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248th out of 816 books
—
2,037 voters
Daughter of Witches (Lyra #2)
Six years ago the Temple of Chaldon burned her parents as witches. Now three forbidden guests bribe her abusive bond-holder innkeeper to stay during the Midwinter Festival in Drinn. She attracts the unwanted attention of head priest Gadrath, and so do kindly healer Mist, and mated mercenaries Jaren and Arelnath. Orphan urchin friend Shandy can guide them to secret tunnels,...more
Paperback, 215 pages
Published
June 15th 1987
by Ace
(first published March 1983)
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I bought the ebook of this on sale for $2 the other day, since I like Patricia C. Wrede's other works. I'd already read The Harp of Imach Thyssel and not been terribly impressed, but I'd liked the world it was set in.
The introduction to the ebook edition was worth the purchase price alone, for not only an introduction to the world of Lyra, but also a mini course in revising one's writing.
The protagonist in this one is...well, a little dull at times, and certainly obstinate and repetitive, but I...more
The introduction to the ebook edition was worth the purchase price alone, for not only an introduction to the world of Lyra, but also a mini course in revising one's writing.
The protagonist in this one is...well, a little dull at times, and certainly obstinate and repetitive, but I...more
Sometime between the ages of 12 and 16 I read a book that had something to do with a teenage girl in an icy world who was able to channel an internal fire--maybe something to do with underground fires--I can't remember. She and a male companion are banished or lost or something and at some point I think she uses this power to save him. I've been trying to find this book for ages. I think it was probably written during the early 90s.
Anyway, in my quest to find this book, I posted a stumper on lo...more
Anyway, in my quest to find this book, I posted a stumper on lo...more
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I enjoyed this book and will probably eventually read some of Wrede's other books that take place in this world. I particularly liked the variety of strong female characters, but I wanted more depth. The characters had a lot of potential that just wasn't quite realized for me. I wanted to know more about Mist, the healer, and less about Renira, the main character because Renira's obstinate refusal to accept her magical abilities became very repetitive and annoying. She did eventually accept them...more
I came across this in Patricia Wrede's list of books, and remembered that I read it in high school. I remember it being so-so. It just didn't seem super-original to me, though that may reflect the time it was written- in the 1980's when feminist flavored fantasy was newer, and fantasy in general was evolving from pulpy sword & sorcery type books (a la Conan the Barbarian)
What I mean by the feminist flavor is the theme of witches being depicted as good, and being persecuted by the Eeevil Pat...more
What I mean by the feminist flavor is the theme of witches being depicted as good, and being persecuted by the Eeevil Pat...more
In recurring nightmares, Renira watches Chaldon Temple priests burn her parents as witches six years ago. Bonded to abusive innkeeper Lykken, she catches the unwanted attention of Temple chief Gadrath, along with forbidden Midwinter Festival guests - kindly unveiled mage Mist, Cilhar mated mercenaries Jaren and short-haired Arelnath. When her orphan urchin friend Shandy guides their escape from the rising Shadow, the biggest block to her power is her own fears. When both moons have risen, the en...more
I did not like the main character. I thought she was... annoying. I couldn't understand her stubborn refusal of her powers. The pages slogged by with minor scuffles between the main characters and the bad guys, followed by a cycle of the injured being tended to and everyone else bickering or disliking each other. I remember a part where one character mentioned they had left the city two days ago, and I was like... what?? I thought a thousand years had passed for how slow it was and I had to push...more
Renira is a bondswoman in the oppressive city of Drinn. The best way to survive is to live quiet and unnoticed, but when she catches the eye of the high priest and gets tangled up with some strange foreigners, she needs a new way to survive. And fast.
I honestly picked this up because it was only a dollar at the used bookstore. I love Wrede's books, but I'd never heard of this one before. I have to say this is an excellent example of a writer getting better and better over time, because while mos...more
I honestly picked this up because it was only a dollar at the used bookstore. I love Wrede's books, but I'd never heard of this one before. I have to say this is an excellent example of a writer getting better and better over time, because while mos...more
I had no idea that this was part of a series, so maybe if I hadn't read it out of order then I may have been more satisfied with this book. I liked the book but it felt a bit rushed, particularly the very end Another 75-100 more pages would have given the author room to expand and develop the characters and ideas more. All in all, though, the author did very well with what little space she had to work in. My only big quibble was that I was left wanting more.
Loved how Wrede played with magic in this one and was impressed again at her complicated world-building, though this wasn't one of my favorite of the Lyra worlds to hang out in. I wanted them to go somewhere else. Still liked it, especially the relationship between Ranira and her friend, Shandy--not romantic, but loyal. A nice change for a young adult book. Could also be middle-grade because of the age of the characters, but the language feels more YA.
Of the five Lyra novels, this is probably the weakest. It was also the first published. The characterization is a little uneven, the worldbuilding wants to be really good, but falls a bit short, and I found it hard to really care what happened. On the other hand, like with the rest of Wrede's early work, there's a good story kernel in there, and I actually would read a new novel set in this world - even this specific country in that world.
I got this from the Amazon deal, and while the book didn't stand out (it's not bad but it's not quite awe-inspiring), the opening includes Wrede's revision of the first book in this 'series' (she mentions they're all meant to also stand alone) alone with commentary. Which was both a fascinating insight into her process - a lot of stuff we take for granted in published literature isn't - and just some good overall tips.
This is the first book I have read by Patricia C. Wrede and I am definitely going to read more! If I read her introduction correctly, the books in the Lyra series are not necessarily connected except that they take place in the same world. This is disappointing because I loved her characters and want more about them! The world was well constructed and the characters were likeable. More, more, more!
I generally like Patricia Wrede. This is, however, not her best work. Like much of her earlier fiction, it is pretty decent generic fantasy, but lacks the wit and humor of much of her later work. One thing I did appreciate about Daughter of Witches, though, was the diversity of the female characters. They are all strong characters, but in different ways and with different backgrounds.
I loved so many of Wrede's books growing up...and I always wanted to read the rest of this series. This book was fine, but you can tell that she hasn't quite figured out how to make characters feel alive, or how to write realistically enough to get the reader involved. This book was a quick read, but I would recommend The Raven Ring or any of her Dragon books over it.
This is my second favourite Lyra novel. However: again, the ending felt rushed.
Also, apparently, all of Lyra's main characters have the same exact conflict and mental processes: "magic/past??? I want nothing to do with it!!! No no no!!!!" For the ladies and "Woe is me, I aim above my station, but I shall protect her with my life if possible!!" For the gentlemen.
Also, apparently, all of Lyra's main characters have the same exact conflict and mental processes: "magic/past??? I want nothing to do with it!!! No no no!!!!" For the ladies and "Woe is me, I aim above my station, but I shall protect her with my life if possible!!" For the gentlemen.
It is the high holy holiday in the capital city of Drinn. That means that all foreigners must leave before the gates are shut for seven days. Renira is a bondswoman and when her greedy owner agrees to let three foreigners stay until the last possible minute her life is changed forever.
Why I started it: Powered through this book because I was unwilling to face the disaster area I call my bedroom.
Why I finished it: Renira is thrust from her place of familiarity into a strange new world of magic an...more
Why I started it: Powered through this book because I was unwilling to face the disaster area I call my bedroom.
Why I finished it: Renira is thrust from her place of familiarity into a strange new world of magic an...more
I would class this book as enjoyable fluff. It was one of the very first books the author ever published. She has revised it for the ebook realise but it is still much like a debut novel. If you keep this in mind, and don't expect to live up to the quality of her later and more polished work, then it is a good read.
The second book of the Lyra series was a lot faster paced and more of "one plot" than the first of the series.
Other than that, you can tell that it was written for a childrens/young adult audience. A lot of details are lacking, and the plot is simple. The whole design is simple and straightforward, but that is what makes Wrede's books so fun to read on a rainy afternoon.
Other than that, you can tell that it was written for a childrens/young adult audience. A lot of details are lacking, and the plot is simple. The whole design is simple and straightforward, but that is what makes Wrede's books so fun to read on a rainy afternoon.
A fast-paced book about a terrible bunch of priests and a rag-tag band of heroes who join forces to stop their nefarious plans. To be honest, it was so fast-paced that I was surprised when it was over.
I love Patricia C. Wrede though I've come to realize that much of her early fantasy is cliche-ridden. Daughter of Witches, however, is a welcome treat. It is fast-paced and tense. A good, quick read.
I'm a Pioneer Magic groupie, but I love Wrede's writing and especially the preface to this book in which she shares her editing process.
Terrible! Didn't even finish, and that's rare for me. I know it's YA, so I wasn't expecting THAT much, but it was crap.
Way, way, way, way to slow. I felt like I was wading through molasses to get the story. It was there, but barely.
Loved this book when I was younger. It was fun to go back down memory lane. It was a fun short read.
My first Patricia Wrede. Liked it so much better when I re-read it in context of the series years later.
This is actually the first fantasy book i ever read. Oh what it started.
In Stephen King's book "On Writing", he talks about that one point in every writer's career, where he/she comes across a published book/story and is seized by a realization - an epiphany, if you like. That epiphany is, "I can write better than this!"
For me, that came with reading this book.
While not a terrible book, the characters were a little flat and cliche, the plot was predictable, and the writing was mediocre, at best. I still firmly believe that with enough time and effort, I could write...more
For me, that came with reading this book.
While not a terrible book, the characters were a little flat and cliche, the plot was predictable, and the writing was mediocre, at best. I still firmly believe that with enough time and effort, I could write...more
I am enjoying reading the Lyra novels. These books are not really sequels just set in the same world. But as I read more books set in this world the more I enjoy them.
I love love love Wrede's humorous fantasy books, but this one really didn't make the cut. I'm assuming she wrote this much earlier in her career. The story was good, but the writing was very fan fictiony. And by that I mean not very good, but in an inexperienced, I'm a newish author kind of way. I don't think I'd recommend it to another reader. But it wasn't so bad I couldn't finish it once I had started it.
This is the third book in Wrede's Lyra series that I've read and her second book ever written. It's the best of what I've read so far. The action is fast-paced and yet the characters grounded. I especially liked the time it takes the main character to get over her life-long biases. It felt very real, which is one of Wrede's strengths - making fantasy feel real. Highly recommended.
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Patricia Collins Wrede was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the eldest of five children. She started writing in seventh grade. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where she majored in Biology and managed to avoid taking any English courses at all. She began work on her first novel, Shadow Magic, just after graduating from college in 1974. She finished it five years later and started her se...more
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