The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce

[meganbmoore]

Hrm. So. You know, as an independent book, this actually isn’t a bad book, and is even pretty good. The problem is when you remember that it’s supposed to be the conclusion of the story begun in The Darkangel and A Gathering of Gargoyles. It’s not just the storyline and conclusion. The writing style feels completely different, the world isn’t nearly as distinctive, and the way the plot plays out are all radically different from the first two books. I can’t help but think that, had the book ended two chapters earlier, it would have been a much more satisfying ending. Still not nearly as good as the first two, but a decent ending. As it is, there’s nothing before it to indicate that the series will have the kind of ending it had, and nothing in the story to indicate that it has to end that way, and an ending like that needs some serious plot justification. It’s not enough to retroactively ruin the first two books for me, or to make me swear off other books by Pierce, but I’m glad I didn’t wait years for it.

I have to say, though, that within the first 100 pages, my feelings for Irrylath went from disinterest and mild annoyance to outright dislike. I have to wonder if Pierce was actually trying to make us hate him.

So, has anyone read Pierce’s other trilogy, or other books, and am I likely to like it/them? For a quick guideline of what I have liked in The Darkangel, A Gathering of Gargoyles, and Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood: I like Aeriel and Hannah, of course (no point in reading the books if you don’t) I like the quest aspect, the travelling, the way the books seem to incorporate tons of little bits of mythology instead of relying on a sole mythtype, the magic as it relates to the heroines, the distinctive worlds, the talking animals, all the supporting characters they meet in their travels, and the mytharcs of both. I’m not, though, very impressed with her male leads so far. I don’t care for Irrylath(he had potential in the first book, but he wasted it and I thought he was thoroughly unlikable and unsympathetic by the end), and while Hannah’s prince was pretty decent and I have no problems seeing them together and happy for a long time, he wasn’t really developed at all.

Comments

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I read her unicorn trilogy; I remember enjoying it, but it wasn't hugely memorable. The one with the reindeer I wasn't crazy about, and I don't think short stories are her forte.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I actually almost got the reindeer one at Half Price Books, but remembered someone saying something about it(but I don't remember what) that made me think it might be too much for me, so I decided to wait until I'd read more by her.

I might add the unicorn trilogy to the next pile of YA then. Does she just have the 8 books? (2 trilogies, Tanglewood, and reindeer)?

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Se also has a book of short stories. It;s okay.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

What was your problem with where it ended? I know I may have read those books too young, because I really enjoyed them, but the melencholy aspects just about broke my heart, and at the time I was like, "WTF after all that The Other Women gets him? That sucks!'

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I think it's that the ending just seemed out of nowhere. At no point in the narrative did it indicate that it would lead to that type of ending. Two chapters from the end, where Aeriel defeats the Witch and Irrylath is finally completely freed, that's the ending she was building up to. I suppose the end AFTER that could be argued as challenging genre expectations, but the thing of it is that, in the end, they were both miserable. I never wanted Aeriel and Irrylath to end up together because he never really seemed to want to work for or care for her, so I wasn't upset they didn't end up together. However, Irrylath didn't end up with Sabr because he loved her, he ended up with her because Aeriel was leaving, and she told him to. Not even Sabr will be happy, because Irrylath was screaming in front of everyone during all that that he'd only ever love Aeriel. Aeriel didn't give him up or send him to Sabr because of any realization or decision to live a life free of him-she did it because she was dead. She left with Erin, who truly does love her, but there's no indication that she'll ever love Erin the way Erin loves her. It was just a misery for misery's sake ending. No one gets to be remotely happy, for no apparent reason other than to have a sad ending.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

YES! It totally seemed like the ending came out of nowhere, and was just tragic on all possible counts.

It was more cruel than needed, you know?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yup. I mean, I'm perfectly fine with Aeriel and Irrylath not ending up together. (Prefer it that way, actually.) And i'm fine with Aeriel having to sacrifice herself in the end. But I'm not remotely fine with how either came to be.

I mean, even though I don't like him, I wouldn't have minded if Irrylath had loved Sabr. Not because I think he deserves a happy ending, but because him being happy would have made Aeriel happy.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was a pretty gratitious 'no one gets to be happy,' suck it ending.