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Those who know me well know that The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley is one of my favorite novels in the world. I have read all of Ms. McKinley's work that I can find and I like some of the others quite a lot, The Hero & the Crown (want moar Damar books pls) and Sunshine in particular. But I never thought that she again managed that pristine creation of a legend that upon its very first reading seemed to go straight into the subconscious and hook up with so deep an archetypal place. Partly because she has chosen to re-tell common legends. But now, she has again trusted her own magnificent creation and brought us Chalice. I read it yesterday. I am reading it again today as I can't yet bear to leave the world she created.

The point of view character is Mirasol, a young woman who tends bees and keeps woodlands as her parents did before her in the demesne of Willowlands. The Willowlands is ruled by a Master and his Council - a Chalice, a Seneschal, a Weatherauger and such folk. Mirasol has little attention for these rulers until the Master and Chalice die at once and the rods auger that she is the next Chalice. Without having had an apprenticeship she is thrust into the role of Second in Council. With her landsense and the wisdom of her bees she must be the first honey Chalice on record and heal her demesne with the help of the new Master, new come from being an Elemental Priest of Fire and not quite human.

I loved learning the magic of the land. Mirasol is a wonderfully sympathetic protagonist and McKinley once again manages language with poetry and grace so that the world Mirasol lives in comes alive as though stepping forth from the way things have always been.

Back at Internet Librarian, I mentioned that the keynote speaker was Judy A. Jance, a mystery writer. They talked abouto her current title, Edge of Evil, which is about a female newscaster who gets fired because she is too old and so she starts a blog about it (complications ensue). Several people raved to me about J.A. Jance's mysteries so I immediately ordered Edge of Evil. I found it very rich, multi-layered and well written. I don't much read modern mysteries but this one will definitely set me on a campaign to read more of her work. Does anyone have a favorite between her two main detectives? Since this one was a one-off, I don't know where to start (although the trilogy set on the Indian reservation have a certain draw). But that doesn't help with the J.P. Beaumont vs Joanna Brady question.

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