The Singer of All Songs, by Kate Constable (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2004)

Sheltered by her upbringing as an ice priestess in the remote land of Antaris, a place emphatically set apart from the rest of the world by the massive magically-maintained Wall, Calwyn is unprepared for the destiny that meets her head-on the day she rescues a wounded stranger who has somehow crossed over the Wall. Little does she realize at the time that she’ll be drawn into a desperate quest to prevent an ambitious sorcerer from gaining control over all nine aspects of the Great Power which can change the world. Her own ability to manipulate the Power of Ice will make her both pawn and player as she joins several other people, each with their own affinity for the Nine Songs, in a race against time. But will Calwyn’s resolve be enough to turn the tide at the crucial moment, or will the conniving Samis have the last word? She’ll need to trust her newfound friends like never before, if they want to prevent disaster. Even then, Calwyn may have to sacrifice everything she’s ever known, for the greater good.

The Singer of All Songs is a rousing, sweeping fantasy, the debut novel from Australian author Kate Constable. It’s an intelligent story with strong characters, rich atmosphere, and a well-planned magical system that resonates quite nicely with the world at hand. Calwyn’s journey of discovery through strange lands with unfamiliar customs and new people is our journey, a great way to explore the setting. From northern wastelands to rational cities to prehistoric jungles, there’s a little something for everyone, even pirates. This is a strong start, and I hope Constable keeps it up for the next book in the trilogy.


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