Rating: 4 1/2
The Riddle, the second in the Books of Pellinor quartet, picks up where The Gift ended, with Maerad and her mentor, Cadvan, searching for the Riddle of the Treesong, while on the run from both the Light and the Dark.
Separated from her brother Hem, Maerad's journey takes her across the sea to the rich isle of Thorold and into the far North, and the realm of Arkan, the mysterious Winterking. Maerad's gift is getting stronger, with painful consequences, deeply affecting both herself and her relationship with Cadvan. After a tragic set of circumstances, Maerad is left alone to face the Winterking, find the elusive Treesong, while battling for her own survival.
The Riddle was a pleasant surprise, as I haven't had a lot of luck with sequels lately, yet I devoured this book in two sittings! The Elidhu continue to fascinate me, and the Winterking's power over Maerad is obviously enticing. Although some readers have likened the Elidhu to Tolkien's Elves, I find them to be far more elemental and animalistic, with no true understanding of what it is to be human. Both Ardina and Arkan are described as having known love with mortals, and their characters seem to be embodied by the resulting loss and isolation. Quite the contrast to the exuberant and passionate people of Thorold. This series just gets better and better!
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