Sybel, part wizard, continues the search and collection of magical beasts that her father Ogam and his father, Myk, also part wizards, had started. She communicates with them either by speech, or most often through telepathy. They keep her company, offer protection and advice.

I love that these animals can be divided into the four elements, symbolically associated with specific character traits to each.

This is definitely a women's tale, and a coming of age. It tells of Sybel, who cares not for other humans but her father who teaches her everything. But, when she is 16, a man brings her a baby to raise, and she is faced with emotions she never knew before. She discovers herself, her femininity, her strengths and weakness, and the various roles she can have as a person.

In this cautionary tale of hatred and revenge, Sybel plays into political intrigue between two blood enemies that have fought before, and who both want to use powerful wizard powers to crush the opponent once and for all - but all she wants is her own freedom to do as she pleases and yield to no man.

I find interesting that the author chose not to reveal everything in the processes that Sybel is experiencing and her decision making - sometimes this is done one or several pages later, and the suspense is very well built.
Often poetic, i liked the fluid writing style and how Sybel's psychology and her coming of age includes the symbols of fear, death and their acceptance, as well as division of light and dark, and in spite of a few words that seem obviously inspired from JRR Tolkien, the story itself is very different from his - and created a very different kind of romance novel, where fantasy, magical beasts, telepathy and a woman's self-discovery are all intertwined and form one coherent tale, divided into rather long 12 chapters that are easy to read thanks to the fluidity.

I highly recommend, in spite of the mentions of hunting, furs and a few non veg meals ; all these aren't the focus of the story.

Score 9/10 !

This was a beautiful story with a lot of depth buried beneath its fantastical surface. The magical beasts were great, but really it was Sybel’s journey to find herself that made this book so satisfying.

I’ve been struggling with trying to write a review for this book.

Overall, it’s not a bad story, it reads very much like a traditional fairy tale which I liked. However, I wanted it to dig so much deeper than it did which is why I feel very torn. I think I would have liked it more if I read it when I was younger, which isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but I just wanted a bit more time with the characters and their feelings.

2.5 stars. I’m rather disappointed with this one, but I can see why a lot of people like it. If you’re a fan of faerie tales, or study them, this one’s for you. I, unfortunately, have grown sick and tired of faerie tales and most of their discourse. I feel like I needed to have read this novel when it first came out, before the media got flooded with faerie tale discourse left right and centre.

That isn’t to say I didn’t appreciate Sybel as a protagonist—she’s feminist as heck and I love her for it. But I felt her relationship with Coren (who’s an egocentric ass, in my opinion) was wooden and forced. Tam’s home-away-home-again journey was also fairly on rails and I wasn’t invested in his growth.

Where the novel really shined was Sybel’s inner journey and her struggle with the patriarchal structures of society that tried to tie her and her innate powers down. Maelga was an interesting side character and sort of foil to Sybel as well. The rest wasn’t really for me.

4.5 stars.

I mean this book is fine but I’m beginning to think I’m just not a fan of McKillip’s style. I liked the intense revenge narrative though.

Very nice fantasy with wars, witches, wizards, and magical animals. Even with all this, the book feels like a dream.