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cursedepub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I first read this book as a preteen in elementary school. Over 10 years later, I'm still thoroughly impressed by it. Song Quest has an interesting and original concept, fascinating cast of characters, and startling depth of writing and storytelling that captured my imagination even as an adult.
Song Quest is in many ways a typical fantasy adventure, involving a perilous journey, magic, betrayal, and a quest for justice. However, the cruelty in the world is more real than what one tends to expect from middle-grade fantasy, especially as it rings uncomfortably true given the history of racial hatred and colonization in our world, and the prose is truly excellent. And while I did note that the book was more plot-driven than character-driven, Rialle and Kherron are both strong protagonists, with their own compelling emotional arcs and satisfying development. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the Echorium Sequence on my first read is that the narrative spanned generations, with the same characters recurring in more mature roles in later books - I love how both get their moments to shine not only as children in Song Quest, but as adults in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal.
Like many books of its time, the treatment of race (between humans, at least) in the novel is well-meaning but still insensitive and stereotyped - it's very telling that the Singers are all light-skinned and light-eyed, and the ultimate villain of the series is a Middle Eastern-coded, dark skinned mystic priest. While the karchlords are not necessarily all evil, they are still depicted in relatively unkind terms. This is the main reason my rating is 4 and not 5 stars. However, the book is still eminently recommendable, and not just for nostalgia.
Song Quest is in many ways a typical fantasy adventure, involving a perilous journey, magic, betrayal, and a quest for justice. However, the cruelty in the world is more real than what one tends to expect from middle-grade fantasy, especially as it rings uncomfortably true given the history of racial hatred and colonization in our world, and the prose is truly excellent. And while I did note that the book was more plot-driven than character-driven, Rialle and Kherron are both strong protagonists, with their own compelling emotional arcs and satisfying development. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the Echorium Sequence on my first read is that the narrative spanned generations, with the same characters recurring in more mature roles in later books - I love how both get their moments to shine not only as children in Song Quest, but as adults in Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal.
Like many books of its time, the treatment of race (between humans, at least) in the novel is well-meaning but still insensitive and stereotyped - it's very telling that the Singers are all light-skinned and light-eyed, and the ultimate villain of the series is a Middle Eastern-coded, dark skinned mystic priest. While the karchlords are not necessarily all evil, they are still depicted in relatively unkind terms. This is the main reason my rating is 4 and not 5 stars. However, the book is still eminently recommendable, and not just for nostalgia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery and Torture