false 2828595 0399246762 9780399246760 1238 449 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255668235m/2828595.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2828595.Chalice 5339 Robin McKinley 39796 5330 5 0 false Sun Jul 05 12:56:31 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 19:11:49 -0700 2009
Mirasol has lived her life out of the city in a remote location as a beekeeper. She has always noticed her strange connection with the bees — she has never been stung, the bees seem to communicate with her, they are all are unusually large in size, and one day she has trouble keeping up with the amount of honey they seem to produce.

Then the current Master and Chalice die in a fire. Her life of normalcy is suddenly interrupted when she is chosen by the Circle to replace the recently deceased Chalice. Her first job consists of meeting the new Master, and performing the act of Chalice by offering him a special cup to drink from in greeting.

The new Master is nothing anyone expected. He has left his position as a third level fire priest to assume the responsibilities of his bloodline, and therefore is no longer physically or mentally prepared to go back into society on such short notice. His skin now dark as ash and eyes red as blood, he meets with Mirasol to perform the ritual. As he takes the cup, he loses control and burns her hand to the bone.

The two do their best to assume roles they both see unfit for themselves, and soon find comfort in each other’s company. However, trouble soon arises when the Overlord decides the Master is not fit for his position, and takes his undoing into his own hands.

Chalice is a highly original masterpiece, full of heartwarming characters, realistic romance, an original world, and classic McKinley charm.]]>