Book - the forgotten beasts of Eld

Book – the forgotten beasts of Eld

Author: Patricia A. McKillip

Score: 9/10
Year : 1974 (original) ; 2005 (this edition) 

Publisher: Orion books

ISBN 0-575-07765-4

Pages : 199

Language: English 

Sybel, part wizard, continues the search and collection of magical beasts that her father Ogam and his father, Myk, also part wizards, had started. She communicates with them either by speech, or most often through telepathy. They keep her company, offer protection and advice. 



I love that these animals can be divided into the four elements, symbolically associated with specific character traits to each. 

This is definitely a women's tale, and a coming of age.  It tells of Sybel, who cares not for other humans but her father who teaches her everything. But, when she is 16, a man brings her a baby to raise, and she is faced with emotions she never knew before. She discovers herself, her femininity, her strengths and weaknesses, and the various roles she can have as a person.

In this cautionary tale of hatred and revenge, Sybel plays into political intrigue between two blood enemies that have fought before, and who both want to use powerful wizard powers to crush the opponent once and for all - but all she wants is her own freedom to do as she pleases and yield to no man. 

I find interesting that the author chose not to reveal everything in the processes that Sybel is experiencing and her decision making - sometimes this is done one or several pages later, and the suspense is very well built. 
Often poetic, I liked the fluid writing style and how Sybel's psychology and her coming of age includes the symbols of fear, death and their acceptance, as well as division of light and dark, and in spite of a few words that seem obviously inspired from JRR Tolkien, the story itself is very different from his - and created a very different kind of romance novel, where fantasy, magical beasts, telepathy and a woman's self-discovery are all intertwined and form one coherent tale, divided into rather long 12 chapters that are easy to read thanks to the fluidity. 

I highly recommend, in spite of the mentions of hunting, furs and a few non veg meals ; all these aren't the focus of the story.