McKillip, Patricia

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The Cygnet flies

Cygnet
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441014836

Book Description

In the realm of fantasy, one name stands out from the crowd. For many years, Patricia A. McKillip has charmed readers with her "unique brand of prose magic" (Locus). Now, for the first time in one volume, she offers two of her classic tales-The Sorceress and the Cygnet and The Cygnet and the Firebird-which delve into the fate of the Ro family and an otherworld rich in myth and mayhem, magic and adventure

Customer Reviews:

The Cygnet flies.......2007-04-04

Two of Patricia McKillip's most lyrical books are the Cygnet duology, the story of a sorcerous family and the mysterious forces that shape their world. "Cygnet" compiles those books, bringing together the intoxicating mixture of unique magic, invisible dragons, and McKillip's shimmering prose.

"The Sorceress and the Cygnet" introduces us to Corleu, one of the Wayfolk (sort of like gypsies), but with a head of white hair and a strange love of legend. When the Wayfolk become ensnared in a magical trap, Corleu finds his way out, and encounters the mysterious sorceress Nyx, living in the middle of a swamp.

But the Wayfolk aren't the only ones in danger -- the ancient castle of Ro Holding is being haunted by strange godlike beings -- foxes, tinkers, a blind woman -- who seem to have stepped out of ancient legend. To free the Wayfolk, Corleu must unrael the secrets of these beings, and of the mysterious Cygnet.

"The Cygnet and the Firebird" is a sort of McKillipesque version of "Swan Lake." Ro Holding is invaded by two magical forces: a mage who kidnaps magical warrior Meguet Vervaine, and whisks her away to a strange desert, and a young prince enchanted into a firebird's form, whose song can transform objects and people, and who only turns back to himself at moonrise.

Turns out that the mage and the young man-bird are connected, and that the prince cannot remember exactly how he became this way. Now Nyx stretches out her powers to the Luxor Desert, where strange magics and invisible dragons are all over, and Meguet uncovers hidden secrets...

McKillip has never specialized in easy, cliched fantasy -- you know, the cheap stuff with lots of flashy wizards, D&D warriors and sadistic warlords. Her brand of fantasy is more subtle and magical, usually filled with eerie, glimmering conflicts that are of one kind of magic against another.

Like J.R.R. Tolkien, McKillip's writing is all wrapped up in nature's beauty, wind and roses and jeweled trees, as well as the majesty of deserts and forests. And she definitely brings odd scenes to life, such as Corleu's escape from the trap, or Ro Holding being moved from one place to another. It's a bit like being locked inside a beautiful, ivy-covered dream.

And the characters are similarly nonstereotypical, from the dreamy gypsy to the pensive warrior-woman, the enigmatic matriarch to the oddball sorceress. But even better, McKillip gets inside their heads and presents their feelings -- loneliness, love, sorrow and wonderment at the world -- with as much power as if they were all real people.

"Cygnet" brings together two elusive, beautiful fantasy stories, and they're even better when both halves of Ro Holding's story are brought together. Definitely a great read.

Average customer rating:

Classic, and perfect
A Beauty Unparalled
It's a bit like watching Star Trek
Awesomeness!
Early work of a Master Storyteller

Riddle-Master
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441005969

Book Description

For over twenty years, Patricia A. McKillip has captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of readers. And although her renowned Riddle-Master trilogy--The Riddle-Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind--has been long out of print, it is considered her most enduring and beloved work. Now it is collected in one volume for the first time--the epic journeys of a young prince in a strange land, where wizards have long since vanished...but where magic is waiting to be reborn.

Customer Reviews:

Classic, and perfect.......2007-04-22

When McKillip gets it right, really right, she can't be beaten. The Riddle of the Stars is one she got right.

The Riddlemaster trilogy (Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, Harpist in the Wind), apparently reissued in this volume, is perfect. It's a high fantasy story suitable for young adult and adult readers. High fantasy means many things, including that, yes, if a man can turn into an animal at will, he can have his clothes on and possessions with him when he turns back. The magic in this world is mystical, not technical.

There are too many things I love about this trilogy to be able to enumerate them here, but I'll give three. McKillip's writing here is clear, lyrical, and well-tuned to the story; the opening sentence is one of my favorites. The story is well-knit, to the point that when you read the end, you can go back to the beginning and read it all over again with a brand new understanding of much of what is happening. The characters are complex, fascinating people you want to get to know better.

A Beauty Unparalled.......2007-01-27

This book creates a feeling that one can hardly comprehend on the first reading. I first read it a few years ago, having heard mention of it in a guide to fantasy writing. I read the novels and was amused, but didn't think much of it.

A year after that, I picked it up again. Morgon of Hed had become a being transformed in my eyes. I read it knowing how it ended, but I was still overly amazed. If you are a romantic at heart, someone who believes in things having a "rightness" to them, then you will enjoy this book. It will make you melancholy, but better in the end.

It's a bit like watching Star Trek.......2007-01-20

In the original series all the main characters are important senior crew members. If ever a non-essential crew member shows up, there is a 99% chance that he is going to be killed before we discover his character.

As with Riddlemaster, all the characters are important people in the world. The main character happens to be a prince, who wonders the world meeting other princes, princesses, kings and queens. Where are the working class people in this world?

The writing talent is awesome, and I assume that this was written when PM was a young writer, hence a bit of naivety comes through in the storyline.

For example:
- I often found myself looking to the appendix for explanations of character names that would be dropped into conversations with no previous introduction.
- As the book progresses, Morgan's powers become exponentially enhanced until he becomes some sort of super-superman, but with little explanantion of how these powers are acquired and why.
- One of Morgan's first powers is the ability to change shape to an animal. Hence he wonders the land taking various animal forms and changes back to human when he arrives at his destination. Yet there is no mention of Morgan ever having to find clothing each time. Does everybody wonder around the world naked? Also when he changes to crow shape and flies, where does he put his sword and his harp? Because they are always with him when he changes back. Must big a bloody big crow to carry all that stuff.

This series shows what appears to be a young writer with lots of potential perhaps taking on a story that is a little too big for her at the time. Good read if you can overlook the holes.

Awesomeness!.......2006-11-02

A great book for kids. Although I think this could be a book enjoyed by all ages.

Early work of a Master Storyteller.......2006-07-14

Patricia A. McKillip has been one of the secrets of the fantasy genre. She is a prolific and amazing writer who can spin tales of epic depth and breathtaking scope and make it look effortless and completely natural. Her characters are memorable and real. Her settings, whether delightfully ordinary or utterly fantastic, always seem like some place that you could easily get to, if only you knew the way. I have never read a bad book by her and this trilogy, an early work, was what started me off on a lifelong fascination with her creations. She has an understated style that seduces you gently and leaves you feeling dreamy and misty-eyed by the end. A deft writer who has mastered her craft and made a genre all her own.

Riddle-Master is a collection of that early trilogy into one volume. The main character is an unlikely and unassuming hero whose charm and appeal are magnetic. No matter how many times I read these books, I am drawn in all over again and cannot stop turning the pages until I am done.

Read all her books, if you like a gentle fantasy with little hacking and no slashing, you will not be dissapointed. Intelligent characters with great dialogue, interesting situations, and not an orc in sight.

Firebirds Rising: An Original Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Average customer rating:

A Few Gems That Sparkle Among the Coal
oh, the angst!
That didn't taste like I thought it would...
Appealing collection of YA SF and Fantasy
Enjoyable read

Firebirds Rising: An Original Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Francesca Lia Block , Emma Bull , Charles de Lint , Diana Wynne Jones , Ellen Klages , Tanith Lee , Kelly Link , Patricia A. McKillip , and Tamora Pierce
Manufacturer: Firebird
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0142405493

Book Description

Charles de Lint. Alan Dean Foster. Diana Wynne Jones. Kelly Link. Patricia A. McKillip. Tamora Pierce. These are just a few of the acclaimed and bestselling authors who have contributed original stories to Firebirds Rising, the eagerly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning anthology Firebirds.

This collection takes readers from deep space to Faerie to just around the corner. It is full of magic, humor, adventure, and—best of all—the unexpected. The one thing readers can count on is marvelous writing. Firebirds Rising proves once again that Firebird is more than an imprint—it is a gathering place for writers and readers of speculative fiction from teenage to adult, from the United States to Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

A Few Gems That Sparkle Among the Coal.......2007-06-23

This anthology follows in the footsteps of the original 'Firebirds' collection: A few brilliant stories among the padding of watered down sub-fare from famous names. In all honesty many of these stories would never have seen print without the famous name of the author being used on the cover to promote the book. A shame, since the premise of the anthology delights me.

I *am* very glad I read this book, though, especially for the sake of two stories I very much enjoyed:

'In the House of the Seven Librarians' by Ellen Klages is my favorite story, and worth the price of the book alone! This story is about a young girl named Dinsy who is raised by seven 'feral librarians' in an old library building. This book is a paean to old libraries and classics of literature. Any lover of books and reading will thrill to this book. For those of us who remember the old-style libraries with card catalogs, it is a veritable love song. For all book lovers, it's a treasure to love and cherish.

'Hives' by Kara Dalkey is a science fiction story about a future where technology can telepathically link minds, and teen girls use this to keep themselves in constant contact with their groups of friends, or 'hives'. But what happens when the girls get 'cut' from the network of their hive? Why does the sudden silence in their minds cause them to kill themselves? This story takes a science fiction approach to the importance of female friendships, and how necessary and addictive they can become. As Peter S. Beagle said in his novel 'Tamsin', "When you're 14 years old you're not yourself, you are your friends. You forget that when you grow up."

There were two other stories that I did enjoy reading. 'The Real Thing' by Alison Goodman was another sci-fi story exploring a future where genetic enhancement is prevalent, and the prejudice between those who are 'comp' made and those whose parents let nature take its course. The story is taken from a novel by the author, so it does feel a bit like a chapter out of a larger novel. That said, I really enjoyed this story and plan to track down the source novel it came from. An interesting story that made me think, as all good sci-fi does (I loathe the modern sci-fi movie cliche that sci-fi is only good for loud explosions).

'The House on the Planet' by Tanith Lee explores three young women living in the same house over 100 years' time on a colonized alien planet in the future. The subtle beauty of this story, of the alien landscape and how its birds and creatures speak to and inspire these women over many generations was inspiring. The end is a surprise, but indeed says a lot about the nature of 'humanity'. A beautiful story I'm glad I read.

Of the other stories, many were sub-par efforts on behalf of famous writers. Many were out-takes from other books or story universes, which really didn't work for anyone unfamiliar with the source material. Regardless, many of the stories felt like watered-down pap, very 'expurgated for children.' I always hated reading this kind of stuff as a teen.

On the other side, there were several stories that had a chilling amount of violence that I wouldn't feel comfortable with in an adult novel not sold in a horror section. I suppose it is a sad indictment of our culture, that violence is seen as perfectly natural for children and teens to view. There's a vengeful goddess hunting down and killing a pack of teens for trying to kill one of her followers ('Huntress' by Tamora Pierce). For the life of me I'm not sure what the point of that one was other than to be shocked by the violence. In 'I'll Give You My Word' by Diana Wynne Jones a group of female domestics turn out to be witches out to kill the mother of a family and take it over. There's so many misogynistic stereotypes here I don't know where to start. I'm sick of all this 'Hand That Rocks The Cradle' excrement that female domestics are all psychopaths. And all witches are evil murderers - how very Brothers Grimm. Can we get away from these stereotypes in the 21st century, please? Is that too much to ask? But the worst by far was 'Quill' by Carol Emshwiller. I don't know about you, but stories where teen girls are abducted by their fathers so they can rape and impregnate them just sicken me. This is a young adult story? It's like Stephen King at his goriest. *shudder*

Under the 'violence' heading are 'Perception' by Alan Dean Foster and 'What Used To Be Good Still Is' by Emma Bull, both stories where saintly females sacrifice their lives for the sakes of the unknowing and unappreciative. The 'virgin saint' stereotype of Victorian times. Can girls have heroines in their books who are not victims or self-sacrificing martyrs? Is that too much to ask?

That said, I am glad I read this book for the four stories I enjoyed. They made the book worth it. I just wish the collection was a little more even in quality. Alas, that's usually the case with multi-author story collections.

oh, the angst!.......2007-06-06

The jacket blurbs and the reviews fail to indicate an important fact: every story in this book is about a disaffected teenager. Every single one of them. Disaffected six-inch-tall teenagers. Disaffected genetically modified teenagers. Disaffected Victorian teenagers. Disaffected teenagers raised by feral librarians. Magical or mundane, ten or eighteen, they're all disaffected, and they all learn pithy lessons about finding acceptance while staying true to themselves.

The individual stories aren't bad at all; Kelly Link and Ellen Klages make particularly solid contributions. If I were still a disaffected teenager, however, I'd throw this heavy-handed, preachy anthology right out the window.

That didn't taste like I thought it would..........2007-03-14

I wanted to read some fantasy, some high IQ stuff, some thought-provoking short stories I could read on the DART getting to work. Well, after reading all of these stories, I'm convinced that writers do not submit their prize stories for anthologies. They submit their scraps. That's craps with an extra S. I'm dissapointed. Maybe my expectations were too high. Perhaps if I lower my expectations to what one might expect if judging a suburban high school writing contest...hmmm...no, I'm still dissappointed. The people who put this together owe me $10 just for reading through it. If you read this then you should demand compensation. I am not better off after reading this book. Maybe I didn't do enough shrooms before reading it. :-(

Appealing collection of YA SF and Fantasy.......2007-02-12

Firebirds Rising is an engaging mix of SF and Fantasy stories aimed at a young adult audience, though quite enjoyable for adults as well.

Two of my favorites are Science Fiction: Carol Emshwiller's "Quill", an oddly old-fashioned, charming yet sad, story of an isolated family and their curious secret; and Kara Dalkey's "Hives", an uncompromising story of teen-aged girls and cliques, exacerbated by near-telepathic phone connections.

Naturally one of the stories I most looked forward to was Kelly Link's "The Wizards of Perfil", and this is indeed a very enjoyable piece, though not as good as her best work. A boy named Onion and his disagreeable cousin Halsa, as well as Halsa's mother and brothers, are fleeing a war that has already their other parents' lives. Money is short, so when a reprensative of the reclusive Wizards of Perfil offers to buy a child, one of them must go. Onion, who may be telepathic, seems a natural candidate to sell to the representative of the reclusive wizards, but somehow Halsa is sold instead. As we expect with Link, the story goes in unexpected directions, telling of both Onion and Halsa and the very reclusive wizards - though I must say the resolution was exactly what I expected. (Which is not necessarily a bad thing.)

I was also delighted to see a story by Emma Bull, with the intriguing title "What Used to Be Good Still Is" (a title actually credited to Elise Matthesen). This is a moving story of a young man in a mining town in Arizona in the 1930s, and his love for a Mexican-American girl, who loves him but loves something else even more.

Patricia A. McKillip contributes another of her stories about a group of painters resembling the Pre-Raphaelites. "Jack O'Lantern" is about a girl struggling with her parents' conventional views of the role of women, particularly upper class women, as her older sister prepares to be married. During the painting of a wedding party portrait she meets a curious local lad, and hears a story about the Jack O'Lantern. Diana Wynne Jones's "I'll Give You My Word" is as clever as we expect from her, about a boy whose younger brother speaks in phrases like "sententious purple coriander". The story concerns the younger boy's trouble at school, and the problems the whole family encounters when the mother takes a book promotion trip. Ellen Klages's "In the House of the Seven Librarians" is purely charming, about a child growing up in a shuttered old-fashioned library.

And there are plenty further fine stories here, from names I expected to see like Charles de Lint and Tamora Pierce, and from perhaps surprising names like Alan Dean Foster. I enjoyed the anthology throughout. If I had a complaint, it would be that perhaps a few too many stories seem to play things just a bit safe. (With exceptions, such as Dalkey's "Hives" and Francesca Lia Block's "Blood Roses".) I would attribute that to the YA nature of the book - I suspect I should, indeed - but we certainly have plenty of examples of YA fiction that doesn't play safe. That said, this is a fine book, and it does a fine job of presenting interesting new stories, both SF and Fantasy, that will appeal to all readers.

Enjoyable read.......2007-01-08

I enjoyed this book as an entertaining read. Some of the stories were better than others, I thought.

"Huntress" was OK -- I do love Greek mythology, so the references there were quite good, but I really didn't understand the characters' motivations.

"I'll Give You My Word" -- I love word play, so this was one of my favorites in the anthology.

"The Wizards of Perfill" -- didn't like this one much at all, mostly because I found Onion very bland and, and didn't really understand the premise of magic in the setting until close to the end.

"In the House of the Seven Librarians" -- my absolute favorite in this book!

"Hives" -- very much enjoyed this one. I found it somewhat scary, actually, how likely and believable I found the techy part of the plot!

I hadn't seen these anthologies before, and now I'd like to read the original one as well. All in all, I'm glad I read this book, but I am equally glad that I checked it out from the library and didn't purchase it.

Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction

Average customer rating:

Kind of flat
One of the best anthologies I've ever read
Firebirds
Solid anthology with a few standouts
More to Firebirds than meets the eye

Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction
Lloyd Alexander , Nancy Farmer , Meredith Ann Pierce , Elizabeth Wein , Michael Cadnum , Kara Dalkey , Nancy Springer , Emma Bull , Patricia A. McKillip , Delia Sherman , Megan Whalen Turner , Laurel Winter , Nina Kiriki Hoffman , Sherwood Smith , and Diana Wynne Jones
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142403202

Book Description

Firebirds gathers together sixteen original stories by some of today's finest writers of fantasy and science fiction. Together, they have won virtually every major prize— from the National Book Award to the World Fantasy Award to the Newbery Medal—and have made bestseller lists worldwide. These authors, including Lloyd Alexander, Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix, Patricia A. McKillip, Meredith Ann Pierce, and Nancy Farmer, tell stories that will entertain, provoke, startle, amuse, and resonate long after the last lage has been turned. And they all share a connection to Firebird—an imprint, like this anthology, devoted to the best fantasy and science fiction for teenage and adult readers.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

A Locus Recommended Reading Selection

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

A Selection of the Science Fiction Book Club

Customer Reviews:

Kind of flat.......2007-03-25

I found Firebirds kind of flat. I think the best children's stories can be read at many levels. Think of "The Hobbit," which appeals to readers ranging from roughly third or fourth grade all the way up to adulthood. At the simplest level there is just an easily accessible story which appeals to a very young and uncomplicated person. At other levels the story should appeal to more sophisticated readers: there might be complex moral decisions, satirical references only an adult would catch, interesting use of language, etc. I know that all the authors featured in "Firebirds" are capable of writing for multiple audiences, but (other than Wynne-Jones's "Little Dot") I found the work presented here somewhat disappointing. It wasn't horrible; it just didn't have the richness I expected from a collection of writers this talented.

One of the best anthologies I've ever read.......2006-11-07

This is a collection of some of the finest authors in the biz, and I think every single one of them would be proud of their work here. I loved this book, and although I do admit that it is a little misleading calling it an anthology of fantasy and sci fi when there's pretty much no sci fi in it, I forgive it that small glitch because it's just so good.

If you're an intelligent reader, or someone who likes incredible reimaginings of traditional tales, or someone who likes their authors to think outside of the box and move into truly bizarre and undiscovered realms, then this book is for you. And if you're the kind of person who doesn't just want action and adventure, but who likes stories that truly make the reader think and feel and wonder, then you will definitely like this. I actually cried several times whilst reading this, I was so moved. But don't get the impression that it's a sad book, because it isn't. It's just that a few of the stories were really poignant in an emotional sense to me.

There's something here for everyone. There's even a poem and a comic book story. I would thoroughly recommend this book to any of the fans of the writers contained within it, and also to readers who have never read any of these authors' works before, since it's a great introduction to their talents. Bravo, Firebirds.

Firebirds.......2006-10-14

Firebirds is a short story book by Lloyd Alexander, Michael Cadnum, Kara Dalkey, Nancy Farmer, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Diana Wynne Jones, Patricai A. Mckillip, Garth Nix, Meridith Ann Pierce, Sherwood Smith, Nancy Springer, Megan Whalen Turner, Elizabeth E. Wein, Laurel Winter, Emma Bull with illustrations by Charles Vess. The book is edited by Sharyn November.
Firebirds is a collection of stories all based on different themes. Each author has a different style of writing. Firebirds has two genres, fantasy and science fiction. I liked this book because the endings were always surprising. I didn't know many of these authors and reading these short stories gave me an idea of how they wrote. All the stories in Firebirds were interesting and different. I would rate this book an eight on a scale of one to ten because some of the stories weren't very interesting. I haven't read many short story books but this was one of the books that I enjoyed. Many of these stories are parts of books that the author has written or sequels.
Some of my favorite stories were Beauty by Sherwood Smith and Little Dot by Diana Wynne Jones. Beauty's about a princess named Elestra. Elestra didn't have any beauty and no one really cared about her. In the throne room, there was a tree that was really a person turned into a tree. One night the Elestra goes into the throne room and is captured by Flauvic, the person who was tree. Beauty's a story that makes you wonder what's going to happen. Little Dot's a story about several cats and a human named Henry. One day Henry is told that there is a Beast that's eating many animals. Find out what happens by reading Firebirds. Little Dot's an engrossing story that captures your attention.

Solid anthology with a few standouts.......2006-06-21

"Firebirds" came into my hands with high praise from sources I respected, and I was not disappointed. I was not overly impressed either. The collection of stories is fairly broad, but the focus is clearly on fantasy (broadly defined, not just swords and sorcery, although there is that too). I have no idea why it includes science fiction in the title, I can't remember a single title I would classify as SF.

There are several stories that revisit old tales to give them a new spin: "Cotillion" (D Sherman) places Tam Lin in 1960's New York, "The Fall of Ys" (MA Pierce) questions the character motivations of the original, "Medusa" (Cadnum)retells the story from the title character's point of view, "Lady of the Ice Garden" (K Dalkey) sets an Andersen tale in Japan. With the ties to classic tales and the strong female leads all around, these stories are particularly well suited for classroom use.

Changelings also play a prominent role: "The Baby in the Night Deposit Box" (M Whalen Turner) in which a magical child is raised by a bank; the surprisingly effective "Hope Chest" (G Nix) which combines elements of horror, political dystopia and, of all things, the Western; "Remember Me" (N Farmer)in which a changeling's differences ostracize her family and "Flotsam" (N Kiriki Hoffman) an overly ambitious about a little boy lost among worlds that ultimately fails to move the reader.

Most of the stories feature female leads, but the two stories with male leads were standouts for me: "Max Mondrosch" (Lloyd Alexander)an understated and oddly comical story about the horror of modern life and "Byndley" (P McKillip) a more traditional tale of a wizard, a fairy queen, and the things that can be stolen in the forest.

Of the remaining stories, I would recommend "Beauty" (S Smith), an "odd princess out" o fthe sort that have become popular since "The Ordinary Princess". "Black Fox" (E Bull) also bears mention as the only graphic entry in the anthology, illustrated by Charles Vess.

"Mariposa" (N Springer), "Chasing the Wind" (E Wein), "Little Dot" (D Wynne Jones, for the magical cat lovers) and "The Flying Woman" (L Winter)were all fine stroies, but none of them proved memorable for me.

The title is definitely recommended if you are a fan of fantasy short stories or the Firebird authors. If this is not something you read every day, I would recommend a Datlow/Windling anthology, such as "The Faery Reel" or one of the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror (Datlow/Windling and Datlow/Link).

More to Firebirds than meets the eye.......2005-08-14

Thanks to smooth writing and a classically romantic sensibility, this collection seems light and airy on first reading. The darker images crept up on me later.

Lloyd Alexander's "Max Mondrosch" is a sneaky little story, vivid and disturbing. So, to, is "Hope Chest" by Garth Nix, a compulsively readable but violent story. Nancy Springer's "Mariposa" is funny and kind of mean. (Which is always a compliment from me.) Megan Whalen Turner's "The Baby in the Night Deposit Box," is just funny.

Other stories, like Delia Sherman's "Cotillion" and Kara Dalkey's "The Lady of the Ice-Garden" are retellings that are nicely written but not outstanding. Only one of them, "Beauty" by Sherwood Smith, seems incomplete. I am not familiar with the world this story is attached to, which may have helped.

Overall, though, this is a thoroughly enjoyable collection for teen or adults. For those (like me) who have a sneaking suspicion that YA fantasy writers are more talented than most of the mainstream adult fantasists, this collection provides great ammunition.

Average customer rating:

Kurland's story's the best in the book
not my favorite
Kurland
average-not up to fantasy OR romance standards...
Hmmm

To Weave a Web of Magic
Claire Delacroix , Lynn Kurland , Patricia A. McKillip , and Sharon Shinn
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425196151
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Book Description

A romantic fantasy anthology with four novellas from renowned authors of romance and fantasy...

USA Today best-selling author Claire Delacroix gives readers a revisionist version of the medieval legend of Melusine. USA Today best-selling author Lynn Kurland's trademark style shines in this tale of the magic and medieval romance between two lovers.

World Fantasy Award-winner Patricia A. McKillip tells of an artist's model and the transforming power of beauty and inspiration.

National best-selling author Sharon Shinn offers a compelling romance set in a strange new off-world of angels and revolving around the pursuit of love.

The very thrill of love comes dazzlingly to life when these four shining stars or romance and fantasy weave their own web of magic for their legions of fans.

Customer Reviews:

Kurland's story's the best in the book.......2007-05-11

Kurland's story in this book read just like a fairy tale and quite romantic. I like the fact that Kurland doesn't use sex to sell her books like most other paranormal romance authors out there. Her story always has fairy tale/dreamy romance quality to it.

not my favorite.......2006-07-02

Im not a big anthology fan but I think Lynn Kurland is great so I try to read everything she puts out. In this case....none of the stories held my attention all that well, even hers. They were all well written but there just seemed to be something missing within the plots.

Kurland.......2006-04-11

Not Lynn Kurlands ussual fair, but ok for fast reading.
Other authors are a mix. Not sure I would buy it again.

average-not up to fantasy OR romance standards..........2006-02-01

my breakdown of the book:

McKillip's story-OK, average story-but I could have skipped it.

Kurland-I enjoyed this story-not her best but better, in my opinion than the other three.

Shinn-could not finish-the heroine was too flighty and too much of a girl looking to rebel by going after the "bad boy".

Delacroix-ick-hated it-a "love story" based on one characters blackmail of another is not my kind of love story.

Sadly this book is not fantastical enough for fantasy readers or romantic enough for the romance fan. By trying to catch both fans the book appeases neither.

My advice-skip it, buy used or get from the library. Definately not worth forking $14 out new.

3 stars for the Kurland story.

Hmmm.......2005-09-19

The stories were good, but they left me going "What, wait it can't be over" and not in a good way they just seemed unfinished like the authors got to the word limit and stopped. I'm glad I bought the book to add to my Lynn Kurland collection but was still a tad bit disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Hooked me on McKillip
Readable, but not her best work
Solstice Wood is terrific!!!
Graceful and enchanting
dreary and boring

Solstice Wood
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Harrowing the Dragon
Od Magic
Winter Rose
Something Rich and Strange (Ibooks Fantasy Classics)
Moon-Flash

ASIN: B000GUJHF8

Book Description

The World Fantasy Award-winning author's foray into the modern world-now in paperback. <br/><br/> No stranger to the realms of myth and magic, World Fantasy Award-winning author Patricia A. McKillip presents her first contemporary fantasy in many years-a tale of the tangled lives mere mortals lead, when they turn their eyes from the beauty and mystery that lie just outside of the everyday... <br/><br/> When bookstore owner Sylvia Lynn returns to her childhood home in upstate New York, she meets the Fiber Guild-a group of local women who meet to knit, embroider, and sew-and learns why her grandmother watches her so closely. A primitive power exists in the forest, a force the Fiber Guild seeks to bind in its stitches and weavings. And Sylvia is no stranger to the woods

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"No stranger to the realms of myth and magic, World Fantasy Award winning author Patricia A. McKillip presents her first contemporary fantasy in years. Solstice Wood is a tale of the tangled lives we mere mortals lead, when we turn our eyes from the beauty and mystery that lie just outside of the everyday. When her beloved grandfather dies, bookstore owner Sylvia Lynn knows she must finally return to her childhood home in upstate New York and face the grandmother who raised her and the woods which so beguiled- and frightened-her. But it's not until she meets the Fiber Guild-a group of local women who meet to knit, embroider, and sew-that Sylvia learns why her grandmother watches her so. A primitive power exists in the forest, a force the Fiber Guild seeks to bind in its stitches and weavings. And Sylvia is no stranger to the woods."

Customer Reviews:

Hooked me on McKillip.......2007-05-04

I had never read any of Patricia McKillip's books before, and so loved this novel that I've been seeking out all of her others---which I also love! Thanks Patricia, for your imaginative, poetic and compelling writing!

Readable, but not her best work.......2006-10-13

I adore Winter Rose, just as I adore most of McKillip's work, and I was looking forward to this title.

It's--ok. McKillip's prose is, as ever, beautiful. Sylvia and the Changeling are both interesting characters, and there is some truly haunting material here.

However, the fact remains that McKillip is not really suited to writing with a Message (I can't think of any author that is, really), and this book has a Message, much as Something Rich and Strange had a Message.

Nor does Mckillip truly expect her readers to show much intelligence in understanding the Message--it sticks up painfully all through the novel and then is announced at the end by the Faerie Queen, just in case we'd missed it.

If you really love Mckillip, and you want to read everything, go ahead & read it--there are some wortwhile nuggets here and there. If you only like her, or are reading her for the first time, skip this book. Read Winter Rose instead.

Solstice Wood is terrific!!!.......2006-10-04

Sylvia Lynn is Rois' (from Winter Rose) four times great granddaughter and Lynn Hall has been left to her after the death of her grandfather. She has moved a continent away from Lynn Hall and her grandparents, because like Rois and Corbet she is half- fay. Her grandmother Iris has been the leader of the Fiber Guild, which she describes as a sewing circle, but it's more of a coven about fear -- and good food-- and binding up the rents between this world and the Otherworld.
Owen, Sylvia's near -relation thinks:
"The heir to Lynn Hall had just walked out of the world into fairyland. The heir to Lynn Hall, born to guard, and watch, and keep all passageways locked againsr the wood- folk, was one of them herself. And one of us.
And so was the young man who had stolen my daughter's heart."
This is an excellent tale, well worth reading and owning. I liked the varying POV and contemporary setting very much.

Graceful and enchanting.......2006-08-09

McKillip is a true master of the fairy tale. Solstice Wood is set many, many years after her wonderful tale, Winer Rois (which I devoured in one setting!) It may be helpful to pick up that book before reading this, as sort of a background because McKillip doesn't delve much into what happened in Winter Rois, she just sort of uses it for a setup. Syl the main character is part fay, part human, whom has hid her heritage from her grandmother her whole life and must come to terms with this upon the death of her grandfather (whom embraced the fay and the wild wood in which they lived.) There is not a ton of action, but what action there is is well wrought. The characters are well described and the plot is solid. I know Amazon toted "The Stolen Child" as the "new" fairy tale but I believe Solstice Wood to be a much better selection.

dreary and boring.......2006-08-01

I love some of McKillip's books, but this isn't one of them. Some I have read many times; I was unable to get up the interest to finish this one. Some cool parts but mostly boring.

Average customer rating:

Fine Fantasy
"Hoarsbreath is a Dragon's Heart..."
Always a pleasure
Great selection of short stories
There are no better writers than Patricia McKillip

Harrowing the Dragon
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441014437

Book Description

A fantasist without equal, Patricia A. McKillip has created worlds of intricate beauty and unforgettably nuanced characters. For 25 years, she's drawn readers into her spell, spinning modern-day fables with a grace rarely seen.

Now she presents a book of previously uncollected short stories, full of beautiful dragons, rueful princesses, and handsome bards, and written in the gorgeous-and often surprisingly funny-prose she's known for. This is her world, wrapped up in the finery of fairy tales.

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Now, for the first time, Patricia A. McKillip presents a book of previously uncollected short stories-full of beautiful dragons, rueful princesses, and handsome bards, and written in the gorgeous, and often surprisingly funny, prose she is known for. This is her world, wrapped up in the finery of fairy tales.

Customer Reviews:

Fine Fantasy.......2007-05-16

I love short stories, and each one of these wonderful fantasy shorts are perfect to read before bed! Patricia MckIllip really paints pictures with her words, and she is one of my favorite authors.

"Hoarsbreath is a Dragon's Heart...".......2007-02-15

Patricia A. McKillip is the author of several wonderful books (my favourites being "Alphabet of Thorn" and "Winter Rose") and is one of the few fantasists in the publishing world that is original. Although her stories may contain typical fantasy elements (dragons, heroes, kingdoms, quests, good versus evil, etc) they are written in such beautiful poetic-prose that the stories transcend the clichés they stem from; reading more as luminous fairytales than hum-drum fantasy. Although the prose is beautiful, it is also an acquired taste. When I was first introduced to her work, I found it rather difficult to adjust to a story that was often hidden under such dense, rich language. Of course, it's worth it in the end, but for those just starting out on McKillip, perhaps this anthology of short stories is a good starting place.

And for those already well-versed in the magic of McKillip's writing, a series of stories is an added bonus to add to a collection. McKillip is just as skilled in the creation of short stories as she is in full-length novels, and sometimes a quick-fix of her work is just what a devoted reader needs. Containing fifteen stories (some of which span a few pages, others which are better described as novellas); there's enough variety amongst them to keep each one fresh and interesting.

In the story that gives the book its title, "Harrowing the Dragon", a dragon-slayer comes to the island of Hoarsbreath in order to harrow the dragon from its shores. He is joined by a native of the island, a young woman who isn't too sure if she wants the dragon to go. "A Matter of Music" concerns Cresce Dami, a bard who has freshly graduated from her school with ambitions of playing in Daghian. Attempting to negotiate her way through the rules and etiquette of playing music in a high court, Cresce becomes involved in the political machinations of the countries surrounding her. These stories are by far the longest in the entire book, and are typical of McKillip's wonderful world-building and imagery.

McKillip borrows from other fairytales too: in "Baba Yaga and the Sorcerer's Son", she uses the Russian folklore of Baba Yaga and her chicken-legged house to imagine a meeting between the witch and a young wizard who needs her help, whilst the Hans Christian Anderson tale of "The Snow Queen" imagines a contemporary setting in which Kay cheats on his devoted wife Gerda with a beautiful stranger...but Gerda - whose entire life has revolved around Kay - finds a hidden strength of her own to survive his betrayal. "The Lion and the Lark" is an amalgamation of several fairytales, (most obviously Beauty and the Beast, though keep your eyes open for the others) which makes it a little predictable, though ends with an image of amazing imaginary force. Finally, in the story that ends the book, "Toad" is an explanatory back-story of "The Frog Prince", explaining why the prince would agree to marry such a spoilt princess. McKillip looks deep into the imagery at work throughout the fairytale, using the golden ball and the frog's intrusion into the princess's life as a metaphor for her burgeoning maturity. I'll never look at the Frog Prince the same way again.

As well as building on other sources, McKillip creates fairytales all her own. In "A Troll and Two Roses" she weaves the tale of an ugly troll who becomes enraptured by a beautiful rose and its connection to two enchanted lovers, while in "The Fellowship of the Dragon" five bards go out in search of the Queen's favourite harper, only to fall prey to the traps and snares strewn throughout the wood they must traverse. "Lady of the Skulls" (one of my favourites) involves a mysterious tower in the desert, to which many questing knights travel, attracted by the promise that should they take the most precious thing that it holds, they will be allowed to keep it. The catch? If they choose wrongly, they die. Then there's "The Stranger", which concerns a man who forms dragons out of the colours in nature and his own imagination, and the weaver-woman who tries to prevent him from the destruction he wreaks. In "Voyage into the Heart", we are privy to a unicorn hunt in which the bait (a young virgin naturally) is unaware of her part to play in its capture.

There are two other stories that don't seem to fit into any category: "The Witches of Junket", which involves three prodigal grand-daughters returning to their hometown to help destroy an escaping evil, and my personal favourite "Starcrossed", which concerns the investigation into the deaths of Romeo and Juliet by a soldier who is disillusioned with love. It's a fantastic concept, and McKillip pulls it off brilliantly.

Lastly there are two little stories (which come across more like experimental writing exercises) "Ash, Wood, Fire" and "Transmutations", the former concerning the dynamics of a medieval kitchen, the latter exploring what goes on in an alchemical laboratory. They are probably the weakest stories of the anthology, but they are both reasonably short (and with other such exemplary stories on display, it doesn't really bear complaining about). Besides, thirteen out of fifteen ain't bad.

Altogether, this is a great collection and a must for any McKillip (not to mention K. Y. Craft, who always provides beautiful cover art) fan.

Always a pleasure.......2007-02-06

It was good to read all those fairy tales and see the same magic that enchanted me with "The Changeling Sea". My only complaint is the same for all others book by the autor, that some short stories ended without telling all about them, making me hungry for the next one.

Great selection of short stories.......2007-01-10

A great selection of short stories by a masterful fantasy author.

There are no better writers than Patricia McKillip.......2006-08-28

Patricia McKillip is my favorite fantasy writer for a reason. She hasn't written one bad paragraph in her entire career, and I've read everything she's written. I've been reading Science Fiction and Fantasy for 40 years, and I've never come across an author whose fantasy was quite as gorgeous as McKillips. Her characters are fascinating, her plots move at a meandering, but decent pace, and her worlds are lush and dreamlike. I always feel as if I've had one of those miraculous moments of connectivity with the magic of the world when I read her work. Everything takes on a brilliant cast, and the world seems a beautiful place because of her gracious work. This book is no exception, filled with generous chapters of rich storytelling. I can't recommend it enough, but then, I recommend all of her books. It's hard for me to pick a favorite, but I must say that I adored the Book of Atrix Wolfe, and Winter Rose.

Average customer rating:

A vague, inarticulate tale
Dark and Dreamlike
Beautifully written--a classic of its type
Fairy-Tale Rose
Into another realm

Winter Rose
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441009344
Release Date: 2002-06-01

Amazon.com

Winter Rose begins as the seemingly simple story of Rois and Laurel Melior and their understandable fascination with young Corbet Lynn, returned to rebuild his abandoned ancestral home, Lynn Hall. Laurel is drawn to Corbet's beauty, Rois to the mystery of his past. But the past holds more than one mystery, and as Rois fights her way into the wood around Lynn Hall, seeking answers for herself, Laurel, and Corbet, she risks losing everything, for all of them, forever.

Traces of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market, of Tam Lin, and of a dozen other legends and tales color Rois's story. Patricia McKillip's consummate mastery of language means that every word counts in a complex, sweetly painful story of human love and timeless, indifferent power.

Book Description

When Corbet Lynn returns home to rebuild his family's estate, his grandfather's curse is rekindled-and lures a free spirited woman from the woods that border Lynn Hall.

"Weaves a dense web of desire and longing, human love and inhuman need." (Publishers Weekly)

"The prose is impeccable, the story memorable, and the characters admirable." (Science Fiction Chronicle)

Customer Reviews:

A vague, inarticulate tale.......2007-04-22

Sometimes McKillip writes the way I would talk if I had marbles in my mouth. This is one of those times.

Dark and Dreamlike.......2006-12-25

I devoured "Winter Rose" in one sitting, held rapt by its spell. It is a fascinating read, because of the way McKillip uses gorgeous language to depict the dark and magical atmosphere of a forest with a life of its own. I almost felt as if I was dreaming while I read this book. The story itself unfolds gradually, but the pacing never drags.
The only reason I am giving it four stars instead of five is that McKillip occasionally gets too weighed down by florid language and description. However, for most of the novel her style is perfectly suited to the mood and nature of the tale.

Beautifully written--a classic of its type.......2006-08-01

That says it all. The language and imagery are exquisite. The story is original even though it is derivative. One of the best books I have ever read.

Fairy-Tale Rose.......2006-06-12

"Winter Rose" is a fairy tale in more than one sense of the word. It has the feel of every decent fairy tale--curses, siblings, mysterious strangers, and puzzles that must be unlocked. It contains elements I've seen before, and this isn't a bad thing; this is hardly some rehashed, barely warmed-over, half-hearted retelling. It's quite original and interesting, despite the fairy-tale familiarity.

It is also a fairy tale in that it tells a story of mortal dealings with the land of fairies. Not little people with wings, but the terrible, dangerous fey creatures who are, often as not, the downfall of the mortals who encounter them.

I loved the characters in this book. The book gave me a strong feel for the ones that showed up often. Rois, Laurel, Perrin, Rois's father, Corbet, some of the people from the village--I enjoyed every one of them, and felt as though I knew them by the end of the book. This did, however, cause the natural problem that always emerges when the characters are too interesting in a book--I hated to let go of them at the end!

Perhaps the only flaw in the characters is that the tale deals with things that happened two generations ago, involving the memories of many people. After a while I lost track of a few of the people referred to. It wasn't a strong enough effect to mar my enjoyment of the book, however; it was an incidental and momentary confusion.

"Winter Rose" went by in the span of a heartbeat for me; I started reading it mid-morning and was done with it before dinner. It pulled me in and enchanted me. I had trouble returning to reality, and simply couldn't start reading another book right away. My head was lost in the gorgeous world McKillip had evoked with her elegant words.

Into another realm.......2006-06-08

The language in this book is so magical. It's one that you almost need to read in one sitting because of the flow. It pulls you in and entangles you like the rose bush thorns in the story entangle Rois. To me there were elements of such classic stories as those of Thomas Hardy and "Wuthering Heights". This book takes you to another world and is poetically written.

Something Rich and Strange (Ibooks Fantasy Classics)

Average customer rating:

Something "Strange"
Beautiful...
McKillip writes a pearl inspired by the pull of the tide.

Something Rich and Strange (Ibooks Fantasy Classics)
Patricia McKillip
Manufacturer: Ibooks, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1596871261

Book Description

They have lived among us for centuries--distant, separate, just out of sight. They fill our myths, our legends, and the stories we tell our children in the dark of night. They come from the air, from water, from earth, and from fire. What are these creatures that enjoin out imagination? Faeries. Something Rich and Strange creates a faerie story that's not to be missed: Megan is an artist who draws seascapes. Jonah owns a shop devoted to treasures from the deep. Their lives, so strongly touched by the ocean, become forever intertwined when enchanting people of the sea lure them further into the underwater world--and away from each other.

Customer Reviews:

Something "Strange".......2005-11-13

There is rarely a solid message in Patricia McKillip's books -- whatever message there is is usually fluid and hard to read. "Something Rich and Strange" is an exception to that rule, with a very mild message about the sea shining through a beautiful twist on the Tam Lin story.

Jonah and Megan live in the Pacific Northwest, in a little seaside town where nothing much happens. That is, until the day Adam Fin comes there, with his beautiful pieces of otherworldly jewelry and a mysterious past. Megan finds herself fascinated by Adam. She's haunted by the sea, by strange and sometimes alarming characters lurking around, and by the image of the sea hare.

But Jonah succumbs to a different kind of siren song, when a beautiful singer at a local bar lures him in with her voice. Soon he has left Megan, the world that he knows (and most of his brain cells) to follow the beautiful woman down into the waves. Megan goes down herself, to find her beloved and try to bring him back. In the process, she and Jonah both must discover the dangerous, angry, grieving beauty of the sea and what they must do for it.

The novella is shorter than most of McKillip's books and longer than her short stories, yet full-fleshed and believable, the simplicity of the story masked by the ornate language she employs so well. Reading this book is like immersing yourself in an ornate, opulent aquarium.

Repeated use of seaweed, pearls, bright fish, shells, mer-creatures, and exotic sea-creatures in unusual roles add a note of dreaminess to the proceedings -- not that they need it. Except for a few key Jonah-Megan scenes, the entire book has the feel of a beautiful, prolonged dream, wrapped up in detailed writing and strong imagery.

Also unlike most of McKillip's books, this is a contemporary novel, as evidenced by the first page where Megan finds an Orange Crush can and a styrofoam float. Yet this never interferes with the flow of the book, which deals with imagery as timeless as the sea itself. Don't expect the Big Message to beat you over the head with its theme -- McKillip weaves it in softly and subtlely, though it is hinted in where Megan walks along the beach and sees the junk strewn around. The message about pollution becomes clearest at the end, but during subsequent rereadings one can see the clues lined up, but never overemphasized.

Adam himself is everything he's supposed to be--sexy, ambiguous, in form as well as in mind, for we see him shift from everything from a man to a splash of shapeshifting sea-foam. His sister is not as defined--we know she is dangerous, beautiful, seductive, etc--but perhaps that is deliberate, as we see little of her but constant hints as Jonah pursues her.

One of McKillip's less known novels is also among her best. "Something Rich and Strange" proves to be a magical, beautiful journey into an enchanted sea realm. You'll never see a picture of a mermaid the same way again.

Beautiful..........1999-08-04

"Full fathom five thy father lies, Of his bones are coral made, Those are pearls that were his eyes; Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange."

Lovers Jonah and Megan--he the owner of an art store somewhere on the Pacific Northwest coast, she an artist who sketches the sea--find themselves changing into things "rich and strange" when a pair of elusive and fascinating strangers enter their lives. The strangeness begins with little things--images appear of their own accord in Megan's drawings, an enigmatic sculptor named Adam Fin begins to frequent the store--but when a mysterious singer claimed as Adam's sister lures Jonah into her own realm, it changes from a mystery of the everyday world to a mystery of the Otherworld. To find Jonah, Megan will have to first discover and then see past the legends in which Adam and his powerful sister have clothed themselves, and Jonah must learn to look past his fascination with the siren song to see what provokes such terrible beauty, grief, and rage.

The story of "Something Rich and Strange" unfolds like a dream, all the while ringing very true to life. Patricia McKillip's writing is rich in texture and imagery: vivid, precise, and often surreal; she is equally adept at describing the luminous beauty of an undersea kingdom as well as Megan and Jonah's banter over dinner. The images she sculpts have a true ring of otherworldly beauty to them; Adam and his sister speak in human words, but they are not human, and while humans spin stories around their powerful realm, that is not human either. McKillip never lets the reader forget that; her mysterious sea is never ours to claim, only ours to remember and preserve.

Read "Something Rich and Strange" three times: once for the story, once for the jeweled prose, once for its message. And then read it a fourth time, for no reason except that the story deserves it. It will still be good: the changeable sea is eternal.

McKillip writes a pearl inspired by the pull of the tide........1998-09-07

Something Rich and Strange offers the reader the oftenly needed crash of reality. By not losing the mystery and enchantment of the ocean, McKillip shows how humanity's blind ignorance is killing the magic found beneath the tide. Even when the powers below cry out for help they must disquise it with a Siren's Song and not frantic plea for survival. The book has a pace equal to the waves crashing on the shore, be it during a hurricane or a spring shower, that is left up for the reader to decide.

Average customer rating:

Simply Incredible
Reading that goes beyond age limit
My favorite book of all time.
Delightful
WONDERFUL!!!!!

The Changeling Sea (Firebird)
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0141312629

Book Description

Since the day her father's fishing boat returned without him, Peri and her mother have mourned his loss. Her mother sinks into a deep depression and spends her days gazing out at the sea. Unable to control her anger and sadness any longer, Peri uses the small magic she knows to hex the sea. And suddenly into her drab life come the King's sons-changelings with strange ties to the underwater kingdom-a young magician, and, finally, love.

Customer Reviews:

Simply Incredible.......2006-12-31

I just adored McKillip's novel. A wonderful story, combined with excellently developed characters, and descriptive wirting that takes you soaring through her world, make this novel one of the most memorable you will ever read. For lack of a more fortified adjective, it was amazing. I've read McKillip before and been a bit disappointed, to be honest; but this was just a lovely, lovely, lovely book, one to cherish forever.

Reading that goes beyond age limit.......2006-07-08

This is the first McKillip story I ever read, the book that got me hooked to this author's writing. Patricia is an inspiration to writers, and a continual source of entertainment for readers. I know the listing says juvenile, for readers ages 6-12, but that is just wrong. I enjoyed this story at age 23 and I'd enjoy it just as much now at 44.

Everyone should read this book, no matter what your age is!

My favorite book of all time........2006-02-28

I am so glad they reprinted this book. For years it was out of print and incredibly hard to find.

I found this book when I was in 5th grade, and read my copy till it fell apart. If I had a spare day, I would just sit down and read it, wrapping myself in its words like a warm blanket. I still read it once a year.

This book really saved me as a kid. It taught me that even though I was young, and poor, and hurting, I had the world at my feet. It gave me the courage to stand up and take on the world.

Delightful.......2006-02-21

This is a delightful story of love, magic, and healing. It's not the typical fantasy story of good versus evil. It's simply a story of a girl struggling with the world around her until she can find a place in it for herself.

WONDERFUL!!!!!.......2006-01-02

oh my...i loved this book!! i read it in one day. i couldn't put it down. It is definately one of McKillip's best, in my opinion. I also enjoyed reading her other books The Forgotten Beats of Eld, and Ombria in Shadow. But of those three this is most definately my favorite. The romance and mystery of the magic in this book is what kept lighting my interest and imagination. She uses words in wonderful ways to spark your imagination and wraps you in the story with the flow and rhythm of the sentences. I loved this book and want to read it over and over again. Definately one of my all time favorites.

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