fantasy

“I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons” by Peter S. Beagle

October 20, 2024 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

Recommended to me by: being a longtime fan of Peter Beagle’s work

Long ago, I read and loved Peter Beagle’s books “The Last Unicorn” and “Folk of the Air.” Later there were a string of books I didn’t like as much, but I see that I liked Summerlong back in 2016. This is his latest book, new in 2024.

“I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons” starts out with a main character with the quirky profession of dragon exterminator in a standard medieval fantasy setting . Then it intentionally and delightfully subverts all the expectations that come along with that setting. At 18, the main characters are grown adults, not children being sent on adventures. Their parents are very much present, complex characters in their own right. Women characters have as much strength and autonomy as the men, if not more. Men have emotions and tenderness right along with the women.

The book is complete in itself, and I would love to see a sequel in the same world. My only complaint is that it was over too soon.

Highly recommended.

Available at bookshop.org.

“Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry” by Rosalie K. Fry

January 27, 2024 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

Recommended to me by: Sanguinity

10-year-old Fiona McConville doesn’t thrive in the city, so she’s sent back to her beloved islands to live with her grandparents. Imbued with the fierce magic of the sea, this book shows what can happen when children and adults are attuned to the sea and to each other. The events in the story are not always gentle, but the storytelling is gentle and everything comes right in the end.

The pen and ink illustrations are also delightful. Highly recommended! Originally published in 1957.

Available at bookshop.org.

“Wizards at War” by Diane Duane

September 5, 2023 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

Subtitle: Young Wizards series #8

Recommended to me by: a friend

I saw a recommendation for this book right before a trip, and found an ebook at the library to download and take with me for airplane reading. It was enjoyable in that context. I had read the first few books in the series a long time ago.

The more I thought about it after finishing it, the more dubious I got. It is a Christian allegory that ends up being (perhaps unintentionally?) anti-Semitic in the parallels it draws. Over the years, I have lost my taste for personified powers and angsty teens, but I am far older than the target audience.

Available at bookshop.org.

“Chalice” by Robin McKinley

March 6, 2023 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

Recommended to me by: Fill to me the parting glass by someinstant, fan fiction for this book

This book is beautifully written with strong characters and relationships and an interesting system of magic. It pulled me right through it. It’s another Robin McKinley book with a capable young woman protagonist studying hard to get through challenging circumstances. Mirasol has more help and less desperation than some of her protagonists have had in past books, so it felt softer to read about her and her world. I loved her honey and bees.

When I stepped back to think about the world-building, the book is disappointingly xenophobic and patriarchal. There is a crisis because the land won’t accept an outblood Master (male and hereditary) under an Overlord (also male) and the Master is supported by a Chalice (female and not hereditary).

I would love to see the creativity that went into this book supporting alternatives to xenophobia and patriarchy instead of reinforcing them.

Available at bookshop.org.

“Tales From Moominvalley” by Tove Jansson

September 27, 2022 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

I found the old familiar paperback edition of this book, the one illustrated with a bored Moominpapa having tea, in a Little Free Library and took it home with me.

The stories are silly and fantastical, and also contain serious themes. Authenticity. Friendship. Attachment to things. Attachment to people. Fear and dread, and surprising resolutions that lighten them, sparks of life and light and love.

The endearing line drawings are also by Tove Jansson.

I read and enjoyed it, and then took it back to the Little Free Library where I found it, for someone else to enjoy.

Available at bookshop.org.

“The Changeling Sea” by Patricia McKillip

September 4, 2022 by Sonia Connolly Leave a Comment

Recommended to me by: People mourning McKillip

This book was first published in 1988, and it is one of the books by Patricia McKillip I have carried with me since I was a teenager. I didn’t love it the way I did the Riddle-Master trilogy or Forgotten Beasts of Eld, but I liked it enough to keep it through several purges of my SciFi and Fantasy paperbacks.

Sadly, McKillip died recently, and people mentioned The Changeling Sea as one of their favorites. I pulled it from the shelf and took it with me to spend time at my beloved Berkeley Rose Garden. It was the perfect book to read while sitting on a bench surrounded by roses.

I liked the theme of communication, using words carefully, and repairing ancient grudges and broken relationships. I was less pleased by an innocent 15-year-old village girl being treated as an appropriate romantic target by a traveling magician. The narrative doesn’t give his age, but he seems experienced enough to be at least 25, perhaps 30 years old. I wish young me had had books with better messages about adults protecting teen girls, rather than treating them like grown women.

Available at bookshop.org.