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A review by tzurky
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a different approach to high fantasy than I’ve come across before. I particularly loved the rich and dreamy atmosphere that is created by the excessively poetic language. I’ve read reviews saying that this type of writing is typical of the seventies, which I can’t judge, but YMMW. I may have loved the turns of phrase but they are somewhat overwrought and can be confusing. I just think they work well with the book’s atmosphere.
They also work well with the theme, which is that being chosen by destiny for some grand task and being forced to leave everything one knows and loves behind is no great blessing. The protagonist chafes at his destiny throughout the book and I found that very refreshing and well delivered - it comes across as earnest and believable. And yet, despite his struggles the plot continues to happen at him. Quite literally. He is only the protagonist by dint of being the chosen one and the character the story follows but his agency is virtually non-existent. Paradoxically, this made him an engaging protagonist for me.
On the other hand, he doesn’t get to do much and what he does do is not only contrived but wholly unrealistic given his background as a humble farmer (and simultaneously a prince because the author wants to eat her cake too!). In my view this is explained by the main theme. The protagonist is given the powers needed to do what he needs to get done in order for his destiny to materialize. He also moved through most of the key plot points as if in a dream or actually dreaming. But I do hope that the next books will give him more agency and have him take some decisions instead of just being dragged along by unknown forces.
I also enjoyed a lot of the world-building although it was done in fits and starts instead of solidly and comprehensively. For instance, the land-rule is explained quite well and in a very intimate way. The same is true of the shape-changing and riddling. They feel like an integral part of the characters’ lived and are woven in organically. Nevertheless, there are other aspects wherein the book is completely lacking. Shouting is introduced in the beginning but remains unexplained until almost the last page (because that’s when it became immediately plot-relevant) and it’s unclear whether it’s a special power or anyone can learn it. Similarly, there is no concrete sense of geography and the paths taken by the characters could be virtually anything. I got confused about the directions more than once. The make-up of the kingdoms, their relationships with each other, their social hierarchies and stages of development relative to one another are also a blank page. We get a sense of unity and trade but apparently wars are happening all over the place in the meantime? Also, usually kingdoms seem to be ruled by men but there is one ruled by a woman with an honor guard of women and I have no idea whether that is an anomaly in the world or just coincidence at this point. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! Immortals. The book is full of them, but most people seem to be regular people with regular life spans and I have no idea what the difference is or if the characters themselves are aware of it. They don’t seem to find it weird, in any case.
To sum up - you either give in and go under in the oppressively dreamy atmosphere and weird and meandering plot and confusing world or you should just not read the book. Because it never becomes more logical and structured and most things remain a mystery. I could let myself go with the flow so to speak and so I enjoyed it.
They also work well with the theme, which is that being chosen by destiny for some grand task and being forced to leave everything one knows and loves behind is no great blessing. The protagonist chafes at his destiny throughout the book and I found that very refreshing and well delivered - it comes across as earnest and believable. And yet, despite his struggles the plot continues to happen at him. Quite literally. He is only the protagonist by dint of being the chosen one and the character the story follows but his agency is virtually non-existent. Paradoxically, this made him an engaging protagonist for me.
On the other hand, he doesn’t get to do much and what he does do is not only contrived but wholly unrealistic given his background as a humble farmer (and simultaneously a prince because the author wants to eat her cake too!). In my view this is explained by the main theme. The protagonist is given the powers needed to do what he needs to get done in order for his destiny to materialize. He also moved through most of the key plot points as if in a dream or actually dreaming. But I do hope that the next books will give him more agency and have him take some decisions instead of just being dragged along by unknown forces.
I also enjoyed a lot of the world-building although it was done in fits and starts instead of solidly and comprehensively. For instance, the land-rule is explained quite well and in a very intimate way. The same is true of the shape-changing and riddling. They feel like an integral part of the characters’ lived and are woven in organically. Nevertheless, there are other aspects wherein the book is completely lacking. Shouting is introduced in the beginning but remains unexplained until almost the last page (because that’s when it became immediately plot-relevant) and it’s unclear whether it’s a special power or anyone can learn it. Similarly, there is no concrete sense of geography and the paths taken by the characters could be virtually anything. I got confused about the directions more than once. The make-up of the kingdoms, their relationships with each other, their social hierarchies and stages of development relative to one another are also a blank page. We get a sense of unity and trade but apparently wars are happening all over the place in the meantime? Also, usually kingdoms seem to be ruled by men but there is one ruled by a woman with an honor guard of women and I have no idea whether that is an anomaly in the world or just coincidence at this point. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing! Immortals. The book is full of them, but most people seem to be regular people with regular life spans and I have no idea what the difference is or if the characters themselves are aware of it. They don’t seem to find it weird, in any case.
To sum up - you either give in and go under in the oppressively dreamy atmosphere and weird and meandering plot and confusing world or you should just not read the book. Because it never becomes more logical and structured and most things remain a mystery. I could let myself go with the flow so to speak and so I enjoyed it.