Ill-Made Mute the (Gemstar) [Import] [Hardcover]

Cecilia Dart-Thornton (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Twtp Assorted (May 2001)
• ISBN-10: 075950332X
• ISBN-13: 978-0759503328
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning of a weird, wonderful trilogy, September 19, 2004

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ill-Made Mute the (Oeb) (Hardcover)

Cecilia Dart-Thornton's Bitterbynde trilogy reminds me of "The Worm Oroborous" by ER Eddison or "The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Lord Dunsany, in its power to describe a new and dream-like world. Reading "The Ill-Made Mute" was like looking through a series of Aubrey Beardsley drawings---the detail was minute, intense and unforgettable. There was so much description, it almost overwhelmed the plot.

In fact, there isn't much plot. This is a story of a mute, facially-scarred amnesiac who sets out on a journey to find someone with the right kind of magic to heal her. The plot is the journey, or the journey is the plot. Along the way, the ill-made mute interacts with flying horses, flying galleons, an Irishman straight out of a Mike and Pat joke, a treasure cave, unstorms, pirates, King's rangers, and eldritch wights. There is plenty of drama, and wondrous sights to see along the way. Read slowly and savor the rich text. Journey's end is only partially satisfying, but a wonderful sequel has already been published--"The Lady of the Sorrows"---I've already read it and it's even better than "The Ill-Made Mute." The third book of the trilogy, "The Battle of Evernight," came out in April, 2003 and wasn't quite as good as the first two, but you should still read it for the rather puzzling climax to the series.