The heroine Veralidaine ‘Daine' Sarrasri is an orphan who gets hired to assist transporting horses from Galla to the capital city Corus. During the journey she builds friendships and makes enemies with some monstrous Immortals (magical creatures). Throughout the book it becomes evident that her “knack with animals” is more than it seems. Numair Salmalin, the King's most powerful magician, takes Daine under his tutelage as a student so that she can develop her skills in Wild Magic, the magical ability to communicate and heal animals. Together, with the other famous Tortallans from ‘Song of the Lioness', they face their first battles with Immortals and neighboring adversaries that threaten the kingdom. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book - very upbeat FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Inner Struggle Yes Plotlet: - search for identity/new understanding - coping with mental/magical powers Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Main Adversary Identity: - magical being Age: - long-lived adults Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can fly - is very quick How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Terrain Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Takes place on Earth? Yes Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |