Book Review: Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip
Title: Alphabet of Thorn
Author: Patricia A. McKillip
Published: New York: Penguin, 2005 (2004)
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 300
Total Page Count: 176,285
Text Number: 516
Read Because: fan of the author & mentioned in OK, where do I start with that? M (in comments), ebook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: Deep within underground libraries, an orphaned translator obsesses over a book written in thorns; an aged magician searches for a threat against the kingdom; a young queen comes into power as the monarch of Raine. This has the makings of epic fantasy, right down to the second world setting and the entwining prophecies of the plot, but McKillip's gaze is inward. The settings are domestic, the politics private; McKillip creates a dreamy, evocative magic that compliments rather than overshadowing subtle personal aspects. I find epic fantasy wearisome, but adored this deviation from traditionit's beautiful, sympathetic, and the perfect escape. It's also the most accessible McKillip that I've read so far (though not the most profound), and probably a good starting place.
One of my favorite trope inversions in literature is in Patricia A. McKillip's Alphabet of Thorn, and is the moment that it became my favorite of her books and went onto my to-buy list.
The protagonist is a young woman with a childhood friend and fellow orphan who has been in love with her for approximately forever; she doesn't reciprocate, but neither does she particularly mind. In the meantime, she falls in love with a beautiful wayward son of a nobleman, rich probably, studying to be a wizard definitely; he reciprocates. But in the midst of this love triangle, the protagonist is busy solving the book's central mystery.
There's a scene in the second half of the book when the protagonist has disappeared and orphan and goldenboy end up waiting together for her to return. They start to bicker, which they've been doing since establishing their romantic rivalry, because this is a love triangle and bickering is required. And that's a pity, because they both have valuable aid to provide the protagonist, and should stop competing for her attention and just help her.
And thenand I swear this is true!they look at each other and say, approximately, "you know, we both have valuable aid to provide her, and should stop competing for her attention and just help, because I love her, and you love her, and love is based in respect rather than a territorial pissing contest." And then they do! for the rest of the book!!
and then they became one of my OT3s
It's a sort of subtextual proto-polyamory, especially since the love rivals discover they have a productive, enjoyable synergy; but even that weren't there, the fact that there the book refuses a competitive model of romance, rejecting plot-hindering social drama in favor of plot-progressing cooperation, is phenomenal.
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Author: Patricia A. McKillip
Published: New York: Penguin, 2005 (2004)
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 300
Total Page Count: 176,285
Text Number: 516
Read Because: fan of the author & mentioned in OK, where do I start with that? M (in comments), ebook borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: Deep within underground libraries, an orphaned translator obsesses over a book written in thorns; an aged magician searches for a threat against the kingdom; a young queen comes into power as the monarch of Raine. This has the makings of epic fantasy, right down to the second world setting and the entwining prophecies of the plot, but McKillip's gaze is inward. The settings are domestic, the politics private; McKillip creates a dreamy, evocative magic that compliments rather than overshadowing subtle personal aspects. I find epic fantasy wearisome, but adored this deviation from traditionit's beautiful, sympathetic, and the perfect escape. It's also the most accessible McKillip that I've read so far (though not the most profound), and probably a good starting place.
One of my favorite trope inversions in literature is in Patricia A. McKillip's Alphabet of Thorn, and is the moment that it became my favorite of her books and went onto my to-buy list.
The protagonist is a young woman with a childhood friend and fellow orphan who has been in love with her for approximately forever; she doesn't reciprocate, but neither does she particularly mind. In the meantime, she falls in love with a beautiful wayward son of a nobleman, rich probably, studying to be a wizard definitely; he reciprocates. But in the midst of this love triangle, the protagonist is busy solving the book's central mystery.
There's a scene in the second half of the book when the protagonist has disappeared and orphan and goldenboy end up waiting together for her to return. They start to bicker, which they've been doing since establishing their romantic rivalry, because this is a love triangle and bickering is required. And that's a pity, because they both have valuable aid to provide the protagonist, and should stop competing for her attention and just help her.
And thenand I swear this is true!they look at each other and say, approximately, "you know, we both have valuable aid to provide her, and should stop competing for her attention and just help, because I love her, and you love her, and love is based in respect rather than a territorial pissing contest." And then they do! for the rest of the book!!
and then they became one of my OT3s
It's a sort of subtextual proto-polyamory, especially since the love rivals discover they have a productive, enjoyable synergy; but even that weren't there, the fact that there the book refuses a competitive model of romance, rejecting plot-hindering social drama in favor of plot-progressing cooperation, is phenomenal.
Dreamwidth entry mirror. Comment count:
.