First book of a rich, absorbing fantasy

books:


	• Riddle-Master of Hed #01 Patricia A. McKillip Del Rey Books, 1989 average customer review:based on 1 review
	for more information click here

First book of a rich, absorbing fantasy

Reading "The Riddle-Master of Hed" is like trying to solve the riddle of someone else's partially-glimpsed dream. You enter a rich world of metaphor, sometimes baffling but always beautiful. A standard hero's quest is overgrown with fabulous beasts, children of stone, and death-dealing harps.

When Land-Ruler Morgon of Hed wins a bride and a crown in a riddling contest with a ghost, he wipes the cow manure off of his boots and sets sail from his tiny island kingdom. Unsure as to whether his beautiful, red-haired prize has any interest in marrying a farmer-king, Morgon sets course for the College of Riddle-Masters at Caithnard, where he was once a student and where his bride's brother still resides. His companion for the journey is Deth, the thousand-year-old High One's harpist.

Morgon and Deth are shipwrecked, and once Morgon regains his memory he discovers that he has unknown, shape-changing enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy him. As he flees through the kingdoms of his world, he is befriended by the various land-rulers and is gifted with a harp and a sword that are decorated with three stars--identical to the birthmark of stars on his forehead. He also learns how to change his own shape into beasts and trees.

Finally Morgon makes his way to Erlenstar Mountain with Deth, the harpist, hoping that the High One will solve the riddle of his stars and defend him against his implacable enemies.

Warning: don't read "The Riddle-Master of Hed" without the last two books of the trilogy at hand. The ending of the first book is a completely unexpected sucker-punch, and although "Heir of Sea and Fire" ends by reconciling Morgon with his bride Raederle, they are both still being pursued by a very nasty wizard and an equally nasty horde of shape-changers. You have to read to the very end of this absorbing trilogy before you find even a tentative glimmering of peace and happiness at the end of "Harpist in the Wind."

for more information click here

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

riddle

The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a ...
The Everything Kids' Joke Book: Side-Splitting, Rib-Tickling Fun ...
I Spy Treasure Hunt (I Spy)
500 Hilarious Jokes for Kids (Signet)
Dolphins at Daybreak (Magic Tree House, No. 9) (A Stepping Stone ...

search for books
hed, master, riddle, riddle-master

Impressum / about us