Customer Reviews

The Ring of Fire (The Children of Ynell 1)

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This is an excellent fantasy novel suitable for teens and up. I really loved it!

On a repressive medieval world, in a land where most independent thoughts are considered sins, a handful of teenagers learn that they have forbidden psychic powers. These psychic gifts of power and prophecy are the ultimate sins, punishable by death. While they struggle to learn to use their powers, a man from a militaristic "iron curtain" country is mysteriously welcomed by the town leader. When fatal "accidents" to Gifted Children continue to occur around the man, it becomes clear that the rest must flee for their lives. And when their fears of an invasion are realized, the Children of Ynell must escape to accomplish yet another mission.

I have read science fiction and fantasy for thirty years, and don't know how I missed these books. They have a medieval economy similar to Anne McCaffrey's Pern, and psychic abilities similar to her Rowan and Pegasus novels, and yet a totally different flavor of teens rebelling against all that is oppressive and needs to be changed. The qualities of Good and Evil and the nuances between them are highlighted in this struggle against the crushing repression of a religion twisted by the elite for their own uses. The bravery and compassion of these Children, suddenly in possession of great powers that could easily be used for personal gain, are inspiring. The story is clear and simple, but contains layers that only become evident as the reader continues.

The story has stuck with me for several years, and I'm delighted to find the rest of the books on Amazon!! I think you'll enjoy them too!

(...)

This book and the next in the series, The Wolf Bell, are now available for Kindle in an omnibus edition titled The Shattered Stone. (The remainder of the series is is in another omnibus, The Runestone of Eresu.) If you liked this book, please review it there.

Sylvia Engdahl
Webmaster for Shirley Rousseau Murphy