Book Review: Heir of Sea and Fire (Riddle Master #2) by Patricia A. McKillip
(Three Stars)
“There is an instinct in me to trust you blindly. Beyond reason, and beyond hope.”
Moderns whine the former dearth of recognized female authors and lead characters in speculative fiction. Like most generalizations that’s generally wrong. This book is a case in point. Published in 1977, it features a mostly female protagonist and supporting cast. Sadly, but understandably, the series male hero … (Oops, that’d be telling.)
“I know that silence … sometimes I think it’s a silence of living, then at other times, it changes to a silence of waiting.”
Simple, direct storytelling. Great impact. Hate to think how Robert Jordan would have drawn out this story.
“Traders, like animals, have an instinct for danger.” “So do you, but without the instinct to avoid it.” “Where do you suggest we go to be safe in a doomed realm? And when, in the void between a riddle and its answer, was there ever anything but danger?”
Morgol, unfortunate choice of name for a supporting female character. Both because of The Lord of the Rings association and because the series hero is named Morgon. McKillip should have known better.
“They were promised a man of peace.”
As a Matter of Fancy 
Maybe almost as many women writing fantasy in the 60’s and 70’s, but they weren’t well known. I read a lot of fantasy then. I found a few women writing fantasy, but I Mread more male writers in those days. Men were more publicized then.