Customer Reviews

The Riddle of the Wren

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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).

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.

One of CDL's first novels and delightful read is finally back in print. If you were lucky enough to have a 1st printing of this as I was you will, I'm sure, agree with me.
For those who haven't read this but have read other DeLint books this is definitly worth the purchase.
A bit simpler and not as dark as some of his later works it is still unmistakably DeLint and is a lovely tale of magic and fey worlds for the delight of readers everywhere.

The first De Lint I read was this book, I still have the copy. It is a great introductory to De Lint's style and the world(s) he creates. Full of Fey creatures, you are told the tale of one girl (Minda) who is sought by a dream master seeking to raise himself to the rank of the dark gods. There are the standard problems of pitfalls, though the twists of the plot are quite intriguing.
I highly recommend any book by Charles De Lint

This book is meant for the teen crowd, and was bought originally for the teen fantasist in our household. It contains excellent themes for young women, but it has a broader appeal. Adults, too, will enjoy this quirky little imaginary-world fantasy, so unlike the Urban Fantasy that has made Charles de Lint such a popular guy.

Though it does betray itself as an early work, not so finely turned a tale perhaps as de Lint is capable of in his maturity, this book is really, really good. The heroine is sympathetic, believable, and complicated - like a real seventeen-year-old trying to puzzle out the hidden pattern of her life. Why would someone want to torment her in her dreams - and how will she keep the promise she made to help the fey being who helped her?

The universe turns out to be more complex and magical than she could have dreamed - and in the end, of course, she answers the riddles put to her and finds her place in the grand universe. It's triumphant - and it's fun - and it's really just a lovely gem of a book. It merits a place in your permanent collection. I recommend it highly.

I really liked this book. The heroine was a more down to earth type, making the story easier to relate to. The characters were imaginative and completely believable. Each had normal qualities that brings the story to the reader. Plus, the bad guys were REALLY bad, and made you hate them and sympathize with the good guys even more. Some parts of the book were a little slow reading, but it all turned out excellent! I wish I could write like that! Overall, I definitely would recommend this book for anyone that would like a good read or likes tales of magic and far places.

I keep looking for a Charles de Lint novel to really grab me. Like I said above, I usually avoid fantasy novels, but I've heard so much about de Lint--and some of his short stories have really struck a chord with me--that I keep thinking if I just trudge on I'll find something I really like.

This wasn't it. The Riddle of the Wren, however, was only his second book so he surely hadn't got his true voice down yet. I really enjoyed the character of Minda in the beginning. I felt for her in her predicament and I rooted for her to get out of it, but about halfway through the book, when the typical "quest" begins, I almost totally lost interest. High fantasy is really just not my thing.

I enjoyed Minda, and her struggles with the sword were fun, especially when she kicks serious butt with it, but the rest of The Riddle of the Wren left me wanting.

Apparently, this is one of de Lint's earliest books and BOY does it show. I read The Dreaming Place and thought it was okay, so decided to try the other de Lint YA I had lying around. First of all, it's the same basic story as The Dreaming Place. In the back of the book de Lint admits he wrote the same story over and over again for a while. I must concur. And even though The Dreaming Place had it's bad moments, they weren't all crowded in front like in Wren.

The book opens in some sort of vaguely English/European small town in the vague past. Sometime after the middle ages, perhaps. But I cannot tell. The clumsy way de Lint introduces characters and sets up the conflict aren't really indicative of his later talents. And he has issues with how to use secondary characters effectively.

This is very clearly an early novel. I'm sure some kids will get some enjoyment out of it, but anyone over 16 or so should probably just move on to de Lint's later, adult novels.

This is a wonderful book featuring a strong female character, who is MORE than she appears to be. She goes on a quest in order to free the "Heart of the Moores," from the "Dream Master." Along the way, she goes on a worlds-spanning odyssey and meets some colorful characters.However my favorite part is this woman's inner odyssey, wheren she discovers her true nature. This de Lint book is also reminicent of "The Neverending Story," which has a similar twist of a character being MORE than s/he seems.
The other remarkable similarity between them is the archtype of the inner/outer journey. In other words, in both books, the hero ends up "saving the world" by discovering him(or her) self. Both provide a good example of the "Quest" tale in fantastic literature.