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kathydavie's review
3.0
A standalone fantasy novel.
My Take
I'm not sure if it's an alphabet or a language of which McKillip writes. She describes an alphabet using thorny lines but when she writes of Nepenthe analyzing the individual "letters", it sounds more like each letter is a word in a language. A minor detail as the alphabet is simply a background for the tale of the orphan, Nepenthe, and how she and her obsession with the alphabet of thorns affects the lives of everyone around her.
McKillip writes so lyrically of a kingdom undergoing political change as she provides us with its history. Her imagination is amazing as she creates a complete culture both similar and so different from her other stories. Its critical moment is astonishing in its uniqueness and breaks your heart with its conclusion.
Part of me is appalled by Kane's decision and yet either choice is wrong. McKillip's characters work their way into your heart, yes, even Axis even though you want to smack him.
The Story
Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. She knows little of the outside world — except for the documents that traders and travelers bring her to interpret.
Then, during the coronation of the new Queen of Raine, a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation. Written in a language of thorns, it speaks to Nepenthe's soul — and becomes her secret obsession. And, as the words escape the brambles and reveal themselves, Nepenthe finds her destiny entwined with that of the young queen's. Sooner than she thinks, she will have to choose between the life she has led and the life she was born to lead…
The Cover and Title
The cover is odd with its jewel-like back and so very muted front.
The title is Nepenthe's challenge, translating the Alphabet of Thorn.
My Take
I'm not sure if it's an alphabet or a language of which McKillip writes. She describes an alphabet using thorny lines but when she writes of Nepenthe analyzing the individual "letters", it sounds more like each letter is a word in a language. A minor detail as the alphabet is simply a background for the tale of the orphan, Nepenthe, and how she and her obsession with the alphabet of thorns affects the lives of everyone around her.
McKillip writes so lyrically of a kingdom undergoing political change as she provides us with its history. Her imagination is amazing as she creates a complete culture both similar and so different from her other stories. Its critical moment is astonishing in its uniqueness and breaks your heart with its conclusion.
Part of me is appalled by Kane's decision and yet either choice is wrong. McKillip's characters work their way into your heart, yes, even Axis even though you want to smack him.
The Story
Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. She knows little of the outside world — except for the documents that traders and travelers bring her to interpret.
Then, during the coronation of the new Queen of Raine, a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation. Written in a language of thorns, it speaks to Nepenthe's soul — and becomes her secret obsession. And, as the words escape the brambles and reveal themselves, Nepenthe finds her destiny entwined with that of the young queen's. Sooner than she thinks, she will have to choose between the life she has led and the life she was born to lead…
The Cover and Title
The cover is odd with its jewel-like back and so very muted front.
The title is Nepenthe's challenge, translating the Alphabet of Thorn.
caramm's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
shadesofwind's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
abey's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
katiequack's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kbhenrickson's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This one started off slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I like how the pieces all came together in a way that was unexpected and did not play to typical fantasy outcomes.
laurasullivan's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dreamreader's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Is this a sign that I actually don't like Patricia A. McKillip? I loved The Forgotten Beasts of Eld and The Changeling Sea so much. Those are perfect books. But the last three McKillip books I've tried to read I've either DNF'd or should have DNF'd. This is a book I should have DNF'd. A classic case for me of the concept being better than the execution, though I think McKillip's writing is as lovely as ever. What doesn't work for me is how dreamy and ephemeral this book is. The rules aren't hard enough. Even if a fantasy is set in a secondary world, as a reader my personal preference is that it feels real, that there are rules grounding this world, and that the characters are tethered in some way to reality. This book is beautiful, but it doesn't feel tethered in any sort of built reality, and so I really struggled with it. I have three more unread McKillip books on my shelves (that's how certain I was that I was going to love everything she's ever written) and now I'm scared that she just isn't my taste, aside from the two books mentioned above.