The King of Elfland's Daughter in Into the Forest

Jan 26, 2016 Margaret rated it liked it

Shelves: 2nd-world-fantasy, fairytale-myth-inspired, classics

The King of Elfland's Daughter was written in the 1920s, yet feels much older. The town Erl lies on the edge of Elfland, and when Alveric, a human prince, marries Lirazel, an elvish princess, the line between the mundane and the magic begins to blur.

I found this quote by Jo Walton that sums up my feelings on the novel: it "is probably best described as good but odd. [Dunsany] isn’t at his best writing characters, which gets peculiar at novel length. What he could do, what he did better than anyo ...more

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Dec 22, 2016 Leah rated it liked it

Shelves: into-the-forest-2016

I first heard about The King of Elfland's Daughter during a group read earlier this year. Then again when I read Neil Gaiman's A View from the Cheap Seats. So I figured it was probably time to read this classic fantasy.

I must confess to being underwhelmed. Certainly its influence is undeniable, though I wonder about entertainment value in today's world. Its lavish language and low-key action don't seem to jive with the average mainstream reader of the 21st century.

Also, I found Lirazel annoying; I first heard about The King of Elfland's Daughter during a group read earlier this year. Then again when I read Neil Gaiman's A View from the Cheap Seats. So I figured it was probably time to read this classic fantasy.

I must confess to being underwhelmed. Certainly its influence is undeniable, though I wonder about entertainment value in today's world. Its lavish language and low-key action don't seem to jive with the average mainstream reader of the 21st century.

Also, I found Lirazel annoying; she kept changing her mind with really no regard for how the consequences of her choices affected the lives of everyone else. That selfishness could be attributed to young love / first love but I just couldn't get behind the quests because I disliked her. Mother Witch I liked; her refusal to help the men of Earth when they decided they didn't want the magic they at first demanded was quite satisfying. I loved the parallel worlds of Erl and Elfland, especially how Time was different in each place. My favorite thing about the whole story was the enchanted trees that protected Elfland.

All in all, happy to mark done a book considered a must-read fantasy classic. Will I read it again anytime soon? Not likely.

3 stars

"Then out of the hush rose little murmurs of yearning, little sounds as of longing for things that no songs can say, sounds like the voices of tears if each little salt drop could live, and be given a voice to tell of the ways of grief. Then all these little rumours danced gravely into a melody that the master of Elfland called up with his magical hand."

"...the Princess Lirazel with that faint gleam on her face that shone from a hidden smile; for she secretly smiled forever at the power of her great beauty."

"Go hence. To your village go. And you that sought for magic in your youth but desire it not in your age, know that there is a blindness of spirit which comes from age, more black than the blindness of eye, making a darkness about you across which nothing may be seen, or felt, or known, or in any way apprehended. And no voice out of that darkness shall conjure me to grant a spell against magic. Hence!" ...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Elaine rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy

I really didn't like this book much. I wanted to like it; expected to like it mainly because my friends who I invariably agree with loved it.
There is no doubt that the writing is beautifull and sometimes that alone is enough to enthrall me. It was also very repetitive and it's lyrical quality couldn't compensate for the dullness of the story. There was no character development as they remained these type of storybook cardboard cutouts with no growth or emotions at all. I am disappointed but it j ...more

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