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meganac's review
4.0
“What are the thorns really telling her? It's why she won't let us see them, why she clings to them--or they cling to her--as though she got herself buried in a bramble thicket and she can't get out and we can't get in to free her."
It took me awhile to finish this one, but I rather liked it. It's told in an old-faerytale sort of way, almost dryly, focusing more on the detail of the world in a poetic way than the story itself, but it isn't boring or slow-paced. It reminded me of Arthurian retellings, and a bit like Lord of the Rings. Plus, fantasy worlds with libraries are my heartthrob.
This is the story of a young woman, called Nepenthe, orphaned and left for librarians to raise. When she is grown, she comes to translate a book written in some strange thorny alphabet that seems to call to her in a way other books have never done. She becomes obsessed with the thorns, much to the consternation of her friends. It is the story of a young student mage, unwittingly a force of change in the world by his interactions with Nepenthe. It is the story of a mage hundreds of years old, seeking to protect the kingdom and guide its royals. It is the story of Tessera, a girl thrust into queenship. And it is the story of Axis and Kane.
I loved the detail in this book, as well as the simultaneously explained backstory of Axis and Kane. This is a book that I would recommend, and I have a feeling Axis and Kane will be in my head for the rest of my life.
It took me awhile to finish this one, but I rather liked it. It's told in an old-faerytale sort of way, almost dryly, focusing more on the detail of the world in a poetic way than the story itself, but it isn't boring or slow-paced. It reminded me of Arthurian retellings, and a bit like Lord of the Rings. Plus, fantasy worlds with libraries are my heartthrob.
This is the story of a young woman, called Nepenthe, orphaned and left for librarians to raise. When she is grown, she comes to translate a book written in some strange thorny alphabet that seems to call to her in a way other books have never done. She becomes obsessed with the thorns, much to the consternation of her friends. It is the story of a young student mage, unwittingly a force of change in the world by his interactions with Nepenthe. It is the story of a mage hundreds of years old, seeking to protect the kingdom and guide its royals. It is the story of Tessera, a girl thrust into queenship. And it is the story of Axis and Kane.
I loved the detail in this book, as well as the simultaneously explained backstory of Axis and Kane. This is a book that I would recommend, and I have a feeling Axis and Kane will be in my head for the rest of my life.
synoptic_view's review against another edition
Really not sure how I felt about this one. For the first half of the book, it was heavy on tropes: orphan girl with a mysterious past working in an ancient library is embroiled in a love triangle. Nothing wrong with tropes per se, but I wasn't getting much out of them in this arraingment.
Things started picking up once the story within a story about Axis and Kane--the unstoppable king and his sorcerer-lover--developed more. The writing of that story was snappy and the plot was more novel. The frame story's writing was more stilted and relied too much on contrived puns about thorns, fish, and the like.
At the same time, I would love to discuss the story with someone who has read it and has more depth of experience with fantasy, fable, and precocious librarians who may or may not wear bell bandoliers (nudge, nudge Carly!). There might be more to this than I am getting, and with how easily this story went down, I am happy to read more by McKillip.
Things started picking up once the story within a story about Axis and Kane--the unstoppable king and his sorcerer-lover--developed more. The writing of that story was snappy and the plot was more novel. The frame story's writing was more stilted and relied too much on contrived puns about thorns, fish, and the like.
At the same time, I would love to discuss the story with someone who has read it and has more depth of experience with fantasy, fable, and precocious librarians who may or may not wear bell bandoliers (nudge, nudge Carly!). There might be more to this than I am getting, and with how easily this story went down, I am happy to read more by McKillip.
jacoboli's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
5.0
I've enjoyed many of Patricia McKillop's books, but I think this one is my favorites. A sweet not-too-long tale about a kingdom, a new queen, mages, a scribe and a book.
Maybe it was the edition of the scribes and a library in the story that did it for me. I liked this world that Patricia created and had to leave it too soon.
Maybe it was the edition of the scribes and a library in the story that did it for me. I liked this world that Patricia created and had to leave it too soon.
manolitagafotas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
portalfantasyreader's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
dmturner's review against another edition
5.0
McKillip's best
I love Patricia McKillip's fantasy novels, meandering and mesmerizing stories of people enmeshed in magic, but this one is my favorite. The love of language is part of it, and so are the intertwined stories of Tessera, Nepenthe, and Kane. It's worth a retread every few years.
I love Patricia McKillip's fantasy novels, meandering and mesmerizing stories of people enmeshed in magic, but this one is my favorite. The love of language is part of it, and so are the intertwined stories of Tessera, Nepenthe, and Kane. It's worth a retread every few years.
feelingferal's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Patricia McKillip is a dream to read. I love this book so much that I keep trying to pick it up and continue the story and then getting bummed when I remember I finished it already.