244:..., McKillip weaves a magic spell of words almost as intoxicating as a drug. The result will depend on readers; some will find its effect addictive, while others will be confused and long for a breath of fresh air. ... The language, though, is either the glory or the curse of the novel. For those who enjoy smoky misdirection and brilliant word pictures, this book will be a feast. All others, be wary."
212:
Afterwards a magical firebird arrives, whose anguished cries and fiery breath transform people and things into jeweled trees. Moonlight restores them to their original forms, and the firebird to his--that of a tormented, partly amnesiac young man named Brand, son and heir of Draken, half-dragon king
208:
Meguet stands guard outside a council meeting when the wily, powerful mage Rad Ilex invades the chamber, seeking an ancient object of power hidden in the castle. Meguet and Nyx are able to resist his spell, and Nyx, ignorant of what the mage is looking for, bars Rad from his search.
255:, often tedious plot has too much pursuit and discussion, and not enough direct conflict and dramatic tension. Despite an atmospheric setting, intriguing characters and some interesting magical ideas, this sequel lacks the vitality of its predecessor."
219:
To save her cousin, free Brand, and learn the cause of Rad and Draken's enmity, Nyx travels to distant
Saphier across the eerie, dragon-haunted desert of Luxour, whose slumbering denizens Draken seems intent on awakening.
204:
Two strangers disrupt the settled life of the inhabitants of Ro
Holding, the Hold of the Cygnet, and particularly cousins, Meguet Vervaine, warrior-maid, and Nyx, sorceress and daughter of the Holder Lauro Ro.
183:
in
September 1993, with a paperback following from the same publisher in September 1995. The first British edition was published in paperback by Pan Books in July 1994. It was subsequently combined with
216:
The thwarted Rad, returning, fights Brand and is wounded. He flees, abducting Meguet. Nyx follows, having found what Rad seeks, a magical key containing the spells of the long-dead wizard
Chrysom.
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rates the novel "ften charming and inventive, but the plot runs out of steam about halfway through. Rather a disappointment after previous high standards."
786:
27:
342:
213:
of the land of
Saphier. Unraveling the mystery of Brand's enchantment and breaking the curse on him become prime goals of the protagonists.
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finds it "dreamlike" with "imagery ... distinctively dramatic—colorful, evocative, and occasionally surreal."Cushman, Carolyn. Review in
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calls it "eautiful, intricate ... McKillip's writing again has the same cool elegance that makes it a pleasure to read."
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288:), and stress its "ush imagery and wry humor ... McKillip's rich language ... conveys real strangeness and power." (
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192:, issued in trade paperback by Ace Books in March 2007. It has also been translated into
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175:. Despite a mixed reception, it was nominated for the 1994
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finds the book an "adequate but lackluster follow-up to
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Other reviews describe it as "an entertaining read" (
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Blurbs quoted on the cover of the paperback edition.
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295:The book was also reviewed by Roslyn K. Gross in
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309:Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
177:Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
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383:v. 90, iss. 2, September 15, 1993, page 132.
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179:. It was first published in hardcover by
396:v. 61, iss. 14, July 15, 1993, page 898.
370:v. 240, iss. 30, July 26, 1993, page 61.
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328:
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313:Locus Poll Award for Best Fantasy Novel
343:Internet Speculative Fiction Database
307:The novel was nominated for the 1994
7:
311:, and placed fifteenth in the 1994
586:The Throme of the Erril of Sherill
357:v. 40, iss. 5, May 1994, page 143.
281:no. 391, August 1993.</ref>
14:
169:, a sequel to her earlier novel
787:Novels by Patricia A. McKillip
741:Wonders of the Invisible World
366:Steinberg, Sybil S. Review in
1:
578:The House on Parchment Street
524:The Sorceress and the Cygnet
353:Chauvette, Cathy. Review in
253:The Sorceress and the Cygnet
188:into the omnibus collection
186:The Sorceress and the Cygnet
172:The Sorceress and the Cygnet
144:The Sorceress and the Cygnet
20:The Cygnet and the Firebird
594:The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
532:The Cygnet and the Firebird
338:The Cygnet and the Firebird
241:The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
155:The Cygnet and the Firebird
808:
634:Something Rich and Strange
232:notes that, "s she did in
610:Stepping From the Shadows
379:Green, Roland. Review in
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749:Dreams of Distant Shores
462:The Riddle-Master of Hed
782:American fantasy novels
706:The Bards of Bone Plain
698:The Bell at Sealey Head
674:In the Forests of Serre
658:The Tower at Stony Wood
642:The Book of Atrix Wolfe
299:no. 77, November 2001.
235:The Riddlemaster of Hed
355:School Library Journal
247:Sybil S. Steinberg in
230:School Library Journal
31:Cover of first edition
650:Song for the Basilisk
505:The Moon and the Face
454:Riddle-Master trilogy
341:title listing at the
772:1993 American novels
733:Harrowing the Dragon
470:Heir of Sea and Fire
447:Patricia A. McKillip
167:Patricia A. McKillip
41:Patricia A. McKillip
777:1993 fantasy novels
543:Winter Rose duology
478:Harpist in the Wind
271:Carolyn Cushman in
228:Cathy Chauvette in
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626:The Changeling Sea
570:Stand-alone novels
286:Australian SF News
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682:Alphabet of Thorn
368:Publishers Weekly
249:Publishers Weekly
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725:Collections
551:Winter Rose
766:Categories
714:Kingfisher
618:Fool's Run
497:Moon-Flash
392:Review in
224:Reception
181:Ace Books
87:Ace Books
83:Publisher
51:John Howe
690:Od Magic
381:Booklist
260:Booklist
238:... and
57:Language
290:Starlog
200:Summary
160:fantasy
77:Fantasy
60:English
752:(2016)
744:(2012)
736:(2005)
717:(2016)
709:(2010)
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693:(2005)
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669:(2002)
661:(2000)
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645:(1995)
637:(1994)
629:(1988)
621:(1987)
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589:(1973)
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562:(2006)
554:(1996)
535:(1993)
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508:(1985)
500:(1984)
481:(1979)
473:(1977)
465:(1976)
303:Awards
194:French
190:Cygnet
146:
65:Series
37:Author
443:Works
319:Notes
279:Locus
274:Locus
163:novel
158:is a
119:Pages
73:Genre
128:ISBN
98:1993
445:by
165:by
122:233
768::
327:^
315:.
292:)
196:.
435:e
428:t
421:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
