From Publishers Weekly
The eponymous heroine of this fantasy, the conclusion to Vance's Lyonesse trilogy, is the quarrelsome, spunky, forthright princess of Lyonesse, who was born out of wedlock--or so she is led to believe. When she discovers that she's actually a changeling left by fairies in place of a baby boy, she sets out, with her servant and companion Pymfyd, to find her true identity. Madouc locates her mother, the fairy Twisk, easily enough, but her paternity poses a problem: Twisk is not certain who fathered her child. After many adventures, Madouc returns home in disgrace. Meanwhile, her uncle, King Casmir, attempts to conquer the whole island of Hybras, on which Lyonesse is located, and thwart the prophesy of Persilian the Magic Mirror that his sister's son would one day rule. He is foiled at every turn by King Aillas of Troicinet and his son Dhrun, who is actually the child of the prophesy, but is older than expected because of a youth spent in the fairy shee (home), where time runs differently. A sly mixture of satire and epic, Vance's medieval tale is a delight.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA-- A complex fantasy filled with adventure, drama, political intrigue, and even a bit of comedy. Teens will identify with Maduoc, the key young figure who does not fit in at the royal household where she is raised. She is mischievious, rebellious, and inquisitive as she seeks to learn the identity of her "pedigree," as she refers to her parentage. Gradually the mystery unravels: the daughter of a fairy, Maduoc, was switched with an infant boy at birth. The king must not learn the identity of the other child as he would kill him to prevent the prophecy of a royal takeover from coming true. There are other quests for power--between kings and between magicians and wizards in this intricate tale. Although many students will be attracted by the enticing cover, not all will be able to follow the detailed plot and college vocabulary. Those who do will be entertained by a creative author.
- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
