Brilliantly, wickedly good.

This simple yet powerful phrase encapsulates a quality that is truly remarkable. It implies a level of excellence that is not only outstanding but also带有一丝狡黠和魅力.

When something is described as brilliantly, wickedly good, it catches our attention and piques our interest. It suggests that there is something unique and unexpected about it, something that sets it apart from the ordinary.

It could refer to a work of art, a performance, a book, or even a person. A brilliantly, wickedly good artist might create works that are both visually stunning and thought-provoking, challenging our perceptions and making us see the world in a new light.

A brilliantly, wickedly good performance could leave us on the edge of our seats, filled with excitement and anticipation. And a brilliantly, wickedly good person might have a charm and charisma that draw others to them, along with a sharp intellect and a sense of humor that make them truly unforgettable.

In short, brilliantly, wickedly good is a phrase that describes something that is truly special and值得我们关注和欣赏. It is a quality that we all strive for, whether in our work, our relationships, or our lives in general.

I just picked this book up from my bookshelf, where I'd left it

perhaps twenty years ago? I'm truly glad that I did. This book has a dreamy and wistful lightness to it,

which is very much like my other favorite Peter S. Beagle book, "The Folk of the Air."

As I turned the last page, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.

The story had taken me on a journey through a world filled with magic and wonder.

The characters were so vividly drawn that I felt as if I knew them personally.

The author's writing style is simply enchanting,

pulling the reader in from the very first sentence and not letting go until the end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy story.

It's a true gem that I will cherish for many years to come.

It was an okay book.

For winning the Locus award for best fantasy in 1994? Well, I've not read any of the other nominees of that year.

However, there were parts of this book that were good. The story is told by various protagonists, flipping between several of the characters. There's the Innkeeper, and even a non-human. That part was quite interesting and I was okay with it.

But the ending, oh the ending. I'm not going to spoil anything here. It just left me with a bit of a mixed feeling.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but it also didn't completely blow me away. Maybe if I had read the other nominees, my perspective would be different.

Still, it had its moments and I'm glad I gave it a try.

It took an extremely long time for me to really settle into the groove of this story. At first, I found it a bit difficult to get fully immersed. However, as I progressed through approximately three-fourths of the way, something magical happened. I got completely hooked.

It was like a slow burn. The story gradually built up its intensity and charm, drawing me in deeper and deeper with each passing page. I started to care about the characters and their fates, and I couldn't wait to see how the story would unfold.

Despite the initial slowness, I'm glad I persisted. Because now, I'm thoroughly enjoying this story and can't wait to see what lies ahead. It just goes to show that sometimes, the best things in life require a bit of patience and perseverance to fully appreciate.

This isn't so much a DNF (Did Not Finish) as a "set aside for now." I truly admire the writing in this book. The author has a certain flair and skill that is quite evident. However, when it comes to the plot and the characters, they just aren't really clicking with me.

I think part of the issue might be due to the rapid shifts in POV (Point of View). Generally, I'm a fan of multiple-POV stories as they can offer a more comprehensive view of the narrative. But in this particular case, I felt that it had a bit of a distancing effect. It made it difficult for me to really engage deeply with the story and the characters.

Moreover, there are just so many other books that I'm eager to read. With limited time and a never-ending TBR (To Be Read) list, I have to be somewhat selective. So, for now, I'm setting this book aside, hoping that perhaps at a later time, I might be in a better frame of mind to fully appreciate it.

When three strange women, one black, one brown, and one white, arrive at a wayside inn named The Gaff and Slasher, Karsh, the innkeeper, takes them in despite his misgivings. Two of the women, Lal and Nyateneri, are in search of their former mentor, a powerful magician who has summoned them to rescue him from destruction and worse at the hands of his most powerful pupil, Arshadin. The third, Lukassa, is a village girl whom Lal resurrected after she drowned, and her childhood love, Tikat, pursues the three, determined to regain her. When these troubled souls converge on the inn, life there is forever altered as powerful forces engage in an unholy battle for possession of the magician's soul.

I first discovered The Innkeeper's Song ten years ago, and it remains one of my favorite fantasy novels. Beagle is a highly skilled stylist, his narrative filled with wonderful, unexpected metaphors and a fierce musicality. There is a poetry in this book that few writers can achieve, full of unspoken things and subtle inferences. All of this combines to weave a captivating story that is impossible to put down.

Told from multiple points of view, The Innkeeper's Song is a multi-faceted fantasy, not just one tale but several seamlessly woven together, flowing in and out of stream-of-consciousness. Difficult to understand, I know, but it works brilliantly because Beagle is a master of characterization. There is never any uncertainty about who is speaking, even when the differences are subtle.

In elegant yet simple prose, Beagle delves into the nature of life, death, and love by illuminating the changing relationships among the various major and minor characters (including an irritable shape-changing fox) who populate this moving tale.

Favorite Line/Image: My name is Karsh. I am not a bad man. I am not a particularly good one either, though honest enough in my trade. Nor am I at all brave—if I were, I would be some kind of soldier or sailor. And if I could write even such a song as that nonsense about those three women which someone has put my name to, why, then I would be a songwriter, a bard, since I would certainly be fit for nothing else. But what I am fit for is what I am, everything I am. Karsh the innkeeper. Fat Karsh.

They talk foolishness about me now, since those women were here. Since that song. Now I am all mystery, a man from nowhere; now I am indeed supposed to have been a soldier, to have traveled the world, seen terrible things, done terrible things, changed my name and my life to hide from my past. Foolishness. I am Karsh the innkeeper, like my father, like his father, and the only other country I have ever seen is the farmland around Sharan-Zek, where I was born. But I have lived here for almost forty years, and run the Gaff and Slasher for thirty, and they know that, every one of them. Foolishness.

Bottom Line: A fantasy masterpiece that has endured the test of time, The Innkeeper's Song is not to be missed.

I am rather disappointed. This feeling has been lingering within me for a while. It seems that many things have not turned out as I expected. Maybe it's because of unfulfilled expectations or perhaps due to certain events that didn't go according to plan. Whatever the reason, this disappointment has left a mark on my heart.

I try to look on the bright side and find positive aspects in the situation, but it's not easy. The disappointment weighs heavily on my mind and sometimes affects my mood. However, I know that I can't let it hold me back forever. I need to find a way to move forward and overcome this feeling.

Perhaps I should focus on the lessons I have learned from this experience and use them to make better decisions in the future. Or maybe I need to give myself some time to heal and let go of the past. Whatever the approach, I am determined to not let this disappointment define me. I will strive to find happiness and fulfillment once again.

Like many individuals, I spent my growing years with this author's renowned work, The Last Unicorn. Naturally, I harbored high expectations for a similar level of quality in this book. However, I was soon disappointed.

As I delved into the reading, I couldn't help but dislike the author's approach of seemingly deliberately withholding information from the reader. The characters recounted events in an overly vague manner, which didn't feel like the way real people would tell a story. Instead, it seemed as if the author was trying to artificially create mystery rather than having it unfold organically. Nevertheless, I persisted, hoping that everything would be clarified in the end.

And then, at the 39% mark, things took a truly bizarre turn. The content became extremely creepy and weird, far beyond what I would consider a standard NSFW scene. There had already been a previous questionable scene that made me skip a few pages, but then the author plunged headfirst into an "adult" rating, at which point I decided to stop reading for good.

The plot centered around Lukassa and Tikat was interesting and could have been a nice short story on its own. However, for me, having it dragged out amidst all the other strangeness wasn't worth the effort of finding out what happened to them.

In conclusion, this book is not suitable for children, and even adults (who may not be averse to certain content) may find that it fails to meet the standard set by The Last Unicorn.

Wizards are the best part of this book. Right after the blacksmith. And there is also some Miyazakian touch throughout it all.

This makes the story truly enchanting. The wizards bring a sense of magic and mystery that keeps the readers hooked from the very beginning. Their powers and abilities are described in such detail that it feels as if they could step out of the pages and into the real world.

The combination of the wizardly elements with the Miyazakian influence creates a unique and captivating atmosphere. It's like a dreamlike world that you can get lost in. Whether it's the beautiful landscapes or the charming characters, everything in this book has a certain charm that is hard to resist.

Overall, the presence of the wizards and the Miyazakian touch make this book a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and magic.

I truly have a deep admiration for Peter S. Beagle. His book The Last Unicorn holds a special place among my favorite books.

And this new work, though very different, has won my heart just as much. At the beginning, I struggled to get into it. However, I'm extremely glad that I persisted through each of the characters' chapters. It's not just a love story; it's so much more than one could ever imagine.

I grew to enjoy all the characters to such an extent that I now miss them dearly. I can't wait to embark on this literary journey again and immerse myself in the wonderful world that Peter S. Beagle has created.

His writing has a unique charm that draws you in and keeps you engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend his works to anyone who loves a good story filled with rich characters and captivating plots.

I thought that I already liked Beagle, but no, not yet to the right extent.

It is a very good book, on the surface from one aspect and another, but also in addition to the storytelling of the stories and no matter what kind of storyteller Beagle is himself.

Beagle's writing style is unique and engaging. His descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, making the reader feel as if they are part of the story. The plots are also full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good literature. It is a must-read for fans of Beagle and those who are looking for a new and exciting read.

I was introduced to this book by a song. The German progressive metal band Blind Guardian, which is one of my favorites, composed a song titled Road of No Release, and I simply couldn't stop listening to it. As is my habit with music, I looked up the lyrics. To my surprise, almost every verse told the story of a character. This piqued my curiosity, and I had to discover the origin of these stories. That's when I found this book and immediately knew it was a must-read.

I'm truly glad that I read it and would recommend it, but only to those who have a penchant for both fantasy stories and the ability to understand every intricate detail. It's a book that requires deep thought. The overall story, on the surface, is just average and perhaps one you've heard before. However, the real essence lies in the details. Read a chapter hastily, and you'll miss half of it, and things that occur three chapters later will seem incomprehensible. I'm a fast reader with the ability to memorize and understand what I read as I go. The words paint vivid movies and scenes in my mind, yet I still found myself re-reading each chapter two or even three times to ensure I didn't miss anything crucial.

So, pick up this book and take your time. Before you begin or continue reading, make sure you've gone to the bathroom, washed your hands, and grabbed your snacks and drinks. It's a captivating journey that's well worth the time and effort.