For fans of Patricia McKillip, this book will feel familiar in style. It is mainly a fantasy romance with a little magic and adventure on the side. The residents of the very small coastal village of Sealey Head live in their own little world where very little changes. Reflected in miniature within that town is Aislinn House, where the ancient lady of the house sleeps the days away and nothing changes - but behind some doors a young servant girl gets glimpses of another world.
Things start to slowly change when a young researcher and possible wizard arrives from the big city, soon followed by the inheritor of Aislinn house, her entourage and all that goes with it. For me, the key to understanding this book was when I realized that this could have just as easily been called 'The Bell at Seelie Head', as in the Seelie Court of the fairies.
We mostly follow the action here from the point of view of the common people of the village, the innkeeper's son, the merchant's daughter and Emma, the servant girl. As always with McKillip's books the writing is excellent, the story is engaging and the characters are clever and magical. There's nothing not to like about this short novel. ( )

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Title: The Bell at Sealey Head
Series: ———-
Author: Patricia McKillip
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 245
Words: 71K



Synopsis:

From Wikipedia

The small ocean town of Sealey Head has long been haunted by a phantom bell that tolls as evening falls. The sound is so common that many of the town’s inhabitants do not even notice it, let alone questions its existence. Ridley Dow, a scholar from the city, comes to investigate the mystery, and sets up residence at the old inn owned by a young man named Judd and his ailing father. To aid Ridley, Judd enlists the help of his friend and love-interest Gwyneth, a young woman who writes her own stories to explain the bell.

On the other side of town is the ancient manor Aislinn House, whose owner, Lady Eglantine, lies dying. Emma, a servant in the house, is able to open doors that lead not into another room, but into another world. On the other side of Aislinn House’s doors is castle where the princess Ysabo moves through her daily rituals, tasks that Ysabo hates and does not understand, but cannot question. While Emma and Ysabo are able to speak to one another, neither has ever tried to cross into the other’s realm.

When Lady Eglantine’s heir Miranda Beryl comes to Aislinn House, Sealey Head’s secrets begin to reveal themselves, sometimes with dangerous consequences. Miranda brings to Sealey Head an entourage of friends from the city, as well as a strange assistant. As the town gets pulled deeper into the strange magic that Ridley, Judd, Gwyneth, and Emma uncover, Ridley breaches the border between Aislinn House and Ysabo’s world. It is only when the bell’s location and owner are discovered that Aislinn House and all of Sealey Head are able to return to safety.



My Thoughts:

I so enjoyed the time I spent reading this. While my reads in March were pretty cool, there is just something about McKillip’s writing that soothes my soul.

Everything I might have to say I’ve said about McKillip before. I’m not going to repeat it ad nauseum. Beautiful language, highly recommended, go read it.

You Are Welcome.

★★★★★ ( )

A gentle, mysterious fantasy. I'm still not sure I understand why there were two Aislinn houses, how that came to be. Maybe I just missed it. Still a pleasant read. ( )

lovely, of course. both worlds bear some similarity to Susanna Clarke's worlds in Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and the lesson perhaps is also similar, though Clarke's book is much bigger. also both are charming, and otherworldly in interesting ways. ( )

A bell is heard at sunsight every day at a town. It has rung for hundreds of years. A magician comes to find it. In the process he sets free a magical realm that was taken over by his ever so great uncle. A house that hides doorways to the other kingdom. This was more prosey than her other stuff. I really enjoyed it. ( )