ISBN: 0-446-52832-3 Order from: Amazon.com
A conventional, sometimes too-verbose plot with derivative elements nevertheless works well in this quest-type fantasy due to a loving and skilled treatment of folklore, and the charm of the protagonist.
Reviewed by David on August 24, 2001
Genre: Fantasy (Celtic, Coming of Age, Magic)
Synopsis: In a wonderous world populated by perilous wights, most people huddle in cities and fortresses. When a disfugured, mute child is found near one of the great towers, it's given a precarious position as the lowest of the servants. Despite the child's desire to please, and skill with animals, his awful appearance and lack of allies result in nothng but abuse.
Running away into the wight-infested forest may be almost suicidal, but its temptation is strong for one bereft of speech and memory of the past, but left with burning curiousity.
Thus begins a great adventure, full of danger and pain, and occasional wonder.
Full Review: The world Bitterbynde is populated with English and mostly Irish fairy, true to folk stories, and sprinkled with Gaelic and occasional Old English.
As we follow the amnesiac child, we learn of the world, with its wonders and terrors, simultaneously discovering the protagonist's character. It's a colorful, rich world, full of old enmities and adventures, magical artifacts, and deadly, but rule-bound fairy.
One problem with this book is the faithful, and therefore overly familiar nature of its wonders—mostly taken verbatim from the folk tales. In an attempt to show many different types of fairy, the narrative is largely exploratory, with little connectivity or consistency in the types of magic encountered. Some of the main characters also follow the familiar stereotypes, from Irish legends, and more recently, Celtic fantasies.
For the large part of the story, the main protagonist is largely passive, acting mostly to escape the deadly dangers encountered on the journey.
The novel does take its sources seriously, and with some rambling, exhibits them lovingly and in detail. The protagonist is young and engaging, maturing somewhat over the length of the book, and exhibiting more active behavior towards the end.
There are rumors of a larger conflict, and this novel suffers—or perhaps improves—by clearly being the first in a series.
All in all, despite its lack of originality, the engaging characters and the care with which familiar elements are incorporated into the plot produces a pleasant result, and makes the reader look forward to the series' continuation.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 2001, Warner Books (Aspect), May 2001, Cloth, 437 pages
ISBN: 0-446-52832-3 Order from: Amazon.com