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This is probably the best YA fantasy I've read all year: complex, compulsively readable, beautifully plotted, emotionally intense, and intelligent. I highly recommend it.
It begins somewhat uninspiringly, in the usual medievaloid vaguely-English landscape, with a village girl with a talent. That is Sadima, who can communicate with animals but must keep her talent a secret since magicians are, apparently, all frauds, and one of them was involved in the death of her mother.
Her story alternates with another one which is seemingly unconnected: in a time when magic is easily available to the wealthy, a rich man's despised son is packed off to the wizard's academy. Without any onstage gore or theatrical sadism, this is the single darkest portrayal of the fantasy standard, the school of magic, that I've ever encountered.
A great deal of the pleasure of reading this book involves slowly piecing together the connections between the two stories. One of the most important ones, not made clear within the book itself until about a third of the way in, is given away on the cover; I suggest that you read the book without reading the inside or back cover first.
Though it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, I found it to be a very satisfying read on its own, and the structure of the first book is so cleverly and carefully thought-out that I would be very surprised if the subsequent books were disappointing.
Massive spoilers, only read if you've already read the book. Spoilery comments welcome; don't read those if you haven't read the book. ( Read more... )
It begins somewhat uninspiringly, in the usual medievaloid vaguely-English landscape, with a village girl with a talent. That is Sadima, who can communicate with animals but must keep her talent a secret since magicians are, apparently, all frauds, and one of them was involved in the death of her mother.
Her story alternates with another one which is seemingly unconnected: in a time when magic is easily available to the wealthy, a rich man's despised son is packed off to the wizard's academy. Without any onstage gore or theatrical sadism, this is the single darkest portrayal of the fantasy standard, the school of magic, that I've ever encountered.
A great deal of the pleasure of reading this book involves slowly piecing together the connections between the two stories. One of the most important ones, not made clear within the book itself until about a third of the way in, is given away on the cover; I suggest that you read the book without reading the inside or back cover first.
Though it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, I found it to be a very satisfying read on its own, and the structure of the first book is so cleverly and carefully thought-out that I would be very surprised if the subsequent books were disappointing.
Massive spoilers, only read if you've already read the book. Spoilery comments welcome; don't read those if you haven't read the book. ( Read more... )