Killashandra

Okay, I must have read this at least a half dozen times. I really enjoy the spunky main character of Killashandra. She kind of reminds me of my little sister. Feisty. Determined. Practical. If you enjoyed the first book, Crystal Singer, you will enjoy this one too. I also like the jabs McCaffrey takes at those who feel it is their responsibility to decide for others what is best for them. It is almost over the top with the symbolism she uses to do it, but it works in the context of this narrative.

I found the second book not as engaging as the first, I loved the scenes set on Ballybran and still find the society there fascinating, but I lost interest once the story moved off world to Optheria.
The story became less believable and even way back then I found it annoying that of course the kidnapped woman ends up falling in love with her kidnapper, who of course was always the true hero and honorable man he just had to use dishonorable means to get the job done. And considering the risks she takes every time she leaves Ballybran, that her symbiot will sicken and die, McCaffrey just sort of seemed to forget that one and left that hanging as a huge plot hole that bugs me to this day.

Worth reading if you liked the first one, but it show more only really works as part of the series. show less

The real meat of the story. The first volume was more like a Prologue, and the third was an Afterword, but this second installment in the trilogy is where interesting things happen. I'm still not a big fan of the main character, but she was more intriguing here and I could see the beginnings of the person she becomes in the third book. There are still things that were a mystery to me (e.g. why keep on about the crystal singers losing memory if that doesn't really happen to her yet?), but mostly this was just an entertaining tale. I may pick up the third book again as I think I'll get more out of it having read the previous two now (these books do not make sense as stand-alones; very much a complete story only if all three volumes read).

The sequel to Crystal Singer. I reread it recently, and found that I enjoyed it almost as much as the original book. Killa heads to a planet to help install crystal and observe some irregularities in the government structure. While there some try to use her as a pawn, but as usual, she's able to take very good care of herself.

Not quite as good as the first, imo, but still a very good read.

I'll admit it. Anne McCaffrey is a guilty secret I've had for years, starting with the Dragonriders of Pern. Honestly, I couldn't tell you why I read her stuff. I don't think she's a particularly good writer, and I find most of her female characters as histrionic as Lestat in Ann Rice's books. They're essentially sci-fi bodice-rippers. The dialog is generally awful. But I'll pick them up every time if they're lying around the house. I can't even honestly recommend them. For me, they're a time-killer, and I like the sci-fi setting. And, sometimes, that's all you need. Probably a good airplane read.

Killashandra Ree's life was one of catastrophic changes. She had joined the Heptite Guild to become a crystal singer, get rich, and forget her past. And at first everything went just as she had hoped. In one season on the deadly beautiful world of Ballybran, she had sung Black Crystal, grown wealthy, and met a man who made her sorrows seem unworthy of notice.

But then, a year later, a devastating storm turned her claim to useless rock. In short order she was broke, she had crystal sickness so bad she thought she'd die, and the only way she could be true to the man she loved was to leave him.

Anne McCaffrey was the first female fantasy/sci fi writer I ever read and as such she holds a special place in my heart. Her books are always wonderful, well written, and perfectly characterized. All of her series are great but I especially like the Crystal Singer series because of its action and clever look at the near future.