3.5 stars
This isn't a flawless book. What irked me the most was a deception employed by one character to engage in sexual relations with another (dub-con), which astonishingly is never regarded as something serious. It occurs between two of the main characters, leaving me with profound and persistent cognitive dissonance regarding my feelings towards the characters and their relationship.

However, what can one do when an author crafts sentences such as \\"Death is a nowhere lined with lightning\\"? I am a devotee of Peter S. Beagle and the unique luster he imparts to love, melancholy, hope, and pettiness. His prose resounds like a bell, captivating and enchanting. (It also infiltrates and strikes me right between the ribs.)

Moreover, the story has its own charm and allure that manages to draw the reader in despite this flaw. The characters, aside from this particular incident, are well-developed and engaging. The world-building is vivid and immersive, making it easy for the reader to lose themselves in the narrative. Despite the one aspect that bothered me, I still found myself enjoying large parts of the book and looking forward to seeing how the story would unfold.

In conclusion, while this book may not be without its faults, it still has many redeeming qualities that make it worth reading. Peter S. Beagle's writing is as beautiful as ever, and his ability to create a world and characters that resonate with the reader is truly remarkable.

I just never really got into this tale.

Perhaps the format of each chapter being centered on a different character or event was the culprit. It made things just a bit confusing.

As I was reading, I found it difficult to keep track of all the different storylines and how they were supposed to fit together.

Maybe if the author had done a better job of connecting the dots between the chapters, it would have been easier to follow.

Overall, I was left feeling a bit disappointed with this story.

I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it just didn't quite deliver.

However, I will say that the writing itself was quite good.

The author had a nice way with words and was able to create some vivid images in my mind.

It's just a shame that the story structure let it down.

Maybe I'll give this author another chance in the future and see if they can do better.

I don't quite remember the exact way I heard about Peter S. Beagle. It could have been through a random conversation, a review, or perhaps a recommendation from someone. And out of all of his remarkable accomplishments, I don't know why I specifically picked "The Innkeeper's Song". But that's often the beauty of discovery. Sometimes, the most unexpected finds turn out to be the most precious.

I truly love this book. There's something about its heart that just speaks to me. It has a unique voice that draws you in and makes you feel as if you're part of the story. And it presents a challenge, making you question your own perceptions and assumptions about life.

Life is seldom what you expect it to be. We often have these preconceived notions and plans, but reality has a way of throwing us curveballs. And it's never, ever what you simply "see" on the surface. There's always more to a story, more to a person, and more to a situation than meets the eye. "The Innkeeper's Song" reminds us of this, and in doing so, it enriches our understanding of the world around us.

Buddy read with Laura.

We decided to embark on this reading journey together, hoping that it would chase away my five-day slump. I had been feeling rather down and unmotivated for the past few days, and I thought that having a reading buddy like Laura might just be the thing to turn my mood around.

Laura is an avid reader, and she always has a great selection of books to choose from. We sat down together, each with our own copies of the book, and began to read. As we read, we would stop and discuss the story, sharing our thoughts and opinions. It was really interesting to hear Laura's perspective on the book, and it made me think about things in a different way.

Before I knew it, several hours had passed, and I had completely forgotten about my slump. I was so engaged in the story and in our discussions that I didn't have time to feel down. Buddy reading with Laura was definitely a great idea, and I'm looking forward to doing it again soon.

Wow, I really didn't see that coming at all.

This story is told from multiple points of view, and each perspective has a distinct voice. It's all about the happenings at the Gaff and Slasher that led to the production of the famous Innkeeper's Song.

The characters are reminiscing to an unnamed third party with whom they have occasional conversations and interactions.

It's a captivating and plotting story that takes you on a journey filled with love, death, loyalty, and change. You'll be drawn into the lives of these characters and experience their emotions as they unfold.

The different viewpoints add depth and complexity to the narrative, allowing you to see the events from various angles.

It's a truly engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

In the first third, it's a narrative wilderness. In the remaining two-thirds, it's a classic epic fantasy about the battle of good and evil. What I don't understand is its classification under the "young adult" category. The style itself requires extremely careful reading and is primarily "adult." And, clearly, then we have That (yes, That) Scene. I'm really not sure if it was necessary, but I definitely know that it has nothing in common with YT :-)) Anyway, it's a really great read. The alternation of individual POVs, once you get used to it, the story develops more than a classic narrative could manage.

This book offers a unique reading experience. The combination of the wild first third and the more traditional epic fantasy in the latter part creates a captivating journey. The use of multiple POVs adds depth and complexity to the story, allowing readers to see different perspectives and understand the characters better. Despite the confusion regarding its classification, it's a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages who appreciate a well-written and engaging story.

Whether you're a fan of epic fantasy or just looking for something new to read, this book is definitely worth checking out. Its unique style and engaging plot will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Sort of an oral history of a big wizard battle is being told here. It's related by those who could fairly be regarded as pawns on one wizard's side. The majority of the action is centered around an inn located a bit outside a large trading town. There are secretive women who have been trained by the wizard. There's also a girl who has been raised from the dead and her childhood sweetheart. Additionally, there's a stable boy, a fat and cantankerous innkeeper, a fox, and some assassins.

In some respects, it's a little dated. This is mainly due to the trend of having a seemingly fairly normal setting and the occasional atypical creature that is always italicized. However, it's refreshingly devoid of sexual violence and a great deal of other grossness. It also came together really well and was a good story, neither overly optimistic like a Pollyanna tale nor extremely dark and grim like a grimdark story. I would highly recommend it.

I think it was a good story.

It had elements that caught my attention and held my interest throughout.

The plot was engaging, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives.

However, I'm still trying to figure out if I truly liked it.

There were some aspects that left me a bit confused or unsatisfied.

Maybe it was the ending, which seemed a bit rushed or unresolved.

Or perhaps it was the overall tone of the story, which didn't quite resonate with me on an emotional level.

Despite these uncertainties, I can't deny that it was a well-written and entertaining story.

I'll continue to think about it and try to determine if it's a story that will stay with me or one that I'll eventually forget.

This is most definitely not one of Beagle's children's books.

Every single character in the story is tragic in one way or another. There is the girl who drowned and then rose again. Her love, who loses his innocence and a great deal of his sanity following her.

There are also two magicians-in-training who are answering the call of their mad and dying master, who was the master to his killer. And there is an incredibly powerful magician who sold his soul to rise again and defeat the one who taught him.

Even the boy at the inn has no past. At its core, the story is a battle between good and evil, yet no one is completely one or the other.

There is no real "happy ending" and it's not even truly satisfying. However, it is a good book, filled with danger and mystery, sex and betrayal, self-discovery and self-delusion.

It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next and how each character will ultimately meet their fate.

Despite its lack of a traditional happy ending, it leaves a lasting impression and makes the reader think about the nature of good and evil, and the choices that we make in life.

Christmas Eve Book!

I have to say that this book had a few too many perspectives for my liking. At times, it felt quite slow, which made it a bit of a struggle to get through.

Additionally, the multiple people or magicians at the end really confused me. I found myself having a hard time keeping track of who was who and what was going on.

However, there were two perspectives that I really enjoyed. They added an interesting dimension to the story and kept me engaged.

Overall, it was nice to read a more traditional fantasy again. Despite its flaws, the book had its moments and I'm glad I gave it a try.

I'm curious to see what other readers thought of it and if they had a similar experience. Maybe I just need to give it a second read to fully understand it.

This book was truly quite lovely.

It commences with a charming folk song that speaks of three women who visit an inn and the profound changes they bring about. Subsequently, the novel delves into revealing what actually transpires in the song. It strongly reminded me of the traditional fairy tale type stories crafted by Dunsany and Morris. However, what sets this one apart is the presence of women characters and, rather unexpectedly, group sex! (To be honest, I had not been anticipating the group sex, especially from a book that proudly proclaims "from the author of the Last Unicorn." Nevertheless, it was executed quite well. I believe the part of the novel where the switching of character perspectives was at its best, although it was perhaps a little too straightforward.)

But setting that aside, it was a nice story. There wasn't an abundance of adventure; instead, there was a great deal of searching and a significant amount of pain. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the characters, with the exception of the girl who returns from the dead. She didn't have a voice until the very end of the book. (Not that she was mute, but rather she was passive and mysterious.) There were some truly lovely ideas within the pages, along with some great concepts and several very sad and touching moments. It was completely different from most of the modern fantasy novels that I used to read. While it was extremely good, I didn't love it quite as much as "A fair and perfect place." Still, it is a book that I would most definitely recommend.

The story, the people within it, and the writing style all require time to be fully savored.

I contemplated not continuing when I reached the third or fourth chapter. However, my confidence in the author, along with the positive reviews, gently pushed me forward.

After some time had passed, I wasn't merely reading a book anymore; I was living a story, an absolutely amazing story.

I will never have doubts about Mr. Beagle again!

This experience has truly shown me the power of a well-crafted story and the importance of giving it a chance to unfold.

It's like opening a door to a whole new world and being completely immersed in it.

From now on, I'll approach every new book with an open mind and a willingness to let the story take me on its journey.

Who knows what other amazing stories and experiences await me?

I can't wait to find out.