juliana_aldous's review
2.0
I am a HUGE McKillip fan, but I somehow couldn't get in to this one which is on a lot of all-time favorite lists.
raven_nivhaar's review
DNF'd at page 103.
This book couldn't decide on its pacing and everything felt so monotonous all the time.
There were moments where it held my interest, mostly the moments concerning Deth, but then it would fade again and return to being boring. I really wanted to finish it, but I just couldn't find the will to care about Morgon.
This book couldn't decide on its pacing and everything felt so monotonous all the time.
There were moments where it held my interest, mostly the moments concerning Deth, but then it would fade again and return to being boring. I really wanted to finish it, but I just couldn't find the will to care about Morgon.
taisie22's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Morgon is the prince of Hed, a small farming island. He's also a riddle-master, acknowledged for his ability to ask and answer questions since the wizards have disappeared. He only wants to stay on Hed immersed in his land rule, but the three stars on his forehead and the crown of Aum that he won in a riddle contest force him into the outer world. Shapeshifters chase him, and danger lurks as he travels to find the answers to his riddles.
This is a classic fantasy book based on Celtic mythology by the marvelous Patricia McKillip. Her books should be mentioned more and be more widely read as her writing is lyrical and descriptive. I read this a long time ago, and I'm happy to reread it once again.
This is a classic fantasy book based on Celtic mythology by the marvelous Patricia McKillip. Her books should be mentioned more and be more widely read as her writing is lyrical and descriptive. I read this a long time ago, and I'm happy to reread it once again.
nats96's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
cpalmerpatel's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sashas_books's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
After 12 pages or so, I was in love with Morgon, Tristan, and Eliard. I felt that I’d happily read a book about their domestic life and sibling bickering. Who needs fantasy adventures? :))) Well, this was not to be, of course.
The writing was beautiful, there was a dreamlike quality to it that tasted of magic. (It made me wonder why I hadn’t read anything by Patricia A. McKillip before.)
“…questions he could not ask struggled like trapped birds in the back of his throat.”
“Above them the sky, deep flaming blue during the day, began to stain with night. Their fire flickered back at the huge stars like a reflection.”
The magic of this world is strange, often dark, hidden, deadly, incomprehensible. I liked that, yet I wasn’t lost enough in the fairy tale - I wanted more world building, further explanations (maybe that will come in the rest of the trilogy).
The Chosen One’s destiny is done subtly and deftly enough for you not to think “not again”. I did grow tired of Morgon’s indecisiveness after a while.
There were so many characters I wanted to see more of, they were left behind too fast. (Especially the badass warrior Lyra, I wanted her to talk to Morgon more.)
The ending was very unexpected :)
The writing was beautiful, there was a dreamlike quality to it that tasted of magic. (It made me wonder why I hadn’t read anything by Patricia A. McKillip before.)
“…questions he could not ask struggled like trapped birds in the back of his throat.”
“Above them the sky, deep flaming blue during the day, began to stain with night. Their fire flickered back at the huge stars like a reflection.”
The magic of this world is strange, often dark, hidden, deadly, incomprehensible. I liked that, yet I wasn’t lost enough in the fairy tale - I wanted more world building, further explanations (maybe that will come in the rest of the trilogy).
The Chosen One’s destiny is done subtly and deftly enough for you not to think “not again”. I did grow tired of Morgon’s indecisiveness after a while.
There were so many characters I wanted to see more of, they were left behind too fast. (Especially the badass warrior Lyra, I wanted her to talk to Morgon more.)
The ending was very unexpected :)
tylerbrown7844's review
2.0
Overall I was quite disappointed with the book, it very much feels like a “tell, don’t show” read. It feels as though things happen so suddenly and without warning - but before you know it it’s resolved. The early on boat sinking, the attack from the traders, the shapeshifting Eriel, and shapeshifter at the morguls - all happen suddenly and resolve just as you begin to understand what’s happening. Then it’s simply explained by someone afterwards.
The loss of his voice/memory was among the bigger/longer issues, but it was still nearly resolved with no lingering consequences after that chapter ended. And overall because of the general ease with which Morgon makes it through, it’s hard to understand his reluctance to continue.
The loss of his voice/memory was among the bigger/longer issues, but it was still nearly resolved with no lingering consequences after that chapter ended. And overall because of the general ease with which Morgon makes it through, it’s hard to understand his reluctance to continue.
kitvaria_sarene's review
2.0
This was a hard one to judge again.
For language and writing style I'd give it the full 5 stars. The language was beautiful and fluent and was a joy to read.
The story was only a 2 star for me though. The riddles are a big part of the story on the one hand, but somehow they didn't really seem important to me. I found them too vague and they didn't add to the plot for me. I wouldn't have minded if they simply weren't there - but they are supposed to be extra important for the story.
The plot itself has not had me on the edge of my seat either. Only towards the end it got my full attention. It was ok - but not great for my personal tastes.
So I'll give it 3 stars overall.
For language and writing style I'd give it the full 5 stars. The language was beautiful and fluent and was a joy to read.
The story was only a 2 star for me though. The riddles are a big part of the story on the one hand, but somehow they didn't really seem important to me. I found them too vague and they didn't add to the plot for me. I wouldn't have minded if they simply weren't there - but they are supposed to be extra important for the story.
The plot itself has not had me on the edge of my seat either. Only towards the end it got my full attention. It was ok - but not great for my personal tastes.
So I'll give it 3 stars overall.
all_things_book's review
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ekortunov's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0