The City in the Lake
by Rachel Neumeier
Timou is the daughter of the mage Kapoen, growing up in a small, remote village. Timou never knew her mother; Kapoen brought her from the city as a baby with no explanation. Unlike her father and the other villagers, Timou is fair and pale, with light hair and pale eyes.
Under Kapoen's tutelage, Timou is learning to be a mage, to find the stillness which is the heart of magecraft. But when Timou is around Jonas, a young man recently moved to the village, she has difficulty finding the stillness, because of the confusion he causes in her heart.
Far from the village, past the great forest, is the City. The City is the heart of the kingdom, and the King is the heart of the City. But the King's younger son and heir has disappeared, taking the heart of the City with him. In Timou's village, the effect of the disappearance is felt when babies, both animal and human, start to be stillborn. Kapoen sets off to the City to try to help, warning Timou not to follow him no matter what happens. But when Kapoen doesn't come back, Timou ignores his warning and sets off to find her father.
The City in the Lake is an immensely satisfying book heavy with myth, metaphor, and symbol. It's beautifully written book with a fairy-tale feel but more depth than a fairy tale. It draws on myth and folklore for some of the imagery and elements, yet it's a wholly original tale.
This isn't a book that all teens will appreciate. I know teens that will love it, but I also know teens that will find the long symbolic passages of wandering through the forest to be boring. This is a book for teens (and adults) who love rich language, good writing, and depth of plot and characterization, but who don't need action around every turn. There is excitement, and suspense, and conflict, but it's not a fast-paced book.
It was also a pleasure to read a book that is complete in itself; so many of the books that I've read lately leave plot threads unresolved to set up for a sequel.
4 comments:
I loved it, but I know what you mean about not all teens appreciating it. It reminds me a lot of Patricia McKillip's books, and those don't have the rabidly enthusiastic following among teens (or grownups, for that matter) that some other authors do!
I have to confess that I haven't read anything by Patricia McKillip. Another one to add to my ever-growing to-read pile. So many books, so little time. But I'm not complaining! Better that, than running out of things to read!
Oh my goodness gracious. A nice one to start with might be Alphabet of Thorn. Or perhaps Od Magic...
Do look for them! If you liked City in the Lake, you will like McKillip!
Thanks for the recommendations! I'll check them out.
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