From Publishers Weekly
Australian author Dart-Thornton shifts to the next generation of weathermasters in her third fey-filled installment in the Crowthistle Chronicles. Taking center stage is 19-year-old Asrathiel Heronsword Maelstronnar, daughter of the invulnerable Jewel and immortal Arran (featured in 2006's
The Well of Tears) and granddaughter of Jarred and Lilith (the ill-fated lovers who starred in 2005's
The Iron Tree). Having inherited the talents of her parents, who disappeared nine years earlier, Asrathiel (previously known as Astariel), has also become a weathermage of great power. She leaves her grandfather Avalloc's home to begin her tenure as weathermaster to the king of Narngalis in the capital city of King's Winterbourne. But the king of Slievmordhu, with the help of the hapless king of Ashqaleth, aims to rid the land of all the weathermasters. Though Dart-Thornton delivers more talk (including lectures on vegetarianism and animal cruelty) than action, her fans will continue to enjoy her Celtic-inspired mythology.
(Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“Lush prose, grand Irish blarney, Boschian surrealism (with strong elements of Brian Froud) and tropical exoticism all play a part.”—Locus on The Ill Made Mute
“Featuring a courageous and unusual heroine, this series opener belongs in most fantasy collections.”—Library Journal on The Ill Made Mute
“Hobbit-fanciers will find much to delight them.”—The Times (UK) on The Ill Made Mute
“For fans of mainstream fantasy, this is likely to be one of the high marks of the year.—Science Fiction Chronicle on The Ill Made Mute
“Like Tolkien and many of the best fantasy writers, Dart-Thornton has created a wonderful fantasy world that is a delight to wander through.”—Herald Sun on The Ill Made Mute
“In a word: enchanting.”—Sydney Herald on The Lady of Sorrows
