Even from the base level of the structure of The Singer of All Songs, Constable does something captivating: creates an original world with an original fantasy. So many of the books within this genre coming out over the past 20 years have been based off of already well-known mythologies, like vampires, magic, dragons and elves, and many of the other fantasy structures that have been replayed too many times. It’s refreshing to be brought into a world and mythology that opens and expands the creative possibilities and mixes well-known aspects of our own world into a parallel world with different rules about interacting with nature and song.Ultimately, the story is simplistic with characters that struggle with one to two-dimensional issues at best, but that’s generally par for the course in this genre. The writing is decent, and although it’s probably not going to be considered great literature, it’s a fun, fast-paced read with a classic good vs. evil, the world as we know it is going to end plot. It won’t be a life changing read, or a book that will inspire or answer the depths of intrapersonal searches in philosophy, sociology, or religion. However, it is a great rainy day book that will provide escape and entertainment. I recommend this book and the trilogy as a whole for adults looking for a fun read, but it’s primary audience will be kids ages 8-13.-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com ( )

There seems to be a fad in YA fantasy these past years for magic to involve music and the rescued heroines to be the ones to save the world (unexpectedly, of course). Summarizing it like that makes me think "well, that's not really so new," because it's always the rescued hero(ine) who ends up saving the world, now isn't it? But I swear there's a new popular style thing going on, and The Singer of All Songs lands firmly in it.

It reminds me very strongly of the Pellinor series by Alison Croggon, where Maerad is taken from a distant, secluded place and introduced to the wider world, where it turns out her magical ability isn't as normal as she thought, and she's likely the one meant to save the world from some horrible thing. Calwyn is also taken from a distant, secluded place and introduced to the wider world, where it turns out her magical ability isn't as normal as the thought, and she's likely the one meant to save the world from some horrible thing.

In Tremaris, the world of The Singer of All Songs, the magic is split into types of chantments (note the pun!) that different societies have specialised in for centuries. Calwyn happens to come from the tradition of high-pitched ice chants, but there's also songs of iron, seeming, being, fire, and so on. Calwyn leaves her home when it is threatened by a chanter who has the power of many different kinds of songs, rather than just one - which is the way it usually is. She travels with Darrow, a chanter of iron, who has made it his quest to stop the evil chanter, and who apparently was the one who brought the evil chanter to Antaris in the first place.

Of course, because this is One Of Those Stories, it's obvious that Calwyn has a crush on Darrow and they might could fall in love. I can't stand that part of the story, and I hate it in all the fantasy books like this. The way I see it, he's the first man she's ever met who has the potential to be a romantic interest, so she fixates on him. It's totally awkward and weird, especially because (as near as I could tell), Calwyn is supposed to be about sixteen years old and Darrow is twice her age. Luckily, others join their traveling party and the reader isn't subjected to the weird UST all the time.

Despite the clichés and "haven't I read this before?" feeling of the book, I did like it a lot. Kate Constable seems to have given careful thought to the politics of the different factions as well as the way her type of magic would affect the characters and environment. It's always neat when that happens. Furthermore, the writing itself is engaging and the story never lost my interest.

Though this is the first book in a trilogy, it works as a stand-alone. There's no real threads left hanging at the end to require the reader to continue to the second in the series, but it's set up so that the plot could easily carry into a second book. ( )

I don't know what other readers are thinking, but I absolutly loved this book!!!!!

Calwyn is a very well developed character that has a gift outside the norm. In her quest to become the singer of all songs, she finds herself and where her heart truly lies; within power or love.

Amazing Book!!! I couldn't put it down! ( )

This fantasy can be enjoyed as a stand alone read despite being the first part of a trilogy. The fantasy context provides the background and rationale for a tale of adventure. ( )

The Singer of All Songs is the first in The Chanters of Tremaris trilogy by Kate Constable.

The world of Tremaris used to live in harmony but now the divistions are deep and dangerous. Several groups have built obstacles to keep themselves separate and safe. Calwyn is part of Antaris, Antaris is kept safe and separate by a magical wall of ice. The sisters of Antaris chant the wall solid several times a year, calling on the power of the goddess. They trade with outsiders who are escorted in and out several times a year but otherwise do not interact with outsiders. Calwyn has always wondered about "outside" perhaps because her mother had left Antaris and returned to die. One day as Calwyn chants her section of the wall she find an injured man. As she moves to help him he performs a chant which shocks Calwyn; she has never seen a man do magic!

A dangerous wizard is tracking the man, Darrow, and when the wizard penetrates Antaris, Darrow and Calwyn flee to the outside world. There Calwyn joins Darrow and a collection of friends and new met cohorts to try to fight the man who seeks to rule the world by mastering all the magical powers of the various peoples. Friendship and respect for individuals struggle against greed and the ease of giving up.