Hello everyone! Ready for the first book review?
So...Patrica A. McKillilp is an acclaimed author of fantasy stories large and small. She's a World Fantasy Award winner and a pure chef with words. Try reading any of her books-- you can literally taste the vocabulary! (And no, it's not the same as tasting the rainbow, so put those Skittles down.) By far my favorite in her collection is "Winter Rose", a slender novel that I read every year. If you hate winter and spend the frigid season's days bemoaning the distance of spring, this is definitely a book you will enjoy. McKillip's descriptions of early spring's frothy scents, heady summer's plum storms, and darkest winter's stabbing cold are about as beautiful and accurate as you can get, filling every paragraph with such unique turns of phrase and uses of detail that I sigh with envy every time I read it. The main heroine roams the woods night and day, collecting whatever forest delicacies catch her fancy; but one day she stumbles across an open woodland doorway that she thought was closed. And someone has already come through. It's a riveting story that drags the breath and heart out of you-- a must read for any lover of fantasy. Besides, the heroine goes just about everywhere during the warm seasons in what I consider to be the best possible manner: barefoot.
Enough said.
Anyway. I have recently finished reading McKillip's newest book, "The Bards of Bone Plain." The Las Vegas Review-Journal describes it with: "McKillip creates a wonderful world...magical yet realistic, as if a door in any house could take readers into another realm created from the very best of their imaginations." The story follows a few different characters across many different realms of time and space, but the main focus remains with the young bard Phelan who is finishing up his studies at the ancient school on the hill for music. To graduate, every young bard must write a final paper. (The story of our scholarly lives, isn't it? Woe to us!) Attempting to find a topic that will be easy and short, Phelan chooses to research the mysterious legend of Bone Plain-- a magical series of trials that, should a bard attempt them, offer intense reward beyond all imagination...and crippling punishment beyond all nightmares. Along the way he will discover more about the Unforgiven bard Nairn-- one who attempted the trials and failed all three-- than he had ever imagined possible upon the beginning of his research. He will also tread on the truth in music beyond what he sees as notes and lyrics on a page-- what some students call passion and others label 'magic'.
Of course I won't tell you the ending. What would be the fun in that?
The story is surprising until the very end. If you're like me and can usually see a twist coming in a story from a mile away unless it is completely and utterly unhinted at, you might be able to tell a few things towards the middle. But don't worry-- you won't figure anything out at the very beginning unless you're either ridiculously brilliant or psychic. The characters are well developed and intriguing, some likable, some not. This is an odd novel in particular because, while I came away liking some of the heroes and definitely disliking the villains, I remained rather indifferent to our friend Phelan at the close. I think that in this case the indifference I felt was intentional, as Phelan's personality seemed to hint at that reception throughout the book. However I don't quite agree with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "The Bards of Bone Plain" did not transport me or rivet me as some of McKillip's other books, such as "Winter Rose" and "Ombria in Shadow," did.
If you're wanting to read a book by McKillip, I would not suggest this as the first with which to whet your appetite. I found "The Bards of Bone Plain" to be an intriguing story but a bit weary in its layout and style. McKillip allowed herself to fall into personal cliches (remember, we'll talk about these more in depth later!), not only from her previous books but also within the pages of this particular story. Her description can be a double edged sword-- it's so brilliant that you never forget her more interesting combinations of adjective and noun, and as such every time she uses the same variables over and over again they are not missed. I thought if I read her describe music as 'melting her/his heart' one more time I might just scream; same with the notes resonating into the characters' bones. Unfortunately in some of her less brilliant stories McKillilp is prone to this quite a bit, and I found much of her descriptions over used and overly sappy in this particular tale. And while I love McKillip's stories and writing style, the plot of this novel did not engage me enough to probably add this to my re-read list.
Other books by McKillip include "The Book of Atrix Wolfe," "Ombria in Shadow," "Od Magic," "The Bell at Sealey Head," and the Riddle Master trilogy, among many others. In that list I can personally vouch for "Ombria in Shadow" and "Od Magic" as being good reads with "Ombria in Shadow" ranking a little higher in quality of story, character, and flow than "Od Magic."
That's all for now! Here's hoping to an early spring this year! *brrr!*
Caitlyn
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