The World:
Most of the action happens on Eld Mountain, and in surrounding areas

The Characters:
As with most Patricia McKillip books, the characters, animal and human, are marvelous. At the center is Sybel, a young woman who is the daughter of a wizard and a mortal woman. Since the death of her father, she has lived completely alone on Eld Mountain…that is except for the strange and marvelous animals that were called to Eld by her grandfather and her father.

When she is 16, a man named Coren drops off a infant, the son of her mother’s sister. Raising the boy brings her back into the world of humans.

The Plot:
Her grandfather and father were wizards, and Sybel wants nothing more then to call other elusive animals to her too, including the fabulous Liralen. However, when Coren leaves her young nephew Tam with her to raise, she is dragged back into human affairs…for Tam is the son Sybel’s aunt, who was married to the King of Eldwold.

Sybel returns to the cares of the human race, and finds love and betrayal, but which is it that will endure?

This has got to be one of my all time favorite books. Sybel is a great heroine and the animals are fantastic. Coren is a strong hero, a perfect counterpart to Sybel. The story is beautifully told. 5 out of 5 amulets.

Go To Review Index | Go To Forum