The Riddle of the Wren [Mass Market Paperback]

Charles de Lint (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2002

Minda Sealy is afraid of her own nightmares. Then, one night, while asleep, she meets Jan, the Lord of the Moors, who has been imprisoned by Ildran the Dream-master-the same being who traps Minda. In exchange for her promise to free him, Jan gives Minda three tokens. She sets out, leaving the safety of her old life to begin a journey from world to world, both to save Jan and to solve "the riddle of the Wren"-which is the riddle of her very self. The Riddle of the Wren was Charles de Lint's first novel, and has been unavailable for years. Fans and newcomers alike will relish it.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Firebird (September 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142302236
• ISBN-13: 978-0142302231
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles de Lint and his wife, the artist MaryAnn Harris, live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His evocative novels, including Moonheart, Forests of the Heart, and The Onion Girl, have earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim as a master of contemporary magical fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe this is out of print!, November 23, 1999

By 

Cynthia J. Smith "cynsmith" (Utah) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Riddle of the Wren (Paperback)

Out of all de Lint's books this is my favorite. I have a battered thrice owned copy that's been dropped in the river and worse...I still read it every year or so. Minda Sealy is plauged by dreams sent by the "Dream Master" who oft dream kills individuals. To escape destruction Minda goes yondering through the gate stones to other worlds to ultimantely fight the Dream Master and discover her own potential. I need another copy of this book! Mine is about worn out.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The wren flees where evil pursueth, December 15, 2004

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Riddle of the Wren (Paperback)

I read "The Riddle of the Wren" a few decades ago and loved it. I recently reread it and realized I'd forgotten how talky the badger and the elves were. I still think it's a good fantasy, but with a complicated theology that the author needs lots of print to explain.

The background is pseudo-medieval, beloved of many fantasy authors although usually not of de Lint who evolved away from sturdy peasants, trebuchets, and trade fairs into urban fantasy settings. "The Riddle of the Wren" is one of his earliest publications. Like another great Canadian author, Farley Mowat, the call of the wild rings through de Lint's novels, including this one. If his character has horns on its head or assumes the shape of a northern mammal, you can be pretty sure it is on the side of the good.

The 'wren' of this story is innkeeper's daughter, Minda Sealy who must flee from world to world through magical megalithic gates resembling Stonehenge. She is pursued by the evil Dream-master, Ildran although we don't know why until nearly the end of the book. During her travels, she gains many allies both human and fae, were and hobogle. There are also Lore-mistresses, erlkin, harpers, and Wyslings such as the badger, Grimbold. There were at one time Dark gods and Gray gods, although hardly anyone wants to hasten their return to Mid-wold.

I never did quite figure out the difference between Walkers and Wasters, although they were both extremely bad dudes.

A trickle of Celtic harp weaves in and out of the Wren's story, along with encounters with horned lords and (possibly) the Great God Pan. Even as she acquires powerful, magical friends Minda realizes that she alone can confront and destroy the evil Dream-Master. I think you'll want to follow her story to its end, in spite of the over-rich tapestry of characters (beware of fantasies with glossaries).

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very early De Lint intended for YA readers, March 14, 2005

By 

frumiousb "frumiousb" (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Riddle of the Wren (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked this up reflexively, thinking that I had found a new De Lint. I had not realized that I had found a re-release of his second book, nor that it was intended for a YA audience.

For serious De Lint fans (me!) it is interesting to see how his themes have developed over the years. This is much more representative of his later work than something like Wolf Moon. Unfortunately it is nowhere near as polished as something like Forests of the Heart or Moonlight and Vines and the age is visible from the state of the craft. The plot is overly complicated for the length of the book, and the character of Minda is a shadow of the female characters who appear in later novels.

First time readers of De Lint probably want to begin elsewhere. De Lint fans should expect an enjoyable read, but one not quite up to the level that his work normally achieves.