A review by lesserjoke
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip

3.0

Like the best of fantasy, The Riddle-Master of Hed reads like a beautiful dream. And the reluctant warrior at its center, fated to be a powerful figure of prophecy despite all his wishes for a quiet life back home, makes for a compelling hero. But the worldbuilding is maddeningly opaque here, such that the reader can feel the subtleties eluding us every time a character speaks. It adds to the hazy dreamlike quality of the text, but it's frustrating for anyone trying to actually follow the plot.