The Cup of the World

This book is amazing. Absolutely amazing.

The only problem is that I hated it. Or rather I hated where the plot went though I understood and excepted it. So, honestly, my motivations are completely selfish and I imagine the majority of people do not feel this way.

I'm normally not completely baffled by the direction plots take but this book is pretty much what I call the ultimate plot twist. Maybe I just read it at a strange time in my life but I don't ever remember feeling like this with a book before or after. So the plot was intricate and beautiful as was the writing. Absolutely gorgeous words on every single freaking page. Dickinson is a gift. That is really the only thing I can say. And this was the reason why the plot twist worked show more so well. You know normally, a character tells you things but you can sense that they're making a mistake. Well, I was COMPLETELY sold. It's amazing what he manages to do but you should see for yourself. Actually. show less

Phaedra, only child of the Warden of Trant, refuses all suitors, both for fear of dying in childbirth and for love of a man she has met only in dreams. When the king's son courts her, her dream-lover comes to take her away, and proves to be the mysterious and ill-famed lord of the province across the inland sea. Her elopement is the trigger for war, and she hardly knows who to trust, who will betray her, or who she must betray next.
Not an ordinary fantasy. The world setup is nothing unusual - a continent with an inland sea, ringed with provinces & city-states, unstable politics and a king holding on by the fingernails. But the rulers came in ships, and there were aboriginal people, so there's a conflict rarely examined. The hillmen show more (shades of Kipling perhaps?) have a mythology involving a Great Mother, quite different from the near-Christianity of Phaedra's people. Phaedra is not an entirely sympathetic character, somewhat cold and self-centred (also only 15 in the first chapter) but with an inner core of toughness and endurance. What really stands out is how much of the story is what happens at home while the battles and raids and treaties are happening elsewhere, and how much of the intrigue and discovery is Phaedra's story and coming of age. show less

A blur of strong images... I read this too long ago. I loved the chess metaphor and actually still have it scrawled on my wall somewhere.

The magic was original, and the actual cup--fantastical. So, I'm giving it a lower rating because I don't remember more.

An epic fantasy novel about a spirited girl who elopes with a mysterious man. Turns out he wants to conquer the known kingdoms and will stop at nothing to do so. Magic and mayhem ensue. A very sad and elegant book with many layers of meaning and allegory.

A beautiful book! One of my favorites!