Read for the Once Upon a Time VII Reading Challenge.
The Prince of Ombria is dead, leaving only his young son to follow him, and those that love the young prince are not able to keep him from the influence of Domina Pearl, whose malevolent presence has loomed over the House of Greve for centuries. Ducon Greve, the Prince’s bastard cousin, as well as Lydea, the old Prince’s mistress, who loves the young prince like a son, have been banished from the young Prince’s presence, and sent out into Ombria.
In Ombria, the shadows have the run of the place, and history seems to be leaking into the present. Both Ducon and Lydea separately meet a mysterious sorceress and her familiar, who may hold the key to saving the young Prince, and all of Ombria.
What I really loved about this book was the atmosphere – you could see the shadows, and feel the ghosts of history that the Sorceress Faey and her waxling Mag lived with in their underworld home. The mysteries surrounding the Greve family, Ducon’s father, and the origins of Domina Pearl were heavy over the story, and it was a real joy to swim through the details. Once again, I have to profess my undying love of Patricia McKillip’s work.
I love her writing, too! This is definitely on my TBR list.
I haven't read this author yet but I am intending to do so as part of my Women of Genre fiction challenge. I like the sound of this one. Would you say this would be the best one to start with?
Lynn 😀
Hmm. Yeah, I think this would be an ok one to start with, though I usually give Winter Rose to friends if I'm doing a McKillip introduction.
McKillip does have a tendency to throw you into the action with little explanation, which can be a little confusing. I'd say this one is in the middle of her scale for that.
What a gorgeous cover! Kinuko Y. Craft, right? Sounds like the book evokes a similar magical atmosphere…I've really got to read McKillip one of these days!
Yep, it's a Craft cover. She's done some gorgeous stuff for the McKillip books she's done.