Child of Saturn

Child of Saturn is set elsewhere – almost – and elsewhen, but it's a place and time where there is Christianity (Michelmas and Christmas and All-Hallows, christenings and crucifixes) and something not quite like the faerie that once walked this world (or so they say).

There are some beautifully unique characterizations here. The evil princess, Diaspad, is beautifully evil, not content with following all of the stereotypical paths an attractive wicked woman usually sticks to. Her coterie is an assortment of varying strengths, from a vapid son to a maid who might just have a backbone; it's a little scary to think what could have been accomplished by this lot if they were all clever and competent. The king, her half brother, is show more neither a great ruler nor a terrible one, but a rather capricious mediocre one – such as probably sat on many thrones throughout the centuries. He is, however, possessed of a Diaspad-shaped blind spot, and she has him trained so that he will not hear anything against her. His queen is brave and beleaguered, and not stupid, which is refreshing: so often a lady in her situation takes comfort where she oughtn't, which makes everything worse.

The two main characters acting against this background are the two most unique and fascinating (happily). The king's wizard, Glastyn, disappeared many years ago, leaving his very young and nearly invisible half-trained apprentice Teleri to fill in – which she does when pressured, preferring to remain invisible in her tower trying to complete her education with books that only open when certain circumstances are fulfilled. What she knows she knows, and does, well, but she has no confidence, no security. And to add to her lack of stability, the queen's champion, Ceilyn, intrudes on her life, and he isn't altogether the parfait gentil knight he appears to be and tries so hard to be …

The upshot is that very few characters behave as I expect them to – and in a library full of clichés and well-filled pigeonholes, that's tremendous. The writing is superb; the plot is engaging; the characters live and breathe. Wonderful stuff, not to be missed. show less

All the usual plot devices are here: the young wizard wannabe, the dashing knight, the evil princess, a forsaken birthright... But Edgerton's very loose retelling of the King Arthur saga somehow still seems fresh and dynamic. I just wish she'd ease up on the faux Celtic names because after a while all I see is Tryfnndd Mcgrllwgynnt and Ctsall Morgrgwwdff.

Beautifully written, exquisitely characterized beginning to a panoramic story set in a stylized Celtic world. Teleri is one of the most unusual fantasy heroines I've ever read.

This one was a bit frustrating. The main characters are rather tiresome : one is a little grey mouse wishing to be ignored (she succeeds), the other is convinced he's sinful, unworthy of his knighthood, etc. Not my kind of pals. It was difficult to get engaged in the plot even though the political and religious situation is rich and well developped.