The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

See my full review at The Emerald City Book Review. Though McKillip's early novel has become a classic of fairy-tale-flavored fiction, a favorite genre of mine, I've somehow managed not to read it until now. I'm so glad I finally did, thanks to a new, beautifully designed paperback and e-book edition from Tachyon books. This is a lyrical, thoughtful exploration of love and power, pride and forgiveness and freedom, rich with evocative imagery and resonant language. I've already read it twice in a row, and I'm sure I'll be returning to it again.

I am always hesitant to read 'old books', something about the language, the style, the themes that doesn't quite catch my interest.

Shame on me!

The Forgotten Beasts Of Eld is my first meeting with Mckillip and definitely not my last. The writing is a pleasure to read, poetic but not too much. I love that the MC is a woman who refuses anyone/any man to hold power over her (a theme my ignorant ass reckons is rare in a fantasy novel from the 70s?). It explores the question of who we become when we allow darkness into our hearts.

This book was surprisingly excellent! The writing was beautiful and the dialogue was great. The world and magic was enchanting. LOVED all the magical creatures. Honestly it's length works against it, in my opinion, because expanding out some of the conflicts would have been great. But I think she was very intentional with how long she made it.

My only issue is how much the second half focused on romance. It was still well done but for how short the book is, I would have liked a little more focus on the mother/son dynamic.

Still an excellent book that holds up very well.

9/10