Daughter of Destiny

Unicorn Dancer #2

by Rhondi A. Vilott Salsitz

The Lady of the Unicorns. She was Alorie, last of the blood of the House of Sergius. She had danced for the unicorns.

Genres: Fantasy, Unicorns

271 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Rhondi Ann Vilott Salsitz

She also publishes as:
Anne Knight
Charles Ingrid
Elizabeth Forrest
Emily Drake
Jenna Rhodes
R.A.V. Salsitz
Rhondi Greening
Rhondi Vilott
Rhondi Vilott Salsitz

Reviews

[Giuseppe Cerniglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un oscuro signore giace sepolto nelle Terre di Barrow, il suo tumulo è sigillato da stendardi incantati; ci sono altre tombe, in ricordo di tutti coloro che caddero nella battaglia che ha salvato le sorti di Bethalia dal male… ma è davvero finita? L’apparizione del Corruttore, con il suo esercito di reken e di malison, mira al ritorno del Despota, colui che gli elfi chiamano anche Cavaliere della Morte. Con la pace dei popoli ormai al termine, per Lady Alorie non rimane che imbracciare la Spada dell’Unicorno, e tornare a misurarsi con le proprie paure e con la parte riservatale dalla Profezia.

Daughter of Destiny (1988) è un romanzo fantasy di impronta tolkeniana scritto da Rhondi A. Vilott Salsitz, autrice americana cimentatasi sotto una varietà pseudonimi in una altrettanti generi letterari fra cui Fantasy Epica, Fantascienza Militare, Librogame e Horror. Il romanzo promette un ritmo incalzante e la scoperta di un mondo che, pur operando una banalizzazione rispetto all’opera tolkeniana, introduce alcune varianti rispetto alla tradizione della fantasy classica. La lettura del romanzo rimane godibile a patto di perdonare qualche ingenuità all’autrice; difficile da digerire, invece, la scelta di proporre ai lettori di Urania Fantasy un romanzo senza il libro che lo precede (Unicorn Dancer, 1986) insidiando la piena immersività nella storia.

[Marysia Kosowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the Unicorn Dancer duology was much better than the first one. The author's prose and style improved, and the narrative was not confusing to follow as it was in the first book. Within the standard story of a high fantasy, save-the-world-from-evil-sorcerer plot, many of the events that transpired were unique and a fresh reinvention of familiar tropes. I was left guessing how the characters would resolve all the complications right up until the end. Unfortunately, the resolution was very abrupt and most of the really interesting subplots and worldbuilding details introduced in this book were never resolved. The reader is left guessing about some of the more interesting subplots in this story, which is a shame, since those little details were the things that kept me reading. Just as in book 1, the worldbuilding and story had promise, had the author written another draft or two and taken more time on the resolution. As it is, the book is engrossing but the payoff to all the mysteries isn't rewarding enough, and the ending is not entirely satisfying.

[Ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first one was better, but the second was still good! I wish she would have given parts of the story more length and depth. The ending felt rushed.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same author, same characters, same extended storyline, boring second book. Loved the first one, just never had the same intensity in this one.