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A review by mifterkim
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip
5.0
Reviewing the Riddle-Master trilogy of books together, as I read them together as an omnibus paperback edition.
I read these as a part of my ongoing mission to read older fantasy books that are out-of-print or I haven't run into because they don't turn up on 'classics' lists.
I really love this trilogy of fantasy books. The tone of them is so different to most modern fantasy, with less world-building and specific descriptions of how magic is used or how cultures work, and more fairy-tale-like wonder and mystery. It was such a breath of fresh air. There is a constant feeling of wonder about the world and the events of the plot, as well as a sense of destiny playing out through the characters. The names are also fantastic, with many names and places derived from the Welsh language as well as just general fantastical whimsy.
The story of this book is lovely and almost dreamlike, with lots of adventure and magic, as well as plenty of riddles and poetic language. My favourite of the three books was the first book, The Riddle-Master of Hed, where the hero goes on an adventure to learn (and outrun) his destiny, meeting shape-changers, musicians, kings and all manner of strange folk on the way. It's not really like anything else I've ever read and I would highly recommend it.
I read these as a part of my ongoing mission to read older fantasy books that are out-of-print or I haven't run into because they don't turn up on 'classics' lists.
I really love this trilogy of fantasy books. The tone of them is so different to most modern fantasy, with less world-building and specific descriptions of how magic is used or how cultures work, and more fairy-tale-like wonder and mystery. It was such a breath of fresh air. There is a constant feeling of wonder about the world and the events of the plot, as well as a sense of destiny playing out through the characters. The names are also fantastic, with many names and places derived from the Welsh language as well as just general fantastical whimsy.
The story of this book is lovely and almost dreamlike, with lots of adventure and magic, as well as plenty of riddles and poetic language. My favourite of the three books was the first book, The Riddle-Master of Hed, where the hero goes on an adventure to learn (and outrun) his destiny, meeting shape-changers, musicians, kings and all manner of strange folk on the way. It's not really like anything else I've ever read and I would highly recommend it.