Even from the base level of the structure of The Singer of All Songs, Constable does something captivating: creates an original world with an original fantasy. So many of the books within this genre coming out over the past 20 years have been based off of already well-known mythologies, like vampires, magic, dragons and elves, and many of the other fantasy structures that have been replayed too many times. It’s refreshing to be brought into a world and mythology that opens and expands the creative possibilities and mixes well-known aspects of our own world into a parallel world with different rules about interacting with nature and song.
Ultimately, the story is simplistic with characters that struggle with one to two-dimensional issues at best, but that’s generally par for the course in this genre. The writing is decent, and although it’s probably not going to be considered great literature, it’s a fun, fast-paced read with a classic good vs. evil, the world as we know it is going to end plot. It won’t be a life changing read, or a book that will inspire or answer the depths of intrapersonal searches in philosophy, sociology, or religion. However, it is a great rainy day book that will provide escape and entertainment. I recommend this book and the trilogy as a whole for adults looking for a fun read, but it’s primary audience will be kids ages 8-13.
Critique
Even from the base level of the structure of The Singer of All Songs, Constable does something captivating: creates an original world with an original fantasy. So many of the books within this genre coming out over the past 20 years have been based off of already well-known mythologies, like vampires, magic, dragons and elves, and many of the other fantasy structures that have been replayed too many times. It’s refreshing to be brought into a world and mythology that opens and expands the creative possibilities and mixes well-known aspects of our own world into a parallel world with different rules about interacting with nature and song.
Ultimately, the story is simplistic with characters that struggle with one to two-dimensional issues at best, but that’s generally par for the course in this genre. The writing is decent, and although it’s probably not going to be considered great literature, it’s a fun, fast-paced read with a classic good vs. evil, the world as we know it is going to end plot. It won’t be a life changing read, or a book that will inspire or answer the depths of intrapersonal searches in philosophy, sociology, or religion. However, it is a great rainy day book that will provide escape and entertainment. I recommend this book and the trilogy as a whole for adults looking for a fun read, but it’s primary audience will be kids ages 8-13.
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http://www.lindseyslibrary.com/2005/07/the-singer-of-all-songs/