Title: The Gift
Author: Alison Croggon
Publisher: Walker Books LTD
Published Date: 3rd May 2004
Page Count: 496
ISBN: 978-1844286362
Price: £7.99 (my copy was gifted to me fifteen or so years ago)
Reviewer: Gwendoline SK Terry (18th November 2024)
Blurb
Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She is unaware that she possesses a powerful gift, a gift that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true heritage and extraordinary destiny unfolds. Now she and her teacher, Cadvan, must survive a punishing and uncertain journey through a time and place where the dark forces they battle with stem from the deepest recesses of other-worldly terror.
Review – may contain spoilers!
The Gift is a breath-taking tale bursting with luscious description, sumptuous atmosphere, and lyrical prose. Alison Croggon’s poetic background is apparent throughout every page of the book; she has an exquisite way with words. Each paragraph is depicted in such detail that you can practically see the story play out before your eyes as you read. The magical encounters and battles are gripping, and her attention to detail is painstaking and thorough, though the lengthy descriptions can leave you impatient for action. When the action does eventually come, it is spellbinding.
I enjoy fantasy novels, and playing RPG and tabletop RPG games, but I’ve never felt drawn to bards or the bard class, respectively. I’ve always leaned towards warriors or rogues. This book was gifted to me when I was a young teenager, and I’m ashamed to admit that it took me all this time to finally give it a read due to my disinterest in bards.
Alison Croggon’s profound way with words was astounding. I’m disappointed with myself for not picking this book up sooner, her writing style is superb.
I have two critiques. First: the book was very long. Despite how fantastically written it was, I did find myself tired of reading about Maerad and Cadvan walking again and again, despite how vivid and beautifully depicted the walks were. I feel that at least 100 pages could’ve been removed from the story, and it wouldn’t have negatively affected the tale at all.
My second critique was Dernhil’s infatuation with Maerad. It was improper, and inappropriate, and only served to make the reader feel sad when he was killed off just a few pages later.
Cadvan and Dernhil, and all the bards, are suggested to be much older than they look (they age three times slower or something? I forget). Based on how they speak, their order and their rank in the Barding order, etc, they easily feel 50 plus even if they don’t physically look it (I think they’re supposed to be much older even that based on the snippet of Cadvan’s family history). This is why I was disturbed by Dernhil’s infatuation, and the rumours about Maerad and Cadvan being lovers when she is literally a sixteen-year-old who only just began her period and both men are suggested to be much, MUCH older than they look.
Dernhil was Maerad’s teacher and mentor, no matter how briefly. It was wrong of him to force a kiss on Maerad. Worse yet was how Dernhil and even Silvia insinuated that Maerad led him on, and Maerad even wondered if she had herself! Maerad is a literal child, and Dernhil is a full-grown, experienced, much older adult. Maerad herself behaves like a child. These are men who are in a position of teaching and mentoring her. It almost comes across as them preying on her. She did not lead him on at all!
In medieval stories, I can understand the idea that the moment a girl begins menstruating they are a woman because the time-period isn’t advanced – this is literally how womanhood was seen to begin centuries ago. This story has the stereotypical medievalesque setting that most fantasy stories possess, but the Barding society of the Pellinor series seems too advanced to have adults interested romantically in children or to see girls as women the minute they begin their periods. It feels like they should know better.
Thankfully, the hints of Maerad and Cadvan’s possible romance ended when they left Innail. Maerad returned to being treated like the sixteen-year-old child that she was. Dernhil’s infatuation was gross and inappropriate, and I found myself unable to feel upset when he was killed off.
I haven’t yet read the other two books in the trilogy, however, if Maerad is supposed to have a romantic interest, I would like to see it be Saliman. Despite being a background character, Saliman is sweet, charming, and lovely.
Ultimately, this was a great book, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
gwensalir 