Colin and Susan, child heroes of the first book, were no more than vehicles for the story here. I'll be curious to read the third book, Boneland which was written 49 years later.
It's been a while since I read The Weirdstone of Brisingamen so my memory's a bit hazy on the plot of that book. This one does seem less focused than that book though as it's got a few shifts in plot where it lost me slightly. I feel like I'd also need to be more familiar with british folklore than I am at the moment to get all of the references but I did enjoy the ones I understood.
In all I feel like The Owl Service and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen are stronger books. This book has some elements which I enjoyed and found intriguing that I feel could have been developed further. The end feels fairly abrupt and leaves some loose ends which I would definitely like to see tied up, especially in terms of what's actually going to happen to Susan and the slightly ominous reference to Colin never finding rest.
In all I feel like The Owl Service and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen are stronger books. This book has some elements which I enjoyed and found intriguing that I feel could have been developed further. The end feels fairly abrupt and leaves some loose ends which I would definitely like to see tied up, especially in terms of what's actually going to happen to Susan and the slightly ominous reference to Colin never finding rest.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No