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A review by shadesofwind
Od Magic by Patricia A. McKillip
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cozy fantasy from before cozy fantasy was a thing?! (2008?)
"Od Magic" by Patricia MacKillip was, indeed, quite odd. There is an ephemeral quality about this author's writing that perfectly captures the spirit of a spring read. Her prose is languid and asks to be read as such. It directs the reader's attention to the little details, building up the world and specific scenes, not hurrying anywhere. Magic is here a thing to be felt, experienced - if you're an enjoyer of complex detailed magic systems, you might not enjoy this one, for it lacks structure - on purpose. It is however full of whimsy, and unique loveable characters.
I think the biggest downside (? - whether it's a negative feature feels debatable) of this story is the lack of tension. The stakes may seem high at times, but not in a way that would cause real anxiety. Yet that is perfect if you want to simply relax, to be, even for a moment, transported to a world where conflict can be resolved through gentle means. A feel-good story on a par with your best fantasy memories from childhood. One could perhaps call it a little naïve, but I'm quite certain that's exactly the point.
It's the second Patricia MacKillip book I've read this year, and I can highly recommend her books for lazy spring days. Their common brand seems to be „little” stories - ones that pay attention and give voice to those usually omitted in classic fantasy. It's like a high fantasy that someone snapped a blurry filter on, making it all less sharp and more dreamy. If you've ever wondered about „the others” - about characters that don't go around killing people or monsters, but do some less obvious things and still have dreams and goals and value, this is a book for you. Appreciation and re-evaluation might well be called its focal points, and it's a hopeful and refreshing perspective.
"Od Magic" by Patricia MacKillip was, indeed, quite odd. There is an ephemeral quality about this author's writing that perfectly captures the spirit of a spring read. Her prose is languid and asks to be read as such. It directs the reader's attention to the little details, building up the world and specific scenes, not hurrying anywhere. Magic is here a thing to be felt, experienced - if you're an enjoyer of complex detailed magic systems, you might not enjoy this one, for it lacks structure - on purpose. It is however full of whimsy, and unique loveable characters.
I think the biggest downside (? - whether it's a negative feature feels debatable) of this story is the lack of tension. The stakes may seem high at times, but not in a way that would cause real anxiety. Yet that is perfect if you want to simply relax, to be, even for a moment, transported to a world where conflict can be resolved through gentle means. A feel-good story on a par with your best fantasy memories from childhood. One could perhaps call it a little naïve, but I'm quite certain that's exactly the point.
It's the second Patricia MacKillip book I've read this year, and I can highly recommend her books for lazy spring days. Their common brand seems to be „little” stories - ones that pay attention and give voice to those usually omitted in classic fantasy. It's like a high fantasy that someone snapped a blurry filter on, making it all less sharp and more dreamy. If you've ever wondered about „the others” - about characters that don't go around killing people or monsters, but do some less obvious things and still have dreams and goals and value, this is a book for you. Appreciation and re-evaluation might well be called its focal points, and it's a hopeful and refreshing perspective.