3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Scores on characters; loses on plot, 29 July 2002
By A Customer
After enjoying both 'A Fine and Private Place' and 'The last unicorn' I was very much looking forward to this one. Certainly the opening was up to expectations, and although the constant switch of viewpoint was rather irritating I soon grew interested in the many characters that unfolded. And unfolded. And unfolded. Soon, however, I began to think "well what exactly has happened in this novel?" The answer, unfortunately, was not much. Yes, the charcters are strong, the setting is vivid, the land convincing, but plot? Ultimately Good Wizard fights bad Wizard. Ho Hum. Only going to be one winner there! Enjoyable, but I expected better things.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing book, one of my favourite fantasy novels, 14 Sep 2009
Beautifully written, with a plot which is original and unusual (and in my opinion is neither slow nor uneventful, as other reviews have suggested). Fantasy novels are so riddled with cliches and there are so many badly written books out there. Along with Last Unicorn, The Innkeepers Song stands out and is a real breath of fresh air. All the characters feel very believable, and the way that the story changes narrative as each chapter is fantastically done. It doesn't interrupt the story, but add to its originality. Well paced and captivating. One of the best fantasy novels I have ever read
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A heretical take on Peter S Beagle, 29 Nov 2003
I kept hearing about Peter S Beagle, so I kept trying his books. I read about half of "The Last Unicorn", and couldn't be bothered to finish it. I read "A Fine and Private Place", and it was OK - well written and unusual, but that's as far as I would go. Then I read "The Folk of the Air" and I thought: what is a writer this good, doing writing a book like that? Is it a famous author, writing a "genre" book under a pseudonym, or what?
And then I read "The Inkeeper's Song" and I fell hopelessly, shamelessly in love with it. Never mind the obligatory supernatural climax, which thankfully does not end the book. Never mind some quibbles about plot mechanics. The book is populated by compellingly vivid characters, who by the end become utterly real people, living in a real world. This is writing of a quality verging on magical, which leaves one with the lasting impression of knowing the book's characters in all their quirky, individual humanity - and caring for them!
So, ignore those who say that "The Inkeeper's Song" is not up to Beagle's best standard. It IS Beagle's best standard! Just don't read it in the "quick - what happens next?" frame of mind. Read it, and get to know Rosseth, Neyteneri, Lal (Swordcane Lal, Saylor Lal, Lal Alone, Lal After Dark) and all the others. It is worth it. Believe me it is worth it! And I don't rave easily.
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