"Spellbinding tale of two star-crossed lovers"
Once upon a time in the kingdom of Serre, the heir to the
throne Prince Ronan went to war in the hopes that he would
be killed in battle. He lost his wife and child and saw no
reason to go on living but fate had something else planned
for him. On his return home from battle his horse stepped
on a witch's chicken and she cursed him. When he returned
home, his father informed him that he arranged for the
prince to marry Princess Sidonie of Dacia, a kingdom known
for its powerful sorceress. The prince is ensorcelled by a firebird and follows it into
the forest where he meets the princess and the Gyre
sorcerer who accompanies her from her land. No
introductions occur and the princess resumes her journey
only to find that her bridegroom is not at the palace
awaiting her. Gyre searches for him, but when he
encounters the prince he changes him into a firebird and
assumes the appearance of Ronan. Gyre intends to take over
the prince's role because Roman doesn't want it and the
sorcerer does. Patricia A. McKillip weaves her usual magic to create a
spellbinding tale of two star-crossed lovers who find that
fate is not always unkind. The adventures they partake in
change them in subtle ways, making them more aware of the
needs of the other and wanting to give that person their
heart's desire. Readers will remember the irascible witch
in this tale who lives in a house of bones, has big feet
and is more and less than she seems. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 10, 2003
SummaryIn the tales of World Fantasy Award-winning author Patricia
McKillip, nothing is ever as it seems. A mirror is never
just a mirror; a forest is never just a forest. Here, it is
a place where a witch can hide in her house of bones and a
prince can bargain with his heart...where good and evil
entwine and wear each others' faces...and where a bird with
feathers of fire can quench the fiercest longing...
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