Reviews

Riddle-Master by Patricia A. McKillip

Only show reviews with written explanations

nilla_'s review against another edition

There is only so much exposition without any establishment of an actual sense of place that a girl can take. Maybe I'll pick it up again once my head isn't swimming with a million nonsensical names. How the hell do you even pronounce Raederle?

judehelens's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

this series refuses to exposit, simply stating things plainly, assuming you have context, which i enjoy. things happen; you piece together why, or you don’t. rather like a riddle master, if you will.

saoki's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

It's easy to understand why this is considered one of the fantasy classics. Patricia McKillip weaves an epic story of lyrical beauty, with high stakes, passionate characters, such vivid scenes and so much emotion, I believe some of the images will live forever in my mind.
Absolutely recommended.

An aside:
I guess every SF book builds on top of other stories, but I find it an special treat to see where an author might have gone "oh, that's not how I'd done it". The Riddle-Master trilogy really feels like a series that got Patrick Rothfuss thinking the question that became The Kingkiller Chronicles, as much as The Amber Chronicles feel like a series that got Neil Gaiman thinking about Sandman (in both cases, the authors have recommended those books, so I'm not pulling this out of the aether).
I, on the other hand, am too much a child of my times and country. Where Mr. Rothfuss saw the name of the wind being lovingly harped, I saw an extremely unequal society with no mobility whatsoever, demonized rebels and a supreme power that abhors destruction but has no qualms with destroying those who oppose it. I kept wanting to know who those rebels were, why did they make the choices they made and how could they succeed without actually ending the world. Their voice was silenced. I guess that's my own question to answer.

bigesports56's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My favorite story of all time. I've probably read it 4-5 times over the 50 or so years that it has been around, and I will hopefully be around long enough to read it 2-3 more times :)

sisasuku's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

dmturner's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Back and forth over the world doing high fantasy

I love McKillip's writing, and remembered fondly reading the first book of this trilogy, but on retreading the books I have no idea how I endured it. There isn't really a plot to speak of, just the hero rushing from place to place on the latest urgent and driven magical mission, often in animal form, pausing occasionally to try to make his girlfriend go home for her own good. (She refuses) McKillip has polished her game since, thank goodness.