Chalice

author: Robin McKinley
genre: YA Fantasy
Grade: B/C

In this fantasy world the land of each Demesne is alive and the land and people live in harmony through a link with the Master of the Demesne and his circle. Mirasol plays the most important role in that circle, that of Chalice. The Chalice works with cups/chalices, with herbs, and with her own liquid element to bind and heal the land and the people. But Mirasol is a new Chalice because the previous Master and previous Chalice died, both without heirs. It is up to Mirasol to tie the previous Masters younger brother to his new role of Master, to his people and to the land. But the previous Master, angry with his brother had sent him to the Fire Priests. And he is a third level Priest, barely able to live among humans. Can Mirasol, a young, untrained Chalice working with a previously unused liquid element make this work?

This is a fascinating story set in an intriguing world. Mirasol is a solid heroine -- compassionate, caring about her people and her land. And the new Master is wonderful -- very self sacrificial, caring and willing to learn from everyone about him. It would have been easy for him to blame Mirasol's lack of training for everything and anything that went wrong but he didn't, he really relied upon her and helped her so that the two created a partnership.

My quibble is that the story was often told as opposed to shown. So much world building was being done and it was not woven into the story but often a break in the narration. While the story is good and very interesting it did not move above those levels. Very frustrating because I got the definite sense this could have been great with just a little work.

Tea: Honey Lemon all the way. Or really anything with honey.