children of yours...
Some said the dying words of Nial Lynn, murdered by his own son, were a wicked curse. To others, it was a winter's tale spun by firelight on cold, dark nights. But when Corbet Lynn came to rebuild his family estate, memories of his grandfather's curse were rekindled by young and old - and rumours filled the heavy air of summer.
In the woods that border Lynn Hall, free-spirited Rois Melior roams wild and barefooted in search of healing herbs. She is as hopelessly unbridled - and unsuited for marriage - as her betrothed sister Laurel is domestic. In Corbet's pale green eyes, Rois senses a desperate longing. In her restless dreams, mixed with the heady warmth of harvest wine, she hears him beckon. And as autumn gold fades, Rois is consumed with Corbet Lynn, obsessed with his secret past - until, across the frozen countryside and in flight from her own imagination, truth and dreams become inseparable..."
This was my first McKillip book, and I'm just a little disappointed actually. From the first pages, I thought it was going to be a combination of beautiful writing, fantasy with a solid plot and well developed characters. I'm afraid it only delivered the beautiful writing, and couldn't just hook me to the rest of the story.
It's a very slow going book, with lots of descriptions, and atmosphere. Which is absolutely fine if well executed, but there should have been a bit more balance for a more plot or better set up for fantastical elements.
It's a very slow going book, with lots of descriptions, and atmosphere. Which is absolutely fine if well executed, but there should have been a bit more balance for a more plot or better set up for fantastical elements.
However it could be argued that is sparseness in characterisation and plot was a literary choice on McKillip's part. The book does feel exactly like an old fairy-tale your mother would tell you. Simple, beautiful and slightly incomprehensible. If you just relax into the book and don't try to understand it, I think it would improve your reading experience.
There is much to admire in this book: some beautifully lyrical, poetic writing, especially of dreams and visions and mysterious moments of two worlds intermingling. But ultimately it is undermined by a climax that remains too elusive, abstract and muddy (featuring dialogue that suddenly becomes jarringly melodramatic) and a general feeling that the poetic prose is keeping the emotional heart of the story at arms’ length.
I am still interested in reading more of Patrica A. McKillip’s work, since she is clearly gifted, has a rich imagination and the ability to paint beautiful pictures with her words. Her focus on fairy-tale and folklore, while keeping much of the traditional style of the old stories, is also right up my street.
I am still interested in reading more of Patrica A. McKillip’s work, since she is clearly gifted, has a rich imagination and the ability to paint beautiful pictures with her words. Her focus on fairy-tale and folklore, while keeping much of the traditional style of the old stories, is also right up my street.
Age Rating 13+. Nothing untoward. An illusion to child abuse. Might struggle with comprehension but hey so did I.
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