The Forgotten Beasts of Eld was my first book by author Patricia McKillip, and I am wondering how this young woman has slipped past me in a list of my authors I have to read. I absolutely LOVED this story.
This is the story of Sybel a young sorceress, and her rare magical powers and how she interacts with men after having lived in seclusion. It's also about the choices she makes with those powers. The author paints beautiful pictures of the magnificent isolation of the wizard woman's mountain, and the equally magnificent isolation of her soul.
If you like fantasy, this book is very perfect for you. What makes the Forgotten Beasts of Eld even better than the usual tales is the characters, including the beasts who are wistful and sarcastic. Great read for lovers of fantasy and mythical lore., very much enjoy this story. Looking forward to reading more works by this author.

At first this read like the highest of fantasy, somewhere between Eddison, Dunsany and Flight of Dragons - so rarefied as to make the War of the Ring read like grubby sword and sorcery. Atop a mountain lives the enchantress Sybel with a menagerie of fantastic beasts she's called to her, doing her best to stay out of the petty squabbles of humankind, content in the companionship of these majestic creatures. Until, inevitably, the world intrudes. But even then the story remains melancholy, idyllic, light on event...until suddenly it doesn't. And with one unspeakable act, we're tipped into a much darker book about consent, and the cycle of violence, and how you can never be wholly certain you won't lose those you love unless you're prepared to make yourself unloveable in the process. And in both modes, the story is equally spellbinding, and equally beautiful in its ornate Pre-Raphaelite prose. With one galling exception: the names. I know they're one of the sticking points some people have with fantasy as a whole; here they're enough to test even a fantasy fan. Drede. Rok and his brother Eorth - the latter's son is of course Eorthling. Hell, the most fearsome of all the beasts is called Blammor, which sounds like a rejected Transformer. But that aside, gorgeous.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a dazzling example of McKillip's dreamlike prose and attention to detail and to character that makes her one of the grandmasters of fantasy today. On its surface, it's an enjoyable and magical quest story. Underneath, however, are layers of thought on gender roles, class and society that are deftly woven in throughout the tale, but never in a way that feels out-of-place with the world she has created.

It's been almost 20 years since I read The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, and I'm pleased to say it remains just as relevant and enjoyable as ever. Mckillip's craftsmanship and faerie tale aesthetic is beautifully displayed throughout, with a strong and capable, sympathetic heroine and an engaging, if traditional storyline. While the fact a baby is unceremoniously given to her to raise without prior consent is a bit irksome, that thankfully doesn't detract from how inviting, exciting and fun the rest of the story is. There's no doubt this is a fantasy classic, and I hope this new edition will help a new generation of readers discover this delightful tale.

This is one of those classic fantasy novels people are always recommending to me, but it was never available in a digital format so I was kind of like eh. But now it is being reissued--with an intro by Gail Carriger!--and will finally be available digitally. It's the story of a young wizard girl, from a line of wizards who care for fantastic creatures of legend, and what happens when a young warrior brings her an infant prince to care for. I will say that it is somewhat rapey (and the protagonist is threatened with even worse things, it is all very upsetting, should we blame it on a 1974 publication date or nah?) but it is beautifully written and well-plotted and moving and etc. Lessons are learned and hugs are given. Good times. A-/B+.