Ratings17
Average rating4
Brenden Vetch has a gift. With an innate sense he cannot explain to himself or describe to others, he connects to the agricultural world, nurturing gardens to flourish and instinctively knowing the healing properties each plant and herb has to offer. But Brenden’s gift isolates him from people—and from becoming part of a community.Until the day he receives a personal invitation from the wizard Od. She needs a gardener for her school in the great city of Kelior, where every potential wizard must be trained to serve the Kingdom of Numis. For decades the rulers of Numis have controlled the school, believing they can contain the power within it—and punish any wizard who dares defy the law.But unknown to the reigning monarchy is the power possessed by the school’s new gardener—a power that even Brenden isn’t fully aware of, and which is the true reason Od recruited him...
Reviews with the most likes.
This was a guilty pleasure and comfort read for me: the whimsical writing, the wonder, lightheartedness, and type of magic system. I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but for for what it does in a short amount of pages it's a 5-stars from me for now. I did highly enjoy the character work, the themes, the plot and worldbuilding.
Second read, rating unchanged. This book is about nothing and about everything; you get the hints of a larger plot at the beginning and it feels like you sail a long, serpentine river to its heart. Lots of people who are at odds with themselves and the world they inhabit, lots of fear, but fear can turn into wonder. I was enchanted, but then I always am with McKillip!
PRIOR REVIEW, MARCH 2ND 2019:
Fantastic.