Larger than life musician hauls his family into a world of trouble. Political disputes and old loves combine to change the children's lives forever.
One of the few DWJ books to feature parents, but worry not, they are swiftly pushed out of the main action.
The background politics, the day to day grind of life and the myths of ancient singers work very well to ground the story, it all feels very real, as does the parents marriage and the feeling they have for one another. The songs and legends work in the way Tolkien uses them to build the sense of a world far bigger than the small story we see in detail.
This all leads up to an absolute storm of magic as the action builds to a rather similar magical weapon as seen in "The Blue Sword" (Robin McKinley), or "Three Against the Witch World" (Andre Norton).
Not a long book, but memorable. DWJ is always so good at feelings.
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Less good things: Despite poor Lenina's unhappy state, I can't really believe the way she treats Brid and Moril, they are 13 and 11 for goodness sake...
One of the few DWJ books to feature parents, but worry not, they are swiftly pushed out of the main action.
The background politics, the day to day grind of life and the myths of ancient singers work very well to ground the story, it all feels very real, as does the parents marriage and the feeling they have for one another. The songs and legends work in the way Tolkien uses them to build the sense of a world far bigger than the small story we see in detail.
This all leads up to an absolute storm of magic as the action builds to a rather similar magical weapon as seen in "The Blue Sword" (Robin McKinley), or "Three Against the Witch World" (Andre Norton).
Not a long book, but memorable. DWJ is always so good at feelings.
----
Less good things: Despite poor Lenina's unhappy state, I can't really believe the way she treats Brid and Moril, they are 13 and 11 for goodness sake...