From Publishers Weekly
In this adequate but lackluster follow-up to The Sorceress and the Cygnet , McKillip returns to the magical towers of Ro Holding, the Hold of the Cygnet, and its denizens: the formidable Holder, Lauro Ro; her enigmatic daughter and heir, the sorceress Nyx; and Lauro's warrior niece, Meguet Vervaine. Two mysterious arrivals threaten the normal course of Ro Holding: one is a wily, powerful mage bent on stealing a treasure hidden in the castle for centuries; the other is a firebird whose anguished cries transform things and people into precious objects, and who metamorphoses into a tormented young man for a few hours each evening. Thwarted by Nyx in his attempt to get the treasure, the mage abducts Meguet. Nyx's search for her cousin takes her across a distant, dragon-haunted desert to the court of a ruthless sorcerer-king, where she and Meguet learn of a threat to destroy Ro Holding. The often tedious plot has too much pursuit and discussion, and not enough direct conflict and dramatic tension. Despite an atmospheric setting, intriguing characters and some interesting magical ideas, this sequel lacks the vitality of its predecessor.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
YA-As she did in The Riddlemaster of Hed (Ballantine, 1985) and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Atheneum, 1974; o.p.), McKillip weaves a magic spell of words almost as intoxicating as a drug. The result will depend on readers; some will find its effect addictive, while others will be confused and long for a breath of fresh air. Since this is a sequel to The Sorceress and the Cygnet (Ace, 1991), there are already fans out there. The enchanted world and some of the characters of that book return here, but this one stands alone. A young man who has been trapped in the form of a firebird appears and creates chaos with his attendant magic. Like Odette in Swan Lake, he returns to his own form under certain conditions, and is appalled by his fate and its consequences. Unlike Odette, however, he can remember nothing of the circumstances of his enchantment or what will free him from it. Unraveling this mystery becomes the central business of the plot. The language, though, is either the glory or the curse of the novel. For those who enjoy smoky misdirection and brilliant word pictures, this book will be a feast. All others, be wary.
Cathy Chauvette, Fairfax County Public Library, VACopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
