15 September 2006

Book Banter -- The Sorceress and the Cygnet

Title: The Sorceress and the Cygnet
Author: Patricia A. McKillip
Length: 231 pages
Genre: fantasy
Plot Basics: A young Wayfolk man, Corleu, has to become the apprentice of sorceress Nyx Ro in order to save his people and his true love. But in doing so, Corleu awakens characters out of children's rhymes and mythology -- the Gold King, the Blind Lady, the Dancer and more -- and their resurrection threatens the power of Nyx Ro's house and brings her into conflict with her cousin, Meguet.
Banter Points: McKillip's prose is lyrical and haunting.
Bummer Points: It's also confusing. Word Nerd suspects that the confusion is intentional for the plot, but sometimes she wondered if she was really getting what was going on.
Word Nerd recommendation: McKillip was recommended to Word Nerd as a being a fantasy author worth checking out. McKillip's got 10 years worth of back-list, so Word Nerd's going to read another one or two before making a decision.

1 comment:

Stacie Penney said...

Read Solstice Wood. It was really good.