I'm not sure why my library has books 1,2,3 and 5 of this series but I'm all caught up now. I am really starting to enjoy the character development in this series. I almost didn't even care about the mystery really, although it was clever.
This was a delightful young adult novel and a great introduction to a new series and world. The main character is an "unlucky" thirteenth child. Eff. Her family moves out to the American frontier to give her a chance to grow up without stigma. The story follows Eff from childhood till she is eighteen. I say the American frontier, but this is a alternate universe that only bears a slight resemblance to ours. There is magic for one and magical creatures like Dragons, and apparently the South won the Civil War... there are other differences but you get the idea. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
I've always loved this book. Part of it is the cover art, by Michael Whelan, I always loved this dragon. The story starts out as a fairly typical dragon story, a dragon has invaded and they need a hero to come slay it. But very quickly we discover that this is not your typical dragon story at all. The characters are complex and so are their motives.
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I found the story, and still do, so poignant and so richly drawn. I love the main character, she is so solemn and intelligent. She is also courteous and kind. In a lot of ways I wanted to be like her when I was a kid. She was pampered but not spoiled and she wondered if she would still be a good person (a princess) if her circumstances were not so kind. Even as a child I found this a very adult book in some ways. There are complicated undertones to the story that you really only appreciate as an adult, this is why I continue to read and re-read this book. It's still a wonderful children's story but it is also a coming of age story and a commentary on social class. I love it. This particular edition has absolutely gorgeous illustrations by Graham Rust. I have an edition of The Secret Garden with the same illustrator.
This is the third and final volume in the Fionavar Tapestry. It is the brightest, deepest, saddest and most glorious of the three. I cry throughout pretty much the last third of the book, because it's so sorrowful, so lovely and there is so much beauty. I love these books, they echo into my life and that is powerful.
This is the second book in the Fionavar Tapestry. I think it suffers a little from being the second of a trilogy. A lot of this book is concerned with setting up the last book. Now don't get me wrong, a lot happens and like the first book it completely absorbs me. I read this book in one day. There is so much woven into this story, so much depth that speaks to me so much. This book was much deeper and sadder than The Summer Tree* and the last book of the trilogy is even more again. This trilogy is one of those books that I don't take to work, it's too private for me, I don't want to explain why it is so sad and so glorious.
I wish sometimes I were a poet so I could adequately convey how beautiful and moving I find this book. This is one of my favorite books that I've ever read, however I can only read this book very occasionally. Unlike say, The Lord of the Rings which I read about once a year or so. I read this book, and the rest of the trilogy, so seldom, because I cannot bear to read it more than that. This story is so rich and so all consuming for me that I simply cannot read it more often than every 4 or 5 years. I think this might be my 3rd or 4th reading. Now, I am the sort of person that can read a book and then turn right around and read it again, if it's something I loved. This book ties together so much mythology and brings it so very alive. It reads like it should be a spoken epic. The language is so rich and simply drips off your tongue. I simply love it.
