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Cygnet Duology #1-2
Cygnet
In the realm of fantasy, one name stands out from the crowd. For many years, Patricia A. McKillip has charmed readers with her "unique brand of prose magic" ( Locus ). Now, for the first time in one volume, she offers two of her classic tales- The Sorceress and the Cygnet and The Cygnet and the Firebird -which delve into the fate of the Ro family and an otherworld rich in myth and mayhem, magic and adventure
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2007
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852 people want to read
About the author
Patricia A. McKillip
94 books2,937 followersPatricia Anne McKillip was an American author of fantasy and science fiction. She wrote predominantly standalone fantasy novels and has been called "one of the most accomplished prose stylists in the fantasy genre". Her work won many awards, including the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 9, 2025
These are two tales--or perhaps two thousand--about magic. The magic of slow reading, where you put time and care into each sentence until you see the spell. The magic of vast characters, who have remembered what they really are. The magic of a storyteller who has no need of death to raise the stakes beyond the sky, and has barely any need of villains to reveal the conflicts that rip us and remake us. (This magic is particularly rare. I miss it ... how I miss it.)
But mostly, these are two tales about love: what love should have been all along, has always been, will be forever.
I won't say any more lest I destroy the magic. You read my notes below only if you can't read the book:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
But mostly, these are two tales about love: what love should have been all along, has always been, will be forever.
I won't say any more lest I destroy the magic. You read my notes below only if you can't read the book:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
August 8, 2022
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
Did you really give Cygnet a chance?
It was clear to me from the first few chapters that this author and I weren’t going to get along. Surprisingly, I read almost 45% of the first book (this is a two-in-one compilation) and even considered finishing it since it was such a fast read. Then I decided I’d rather spend the time on something else…
Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?
I’m not really sure in what genre to classify this. Weird classic fantasy? What I have enjoyed are these other works that verged from the norm, but actually in a good way. All other resemblances are coincidental.
Did you have certain expectations before starting it?
Well, based on the cover, I was hoping it would have something to do with dragons who just happen to be called “cygnets” in this book, but alas it is referring to an actual swan. Maybe dragons make an appearance later on, but I didn’t make it far enough to report. I was also expecting dated writing, but not to the degree where it made the prose hard to understand/follow.
What ultimately made you stop reading?
Among other things, it was too ridiculous and I don’t have the patience for a lot of far-fetched elements in my books. By the time he was going through a cabin with a thousand rooms in the middle of a swamp and given a couple of prophecies to follow to have an effect on eternal beings, I was out. The story was so far removed from what I signed up for in the first chapter, and nothing about it made sense. My objections with the plot were boundless. And on top of that I didn’t like the writing style at all. It was disjointed and used a lot of incomplete sentences. I’m all about creative prose, but when it’s at the expense of your reader actually understanding what you’re trying to say, it’s too much. I could’ve kept reading, but I knew I was so uninvested that even had I finished, the rating wasn’t going to be any better than a two star. If that.
Was there anything you liked about Cygnet?
Um.. perhaps the basic concept at the beginning and it’s unconventionality. But the latter might be a stretch because I think it was perhaps a bit too unconventional. I still appreciate people who march to their own drum, even if I don’t want to go watch the parade.
Would you read anything else by this author?
No. In fact reading this one convinced me it would be wise to donate my other McKillip books. We’re just not on the same brainwave.
So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?
I would not feel okay recommending this book in place of the vast array of others I think were more enjoyable fantasy works. Perhaps if you like more whimsical, ridiculous fantasy like Piers Anthony, this will be more up your alley, but I find I lack the patience for it.
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, and Katrin! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Did you really give Cygnet a chance?
It was clear to me from the first few chapters that this author and I weren’t going to get along. Surprisingly, I read almost 45% of the first book (this is a two-in-one compilation) and even considered finishing it since it was such a fast read. Then I decided I’d rather spend the time on something else…
Have you enjoyed other books in the same genre before?
I’m not really sure in what genre to classify this. Weird classic fantasy? What I have enjoyed are these other works that verged from the norm, but actually in a good way. All other resemblances are coincidental.
Did you have certain expectations before starting it?
Well, based on the cover, I was hoping it would have something to do with dragons who just happen to be called “cygnets” in this book, but alas it is referring to an actual swan. Maybe dragons make an appearance later on, but I didn’t make it far enough to report. I was also expecting dated writing, but not to the degree where it made the prose hard to understand/follow.
What ultimately made you stop reading?
Among other things, it was too ridiculous and I don’t have the patience for a lot of far-fetched elements in my books. By the time he was going through a cabin with a thousand rooms in the middle of a swamp and given a couple of prophecies to follow to have an effect on eternal beings, I was out. The story was so far removed from what I signed up for in the first chapter, and nothing about it made sense. My objections with the plot were boundless. And on top of that I didn’t like the writing style at all. It was disjointed and used a lot of incomplete sentences. I’m all about creative prose, but when it’s at the expense of your reader actually understanding what you’re trying to say, it’s too much. I could’ve kept reading, but I knew I was so uninvested that even had I finished, the rating wasn’t going to be any better than a two star. If that.
Was there anything you liked about Cygnet?
Um.. perhaps the basic concept at the beginning and it’s unconventionality. But the latter might be a stretch because I think it was perhaps a bit too unconventional. I still appreciate people who march to their own drum, even if I don’t want to go watch the parade.
Would you read anything else by this author?
No. In fact reading this one convinced me it would be wise to donate my other McKillip books. We’re just not on the same brainwave.
So you DNF’d the book – would you still recommend it?
I would not feel okay recommending this book in place of the vast array of others I think were more enjoyable fantasy works. Perhaps if you like more whimsical, ridiculous fantasy like Piers Anthony, this will be more up your alley, but I find I lack the patience for it.
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, and Katrin! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
March 12, 2019
There isn't much I can say about this duology except to implore you to read it. The two books are as different as the sun and the moon, yet bound together by the same threads: the land, the people who live there, the stories and legends that come improbably to life. Both books are wonderful examples of both McKillip's peerless writing and her perfectly enigmatic storytelling.
In The Sorceress and the Cygnet, a young Wayfolk man named Corleu finds himself caught up in a sort of series of Faustian bargains to free his people from a danger they aren't even aware of. After meeting the enigmatic Nyx Ro, both sorceress and Holder's heir, he tries his best to escape the terrible deal that he was forced to make while still saving his people. As the mystery of this story unfolded, I grew to love both Corleu, Nyx, and the surprisingly varied cast of characters you meet along the way. While the beginning of the story (the first ten or twelve pages) were rough, the book quickly found its footing and became rather delightful. To say any more would be to spoil the discovery of the book, so I hope this is sufficient.
In The Cygnet and the Firebird, we abandon Corleu to his "happily ever after" and follow Nyx Ro, who is rather perturbed when a large firebird flies into her mother's castle and begins throwing spells around as though it were the trench lines on the Western Front. As Nyx tries to uncover the riddle of the firebird, a mysterious mage seems to threaten the safety of Ro Holding. Like McKillip's previous book, the mystery of the Firebird --its identity, home, and purpose-- quickly overtakes the book. This story takes us to a new land full of riddles and hidden power, which is delightful and completely steals the show. As much as I was entranced by the wild, dragon-speckled deserts of Saphier, I always felt a little bit homesick for the pleasant, boggy, wooded greenlands of Ro Holding. That longing comes strongly through both main characters, Nyx and Meguet, and is a powerful motivator for the reader to continue as well as the characters.
Both books suffer from McKillip's tendency to brusque endings. Everything is wrapped up in about two pages which, while delightful and lovely and nearly-perfect, left me wanting just a little bit more resolution for certain characters. All the same, both endings were lovely and satisfying enough that it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all -- nor the rating I have given.
All in all, if you're a fan of McKillip and you want to read something a bit denser, more challenging, or with a bit more depth, this is absolutely a duology that you should seek out. I enjoyed my time with it immensely and, as soon as I had finished, started thinking about the next chance I'll have to go through it.
In The Sorceress and the Cygnet, a young Wayfolk man named Corleu finds himself caught up in a sort of series of Faustian bargains to free his people from a danger they aren't even aware of. After meeting the enigmatic Nyx Ro, both sorceress and Holder's heir, he tries his best to escape the terrible deal that he was forced to make while still saving his people. As the mystery of this story unfolded, I grew to love both Corleu, Nyx, and the surprisingly varied cast of characters you meet along the way. While the beginning of the story (the first ten or twelve pages) were rough, the book quickly found its footing and became rather delightful. To say any more would be to spoil the discovery of the book, so I hope this is sufficient.
In The Cygnet and the Firebird, we abandon Corleu to his "happily ever after" and follow Nyx Ro, who is rather perturbed when a large firebird flies into her mother's castle and begins throwing spells around as though it were the trench lines on the Western Front. As Nyx tries to uncover the riddle of the firebird, a mysterious mage seems to threaten the safety of Ro Holding. Like McKillip's previous book, the mystery of the Firebird --its identity, home, and purpose-- quickly overtakes the book. This story takes us to a new land full of riddles and hidden power, which is delightful and completely steals the show. As much as I was entranced by the wild, dragon-speckled deserts of Saphier, I always felt a little bit homesick for the pleasant, boggy, wooded greenlands of Ro Holding. That longing comes strongly through both main characters, Nyx and Meguet, and is a powerful motivator for the reader to continue as well as the characters.
Both books suffer from McKillip's tendency to brusque endings. Everything is wrapped up in about two pages which, while delightful and lovely and nearly-perfect, left me wanting just a little bit more resolution for certain characters. All the same, both endings were lovely and satisfying enough that it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all -- nor the rating I have given.
All in all, if you're a fan of McKillip and you want to read something a bit denser, more challenging, or with a bit more depth, this is absolutely a duology that you should seek out. I enjoyed my time with it immensely and, as soon as I had finished, started thinking about the next chance I'll have to go through it.
July 18, 2011
I am a huge fan of McKillip's later works and this one had been languishing on my shelves for some time. It looked like a good bridge between some of the next books I was wanting to read and so picked it up. The first book is something of a slog - the writing isn't quite as polished as to what I've become accustomed in her later books and the plot moves in some very unfamiliar, difficult to follow ways without any satisfying resolution. The second book in this compendium is a much more traditional narrative and the writing becomes just that little bit tighter so that it compels you forward. Still, it wasn't until the last hundred pages or so that I finally got the story and everything clicked. It seems to me also that this is where she works out what is later to become her more organic style of working magic into stories. In many ways this is the fight between a much more classical version of magic as controlled and controllable power and something more imbued into the essential being of her characters and their surroundings. I really enjoyed watching this aspect of the novel play out and by the end I was even beginning to think I may miss these characters, particularly Hex as his real development as a character only comes in the last dozen pages. I really, really want to know more about his relationship with Meguet and how her power evolves.
At the end of the day it is a really good book, just a shame that it takes so long to get going.
At the end of the day it is a really good book, just a shame that it takes so long to get going.
June 9, 2014
Considering I have read almost all of Patricia McKillip's books( published ones, at least), this book was a surprise. Those among you who thought "the Riddle Master of Hed" had obscurity riddling it's pages are in for a treat...........this one is even more intricate, convoluted, subtle and evasive but as beautifully written as one would expect to come out of PK's pen.
BUT, it does get to a point where the layer upon layer of reality mixing with fantasy thus made it the first PK book I took my time finishing.
Cygnet compromises of two books and if you asked me to explain the scenario and describe it, I would say, read it. It would be equivalent to explaining an exquisite dream (in all it's vividness in mere words).However, it is also easy to compare her world with this one and find the mundane similarities and the parables.
It's worth reading but not for everyone.
BUT, it does get to a point where the layer upon layer of reality mixing with fantasy thus made it the first PK book I took my time finishing.
Cygnet compromises of two books and if you asked me to explain the scenario and describe it, I would say, read it. It would be equivalent to explaining an exquisite dream (in all it's vividness in mere words).However, it is also easy to compare her world with this one and find the mundane similarities and the parables.
It's worth reading but not for everyone.
June 26, 2017
The story of this book is the story of a year; I read The Sorceress and the Cygnet at the beginning of this year, and I just finished The Cygnet and the Firebird.
What both books have to recommend them:
1. A plentiful cast of sympathetic female figures, including one of the more satisfying depictions of female authority in Nyx's mother, and two sisters who, while they're meant to contrast sharply with Nyx, are remarkable in their own ways. Nyx's older sister Iris, in particular, is exactly what the regrettably dull and faded flower Laurel in Winter Rose ought to have been.
2. Two complex and intriguing central heroines, the mage Nyx and the warrior Meguet. I admire both, but Meguet is my favorite.
3. McKillip's remarkable writing style, which is not quite like any other fantasy author's. It's not always easy to follow -- it keeps a reader on her toes -- but it has such a wonderfully poetic quality about it; indeed, at times it's rather like reading prose poetry. It draws the reader into a landscape of dreams.
Yet I did not enjoy both books equally. The Cygnet and the Firebird is my distinct favorite, and not simply because it's the freshest in my memory. The Sorceress and the Cygnet, I felt, was hampered by a rather dull hero, Corleu, and his even duller, barely-there love interest. Every time a scene focused on Corleu, I sped up my reading in order to get through it quickly, to get back to Nyx and Meguet. I imagine McKillip started out to tell a story about Corleu, but as her work progressed, she discovered that her heart and her imagination were really with the women of Ro Holding, and she had to force herself to continue Corleu's plot thread, to bring it to a conclusion.
The Cygnet and the Firebird does not have this problem. By this time, McKillip knows and understand which characters really interest her, and she focuses squarely on Nyx and Meguet. The loyalty and affection between the two cousins is central. Male characters enter the scene, but they are much better developed and more intriguing than Corleu ever was. We get a strong sense of something vital at stake. An interesting take on dragon lore is also featured, which is always a nice treat for me.
What both books have to recommend them:
1. A plentiful cast of sympathetic female figures, including one of the more satisfying depictions of female authority in Nyx's mother, and two sisters who, while they're meant to contrast sharply with Nyx, are remarkable in their own ways. Nyx's older sister Iris, in particular, is exactly what the regrettably dull and faded flower Laurel in Winter Rose ought to have been.
2. Two complex and intriguing central heroines, the mage Nyx and the warrior Meguet. I admire both, but Meguet is my favorite.
3. McKillip's remarkable writing style, which is not quite like any other fantasy author's. It's not always easy to follow -- it keeps a reader on her toes -- but it has such a wonderfully poetic quality about it; indeed, at times it's rather like reading prose poetry. It draws the reader into a landscape of dreams.
Yet I did not enjoy both books equally. The Cygnet and the Firebird is my distinct favorite, and not simply because it's the freshest in my memory. The Sorceress and the Cygnet, I felt, was hampered by a rather dull hero, Corleu, and his even duller, barely-there love interest. Every time a scene focused on Corleu, I sped up my reading in order to get through it quickly, to get back to Nyx and Meguet. I imagine McKillip started out to tell a story about Corleu, but as her work progressed, she discovered that her heart and her imagination were really with the women of Ro Holding, and she had to force herself to continue Corleu's plot thread, to bring it to a conclusion.
The Cygnet and the Firebird does not have this problem. By this time, McKillip knows and understand which characters really interest her, and she focuses squarely on Nyx and Meguet. The loyalty and affection between the two cousins is central. Male characters enter the scene, but they are much better developed and more intriguing than Corleu ever was. We get a strong sense of something vital at stake. An interesting take on dragon lore is also featured, which is always a nice treat for me.
January 16, 2018
Not the easiest read but certainly a satisfying one. Great characters, beautiful story and superb prose.
did-not-finish
June 3, 2024I read 50 pages and had to call it quits, this particular story was just a bit too much for my brain to handle at this time. I have read a few books by McKillip and can appreciate her unique style of writing. As with many authors, some books I enjoy more than others. Some books I "get", and others I do not. To use a phrase my kids like, this book seemed like a "fever dream", not much made a whole lot of sense. I am sure if I kept reading the various elements would start to make sense, but I was not enjoying the process, so I'll move on. McKillip has a lyrical, mysterious, symbolic way of writing. It can be a fun adventure for the brain. Mine is just not ready for this particular adventure yet.
May 2, 2019
I can see why Patricia A. McKillip is a leading name among fantasy writers. This book contained The Sorceress and the Cygnet and The Cygnet and the Firebird. The first was good, but I was just accustoming myself to her writing style and there was a lot of world building was going on. The second was very good. The characters were well developed and the plot had lots of action. This writer was recommended by one of my favorite authors, Jane Lindskold and she was right. I plan to read more.
February 19, 2024
Re-read
Originally read this over 15 years ago, so my memory of it was a bit fuzzy. Feels like more classic fantasy and it was fun to revisit. I don't think this is a favorite, but would still recommend if you enjoy her writing
Originally read this over 15 years ago, so my memory of it was a bit fuzzy. Feels like more classic fantasy and it was fun to revisit. I don't think this is a favorite, but would still recommend if you enjoy her writing
April 4, 2018
I have read many of her books and particularly love these . Magical indeed
May 10, 2020
Loved these books. The women of Ro Holding might be my all time favorite characters ♥️
March 9, 2021
Magic system too much "deus ex machina".
August 22, 2010
The Cygnet duology receives a 4 instead of 5 stars due to the first part of the duology, Sorceress and the Cygnet.
I found Sorceress and the Cygnet incredibly frustrating. I still have absolutely no idea what actually happened in the climax. I can't remember the last time I've been so annoyed and frustrated at a book's ending.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of McKillip, and am familiar with her poetic prose and heavy imagery. But she didn't help the reader to understand what was happening at all in this book's climax. Stuff happened, and we are left with absolutely no idea as to what any of it meant. I haven't even been able to find a synopsis online somewhere that can explain it to me! I moved on to the sequel, Cygnet and the Firebird, hoping that it would shed some light on the events, but no such luck.
I also found it incredibly frustrating to have become so attached to the original protagonist's plight and character, only to have him be essentially replaced later in the book by other characters. I loved the other characters, by the way, especially Meguet and the Gatekeeper (though I am still up in the air as to how to pronounce Meguet's name lol). Corleue is still IN the story, we just...don't see anything from his point of view anymore, and his part of the story seemed to take a complete backseat to the characters of Ro Holding. And he barely makes an appearance in the sequel.
By itself, I would give Sorceress and the Cygnet a 3.5 star rating. Apart from its flaws, I still enjoyed reading it. McKillip's prose is, as usual, a delight to read, and her world and characters a delight to lose yourself to. Read it for McKillip's usual candy of prose, imagination, and wonderful characters. Just don't expect to know what the heck actually happened at the end...
The sequel, Cygnet and the Firebird, I enjoyed reading immensely. It did not suffer the same issues as Sorceress did. I loved the characters. I loved how the plot unrolled and revealed itself. It was a very good read. By itself I would probably give it a 4.5. In fact you could probably read it as a stand-alone without being lost at all.
I found Sorceress and the Cygnet incredibly frustrating. I still have absolutely no idea what actually happened in the climax. I can't remember the last time I've been so annoyed and frustrated at a book's ending.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of McKillip, and am familiar with her poetic prose and heavy imagery. But she didn't help the reader to understand what was happening at all in this book's climax. Stuff happened, and we are left with absolutely no idea as to what any of it meant. I haven't even been able to find a synopsis online somewhere that can explain it to me! I moved on to the sequel, Cygnet and the Firebird, hoping that it would shed some light on the events, but no such luck.
I also found it incredibly frustrating to have become so attached to the original protagonist's plight and character, only to have him be essentially replaced later in the book by other characters. I loved the other characters, by the way, especially Meguet and the Gatekeeper (though I am still up in the air as to how to pronounce Meguet's name lol). Corleue is still IN the story, we just...don't see anything from his point of view anymore, and his part of the story seemed to take a complete backseat to the characters of Ro Holding. And he barely makes an appearance in the sequel.
By itself, I would give Sorceress and the Cygnet a 3.5 star rating. Apart from its flaws, I still enjoyed reading it. McKillip's prose is, as usual, a delight to read, and her world and characters a delight to lose yourself to. Read it for McKillip's usual candy of prose, imagination, and wonderful characters. Just don't expect to know what the heck actually happened at the end...
The sequel, Cygnet and the Firebird, I enjoyed reading immensely. It did not suffer the same issues as Sorceress did. I loved the characters. I loved how the plot unrolled and revealed itself. It was a very good read. By itself I would probably give it a 4.5. In fact you could probably read it as a stand-alone without being lost at all.
February 8, 2015
Rich, beautiful lyrical prose that I love reading, aloud to my daughters or otherwise.
I especially love The Sorceress and the Cygnet. I originally read it at least 20 years ago as a young girl. It was actually the book that propelled me into the realm of fantasy although alas, I had forgotten until very recently. I wanted to share it with my own daughter but I could rember nothing about it except that it had something to do with swans. However, none of the other books I came across in my search fit and I believe I drove my poor husband mad in my efforts to find it. I finally came across it quite by accident. One of my many book clubs chose The Bell at Sealey Head which I absolutely loved. I also enjoyed a few of Mckillip's other volumes that I snagged from the library after returning The Bell so naturally I looked up everything else she had done. As soon as I saw the cover art I was sure I had finally found that book I had been searching for so long. I had to wait a long frustrating month for my library to track this down for me to be sure but within pages I was settling in to reunite myself with an old friend. I had read my original copy to tatters so I'm unsure why I had forgotten title as well as author but I'm so happy to be reunited.
As for The Sorceress and the Firebird, I had never read it before which is why I requested this omnibus instead of just the single volume. It's completely unlike The Sorceress and the Cygnet and although it seemed eadier to read it's still such a lovely tale.
Both of the stories made me think about the meaning of relationships, how one views the world, etc. I do not have much storage space so I rarely buy books. To do so, they must mean a lot to me or have a beautiful cover (usually both) but I have already tracked down and ordered a copy of this for my collection. Although I know I have changed greatly in the intervening years since I first explored this world, I fell in love with it all over again. I still want to explore it and ponder the deeper meanings I hadn't glimpsed when first reading it. I'm only disappointed that more of Nyx & Brand's story has not been forthcoming in the ensuing years.
I especially love The Sorceress and the Cygnet. I originally read it at least 20 years ago as a young girl. It was actually the book that propelled me into the realm of fantasy although alas, I had forgotten until very recently. I wanted to share it with my own daughter but I could rember nothing about it except that it had something to do with swans. However, none of the other books I came across in my search fit and I believe I drove my poor husband mad in my efforts to find it. I finally came across it quite by accident. One of my many book clubs chose The Bell at Sealey Head which I absolutely loved. I also enjoyed a few of Mckillip's other volumes that I snagged from the library after returning The Bell so naturally I looked up everything else she had done. As soon as I saw the cover art I was sure I had finally found that book I had been searching for so long. I had to wait a long frustrating month for my library to track this down for me to be sure but within pages I was settling in to reunite myself with an old friend. I had read my original copy to tatters so I'm unsure why I had forgotten title as well as author but I'm so happy to be reunited.
As for The Sorceress and the Firebird, I had never read it before which is why I requested this omnibus instead of just the single volume. It's completely unlike The Sorceress and the Cygnet and although it seemed eadier to read it's still such a lovely tale.
Both of the stories made me think about the meaning of relationships, how one views the world, etc. I do not have much storage space so I rarely buy books. To do so, they must mean a lot to me or have a beautiful cover (usually both) but I have already tracked down and ordered a copy of this for my collection. Although I know I have changed greatly in the intervening years since I first explored this world, I fell in love with it all over again. I still want to explore it and ponder the deeper meanings I hadn't glimpsed when first reading it. I'm only disappointed that more of Nyx & Brand's story has not been forthcoming in the ensuing years.
December 1, 2015
I think the main reason Patricia A. McKillip is my favourite fantasy author is that, of everyone I've read, she's the one who does the best job of living up to the genre name. It's not that her books are hard to follow or confusing (although 1. you have to be willing to accept how much her magic works with symbols, allusions, the irrational, etc. 2. they do reward attention), but as magic naturally does they obey their own rules, and you are not going to have them set out for you, nicely codified. After reading these two wonderful novels I know why the Gatekeeper can do what he can do (and can't do what he can't), what the Gold King and his Dark House mean, why Meguet picked up a rose instead of a sword, why Nyx's house changes. And I could even start listing things for each of those. But I don't think I could really give you the full answer. You just have to read.
December 28, 2010
Dazzling tale!
It embodies fantasy--there is action, adventure, mystery, peril, strange lands, mages, a bit of romance, and, of course, dragons! As always, McKillip's writing is simply beautiful; description just doesn't do it justice.
While there are numerous characters, each are unique, and I didn't feel bogged down when the story shifted from one character to another and back again, like I have in some of her other novels. I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters, which doesn't always happen for me. The plot was complex, but flowed seamlessly. There were no gaps in the story, and though there is an air of great mystery throughout the story, in the end nothing is left unexplained. This is a definite keeper.
It embodies fantasy--there is action, adventure, mystery, peril, strange lands, mages, a bit of romance, and, of course, dragons! As always, McKillip's writing is simply beautiful; description just doesn't do it justice.
While there are numerous characters, each are unique, and I didn't feel bogged down when the story shifted from one character to another and back again, like I have in some of her other novels. I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters, which doesn't always happen for me. The plot was complex, but flowed seamlessly. There were no gaps in the story, and though there is an air of great mystery throughout the story, in the end nothing is left unexplained. This is a definite keeper.
February 4, 2010
I agree that this book can be a little hard to get into. The author is very good at painting a picture in the mind with her words, and it was very easy to get lost in those pictures. Unfortunately, when you find your way out of that picture, it might take a moment to remember what was happening in the story.
That said, I did enjoy the stories. The second was much easier to read, having had all the set-up in the first, and I almost hope for one more story to follow these two (though I suppose its been far too long for that).
That said, I did enjoy the stories. The second was much easier to read, having had all the set-up in the first, and I almost hope for one more story to follow these two (though I suppose its been far too long for that).
March 29, 2009
Two books in one volume: The Sorceress and the Cygnet and The Cygnet and the Firebird.
I'm still not sure what to think of the book as a whole. The writing is beautiful but the characters seem distant, though they become more real in the second book. I think I've said this before about McKillip -- her prose is beautiful but exhausting! It takes me forever to get through the pages and I almost always take a break from the book at the end of each chapter.
I'm still not sure what to think of the book as a whole. The writing is beautiful but the characters seem distant, though they become more real in the second book. I think I've said this before about McKillip -- her prose is beautiful but exhausting! It takes me forever to get through the pages and I almost always take a break from the book at the end of each chapter.
March 3, 2009
It took me a while to finish this set of books. Patricia Ann McKillip's writing has an ethereal quality usually, but these early works seem more so than usual. The first book is the hardest--beautiful images, yet hard to reach characters. The second one was better; the characters finally take on depth and feeling. You could read one without the other, except certain concepts that are introduced in the first book would be missing and might be more confusing.
May 23, 2009
Patricia McKillip is a great writer. There are really two books in this new edition. Both books use the same characters for the story. These books are more fantastical than some of her others that I have read. The imagery in these books is just amazing. Homes with endless rooms, path of time contained in a small cube, a firebird fighting a mage, etc.. Characters are lovely. I cannot wait to read all of her writing.
April 2, 2024
Just beautiful.
***
2024: I still found this quite beautiful! Nyx's character arc is very well done, and the denouement of the second book is just excellent.
There is certainly some instalove and the plot of the first book, travelling around all the Holds seeking various mythical beings, was a leetle predictable, but the writing and setting and characterization were all so good that I didn't mind, and there were also enough surprises in other directions.
***
2024: I still found this quite beautiful! Nyx's character arc is very well done, and the denouement of the second book is just excellent.
There is certainly some instalove and the plot of the first book, travelling around all the Holds seeking various mythical beings, was a leetle predictable, but the writing and setting and characterization were all so good that I didn't mind, and there were also enough surprises in other directions.
January 31, 2016
Rereading this 2 story collection as I never finished the second book the first time around.
What joy Patricia's novels bring. Like eating solid healthy food instead of the very common fast food junk that often passes as fantasy!
finish today 31 jan 2016
Very sweet adventure and a solid addition to Patricia's awesome catalogue. wonder if there will be a third book one day :)
What joy Patricia's novels bring. Like eating solid healthy food instead of the very common fast food junk that often passes as fantasy!
finish today 31 jan 2016
Very sweet adventure and a solid addition to Patricia's awesome catalogue. wonder if there will be a third book one day :)
March 22, 2014
The Cygnet duology is so gorgeous and literary and romantic. Yes, McKillip makes you work to conjure meaning and understanding from her story (the best books are like that) but it is absolutely worth it in the end. My biggest complaint is that the story wasn't longer. I adored all of her characters, especially Meguet, Corleu, Nyx, and Hew.
February 28, 2015
I would describe Patricia McKillip's storytelling style as "dreamlike". She writes quite beautifully, and as I grow older I have come to appreciate her writing more than I could when I was a teenager. Perhaps it is because her style is one that you have to get used to. I'll be going back to some of her earlier books to re-read them.
January 24, 2009
There are actually 2 books in this book. The first one was kinda hard to follow, which surprised me from this author. The second one was much easier to follow and I got much more caught up in the story and characters.
March 19, 2013
Ok, this is kind of a cheat, because I've read both of these books before in their separate editions. I always love McKillip's books, but the Cygnet books hold a special place in my heart, even among McKillip's excellent stories.
August 22, 2007
So far I'm having a difficult time getting into this...but anything by McKillip is worth reading once I can get into it so I shall persevere.
March 26, 2008
Two books in one volume. Liked the second one best. Full of McKillip's usual magical, evocative words and worlds.
January 18, 2010
I am enjoying reading Patricia McKillip. Her writing is well done and her world building has a different twist.
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