Customer Reviews

Harpy's Flight

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I first read this book (and the other books of the Windsinger series) about 15 years ago. I know I enjoyed it then. I have enjoyed many fantasy novels over the years, and occasionally I have enjoyed rereading them. But I have never felt compelled, after so many years, to seek out a book which was out of print. When I finally got a hold of Harpy's Flight, I found I remembered the central characters vividly, but the plot seemed new and fresh. Ki has lost her family in a brutal attack by harpies, sentient flying creatures. Her first thought is vengeance, and then survival. Along the way, she meets a down and out adventurer, Vandien, when he makes an unsuccessful attempt to rob her. The central characters, Ki and Vandien, are tough, strong, and very human. Their relationship, as they confront dangers, grows in a measured, realistic way. They do not solve each other's problems, but they do help each other survive. As I continued reading, I found some insight as to why I felt so drawn to this particular book at this time of my life. It is about letting go of the past and making a positive decision to live in the face of loss. In the midst of a rich, brightly colored, and strange world, Lindholm somehow draws you in to experience the most intense and sensual grief, anger, love, and compassion, and to make it your own. (Is this a kind of surrealism?) This book is a classic of fantasy literature, and should never have gone out of print.

Harpy's Flight is the beginning of Megan Lindholm's Windersinger trilogy, which, although overlooked by many and often regarded as just another couple of fantasy novels, stands far out of the crowd. Lindholm created a vivid world and tells us enough of it to understand the deeper mechanisms that keep it working but still leaves enough to the reader to let him fill in the rest with his own imagination. In Harpy's Flight character development seems a little shaky compared to the following novels, but Ki and Vandien, the two main protagonists, are highly enjoyable to be acquainted with. There are some quite surprising twists in the story and the book will keep you glued to it to find out what it all comes down to. You probably won't regret buying this book.

Love, magic and blood is what this tale is about. Ki is an outcast, partly because of what happened to her family and partly by her own actions. Now she must decide, where is she going, what will she become? But what goes around comes around and, after getting her revenge, it looks like she may end up running for her life. The problem is, who is she running from and who can she trust?
I was first exposed to the skill of Megan Lindholm when I read a short fantasy story starring Ki and Vandien while in college, in the early 90s. I was very impressed by the friendship between the male character and female character. They were partners in arms but not lovers. It seemed fresh, interesting and didn't in any way take away from the story.
So a few weeks ago, looking for some good fantasy to read I searched for a novel with the same characters. And I was not disappointed as you can plainly see.

This is the first volume of the Windsingers tetralogy (before The Windsingers, The Limbreth Gate and Luck of the Wheels).

Ki is an outcast Romni young woman travelling with her wagon and Sigmund and Sigurd, two grays horses, as sole possession, and set on crossing the ice-clad Sisters' mountain pass and delivering her freight.

On the way she almost kills Vandien in self-defense when the hungry and shabby-looking man tries to steal one of her horses to cross the pass. Instead they decide to ride together, although Vandien will try several times to talk her out of taking this road with her wagon.

The narrative alternates between the present, with the tale of Ki and Vandien's growing friendship as they face dire perils together, and the past, when Ki reminisces about the events that lead her here. In these episodes, the reader discovers her story: the violent death of her husband and two children, murdered by Harpies, her hunger for revenge and attack on a Harpies' nest, her time with her husband's family, trying to respect their customs and rites and finally leaving, her cousin-in-law Haftor urging her to take the Sisters' Pass.

Harpy's Flight is Megan Lindholm's first novel, written in 1982, and although I didn't find it as thrilling as her later trilogies written as Robin Hobb, I was delighted to discover she already had that amazing style and writing talent.

Let me just say I LOVE this book. I received it when I was 12 and here at 22 I still enjoy it. Young adults and adults alike will not be able to put this book down. I wouldn't recommend it for a preteen just because some parts are hard to understand and it can get kind of grizzly.

This book is so much better than the sequels that I cannot adequately describe the difference. I enjoyed the book but hoped for the same entertainment in the sequels. While not deserving of superlatives, this is a decent read.

This author has the gift of writing stories--good, taut stories. This book is fun to read, though not as riveting as the books she wrote as Robin Hobb--I believe the ones she wrote as Megan Lindholm are the earlier works? Good serviceable prose, and well imagined and conceived settings. Familiar themes, but new stories--pleasant, engaging book. Not Shakespeare perhaps, but neither has she the slightest aspiration that way. She sets out to entertain, and she succeeds.

The plot was limited, and the conclusion obtuse, but the beautiful scenes were a pleasure to read. I've read some of Robin Hobb's other works, which are also wonderful, and I can see her apprenticeship in this novel.

You must read this book. You will feel like you are there in the book, and it is one of thoose books that leaves you feeling good. If you like books by Tamora Pierce or Elizabeth Moon you will love Harpy's Flight. I think it's orignal thought and not so long that you tire of reading story. Even though it is out of print you should do anything to get your hands on this book.