Fantasy without any fantastic. 'Riddles' without any riddles! More accurately, what here is described as riddle-figuring is actually history/mythology research. But I guess that 'The Primary-and-Secondary-Document Seeker of Hed' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Characters should be great by what they do. I don't want to be told how clever and destined-for-great-things a character is- I want to be shown it without the bells and whistles. Unfortunately, only a bit more than nothing occurs here. Obviously the story is intended to be continued in further books, but I'm not sticking around to find out.

Which isn't to say research can't be interesting. It's just not this way full of cheap twists (amnesia!) that don't go anywhere and slow, ponderous meetings of your protypical boring caucasian male societies.

McKillip created a world of lyrically magic beauty and passionately motivated people in The Forgotten Beasts of Eld- and doesn't show any of that skill here. ( )

My first book by McKillip... and let me tell you, if you plan to read this, you'd better have book #2 handy or else you might go crazy. Talk about the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers! Argh. But anyhow, this one was slow going at first, and I wasn't really sure why I was sticking with it... it seemed a bit disjointed, pointless, cumbersome (in terms of the writing style), and my attention wandered here and there... but then I got to the last 50 pages, and something changed. I'm not sure what... maybe it was the extra plot details that made the whole point of the story fit together, maybe I'd finally connected with the main character, maybe... I'm not sure. But whatever it was, those last 50 pages (and the edition I was reading only had 182 pages to begin with) were crucial and kept me going.

I read and read and got a bit concerned at how few pages there were left and how much ground there was left to cover in the story... and then it ended!!! GAH!!! WHAT?!?! *sigh* My husband said "Let's go for a walk!" and I said "But I can't! I have to start the next book, just give me ten minutes or else I might perish".

And so I did. Start the next book, that is, not perish. ( )

A very enjoyable start to this fantasy series, and so far living up to the standard that Forgotten Beasts of Eld led me to expect of her.

Whilst being fairly typical within its genre (man on a remote land finds talent and discovers that he holds the key to world events that will affect many many people. Oh, and his life is also in danger) there is enough different in this book to keep you on your toes. The people are well realised and the places, although nothing new or surprising, fit well with the story being told. There are formulaic points: a dark force threatening, an unwilling hero, physical signs to demonstrate how he is different, but I stayed interested and was pleasantly taken aback by some of the twists and turns.

There is also a darkness and a gritty reality to her books that make them stand out for me above some others. ( )

First of McKillip's "Riddlemaster" trilogy. I really loved these books as an adolescent and have read them several times since. They are full of rich visual imagery and the story, while simple, is very satisfying. The first book takes us from the small island of Hed and it's "riddle master" prince to his journey from his island home in search of answers to his talent for riddles and the three mysterious stars on his forehead. ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2008/12... ( )