In the Forests of Serre [Paperback]

The emotional choices characters face are portrayed with feeling and elegance, leading to conclusions that seem more truthful and realistic than those reached in many other fantasies today. This book is not overly long; McKillip finds that balance between economy of words and lyrical brilliance by choosing her phrases with care.

The plot winds its way - with never a predictable moment - through the story action at a steady pace. The briskness at some places is made up for by the author's detailed descriptions of the scene.

One of the things that impressed me the most was McKillip's ability to retain the enigmatic air and mystery surrounding the character Gyre. Although at the end of the book, we have learned more about him - as he has learned about himself - I came away with the feeling of never truly understanding who and what he was, something I felt the author wanted to achieve when dealing with the wizards; setting them apart from other humans.

All in all, McKillip's books are certainly worthy of attention. When reading through her words and while looking back at the end of her stories, I feel there is an element of didacticism there, that plays an important role in the way a reader views the story as a whole and ponders lessons learnt by the characters.

As with all McKillip's work, a magical read, flavoured with myth and lore and exploring the complexities of life.

Prince Ronan of Serre lost his wife and child, and now he tries to die by going off to fight in wars for his tyrant father. When returning from a battle, he accidently kills a chicken belonging to the witch Brume; the old woman curses him, but Ronan doesn't take it seriously. Yet when he returns home, his father reveals that he's betrothed Ronan (the only heir) to Princess Sidonie of Dacia, a small but magical kingdom. While Ronan broods about this, he sees a beautiful firebird pass by the castle, and is enspelled by it.

Princess Sidonie is no happier about being married off in a barbaric land, but she has to marry Ronan to keep Dacia from being invaded. She travels to Serre with a wizard, and encounters Ronan wandering in the forest without knowing who he is. When she comes to Serre, she finds that her future husband has vanished -- Ronan is searching for the firebird, because he can't find his way home until he gives it to Brume. But things have become more complicated -- because a wizard has taken Ronan's identity...

Like all McKillip's books, this novel is deceptively simple and intriguingly written. She uses simple concepts (witch, wizards, scribe, prince, princess, firebird, a country's magic, and talking animals) and spins her unique prose around them. This is not a book for people who like all the usual elements used in the same old way.

McKillip's prose is detailed and lush, bringing to mind the best of medieval tapestries and Loreena McKennitt music; when Ronan is in the woods, McKillip describes moths clinging to him, and spiderwebs covering rips in his clothes. The dialogue is more flowing and natural than in some of her other books; the sentences are longer and less flowery. At the same time, her descriptions of things like transformation into a firebird are exquisite.

Ronan is a slightly less vivid character at the beginning, compared to his faded mother and half-nuts father; he becomes more interesting as he stops moping and starts obsessing on the firebird. Princess Sidonie is a likable heroine, not gung-ho but very interesting and determined. The wizard Gyre adds an element of mystery to the plot, while the witch Brume will creep you out.

Venture into "Forests of Serre," where "nothing is predictable." It's haunting, beautiful and magical, not just for fans of fantasy.