Rating: 
Summary: Still a classic after 28 years!
Review: Ms. McKillip has grown as a writer through the years, but this is one of my favorite works of hers. My AVON '75 copy is much worn from repeated reading and I recommend it highly for anyone a fan of the si-fi/fantasy genre...young and old alike.
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Summary: Peace & hope to the child in each of you.
Review: This book arrived just before X'mas & was possibly the best X'mas present I could have given myself. I actually sent an email to all my friends to tell them to read this. (Very unusual action on my part.) Although it is a winner of the World Fantasy Award, as long as one hasn't given up hope in the living, I believe this timeless fable should appeal to anyone who may or may not usually read fantasy. This book is dreamy, yet feels very contemporary, as the emotional/moral issues encountered by the characters apply even to our realtime everyday world. It reminded me somewhat of The Little Prince by Saint-Exupery or The Alchemist by Coelho, but to me, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is less disturbing, yet more gripping. Afterwards I felt content with a feeling of peace & hope. :-)
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Summary: Magnificent work of fantasy, with real characters
Review: One of the finest works of fantasy ever written--it's no wonder it's still in print after over a dozen years. McKillip has created believable characters that it is easy to sympathize with. These are the sorceress Sybel, who has the seven beasts of the title under her control, Coren, of the house of Sirle, Drede, the king who is rival to the Sirle lords, and Tamlorn, son of Drede and a relative of Sybel. In a way, the plot is that Sybel unwittingly is drawn from the isolated existence she has always had into the affairs of men. She is given Tamlorn to raise, and she and Coren fall in love. Tamlorn becomes a pawn in the struggle between Drede and the Sirle lords. Sybel and her beasts are tempted to take sides, which causes Sybel to begin to lose her relationships with Tamlorn and Coren. In another way, the plot is summed up in the words of Cyrin, the speaking boar: "The giant Grof was hit in one eye by a stone. The eye turned inward, and he died of what he saw there." In other words, what you are is more important than revenge. Revenge may be accomplished, but it eats away at what you are. Sybel seeks revenge for an awful deed done to her by Drede, but finally saves her beasts, her soul, and her life, by rejecting revenge. The book could be easily read by anyone from sixth grade up.
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Summary: A well-spun tale of love, treachery and magic.
Review: This book is one of the very best I have ever read (And I have read A LOT). McKillip really brings out the emotions of Sybel, the story's heroine. I liked that even though Sybel was the heroine, she still had flaws and failings. The world and settings are described marvellously and so are the mystical and beautiful animals who occupy the pages. I couldn't put the book down. Something for all fantasy lovers, and even romance lovers.
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Summary: A delicious story of magic, romance, and mythology.
Review: Sybel, a young wizardess, lives on Eld mountain, with precious as well as dangerous mythological creatures she has "called", ignorant to the real world below her. Then, when she is brought an young boy by a handsome young man, she has no clue as to what to do. Soon she dicovers, deep inside, her mothering knowledge. When Sybel dicovers the real father of the boy she decides she must give the boy back.
Sybel grows to love the the deliverer of the boy (Coren) as he comes back and pays visits to her. Then Sybel herself is called by a powerful magician working for the king and he almost seizes her mind.
Sybel then seeks revenge, and going behind Coren's back, plans a war against the king.
Truly a great book.
Rating: 
Summary: A creative, inspired departure from mainstream fantasy.
Review: There are certain books in every genre considered to be the hallmark of the genre, the sine qua non of each literary style; they define the field, and once read, one is met with a vast landscape of titles and authors possessed of varying degrees of talent, but these never seem to push the borders and define the territory as do these few titles up for required reading. Certainly Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy bears this mantle; arguably, McKillip's 'The Forgotten Beasts of Eld' may merit such a standing, the kind of book your dearest friend thrusts into your hands with wild eyes, gasping excitedly, "You HAVE to read this book!" I wouldn't have heard of it were it not for a favorable review in a popular fantasy magazine; even then, it was a mention in passing (despite the author's frustration with the apparent ignominy of the work), and surely this book deserves much more than obscurity. Dreamlike with potent imagery, visionary and guided by that vision, 'The Forgotten Beasts of Eld' wraps the reader in a thick, warm cloak of literary finesse and masterful storytelling. Most authors would be content to create characters the reader may care about, or a strong plot that engages the reader in a compelling grip to the end of the story: McKillip enjoys the advantage of both in this remarkable prerequisite to the fantasy genre
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Summary: Favorite book
Review: I first read this book over twenty years ago and have pretty much read it once a year since then. It's a gorgeous book with well rounded characters that you can actually believe. I also love that you can sympathize even with the bad guy - you don't like him, but you do sympathize with him. I have several copies of this book and loan it out quite a bit...everyone I've ever loaned it to has loved it. It's well worth reading.
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Summary: Rock Out
Review: This book Rules!I luv it.I'm gonna make my mom read it.It's hard to explain so I'll let everyone else do that. Orlando Bloom rules!!!
Peace
Me
Rating: 
Summary: The Poetry of Patricia A. McKillip
Review: She entertwines the harsh and the gentle with grace. Forgotten creatures found through a maze so common in real life.I have read all her books, and though this is not one of my most favored, she still manages to sweep me away with the emotions of the charecters, and the magic displayed once again. Well worth the read.
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Summary: Learn loving
Review: On page 12, I told my girlfreind: "This is going to be a great book!" Shaking her head, she wanted me to tell her how I could already know. I just knew form the beginning... McKillip is able to draw you into the plot as dreams take possession of you at night. She tells the story of Sybel, a girl with no feelings but exceptional wisdom, pure as ice. As time passes, she learns how to love, and at the same time she experiences the problems which inevitably accompany her when she allows herself to feel emotions. The fearless girl grows up to a mature and wonderful woman with love, passion, and the killing thirst for revendge which threatens her life. At one point Sybel understands that love does not go together with fear and hate... I have finished the book two days ago, and while I am writing this, Sybel still is a part of my thoughts and feelings. What a pity, McKillip did not make an epic saga out of this. "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" are made of the same stuff as the "The Riddle Master".
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