Review: The Riddle by Alison Croggon
Title: The Riddle (Book Two of the Pellinor Quartet)
Author: Alison Croggon
Pages: 490
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: A
Challenge: The 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge
So this book continues where The Naming left off ( review here). Maerad and Cadvan are trying to figure out the Riddle of the Treesong and also trying to stay alive as they are pursued by evil forces. Maerad comes into the hands of the Winterking and must try to solve the riddle and also escape his grasp.
I really, really enjoyed this book. Compared to the Naming, it definitely progresses the main plot more fully and some revelations are made. The book is very well written, perhaps even more so plot-wise than the Naming but in general I enjoyed the Naming more. First, not all the same characters are in this book which focuses more on Maerad than anything else and also because some of the new characters didn't stand out to me as much as the ones in the Naming did. Don't get me wrong, I still believe this is one of the best YA fantasies I ever read and I am eager to finish the series.
I really liked the beginning of the Riddle, there are some pretty awesome battles of magic and I also liked the scenes with the WinterKing. These books really give off an air of sophistication and detail that I don't always find in YA fantasy.
Anyways, bottom line is if you haven't read the Naming or the Riddle yet, do so. They are YA fantasy must reads. A
Currently Reading: The Crow by Alison Croggon