The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

By: Patricia A. McKillip

Narrated by: Dina Pearlman

Sixteen when a baby is brought to her to raise, Sybel has grown up on Eld Mountain. Her only playmates are the creatures of a fantastic menagerie called there by wizardry. Sybel has cared nothing for humans, until the baby awakens emotions previously unknown to her. And when Coren--the man who brought this child--returns, Sybel's world is again turned upside down.

©1974, 2002 Patricia A. McKillip (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1975

One of the Greatest Fantasies

A cold sorceress and her mythic beasts become involved in the affairs of mankind and she learns of hate, love, betrayal, forgiveness, of being human.
Lyric, beautiful.

Along time I have known them, but it burns new.

I have loved this story for 40 yrs and remember reading back in unior high school for a paper. A captivating tale of one self, and that which came to serve hidden in a reflection of one self, for both evil and good. worth the read. Only negative comment she said Mike when the story was written Myk (Mick), so that drove me nuts but to each their own.

A favorite

I’ve read this book many times and it is one of my favorites. Dina Pearlman’s narration did justice to this beautiful story.

Wouldn't call this a romance. Main character void of emotion.

I wouldn't say this is a fantasy book that enthralled me and it was fairly typical in its fantasy elements. But it was pretty good.

The main character was so void of emotion that it was challenging for me to emotionally invest in this book.

I am definitely confused about other reviews calling this a romance. There is a love story, but, again, the main character doesn't really feel emotions much, so how can I invest in the love story if she hardly seems to feel affection?

I wouldn't say this is a bad book and I enjoyed some aspects. It was also an easy read. But overall I'd say it wasn't really worth a credit.

Not at all what I expected

I was suggested this book from a friend, and what I thought I was going to read was a high fantasy and epic story jam packed with lighting bolts and sword battles.

What I got instead was an intimate story about a person trying to find their way. The emotional impact it's had on me has lasted a good amount of time, and if that isn't a sign of good writing I don't know what is.

What does it mean?

What dose it mean to be human? What dose it mean to have power? What dose it mean to forgive?

Liked it better than Riddle Master

The story did not befuddle me like Riddle Master. Perhaps it is because so much of the plot is revealed in dialog, short and sweet. But that did bring to my attention that individualism in speech patterns did not exist, and no one ever tried to elide a single syllable.

Romantic near tragedy

full of lovely imagery and long slow visuals. This would make a nice "Willow" like movie. I'm pleased my husband talked me into listening.

Forgotten beasts of eld

This is a wonderful book. It combines a tight plot, good characters and beautifully written prose. I love Patricia McKillip’s early books especially. The language is so poetic and magical. Its a fantasy that stands on its own; no book 2 and book 3, etc. and it not in the least a copy of lord of the rings or the hobbit which so many fantasy books are. Its original, lovely and ive listened and read her books over and over and I discover new things with each reading. I don’t much care for her newest things. They’re too modern and care ridden for me. But i love the older books, such as Atrix wolfe. Her descriptions of food makes me think she is a cook, they’re so very graphic and detailed. Her descriptions of the magical animals are great and the way she brings them to life, especially the boar. And in the middle of the action and the magic she even has a nice love story, which usually i don’t care for, but she melds it into the end in a very pleasing way.

Lovely Story and Production

First World Fantasy Award winner and, yeah! Well done, nice voices, really liked the phrasing.