Rating: 
Summary: A return to the best of Mckillip
Review: Patricia Mckillip's best prose returns as she renders this tale of an ancient city teetering between present and past in a rich and satisfying read. She draws you in with her wonderfully rendered language and holds you throughout with this story of tavern-keeper's daughters, ancient sorceresss, bastard princes, amoral tutors and scheming nobles as they via to bring their vision of the city of Ombria from off the pages of history and fairy tale to waking life. Sound like any number of stereotypical fantasy conventions? Think again. Patricia Mckillip is never anything less than original, even when borrowing the trappings of convential fantasy.While each person is interesting the city itself is another character, one afflicted with duel personalities, and Mckillip renders its odd corners, endless layers and hidden depths much as she would another person. The essential mystery is whether Ombria is two cities, one identity dominant while the other lies dormant. The conflict between the two halves of the city is mirrored in the opposing forces of the two sorceress, Dominia Pearl, regent to a powerless boy-prince (and a pirate to boot!)who is determined to bring the shadow city to life for her gain. Faey, a power so old she has forgetten more than any remember goes her own way in the hidden undercity of Ombria, sending her "waxling" Mag into the world to fetch her needs. Only when Mag decides to meddle in the affairs of the Black Pearl and join with those opposing her is Faey moved to act. Mckillip's tale winds through secret passages in the castle, between the covers of old children's tales and in the sketches of the bastard painter Ducon as the stuggle for power and possession of the city unfolds. Only through unlocking the mysteries of their own shadowy pasts will Mag and Ducon hope to tip the balance of Ombria to the side of light. The end, when it comes is a bittersweet one, for both the characters and the reader. A thoroughly engrossing tale.
Rating:
Summary: more lucid dreaming
Review: Reading Patricia McKillip is akin to lucid dreaming; I am aware that the world is not real and is not functioning according to everyday logic, but people and events form oddly beautiful and meaningful patterns. I slow down, reading individual words instead of compressing them into sentences and paragraphs; McKillip's language is half the pleasure of her books. The other thing I love about McKillip is how little her books resemble cookie-cutter "fantasy" dreck. While her books are all reminiscent of each other, they are all individual. And they are not like anything else I've read. "Ombria in Shadow" is no exception. Ombria is an ancient city; its past lies buried underground, layers of buildings and previous incarnations of the city shrouded in darkness. Aboveground, the city is troubled. The prince has died, leaving his five-year-old son Kyel Greve under the control of Domina Pearl, a woman who is steadily running Ombria into the ground for her own purposes. She is opposed by the prince's mistress, Lydea; his bastard nephew, the artist Ducon Greve; Mag, the "waxling" servant of a mysterious sorceress who lives in the underground city; and various coalitions of nobles who know nothing of the magical forces also working in Ombria. Magic and legends of a shadow city weave in and out of the political story. I am still not sure how everything connects, particularly since none of the characters completely understands what happens towards the end. I am not terribly convinced by the explanations given to Ducon and Mag, and the last chapter left me thoroughly confused. However, while the story leaves a lot to be desired on the everyday level, the end *feels* right. I just wish it made sense, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Woah...
Review: Since "The Book of Atrix Wolfe" left me a little cold, I was leery of reading another McKillip book. I'm so glad I picked up this one, though! I've seldom enjoyed reading a book this much...and while it is a light read, the tale stays with you. This story is *almost* a fairy tale, although which one, I can't put my finger on. There are elements of Cinderella and The Snow Queen, but nothing definate. "Ombria In Shadow" does have all thr makings of a real fairy tale in and of its own right, though--a beautiful damsel in distress, a handsome half-human hero, a plucky heroine, a shapeshifing sorceress, a shadow city, magic toads, shoes made out of sapphires, enchanted artwork, and an evil witch who, for whatever reason, reminded me of Yubaba in "Spirited Away." I would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales and who's looking for a luxurious weekend read.
Rating:
Summary: Woah...
Review: Since "The Book of Atrix Wolfe" left me a little cold, I was leery of reading another McKillip book. I'm so glad I picked up this one, though! I've seldom enjoyed reading a book this much...and while it is a light read, the tale stays with you. This story is *almost* a fairy tale, although which one, I can't put my finger on. There are elements of Cinderella and The Snow Queen, but nothing definate. "Ombria In Shadow" does have all thr makings of a real fairy tale in and of its own right, though--a beautiful damsel in distress, a handsome half-human hero, a plucky heroine, a shapeshifing sorceress, a shadow city, magic toads, shoes made out of sapphires, enchanted artwork, and an evil witch who, for whatever reason, reminded me of Yubaba in "Spirited Away." I would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales and who's looking for a luxurious weekend read.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanted Illusion
Review: Very enchanting indeed :). Where did Ms. McKillip get the inspiration? There are so many items in the story itself I want to have i.e. the fan. I really enjoy the multiplied layer of the thrilling terror, mystery and the subtle love story (very subtle, you must pay attention into the word described specially towards the end of the book, yet very rewarding). Simply saying, this book is a masterpiece.
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