The Cup of the World

by John Dickinson Narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan

Overview

Author John Dickinson's debut novel is a welcome addition to the flourishing genre of medieval fantasy. Phaedra, a young noble, has reached the age of marriage, and is waiting for the man who appears in her dreams. When he finally arrives, she leaves her home and family to join him. But Phaedra is unprepared for the consequences her new union brings. "Dark and intelligent-for the sophisticated fantasy reader."-Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Dickinson's debut fantasy has lofty ambitions but quickly gets mired in its own complexity. Phaedra, 16, is the only child of the widowed Warden of Trant, one of 10 territories in an unnamed Kingdom. As such, she is sought after for the lands that will come into the hands of her husband upon her father's death; as countless suitors vie for her hand, Phaedra rebuffs them. She holds out for the mysterious knight who appears in her dreams each night, and agrees (through her dreams) to meet with him in person. He turns out to be Ulfin, the March-count of Tarceny, "of whose house no man could say a good thing." She escapes with him by sea, and discovers that the "dreams" are due not to witchcraft, according to Ulfin, but rather what he "prefer[s] to call under-craft," a "gift" from the titular Cup in his possession. Phaedra marries Ulfin, precipitating a war between Trant and Tarceny, which snowballs into a conflict involving the entire Kingdom. Soon, Phaedra's father is dead, she is pregnant, and Ulfin's dark secrets come to the surface. The plot moves slowly and the narrative can be ornate and bulky ("Then the world was blotted out by his arms about her, his lips upon her face, and the thud, thud, thud of her own heart within her chest"). Although Phaedra emerges as an interesting heroine, only determined readers will manage to stay the course to savor her bittersweet victory. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Phaedra, 16, rejects each of her nobly born suitors in turn because none of them can compare to the mysterious young knight who has visited her dreams since her childhood. When at last she meets her beloved in the flesh, she marries him immediately, despite his family's reputation for black magic and his leadership of a territory in near-open rebellion against the King. As her country descends into civil war, Phaedra learns the chilling truth about her husband's powers and finds the strength to save what she holds dear. Slightly formal prose gives the book the sound of a well-worn, classic tale. Subtle foreshadowing and superb pacing heighten the story's impact as Phaedra slowly uncovers the dark secrets underlying her new life. The characters are well rounded, and their motivations often play out in complex territorial politics that make the map a welcome inclusion. Fantasy lovers will revel in glimmering descriptions of Phaedra's country, complete with an invented mythology and a long history of warfare and subjugation. While central to the plot, these details also give the narrative depth and resonance. The corrupting effect of conquest is a weighty subtext for this genre, but Dickinson successfully weaves it into the story in symbolic terms that will remain with readers long after they leave this troubled, beautiful world.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A medieval kingdom's power struggle mirrors one young woman's inner turmoil. Proud, beautiful Phaedra has rejected marriage for 17 years, unconsciously comparing her suitors to the literal man of her dreams. When he proves to be flesh and blood (albeit with powers beyond nature), she spurns a royal proposal to escape to his side. Her choice unwittingly plunges her country into civil war, and dark forces seeking release into the waking world will exact a terrible price. While fully realized and deeply human, Phaedra is an unlikable protagonist. She marches through most of her life like a clenched fist; bitter, angry, and willful; deliberately oblivious to the emotional nuances swirling about her. While readers will applaud her fierce independence and determination, they may identify less with her preoccupation with politics, status, and motherhood. The oblique writing style requires close re-reading to follow the complex intrigues and shifting alliances. Still, the lush, sensual descriptions, the carefully revealed backstory, and the taut atmosphere of looming menace all compel attention to the end. Dark and intelligent-for the sophisticated fantasy reader. (Fantasy. YA)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170730926
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	02/04/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos