Patricia A. McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (1974)
Though McKillip’s early novel has become a classic of fairy-tale-flavored fiction, a favorite genre of mine, I’ve somehow managed not to read it until now. I’m so glad I finally did, thanks to a new, beautifully designed paperback and e-book edition from Tachyon books. This is a lyrical, thoughtful exploration of love and power, pride and forgiveness and freedom, rich with evocative imagery and resonant language. I’ve already read it twice in a row, and I’m sure I’ll be returning to it again.
Daughter and heir of wizards, silver-haired Sybel lives on a mountaintop alone but for the magical beasts she’s captured with her powers. When a baby is brought to her to raise and love, then taken from her again as a boy, it draws her into the political machinations of the lands below. How she learns to find her own true strength is a tale that takes us deep into the secrets of the human heart, and out again into the dangerous, enchanting world.
I could say more, but I think it’s best to let McKillip speak for herself; a taste of her prose will quickly tell you whether this is a book for you.
“You are a strange child . . . so fearless and so powerful to hold such great, lordly beasts. I wonder you are not lonely sometimes.”
“Why should I be? I have many things to talk to. My father never spoke much—I learned silence from him, silence of the mind that is like clear, still water, in which nothing is hidden. That is the first thing he taught me, for if you cannot be so silent, you will not hear the answer when you call.”
——-
“You can weave your life so long — only so long, and then a thing in the world out of your control will tug at one vital thread and leave you patternless and subdued.”
——-
“What do you think love is- a thing to startle from the heart like a bird at every shout or blow? You can fly from me, high as you choose into your darkness, but you will see me always beneath you, no matter how far away, with my face turned to you. My heart is in your heart. I gave it to you with my name that night and you are its guardian, to treasure it, or let it whither and die. I do not understand you. I am angry with you. I am hurt and helpless, but nothing will fill the ache of the hollowness in me where your name would echo if I lost you.”
Though it has no external connection to Arthurian legend, there are thematic resonances in this tale of love lost and betrayed, of powerful, magical women, of the double-edged sword of passion and revenge. So I’m very excited that thanks to Tachyon, I’m able to offer a giveaway of this lovely book during Witch Week: Dreams of Arthur, taking place from October 31 to November 6 — plus another one of their new publications.
Which one? Come back on October 1 for more news about that, and the rest of the week.
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The Emerald City Book Review Archive 
Oooh – my copy of this arrived just the day before yesterday and I can hardly wait to get started on it! Although I only discovered her work this summer, Patricia McKillip is my crack! I am having to ration myself a bit.
Nice review!
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How wonderful, I hope you love it too!
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Interesting that this is being released now, as if the country needs more avenues for escape. I read and loved this one for the first time when I was fifteen, when every kid needs escapism!
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Escaping into a fantasy world is one way to deal with the problems of our own, if only by gathering strength from the realms of enchantment. In this case, I found some very timely messages about what hatred and vengefulness do to the human soul.
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It has been a long time since I read this kind of fantasy. The book sounds very good. I think that I would like it. I find that Arthurian influences to be typically plentiful in books of this type.
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If the quoted passages appeal to you, I think you would probably enjoy the book.
I agree the Arthurian influence is quite pervasive in modern fantasy, which is why I wanted to explore it during Witch Week.
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I love Patricia McKillip’s prose and her characters and her stories. I think she’s one of my favorite fantasy novelists. 🙂
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So far I think this and Winter Rose are my favorites of hers. What are yours?
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I am going to ask you what I asked Lark when she reviewed this book: Would this book be a good place to start with McKillip or do you have another title you would suggest? Thanks!
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I do think this would be a good place to start. As far as I recall her later books became a bit more elaborate, but this is a lovely, archetypal story that demonstrates her particular style.
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I have to admit I have never heard of this! But it sounds like something I would enjoy 🙂
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I think you might. I hope you’ll give it a try.
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That cover is STUNNING! Definitely going to have to check this out!
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McKillip has definitely scored with cover artists (check out some of her other novels with gorgeous artwork by Kinuko Craft). She deserves it, too.
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Ahh, this looks and sounds wonderful! I still have only read a collection of McKillip’s short stories. I will add this to the list of her novels that I should really get around to.
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I think you would really like it. And her other novels are very worth reading too.
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