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A review by disreputable_cog
The Riddle by Alison Croggon
5.0
In The Riddle, the Pellinor series really hits its stride. The world of Edil-Amarandh expands into new and ever more atmospheric landscapes, as Maerad and Cadvan find themselves hunted by agents of both the Dark and the Light after the treachery at the heart of the Light in Norloch is revealed. (A very Saruman-betraying-Gandalf moment; the LOTR parallels aren't quite as rampant in this sequel, though they're still there). The story picks up right where The Naming left off: on a boat fleeing Norloch in search of sanctuary on the island kingdom of Thorold.
I am obsessed with basically every part of this book: (1) sea battles with really cool supernatural creatures; (2) the Mediterranean vibes of Thorold/the School of Busk; (3) Maerad's intriguing powers of transformation that are first discovered on Thorold and expanded on later in the book; (4) the evidence of alternate forms of Barding, that is, people who choose not to learn in the traditional system of Bardic schools, or have different cultural approaches to educating those with the Gift; (5) the interlude in the Gwalhain Pass; (6) the Pilanel settlement in the north and the subsequent (7) DOG SLEDDING (!) and arctic survival (!!); (8) the WINTER KING'S CASTLE and escape therefrom (!!!); etc.
For me the quest for the Treesong (connected to Maerad's destiny to defeat the Nameless One) is almost incidental to all the other great stuff that happens in the story, though this book does further elucidate the mystery of the split song and the Nameless One's corruption.
This book sees Maerad confronting a lot of challenges alone, without the guidance or support of her mentor(s). She grows a lot as a character as a result. I find Croggon's depiction of the interior lives of her characters very credible, especially in her depiction of Maerad as a person who has had to grow up and shoulder a weighty burden at a very young age, and is yet still a teenager in terms of her emotional control and interpersonal experience.
I am obsessed with basically every part of this book: (1) sea battles with really cool supernatural creatures; (2) the Mediterranean vibes of Thorold/the School of Busk; (3) Maerad's intriguing powers of transformation that are first discovered on Thorold and expanded on later in the book; (4) the evidence of alternate forms of Barding, that is, people who choose not to learn in the traditional system of Bardic schools, or have different cultural approaches to educating those with the Gift; (5) the interlude in the Gwalhain Pass; (6) the Pilanel settlement in the north and the subsequent (7) DOG SLEDDING (!) and arctic survival (!!); (8) the WINTER KING'S CASTLE and escape therefrom (!!!); etc.
For me the quest for the Treesong (connected to Maerad's destiny to defeat the Nameless One) is almost incidental to all the other great stuff that happens in the story, though this book does further elucidate the mystery of the split song and the Nameless One's corruption.
This book sees Maerad confronting a lot of challenges alone, without the guidance or support of her mentor(s). She grows a lot as a character as a result. I find Croggon's depiction of the interior lives of her characters very credible, especially in her depiction of Maerad as a person who has had to grow up and shoulder a weighty burden at a very young age, and is yet still a teenager in terms of her emotional control and interpersonal experience.