The Bards of Bone Plain

by Patricia A. McKillip

The latest "rich, resonant" (Publishers Weekly) fantasy from the World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Bell at Sealey Head.

Eager to graduate from the school on the hill, Phelan Cle chose Bone Plain for his final paper because he thought it would be an easy topic. Immortalized by poets and debated by scholars, it was commonly accepted-even at a school steeped in bardic tradition-that Bone Plain, with its three trials, three terrors, and three treasures, was nothing more than a legend, a metaphor. But as his research leads him to the life of Nairn, the Wandering Bard, the Unforgiven, Phelan starts to wonder if there are any easy answers...

• ISBN10: 0441019579
• ISBN13: 9780441019571
• Publish Date: 7 December 2010
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 329
• Language: English

Reviews

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

Patricia McKillip almost always tells the same story - a talented, bemused character is mystified by something that may or may not be magic, and tries to understand its heart. Even the fabulous [b:Riddle-Master of Had|19821|Riddle-Master The Complete Trilogy|Patricia A. McKillip|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309288704s/19821.jpg|78273] is a variant on this. When she strays a bit ([b:Moon-Flash|19818|Moon-Flash (Kyreol Duology, #1-2)|Patricia A. McKillip|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327999210s/19818.jpg|2935], [b:Cygnet|19820|Cygnet (Cygnet Duology, #1-2)|Patricia A. McKillip|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1348255231s/19820.jpg|21020]), she's been less successful. And I keep buying the books because even if the story is similar, she writes it remarkably well. With very few exceptions, I've loved everything of hers I've read, which is quite a bit.

The Bards of Bone Plain is another variant of this same theme - the intersection of two times at a school for bards, the search of various characters for truth about ancient runes and an ancient riddle. As always, McKillip writes beautifully, and her characters are extremely likeable and interesting. She weaves the parts together almost seamlessly, carrying us along for a comfortable but enthralling ride. She throws in a wink at steampunk this time, but otherwise, the setting and characters are classic McKillip.

I didn't find that the central mysteries were really satisfactorily explained this time - the ending left a good deal in doubt. But it didn't really matter. As with [a:Jack Vance|5376|Jack Vance|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1207604643p2/5376.jpg], with McKillip it's really the journey that counts, not the destination. And here the journey is as scenic and satisfying as one could hope for.

If you're a fan of McKillip, you probably already have this; it's exactly what you would expect. If you don't know McKillip yet, this is as good a place to start as any - this is romantic, magical storytelling at its best.