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sarrie's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
TL;DR: A OG Romantasy in my opinion. A fantasy that focuses on the idea of love, in it’s myriad of forms, and a powerful woman. Loved this one.
In full transparency, I vaguely remember reading this bad boy as a teenager. That doesn’t mean much (as I have memory issues), but it could have influenced how much I loved this.
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a classic fantasy about the wizard Sybel and her Beasts as she learns about love, man, war, and what the costs of those things are. A young man brings a baby to Sybel at the beginning of the novel and begs her to keep him and raise him. Begrudgingly she agrees, and she raises the boy. Some years later the boys family and the wars that they are involved in rise up on her doorstep. Sybel falls in love, and she most come to terms with those wars, her love and being caught between them.
There are moments of darkness in this, and it’s very much a denser fantasy, spending a lot of time in Sybel’s mind or wandering along her world and various quests. But it’s all so beautifully told that I ate it up. Sybel grows in her power, and as a person. She goes from a cold wizard in her palace to a feeling person who makes big mistakes and must make up for them.
There is a reason this is a classic in the genre, and I genuinely can’t recommend it enough. It’s a rich and beautiful story about love and hope.
5 out of 5 powerful beasts
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and War
Minor: Death
roseleebooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was one that I read for the first time in high school. At that time it was solidified as a story that I've reread multiple times. I loved having an introduction from two authors who gave such beautiful insight and reflection on the book, and the artwork is stunning.
The twist of the damsel/wizard/witch in a tower is one I've never seen done quite this way by anyone else. Its tale of revenge, possession, love, and forgiveness is always beautiful to read. McKillip writes in a way that feels dreamlike, with long fantastical descriptions of even simple events.
There is one particular moment in this book that makes me uncomfortable, and it has to do with a character striking another. In the moment it seems out of character and is never directly addressed afterward.
Aside from this, the story continues to be one that invokes reflection on life, what it means to be part of the world, and ultimately love. I will continue to reread this and take something new away every time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tachyon publications for an eARC of this book.
The twist of the damsel/wizard/witch in a tower is one I've never seen done quite this way by anyone else. Its tale of revenge, possession, love, and forgiveness is always beautiful to read. McKillip writes in a way that feels dreamlike, with long fantastical descriptions of even simple events.
There is one particular moment in this book that makes me uncomfortable, and it has to do with a character striking another. In the moment it seems out of character and is never directly addressed afterward.
Aside from this, the story continues to be one that invokes reflection on life, what it means to be part of the world, and ultimately love. I will continue to reread this and take something new away every time.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tachyon publications for an eARC of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Misogyny
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