Riddle-Master: The Complete Trilogy

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Summary: The best fantasy trilogy of the genre!
Review: Don't talk to me about Tolkien, Terry Brooks or Stephen Donaldson. Since I first read "The Riddlemaster" (then called "A Riddle of Stars") in my early teens, all other fantasy paled; I've simply never been able to enjoy any of the other authors books because this is simply the best! Morgon of Hed is a wonderful hero, human while retaining that legendary quality. He is written with humor, pathos, & empathy as are all the characters in this cycle. Unusually for fantasy, the female characters are not only strong but individual while retaining their feminine qualities. The world McKillip creates is one that her readers can say "this feels right! These are the rules that should govern the world!" And all the characters, major to minor, have depth & uniqueness. McKillips language creates vivid pictures from epic magic battles to humorous vignettes. If you read fantasy, or know someone who does, this book is indispensable. Buy it today!

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Summary: a good book.
Review: when i was a teen, I read my way through our tiny local library. They would often give away the older books in a box in the front of the place. I pulled the first two volumes of this trilogy out, but could never find the third in the box. I took them home and read the first two. I was totally entranced. The plot was unpredictable and intense, like life. The characters were real, and the world came complete with it's own set of uncompromising rules. Anyhow, I read the first two books over and over for about ten years before I finally found a copy of the third book of the trilogy in a used book store. When I read it, I was stunned. The rug was really pulled out from under me, and I had been not just reading the other two volumes, but EXAMINING them for years. You should buy it. You'll Love it. (But do make sure you get this 3-in-1 set.)

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Summary: I never thought anything could be as good as Tolkien...
Review: but this trilogy definitely is. It is wonderful, sometimes sad and sometimes hilarious, but always wonderful. I finished it a month ago, and I already find myself looking longingly at it when I pass the bookshelf. If you are a fantasy fan, read this. If you aren't really a fantasy fan, read it. Even if you hate fantasy, READ IT.

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Summary: Finally all together in one volume...
Review: I first read this trilogy in junior high and I still reread it every couple of months. Its one of those books that I pull out when nothing else appeals to me. Every time I lose myself in the story. I was very pleased when I saw that these books were being printed in one edition. I bought this and now have passed my old paperback copies on to my cousin, who I hope will enjoy them as much as I did.

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Summary: An absolutely entrancing trilogy!
Review: I have read these books over and over and I never get tired of them. Anyone who has ever loved fantasy will be captivated by this enthralling and altogether wonderful trilogy!!!!!

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Summary: Classic Fantasy by a Master
Review: There is something magical about the Riddlemaster books. I read all three books in three days, recently, after having read them when I was younger, almost 15 years ago. They are akin to Le Guin's Earthsea books or C.S. Lewis' Narnia tomes. True, the prose is a bit flowery and the descriptions of "land law" get tiresome and confusing, but those are minor quibbles. The ability to fully flesh out a world in under 300 pages, for one book, is amazing. A great series! Not ponderous and stilted like Jordan or Goodkind. Simple and elegant are all I can say.

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Summary: Wow! What a great story
Review: The Riddle of Stars trilogy are some of the greatest fantasy I have ever read! I was deeply moved by Patricia McKillip's beautiful prose and imaginative plot! I have never been a huge fan of fantasy, but this story simply took my breath away. I couldn't put it down for days. Great job Ms McKillip! I look forward to reading your other works!

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Summary: Wonderful fantasy. Great books.
Review: Patricia A. McKillip captures her readers in the superb writing of her Riddle-Master Trilogy. At the end of the first book, she leaves you hanging, so that you can hardly wait to start the next one and find out what will happen to the characters. A beautifully written piece of fantasy; it gives you the right amount of suspense, magic, deceit, and throws in a bit of romance. I love ever single one, and I wish we could continue into the hearts of Morgan, Raederle, and everyone else.

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Summary: Captivating even the fifth time around
Review: I read these books for the first time when I was in junior high, and have re-read them every few years since. (It's a good thing that they have been reprinted into one book.) Every single time I do, I am fascinated with new twists, ideas, and things I never caught before. Reading these just once isn't enough--the interplay between characters, both good and evil, is too complex to catch all at once, although the plot is clear enough that if this is your first time, you'll still enjoy and understand it. Truly one of the best series I've ever read (and read again, and again...).

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Summary: A powerful book - "Beyond logic, beyond reason, beyond hope"
Review: I know others have commented on the wonderful characterization of Morgon, Raederle and Deth, but I can't help repeating it. Patricia A. McKillip creates the most amazing struggle inside and out of Morgon - the conflict between life as a farmer and a mysterious destiny, and his confusion over who to trust. As soon as I finished the trilogy the first time, I went back to reread it all the way through. Currently, I'm working through it yet again. There's too much in it to be captured in one reading. McKillip snags you with the first sentence and keeps you guessing until the very last word, but it is well worth the wait. Watching Morgon and Raederle grow to accept their powers and destiny, aching to return to the lives they lose is heart-wrenching and beautiful. This is a must read.