Songquest

Rialle is top of the class at school and school, as in the Harry Potter books, is not of the usual kind. Rialle is being trained to be a singer, one who can use the Songs of Power which control emotion and memory, to proper effect. When she accompanies the Second Singer on a diplomatic mission to the menacing Karch, her initial task to persuade the merlee, half creatures who live in the sea, to give their ship safe passage – but many more adventures await her and her companions as they journey forth. Meanwhile, Kherron, the least popular boy in the class, has run away. When his path crosses Rialle’s, will he be friend or foe?

While this fantasy debut is reminiscent of Le Guin, Tolkein, J.K.Rowling et al, Fisher creates a convincing world that is very much her own and one that she is able to use as a metaphor to explore issues of difference, of power and exploitation, of inclusion and exclusion. This novel is also a rites of passage novel in which Rhialle, Kherron and their friend Frenn grow and make discoveries about themselves. Fisher writes vividly and dramatically with an accomplished grasp of plotting that carries the reader along. This novel is described as the first in a new fantasy sequence. If Fisher can maintain the standard of this impressive debut, there will be much to look forward to.