The Most Origional Take on Magic I've ever read

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	• Daughter Of Witches Patricia C. Wrede Ace, 1985 average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Rather good

This is a standard sword and sorcery type book, but if you like this sort of books. I thought it a bit too short but what there was of it was rather good.

clichéd, yes--but still a great read

Yes, there have come to be plenty of fantasy books about repressive societies, or downright evil societies--places where an uncommon gift is as good as a death sentence. Ranira, the main character, suffers slavery, persecution, bigotery, a highly repressive fanatic government that forces everyone to worship a truly evil being, and a variety of other harsh problems. The supporting characters (her friend the street urchin; a lecherous, power-hungry high priest; and a group of travellers from far more liberal countries who may be able to rescue Ranira--etc.) are not terribly unique. The plot isn't terribly original. In a literary sense, there's nothing terribly new about the way the book is written. It's not one of the best Lyra books.

But gee, it's still really entertaining. And for all that, it's really well done. Wrede's prose, as always (especially in her later books), is clear and compelling. You'll feel like you've read about similar characters before--but you'll still care about these. They may not be unique, but they're still interesting--same for the book in general. If you're looking for some really superb, classic fantasy, try _The Raven Ring_ (the last Lyra book, though they're not tied directly together and are told out of order, so it's OK to skip around). But if you just want a good, well-written fantasy book to read, or you're already a Wrede fan, you'll probably like this one, too.

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The Most Origional Take on Magic I've ever read

In most fantasy novels one reads, magic is an accepted form of making things happen. But not in this novel. Here, to do magic is to be a witch. To be a witch is to burn at the stake. Wrede's story follows a young girl, whose parents were burned as witches and herself sold to pay for their debts. And then she meets strangers who come to the inn where she works, strangers who are more than they seem, and who force her to confront what she really is. I have never read a book on magic in which magic was illegal before this. Patricia C Wrede's rendition of this storyline is breathtaking, forcing me to read the entire novel in one sitting or die of anticipation. The characters are likeable and rounded out, with orgins recognisable from previous Lyra novels. I highly recomend this and all other Patricia C Wrede novels for all ages of readers. (note: book can be found in the compiliation Shadows over Lyra as well)

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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