I'd heard good things about McKillip, so I picked this up at the library. Those who aren't into typical fantasy settings might enjoy this, since most of the story takes place in a non-fantasy world, but there are interesting ties and glimpses to another world. I really enjoyed the characters in the book, and there was plenty of mystery to keep me turning pages. There's a mystical element to the book - McKillip doesn't try to wrap things up neatly or explain everything - which I enjoyed on one level, but such narratives always leave me wanting to understand more. Considering that the majority of this book was build up, the pay off occurred very quickly and with little satisfaction. McKillip has a wonderful talent for worldbuilding. Her setting and characters kept me intrigued no matter where the chapters' focus jumped. From Sealey Head to Ysabo's castle to Gwyneth's story, I was genuinely interested in finding out how each plotline developed. McKillip's ability to maintain that balance between all three, not to mention the different points of view within Sealey Head, was masterful.Yet the novel's ending felt unfulfilling. The bell itself was discovered suddenly and had very little connection with the rest of the story. From there, the bell's influence (for lack of a better spoiler-free term) felt far too spontaneous and neat. I expected to see a more exciting ending where each of the story's threads were tied together. Instead, what I got was a quick fix. The last few chapters were dull in comparison to the mystery that surrounded them.Overall, I'll gladly continue reading McKillip's work. Her highly detailed version of fantasy is something that I've always enjoyed. But I feel that this is one of her weaker works. It'll likely collect dust on my shelf while I reread "Alphabet of Thorn" over and over again in the coming years.
What do You think about The Bell At Sealey Head (2008)?
An interesting fantasy, written in the style of one of Austen's romances.
—Andy
Pleasant, not very substantial, and absolutely typical McKillip.
—ronin
Thoroughly enjoyed this charming little fairy tale. :)
—sarena23
