Daggerspell

, #1

Mass Market Paperback, 454 pages

English language

Published Nov. 1, 1993 by Spectra.

ISBN:
978-0-553-56521-8
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4 stars (4 reviews)

Even as a young girl, Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysterious Wildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisible realm. Little did she know her extraordinary friends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten past and a fateful future. Four hundred years-and many lifetimes-ago, one selfish young lord caused the death of two innocent lovers. Then and there he vowed never to rest until he'd righted that wrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jill and all those whom she would hold dear: her father, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiled berserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient and powerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle against darkness. . . and a quest to fulfill the destinies determined centuries ago. Here in this newly revised edition comes the incredible novel that began one of the best-loved fantasy series in recent years--a tale of bold adventure and timeless …

7 editions

reviewed Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr (Deverry Cycle, #1)

Traditional sword and sorcery, with enough twists to keep me interested

4 stars

I think it is fair to say the setting is inspired both by Tolkien and the Celtic (e.g. Mary Stewart) take on the King Arthur/Merlin myth.

There are some interesting plot twists that also serve as character development.

As someone who grew up around the time the book was written, I found the "New-agey" take on magic a bit jarring. Reincarnation plays a big role, as do things like "the astral plane" and "auras". It might be just me, but it feels like that terminology ties the book to the 1980s a bit.

Full credit to Kerr for giving her female protagonists agency and complexity in a way that works in a traditionally patriarchal setting.

reviewed Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr (Deverry Cycle, #1)

Review of 'Daggerspell' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I liked this book. It was some classic, cheesy 1970's fantasy fun. If you don't expect there to be much more to it, and if you like that sort of stuff, you will definitely enjoy Daggerspell.

It's got romance for the boys, sword fights for the girls, new-agey magic for all of us, and a plot so complicated you will need a spreadsheet to keep track of it! What more could one possible ask for?

Subjects

  • Fiction
  • Fiction - Fantasy
  • Fantasy
  • Fantasy - Epic
  • Fantasy - Historical
  • Fiction / Fantasy / General
  • Fantasy - General

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