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Lyra #1
Shadow Magic
In the magic woods of Lyra, a noblewoman struggles to escape from a faceless man Trouble is brewing in Alkyra. While the kingdom's noblemen squabble, on their borders an ancient enemy, the Lithmern, raises an army. As the head of the Noble House of Brenn attempts to organize an alliance, the princess Alethia celebrates her twentieth birthday. She is a remarkable quick-witted, beautiful, and handy with a throwing knife. But on the next night, she passes through a dark corridor on her way to the banquet hall, and never emerges from the shadows. The Lithmern have kidnapped the princess. When Alethia regains consciousness, an evil Lithmern with a face made of shadows is carrying her through the forest. These are magic woods, home to fabled creatures whose existence she has always doubted. To find her way home, Alethia will have to learn to trust in the old tales, whose legends of magic and daring hold the only hope of saving her kingdom. "Wrede's delightful voice is all her own." -School Library Journal "No doubt the charm, humor, and intelligence of Wrede's writing will continue to enthrall." -Publishers Weekly "High-style fantasy and adventure." -The New York Times For over twenty years, Patricia C. Wrede (b. 1953) has expanded the boundaries of young-adult fantasy writing. Her first novel, Shadow Magic (1982), introduced Lyra, a magical world in which she set four more novels. Her other series include the Enchanted Forest Chronicles; the Cecelia and Kate novels, co-written with Caroline Stevermer; the Mairelon books, which take place in Regency England; and the Old-West Frontier Magic series. Wrede lives and works in Minnesota.
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1982
266 people are currently reading
3428 people want to read
About the author
Patricia C. Wrede
67 books4,002 followersPatricia Collins Wrede was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the eldest of five children. She started writing in seventh grade. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where she majored in Biology and managed to avoid taking any English courses at all. She began work on her first novel, Shadow Magic, just after graduating from college in 1974. She finished it five years later and started her second book at once, having become permanently hooked on writing by this time.
Patricia received her M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1977.
She worked for several years as a financial analyst and accountant, first with the Minnesota Hospital Association, then with B. Dalton Booksellers, and finally at the Dayton Hudson Corporation headquarters.
Patricia finished her first novel in late 1978. In January, 1980, Pamela Dean, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Steven Brust, Nate Bucklin, and Patricia Wrede -- all, at that point, hopeful but unpublished -- formed the writer's group that later became known as "The Scribblies." Several years later, they were joined by Kara Dalkey. In April of 1980, Patricia's first novel sold to Ace Books. It came out at last in 1982, which is the year she met Lillian Stewart Carl (who introduced her to Lois McMaster Bujold by mail).
In 1985, shortly before the publication of her fifth book, she left the world of the gainfully employed to try winging it on her own.
Her interests include sewing, embroidery, desultory attempts at gardening, chocolate, not mowing the lawn, High Tea, and, of course, reading.
She is a vegetarian, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her cat Karma. She has no children.
Patricia received her M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1977.
She worked for several years as a financial analyst and accountant, first with the Minnesota Hospital Association, then with B. Dalton Booksellers, and finally at the Dayton Hudson Corporation headquarters.
Patricia finished her first novel in late 1978. In January, 1980, Pamela Dean, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Steven Brust, Nate Bucklin, and Patricia Wrede -- all, at that point, hopeful but unpublished -- formed the writer's group that later became known as "The Scribblies." Several years later, they were joined by Kara Dalkey. In April of 1980, Patricia's first novel sold to Ace Books. It came out at last in 1982, which is the year she met Lillian Stewart Carl (who introduced her to Lois McMaster Bujold by mail).
In 1985, shortly before the publication of her fifth book, she left the world of the gainfully employed to try winging it on her own.
Her interests include sewing, embroidery, desultory attempts at gardening, chocolate, not mowing the lawn, High Tea, and, of course, reading.
She is a vegetarian, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her cat Karma. She has no children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
July 31, 2011
Astonishingly generic, bloodless, and boring high fantasy from the usually at least entertaining Patricia Wrede. Some fairly flat characters including a minstrel, an elf, a Chosen One, a warrior, a magician etc are drawn into danger and learn they must go on a quest to find some lost magic objects to save the kingdom from the Evil Race* and the non-human totally-evil no-shades-of-gray Shadow-born who possess people, because they are evil and want to destroy stuff. Luckily for them, all the obstacles are minimally dangerous and easily overcome, they find the objects almost immediately, win the "war" in an anti-climactic battle that is over in about a page. The most surprising thing about this story was how much filler there was in such a short book.
*In addition to being uninteresting, this book solidified for me that I have a serious problem with Wrede's high fantasy world-building. I far prefer stories like her Mairelon the Magician where there are good guys and bad guys, but they are individuals with individual (if not always convincing) motivations. In Lyra we have evil races, of which every member is just bad. I'm willing to give the Shadow-born and their profitless destruction a pass because they are disembodied non-human entities and may have motivations incomprehensible to humans. But the Lithmern are just normal humans who go around attacking everyone for no apparent reason. Even when it is obviously stupid, like a random encounter in a wood with a larger armed group who kill them all. They don't get ascribed any culture, personalities, or motivations for their violence other than inherent hatefulness.
Oh, and I also hate when a character is "special" and therefore learns to be the Greatest Evah wizard/swordsman/thief whatever with one week of instruction.
*In addition to being uninteresting, this book solidified for me that I have a serious problem with Wrede's high fantasy world-building. I far prefer stories like her Mairelon the Magician where there are good guys and bad guys, but they are individuals with individual (if not always convincing) motivations. In Lyra we have evil races, of which every member is just bad. I'm willing to give the Shadow-born and their profitless destruction a pass because they are disembodied non-human entities and may have motivations incomprehensible to humans. But the Lithmern are just normal humans who go around attacking everyone for no apparent reason. Even when it is obviously stupid, like a random encounter in a wood with a larger armed group who kill them all. They don't get ascribed any culture, personalities, or motivations for their violence other than inherent hatefulness.
Oh, and I also hate when a character is "special" and therefore learns to be the Greatest Evah wizard/swordsman/thief whatever with one week of instruction.
April 23, 2017
I've enjoyed later books by Wrede, but this one is awful. It's boring, it's vague, it's full of details that don't matter and every meal along the way. Nothing happens. I don't know or care about any of the characters after over 100 pages. I feel terrible DNF'ing another book, but can't force myself any further. It's the end of year cleanup of my TBR shelf, apparently. I've just been cutting off dead weight the last few days. Here goes another.
February 18, 2018
It's time to abandon ship, me mateys! Me first one of the year. This author has written marvelous things like the enchanted forest chronicles (adored them all!) and sorcery and cecelia (cute and fun!). I had always wanted to read her Lyra series and finally tracked down an omnibus of the first three books in the series. To say I was excited is an understatement. And then the time finally came to immerse meself in this new world. I was expecting great things.
I got grumpitude. Basically, I found this book to be immensely cliché and boring. I find it hard to believe that these books were written by the same author. To be fair, I thought the beginning had promise.
It starts out with a merchant caravan arriving back home after a long journey. Maurin is a member of the caravan. He has been invited by a noble, Har, to visit the family estate. When he gets there, he meets Alethia, Har's sister, who is intelligent and good with daggers. There is a hint that Maurin quickly develops a crush on Har's sister even though he laughs good-naturedly at himself due to the immense difference in their stations. Things ensue and Alethia is kidnapped. Har and Maurin set out to get her back. Yup. I was on board with that. In fact I was good up until page 29 when Alethia escapes her captors.
After page 29, the characters involved expanded exponentially. Additions to the characters included: a minstrel, dwarfish-creatures, elvish-creatures, magicians, evil shadow people, etc. Alethia goes from being somewhat awesome to lacking initiative and being led around like a puppet. Oh, add in that she is the chosen one and a special snowflake at that. And the reasons for the evil people and the politics and the warfare were just ugh.
But I kept reading hoping for genius to emerge. I made it to page 111 of 174. I had put the book down at the preparing for a battle part to get some shut eye. Then when came time to finish the last bit, I kept picking it back up, rereading the same three paragraphs and putting it back down. The last attempt to pick it resulting in an actual feeling of dread and so I abandoned ship.
If only it contained the stories of just Maurin and Har trying to rescue Alethia with her contributing to her own escape! I will not be reading the rest of the series. I will stick to rereadin' me favourites by the author instead.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
I got grumpitude. Basically, I found this book to be immensely cliché and boring. I find it hard to believe that these books were written by the same author. To be fair, I thought the beginning had promise.
It starts out with a merchant caravan arriving back home after a long journey. Maurin is a member of the caravan. He has been invited by a noble, Har, to visit the family estate. When he gets there, he meets Alethia, Har's sister, who is intelligent and good with daggers. There is a hint that Maurin quickly develops a crush on Har's sister even though he laughs good-naturedly at himself due to the immense difference in their stations. Things ensue and Alethia is kidnapped. Har and Maurin set out to get her back. Yup. I was on board with that. In fact I was good up until page 29 when Alethia escapes her captors.
After page 29, the characters involved expanded exponentially. Additions to the characters included: a minstrel, dwarfish-creatures, elvish-creatures, magicians, evil shadow people, etc. Alethia goes from being somewhat awesome to lacking initiative and being led around like a puppet. Oh, add in that she is the chosen one and a special snowflake at that. And the reasons for the evil people and the politics and the warfare were just ugh.
But I kept reading hoping for genius to emerge. I made it to page 111 of 174. I had put the book down at the preparing for a battle part to get some shut eye. Then when came time to finish the last bit, I kept picking it back up, rereading the same three paragraphs and putting it back down. The last attempt to pick it resulting in an actual feeling of dread and so I abandoned ship.
If only it contained the stories of just Maurin and Har trying to rescue Alethia with her contributing to her own escape! I will not be reading the rest of the series. I will stick to rereadin' me favourites by the author instead.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
Read
August 14, 2018One of Wrede's earliest books, and not the strongest in terms of characterisation or plot. Prophecy, magical items, evil entities. The kidnapped girl is competent, and gets to do some stuff, but it's one of those noblewomen must be put aside and protected kinds of societies.
August 26, 2016
My main impression of this book was "This couldn't possibly have been written by the author of Dealing With Dragons etc."
December 19, 2018
So, there's reviews of this that state that it's not as good as some of her later books. This was her first book! If my first book is this good, I'd be totally happy.
July 12, 2010
This is a fairly stereotypical fantasy novel. She has a few creative elements in her world/history, but otherwise it's a "been there, done that" book with a plot bordering on overused. It was amusing to read, but nothing special. The next two books in the "series" (set chronologically in the same world, but not particularly interdependent, read them in any order you wish) are much more creative and engaging.
The Harp of Imach Thyssel andDaughter of Witches
The Harp of Imach Thyssel andDaughter of Witches
February 13, 2019
3.5 stars. Sorry to split hairs.
Fun, refreshing, light, easy, entertaining reading. This Patricia Wrede's first book of her career. More development and learning for the author at this stage, but she caught the essence of it. I dislike to compare with other books, but we do know best sometimes from analogies. As I read this, I flashed backed to another light fantasy,
The Sword of Shannara Trilogy. A very similar style of writing.
Did I say fun? :)
Fun, refreshing, light, easy, entertaining reading. This Patricia Wrede's first book of her career. More development and learning for the author at this stage, but she caught the essence of it. I dislike to compare with other books, but we do know best sometimes from analogies. As I read this, I flashed backed to another light fantasy,
The Sword of Shannara Trilogy. A very similar style of writing.Did I say fun? :)
January 9, 2012
Although Wrede is one of my favorite authors, I'd never read any of her Lyra books and until recently thought I'd never get the chance. But with the surge in ebooks, all of her Lyra books are now available electronically.
Shadow Magic was Wrede's first book and despite her later revision of it, you can tell. It's still a great read, but the seams in the stitching of the plot are rather visible. It actually feels like it should have been a longer book and as readers we get the abridged version. I would have liked to get to know the characters better to make their motivations and actions more believable. The "reveal" of the villain happened far too quickly and the romance seemed a bit forced.
Despite these minor problems, I highly recommend it, especially for newer writers who will see their own early-book choices reflected.
Shadow Magic was Wrede's first book and despite her later revision of it, you can tell. It's still a great read, but the seams in the stitching of the plot are rather visible. It actually feels like it should have been a longer book and as readers we get the abridged version. I would have liked to get to know the characters better to make their motivations and actions more believable. The "reveal" of the villain happened far too quickly and the romance seemed a bit forced.
Despite these minor problems, I highly recommend it, especially for newer writers who will see their own early-book choices reflected.
July 8, 2024
Quite a decent story with somewhat uneven pacing. We get rather a long build-up followed by an overly convenient and quick resolution. It would have been better if the knowledge our heroine had been learning throughout the book had been more necessary to the finish. However the characters are likeable, and the different peoples are imaginative and interesting. I look forward to more of this series.
January 3, 2025
This story started out really well, but by the 60% mark I struggled to care what happened next. I believe it was Wrede's first book, and it's not bad. but it shows how her story-telling abilities improved over the years! I couldn't recommend this to anyone but die-hard fans, though I hear the others in the series are better.
September 15, 2012
Shadow Magic is the first of the Lyra books by Patricia C. Wrede, one of my auto-buy authors. Wrede wrote Dealing with Dragons, Snow White and Rose Red, and the Mairelon the Magician books (all of which are on my favorites shelf). I originally read Shadow Magic as part of the Shadows Over Lyra omnibus edition, which contained the first three books in the Lyra series.
Alethia is a rather headstrong young noblewoman, unaware of much of the world beyond her father’s holdings in a peaceful city-state in Alkyra. That changes when a merchant’s guard accompanies her brother home from a trading trip and tells of disturbing disappearances among the caravans. These events, combined with rumors of an ancient and evil Shadow awakening across the mountains, form the backdrop for an adventure that will change Alethia and her land in ways she cannot imagine.
I remember going through Wrede’s backlist and positively devouring everything I found there. I LOVED the Lyra series as a teen, and I hadn’t reread Shadow Magic until this summer, after I found that my library had an ebook copy available for download. Unfortunately, I was not as enchanted with the book upon rediscovery as I was all those years ago. BUT. Shadow Magic still has many merits, one being a fast-moving plot, which contributed to my spending much too late a night finishing the story.
Another strong point of Shadow Magic is the world building. World building is a Wrede specialty, and there is never any doubt in her books that the place is solid, realized, and that magic is a possibility. While Alkyra is a traditional fantasy setting (swords, sorcery, dangerous forests, a la Tolkien), the execution is spot-on and the result interesting.
What lead to my rereading disappointment, then? I don’t fault the book, I blame myself. Since that first time I read Shadow Magic, I’ve read a LOT of fantasy, over many years. I’ve read Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix, Patricia McKillip, Ursula K. LeGuin, Charles de Lint, and on the list goes. I picked up Shadow Magic again and found that it was too similar to other books to stand out as amazing. It contains what I recognize now as fantasy clichés. Its ending is incredibly similar to that in The Blue Sword (a favorite of favorites). I do not find Shadow Magic less worthy, I find it less original. And while that is disappointing, it’s not world-ending. I still plan to pick up the next few titles in the Lyra series, because they are, after all, Wrede books.
Recommended for: fans of traditional high fantasy (with the expected knife fights, feats of archery, and mysterious magic), and anyone who has read Patricia C. Wrede and wondered where she ‘started’ in writing.
Alethia is a rather headstrong young noblewoman, unaware of much of the world beyond her father’s holdings in a peaceful city-state in Alkyra. That changes when a merchant’s guard accompanies her brother home from a trading trip and tells of disturbing disappearances among the caravans. These events, combined with rumors of an ancient and evil Shadow awakening across the mountains, form the backdrop for an adventure that will change Alethia and her land in ways she cannot imagine.
I remember going through Wrede’s backlist and positively devouring everything I found there. I LOVED the Lyra series as a teen, and I hadn’t reread Shadow Magic until this summer, after I found that my library had an ebook copy available for download. Unfortunately, I was not as enchanted with the book upon rediscovery as I was all those years ago. BUT. Shadow Magic still has many merits, one being a fast-moving plot, which contributed to my spending much too late a night finishing the story.
Another strong point of Shadow Magic is the world building. World building is a Wrede specialty, and there is never any doubt in her books that the place is solid, realized, and that magic is a possibility. While Alkyra is a traditional fantasy setting (swords, sorcery, dangerous forests, a la Tolkien), the execution is spot-on and the result interesting.
What lead to my rereading disappointment, then? I don’t fault the book, I blame myself. Since that first time I read Shadow Magic, I’ve read a LOT of fantasy, over many years. I’ve read Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix, Patricia McKillip, Ursula K. LeGuin, Charles de Lint, and on the list goes. I picked up Shadow Magic again and found that it was too similar to other books to stand out as amazing. It contains what I recognize now as fantasy clichés. Its ending is incredibly similar to that in The Blue Sword (a favorite of favorites). I do not find Shadow Magic less worthy, I find it less original. And while that is disappointing, it’s not world-ending. I still plan to pick up the next few titles in the Lyra series, because they are, after all, Wrede books.
Recommended for: fans of traditional high fantasy (with the expected knife fights, feats of archery, and mysterious magic), and anyone who has read Patricia C. Wrede and wondered where she ‘started’ in writing.
February 23, 2018
2/23/18 $2.99 for Kindle.
July 28, 2014
A good build up, but the end was too rushed. Everything was resolved to quickly and easily. I was a little let down.
June 2, 2016
L like how Wrede uses language. She's not afraid to let her heroes suffer. The heroine was strong & mostly self sufficient.
May 27, 2013
Her brother Har and best friend Maurin return safely from the Lithmern border where other caravans have completely vanished. Alethia listens in on their father Braca's fears of war, ignored by the eight other Noble Houses of Lyra who squabble amongst themselves. Her mother Isme has a bad feeling. Instead of celebrating her 20th birthday party, Alethia gets kidnapped by a cloaked "man with no face" and magically-shielded Lithmern.
But help comes unexpectedly Wyrds, mythical small furry forest archers, protect their woods. Jordet, a sorcerer of the tall silver-haired mountain dwelling Shee, Ward-Keeper and her new cousin, shares the heritage her mother neglected.
Plot is near classic, upgraded from prince gets all. Here, girl saves kingdom from dark evil, marries her love.
Despite my grumbles, the overall tale satisfies. I detest impossible spellings, one syllable is all I get right. "Kaldarmaaren" is the forbidden Voldemort designation for Shadow Men p103. The five lost treasures - Crown, Sword, Shield, Staff, and Cup - seem handy props to propel and solve plots (sequels?).
A unique intro spells out and explains this 2nd edition first chapter changes (I fully concur - tighter, now obvious) crossed-out deletions and bold additions, answering why I had trouble with points of view and momentum in another recent series, Condie's Matched.
Quibbles:
* Why don't the sea-dwelling Neira take out the enemy boats?
* Is the Alkyra the confederation of peoples and Lyra of lands, what is the difference?
* I don't understand why Maurin has the point of view when Altheira is the key figure central to action, but his increased importance does feel right.
* Is "a torrent of fugitives that never materializes" p161 helpless hordes co-opted to Shadow domination, when trained soldiers win more fights than cannon fodder?
* Why does Altheira try to light a fire with magic when she ends up using firebox and flints anyway p192?
* "Coruscating light" is defined as sparkling, but here is blinding p203.
Surprises:
The couple jest and tease, compete in knife throwing game . Their interaction is push-pull puzzled concern, completely believable to grow deeper .
Typo:
pxxiv "I mean" should have strike-outs through
But help comes unexpectedly Wyrds, mythical small furry forest archers, protect their woods. Jordet, a sorcerer of the tall silver-haired mountain dwelling Shee, Ward-Keeper and her new cousin, shares the heritage her mother neglected.
Plot is near classic, upgraded from prince gets all. Here, girl saves kingdom from dark evil, marries her love.
Despite my grumbles, the overall tale satisfies. I detest impossible spellings, one syllable is all I get right. "Kaldarmaaren" is the forbidden Voldemort designation for Shadow Men p103. The five lost treasures - Crown, Sword, Shield, Staff, and Cup - seem handy props to propel and solve plots (sequels?).
A unique intro spells out and explains this 2nd edition first chapter changes (I fully concur - tighter, now obvious) crossed-out deletions and bold additions, answering why I had trouble with points of view and momentum in another recent series, Condie's Matched.
Quibbles:
* Why don't the sea-dwelling Neira take out the enemy boats?
* Is the Alkyra the confederation of peoples and Lyra of lands, what is the difference?
* I don't understand why Maurin has the point of view when Altheira is the key figure central to action, but his increased importance does feel right.
* Is "a torrent of fugitives that never materializes" p161 helpless hordes co-opted to Shadow domination, when trained soldiers win more fights than cannon fodder?
* Why does Altheira try to light a fire with magic when she ends up using firebox and flints anyway p192?
* "Coruscating light" is defined as sparkling, but here is blinding p203.
Surprises:
The couple jest and tease, compete in knife throwing game . Their interaction is push-pull puzzled concern, completely believable to grow deeper .
Typo:
pxxiv "I mean" should have strike-outs through
June 28, 2015
**Spoilers ahead!!**
I liked the first chapters, the characters seemed interesting and I was excited to see it progress and then it just... fell flat somhow? It's classic high fantasy, riddled with genre stereotypes, but in so many other high fantasy books those are handled well and the story is still interesting - here.. meh. (ah! you must be the one the prophecy is talking about since your name means something a long those lines! and of course you have incredible powers for some really vague reason!)
I loved parts of it - the names, the other races etc were intriguing, and yet... the progression of the story was just a bit off at times? Things happened but it felt haphazard - those big white birds in the mountains?? WHAT WAS THAT?! The story just didn't flow and the transitions and introductions of new characters and history were clumsy, and some things were just a little too convenient (woho magical stone in pebble I picked up!)
The character development was... practically non-existent in most characters? The "lovestory" bit was understated and yet at the same time seemed a bit overdone? (I'm not making any sense) That they liked each other was obvious from the start, but there really wasn't enough interaction between them in the middle part to justify the end? Just some looks? I just didn't quite feel it, I guess.
I also really wasn't feeling any intensity in the final battle - it's like it just happened? And it wasn't very well described at all, just *woho magics* and then the listing of dead secondary characters after?? Also, from the moment the magical items are introduced you pretty much have the entire ending figured out.
The only reason this gets as many as three stars is that I liked the beginning, I kind of liked Alethia (but also not entirely all the time idk), the magic, the Shee,the Wyrds, the story of Bracor & Isme, and the fact that I actually did finish it pretty much in one go. I cared enough to continue reading, so it wasn't entirely hopeless I guess?? It felt like this book had potential but just wasn't well enough put together. Too many bad fantasy stereotypes :/
I liked the first chapters, the characters seemed interesting and I was excited to see it progress and then it just... fell flat somhow? It's classic high fantasy, riddled with genre stereotypes, but in so many other high fantasy books those are handled well and the story is still interesting - here.. meh. (ah! you must be the one the prophecy is talking about since your name means something a long those lines! and of course you have incredible powers for some really vague reason!)
I loved parts of it - the names, the other races etc were intriguing, and yet... the progression of the story was just a bit off at times? Things happened but it felt haphazard - those big white birds in the mountains?? WHAT WAS THAT?! The story just didn't flow and the transitions and introductions of new characters and history were clumsy, and some things were just a little too convenient (woho magical stone in pebble I picked up!)
The character development was... practically non-existent in most characters? The "lovestory" bit was understated and yet at the same time seemed a bit overdone? (I'm not making any sense) That they liked each other was obvious from the start, but there really wasn't enough interaction between them in the middle part to justify the end? Just some looks? I just didn't quite feel it, I guess.
I also really wasn't feeling any intensity in the final battle - it's like it just happened? And it wasn't very well described at all, just *woho magics* and then the listing of dead secondary characters after?? Also, from the moment the magical items are introduced you pretty much have the entire ending figured out.
The only reason this gets as many as three stars is that I liked the beginning, I kind of liked Alethia (but also not entirely all the time idk), the magic, the Shee,the Wyrds, the story of Bracor & Isme, and the fact that I actually did finish it pretty much in one go. I cared enough to continue reading, so it wasn't entirely hopeless I guess?? It felt like this book had potential but just wasn't well enough put together. Too many bad fantasy stereotypes :/
March 6, 2012
Wrede. Oh, Wrede. You know I love your books. Just not this one.
The kiss of death fell about halfway in for me, when the stunning structural similarities to Star Wars: Episode One (1999) dawned on me. Council meetings, power-hungry politicians, miraculous nick-of-time helpers, hidden magical abilities, mysterious bloodlines; all right, so the stories aren't perfect riffs off each other, but I have truly not encountered such a collection of cliches since viewing Episode One lo those many long years ago. (On opening day. I was just 18. Such innocence, lost.) This book suffers greatly due to this being my perception of it: I was able to stumble along maybe three more chapters with thoughts of that terrible movie rolling in my head before giving it up in disgust, even though in all honesty this book isn't as bad a book as that movie was a movie. Still. DNF.
Very nearly one star rating, and almost unreadable in comparison to Wrede's other books. grrrr.
The kiss of death fell about halfway in for me, when the stunning structural similarities to Star Wars: Episode One (1999) dawned on me. Council meetings, power-hungry politicians, miraculous nick-of-time helpers, hidden magical abilities, mysterious bloodlines; all right, so the stories aren't perfect riffs off each other, but I have truly not encountered such a collection of cliches since viewing Episode One lo those many long years ago. (On opening day. I was just 18. Such innocence, lost.) This book suffers greatly due to this being my perception of it: I was able to stumble along maybe three more chapters with thoughts of that terrible movie rolling in my head before giving it up in disgust, even though in all honesty this book isn't as bad a book as that movie was a movie. Still. DNF.
Very nearly one star rating, and almost unreadable in comparison to Wrede's other books. grrrr.
November 17, 2012
Princess Alethia is kidnapped by the neighboring kingdom, Lithmern, in advance of their invasion. She must escape and make her way back to warn her people.
Why I started it: I love Wrede's Dealing with Dragons and her other series Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. I wanted to read her earlier work.
Why I finished: While not as polished or delightful as the two series I mentioned above, this work shows the promise of what is to come and was pleasant.
Why I started it: I love Wrede's Dealing with Dragons and her other series Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. I wanted to read her earlier work.
Why I finished: While not as polished or delightful as the two series I mentioned above, this work shows the promise of what is to come and was pleasant.
December 22, 2014
Enjoyable book. Finishes rather fast and rather cleanly given the gigantic mess everything was turning into. Just one of those situations where you can see the plot be shoved in this or that direction instead of feeling more organic in nature. Still enjoyable though. Wish I hadn't read the "before the book starts" portion that goes into talk about this book series and how the 2nd book is set in the same world but has different characters in a different location. Still planning to read the series but I do prefer series to follow one set of characters..
September 16, 2016
Enjoyable run-of-the-mill early 80s fantasy complete with likable royalty (definitely pre-90s!) and snooty ersatz-elves - well-done and all-ages friendly (unlike the next book, Daughter of Witches) so you can see why Wrede did so well at her later YA novels. Stylistically, she would also have been a good match to have done series work for TSR when they were still publishing...
November 9, 2012
You can tell this is one of her earlier works, but it still shows a refined touch with her world building & character creation.
August 13, 2014
Pretty generic, even with the rewrites. However, this is Patricia Wrede's first book, so it's understandable.
June 20, 2019
This was ok, not great. It did improve in the final third, but I thought it could use a bit more character development. I guess I found the story a little too simply told.
December 25, 2022
3.25 It was probably a mistake to read a forty-year old progressvive fantasy novel right after a current-day one that blew my mind away. This is not a bad book by any reckoning, but feels dated. There is a female protagonist and she's the only character who comes slightly alive during the reading, the others feel mostly empty apart from two or three (or in some cases one) traits. The worldbuilding is a bit more interesting than usual for its day and age with the non-humans diverging from the standard setup, but the novel breaks down when it comes to the same-old ancient evil versus chosen one plot.
All in all still impressive for a first novel, but I kind of regret having sought out the somewhat hard to get later volumes in the series after reading the first Enchanted Forest novel. If you want to try Patricia C. Wrede's bools I suggest either Dealing with Dragons (middle-school fantasy) or Sorcery and Cecilia (Regency Fantasy). This is not a good starting point.
Bonus points for female agency and interesting non-humans, penalty for the obsession of ending each book with a marriage, though at least the romance takes third rank this time.
All in all still impressive for a first novel, but I kind of regret having sought out the somewhat hard to get later volumes in the series after reading the first Enchanted Forest novel. If you want to try Patricia C. Wrede's bools I suggest either Dealing with Dragons (middle-school fantasy) or Sorcery and Cecilia (Regency Fantasy). This is not a good starting point.
Bonus points for female agency and interesting non-humans, penalty for the obsession of ending each book with a marriage, though at least the romance takes third rank this time.
January 28, 2021
For some reason, I had a hard time getting into this book at first. I'm thinking it's a combination of having been her first published work, (the editing of which she addresses at the beginning of this new edition,) and the fact that it was written in 1982. In 2021, we have the cinematic fantasy of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter running through our imaginations and it's hard not to have this book reflect poorly against that. However, purposely removing those images allows me to see this book in the time and manner it was written. As such, it's a good first novel about a young woman fighting with her family and reclusive creatures of her world against a shadowy evil. A good read with decent action.
April 6, 2020
As many reviewers have pointed out, this is not Wrede’s best work. Still, I enjoyed it
December 22, 2020
3.5 stars - I'm leaning higher rather than lower.
This was a quick, easy, very simple fantasy novel! I did really like the clear pace, the main characters were interesting in their own way, and the plot while predictable was relatively easy to follow.
This was a quick, easy, very simple fantasy novel! I did really like the clear pace, the main characters were interesting in their own way, and the plot while predictable was relatively easy to follow.
April 26, 2021
Too much fantasy jargon introduced with awkward prose that tells without showing and switches between perspectives abruptly.
July 17, 2023
Kidnapped princess learns to trust the old tales of magic to save herself and the kingdom.
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