The Ill-Made Mute (Bitterbynde) - Softcover

Dart-Thornton, Cecilia

3.75

4,733 ratings by Goodreads

9780446610803: The Ill-Made Mute (Bitterbynde)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0446610801 ISBN 13: 9780446610803

Publisher: Warner Books, 2002

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This first title in a new trilogy, set in a world of legendary creatures, introduces the least of the lowly--a mute, scarred foundling, unaware of who she is or why she is wandering the dangerous landscape. Fortunately, an old female servant takes her in and protects her. As she grows, she finds friends in this strange land, and together, they set out to find her name, her past, and her future.

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Review:

This first novel by Australian writer Cecilia Dart-Thornton begins the Bitterbynde series, the saga of a young woman's search for her past as well as her destiny. An orphaned refugee taken in as a servant of powerful Isse Tower, a prominent Relay Station in the world's communications network, the main character is a nameless, badly scarred mute with little hope for better--until he escapes by stowing away on a magical Windship and is befriended by cheerful Sianadh, a self-professed madman and adventurer. Sianadh gives his companion two precious gifts: a name, Imrhien, and the knowledge that he is really she, raised as a boy to protect her from even worse treatment. Together, the two journey into the deep green heart of a great forest, defeat the tricky magics of various eldritch wights, and discover a vast treasure that will change their lives forever. When Imrhien learns of Maeve One-Eye, a healer who may be able to repair her scars and restore her memory, the girl is determined to seek her out. On the dangerous trip west, Imrhien meets and falls in love with the Dainnan ranger Thorn, but doubts he could ever return her affections. While this novel doesn't stand well alone, readers who crave long and detailed journeys through fantastic lands filled with magical creatures will enjoy Imrhien's travels. Dart-Thornton's world takes many traditional elements of epic fantasy and manages to stir them into something charming and new. --Charlene Brusso

From the Author:

THE ILL-MADE MUTE has attracted wonderful reviews from such well-known authors as Andre Norton, Jennifer Roberson, Elizabeth Hand, Susan Krinard and Rosemary Edghill, as well as Kirkus Reviews.

The story draws deeply on the genuine folklore of the British Isles. I delight in weaving these tales throughout my novels, bringing them out of the dusty archives of the 19th century into the light of the third millennium. Some of my favourite species of fairies, or “eldritch wights”, are the handsome ganconers, who lure mortal maidens to their doom. The female version of the ganconers are the baobhan sith; beauteous, lethal damsels. There are also swan-maidens, spriggans, wicked water-horses, fuaths and duergars. British folklore collectors have given us a fascinating multitude of immortal wights - some good, some evil, others mischievous practical jokers.

The other titles in the trilogy are "The Lady of the Sorrows (2002) and "The Battle of Evernight" (2003).

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