Cards of Grief

Rating:
Summary: Cards of Grief
Review: I became a Jane Yolen fan through this book. Her unusual style, such as is seen in the Great Alta trilogy, where history, critical judgement, and matters of the heart mingle, works absolutely perfectly here - though elsewhere it might be a little daunting to the reader. A researcher, studying the culture of a world where grief is the primary emotion, becomes involved with the Queen's Own Griever and her tragic life. The story is told in a series of interviews and flashbacks; it has depths far beyond its tiny length.

Rating:
Summary: Cards of Grief
Review: I became a Jane Yolen fan through this book. Her unusual style, such as is seen in the Great Alta trilogy, where history, critical judgement, and matters of the heart mingle, works absolutely perfectly here - though elsewhere it might be a little daunting to the reader. A researcher, studying the culture of a world where grief is the primary emotion, becomes involved with the Queen's Own Griever and her tragic life. The story is told in a series of interviews and flashbacks; it has depths far beyond its tiny length.

Rating:
Summary: An Original Compelling Fantasy
Review: This is a beautiful lyrical work about a culture founded on the belief of continual grieving both as an art form, a basis of racial memory and the way that the world is maintained.

The coming of man contaminated this world and the repercusions are severe and lasting.

A beautiful work that I strongly recommend to the thoughful among us.