Isn't it truly annoying when a book reaches its conclusion and you simply don't want it to end?

When that happens, you experience a strange sensation as if a whole world has just closed before your eyes.

You have the option to reread it and reenter that enchanting world, but deep down, you know that you'll never be the same person you were when you first delved into its pages.

Consequently, the experience won't be quite the same. That's precisely how I feel about The Innkeeper's Song, just like I do about The Last Unicorn.

Beagle is like a magician, a remarkable Arshadin. You can immediately sense that he is a master, someone you'll likely never surpass.

However, you don't really mind because you get the privilege of experiencing his magic.

That's all I can truly express regarding my feelings for this book. I must also admit that I didn't feel this way initially.

The more I immersed myself in its story, the more it captivated me. The characters, the story, and the world all drew me in.

I'm certain that most people won't have the same profound connection, but I absolutely love this book.

I can't recommend it unless you have a penchant for Beagle's works and other fictional worlds and characters that you wish you could encounter in real life, yet are also relieved that you don't because they might break your heart.

Otherwise, it's best not to read it, as you might inadvertently ruin its magic for yourself.

Lovely. This book is truly an excellent character study. The author has crafted the characters with such depth and authenticity that they come alive on the pages. It kept me completely gripped from start to finish. As I reached the three-fourths part of the book, I found myself with an overwhelming urge to re-read it as soon as I finished. I just wanted to reach the end and then immediately start over again from the beginning. However, since it was a library book and I had so many other excellent books waiting in my queue, I couldn't do that. But still, I enjoyed being in this fictional world so very much, with these wonderful characters. It was like a magical place that I didn't want to leave. I will definitely remember this book and these characters for a long time to come.

I thought that this was overall very well done.

It doesn't have the most exciting plot nor is it in a rush to get through it. However, where some books make it seem that you are missing something, this one makes it clear you're listening to a story being told. So it feels better to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

We meet characters along the way and they add to the telling of the story in their own voice, as if we're all sitting around a table enjoying ourselves. And I did very much enjoy their story.

At about the halfway point, I was beginning to question if I was correct about the book being published in 1993. It was indeed, and it surprised me that the story ended up feeling so modern. I feel like there are still some tells, but the women are strong characters who are capable on their own but stronger together.

Yes, one ends up being a man glamored into a disguise, but he also seems uncertain as to where the disguise ends... It was also kinda nice for once to see some of the men swooning after our heroines hoping to be of some use, instead of having that be the more commonly seen reverse. Anyhow, I was just surprised to find this all done so smoothly and transparently in a book from 1993.

Overall, this book offers a unique reading experience. The pacing is just right, allowing the story to unfold gradually and draw the reader in. The characters are well-developed and their voices add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Despite being published in 1993, the story still feels relevant and engaging today, which is a testament to the author's skill. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

This was altogether too all over the place for me.

Numerous characters have a dedicated chapter interspersed throughout the book. This makes the story very disjointed in my view. It seems that there is no clear thread connecting all the different parts.

Nothing really coalesces into a satisfying ending in my opinion. I found myself disappointed as I reached the conclusion.

However, I did give it 3 stars because I did finish it. There were some interesting moments along the way that kept me engaged.

Maybe if the author had focused more on tying the different storylines together and creating a more cohesive narrative, it could have been a more enjoyable read.

As it stands, it is a bit of a mixed bag, with some good aspects but also some significant flaws.

I picked up this book after thoroughly enjoying The Last Unicorn, which is written by the same author. Little did I know that approximately one-third of the way through, there is a rather unexpected 3 women/1 man sex scene. Although it is not overly explicit, it seems to appear out of nowhere.

It takes up several pages and gives off that sleazy impression that one gets when they suspect the author is indulging in writing out their sexual fantasies. Of course, an author has the freedom to write whatever they desire in their book. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that every reader will like it or choose to continue reading.

I ultimately did not finish the book, and as a result, I cannot provide a rating. It's a shame because I had such high hopes based on the author's previous work, but this unexpected and somewhat off-putting scene really turned me off.

After delving into Peter Beagle's enchanting "The Last Unicorn," which I regarded as a profound exploration of beauty presented in the guise of a fairytale, I then turned my attention to "The Innkeeper's Song." To my delight, it proved to be even more in line with my perception of fantasy. I am constantly in awe of the remarkable creativity and vivid imagination of authors who excel in the fantasy genre. This particular book truly stands out in this regard.

Beagle's masterful plot unfolds gradually, chapter by chapter, from the perspectives of various characters. This not only provides us with a fascinating glimpse into the innermost thoughts and emotions of each character but also offers a unique window into the diverse worlds and cultures from which they hail. Beagle skillfully weaves together a rich tapestry of characters, each playing a crucial role in what ultimately becomes a thrilling and captivating battle between two wizards: the wise mentor and his more powerful student.

By the way, one aspect of this book that I absolutely adore is Beagle's detailed and engaging depiction of the way wizards operate. In contrast to some other fantasy novels where wizards are often shrouded in an air of mystery and power, only to vanish from the plot while working their magic behind the scenes, in "The Innkeeper's Song," their wizardry is brought to life in vivid detail. Their intense battle is described with such precision and excitement that it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. And the conclusion? It is a remarkably cool and satisfying ending that ties the entire book together beautifully, showcasing Beagle's brilliant design and storytelling prowess. When I finally finished reading, I was truly sad to see the characters go. I craved more, and it seems that Beagle felt the same way. He even went on to write a follow-up novella along with a short story in his collection called "Giant Bones," which I can't wait to explore.

I did not like this book.

It gave the impression of being long, yet in reality, it was quite short. This disparity in perception was rather odd. Moreover, there was a fairly problematic bit within the book.

The nature of this problematique part was such that it really detracted from the overall reading experience. It made me question the author's choices and left me with a sense of dissatisfaction.

Perhaps if the book had been better paced or if that particular problematic section had been handled differently, my opinion might have been more favorable. As it stands, however, I cannot say that I would recommend this book to others.

This book is far from being perfect.

In fact, it is downright amorphous at times, with the points of view constantly shifting, making it a bit of a challenge to follow.

Moreover, there are certain unresolved questions at the end, which might leave some readers feeling a bit frustrated.

However, despite all these flaws, I absolutely loved it.

What makes this book truly special is that, despite the deep magic involved, it is at heart a very human novel.

It delves into the complex emotions of its characters, exploring their secrets and yearnings, trust and mistrust, and the old and new connections that bind them together.

I'm really having a hard time summarizing it in just a few words.

But I can safely say that I've never read a novel quite like it before.

And that, in and of itself, is a wonderful gift.

It has opened my eyes to a new way of storytelling and has left me with a lasting impression.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a unique and engaging read.

Peter S Beagle is, in many ways, the very reason I embarked on the path of being a writer and developed a deep love for fantasy.

As a child, watching "The Last Unicorn" and observing the intricate and subtle ways in which the characters changed and grew, along with all the metanarrative elements like "the dying of magic and fantasy," had a profound impact on me.

Later, as an impressionable teen, I became fascinated with young women, and this movie, as well as the subsequent book and comic, influenced me in ways that are hard to overstate.

Now, I have returned to the man with this strange little tale of death and growing up.

The multiple perspectives and the jarring sense of en medias res, combined with the title and cover, initially leave the reader feeling very lost.

One struggles to figure out who the main character is, where the story is headed, and how it relates to the "song" that the innkeeper might sing.

However, if one surrenders to Beagle and allows oneself to be carried away by his beautiful prose and the twists and turns of the plot, this book becomes extremely rewarding.

Unlike "The Last Unicorn," which had a carefully laid-out plot and a central thesis, this book's lack of a clear plot actually works in its favor.

In fact, one doesn't even discover what the plot is until near the end, as it is so close to being wrapped up.

Thanks to Beagle's exquisitely beautiful prose, the book creates a dreamlike world and atmosphere that is both cozy and enjoyable to immerse oneself in.

As one simply watches the cogs turn, the direction in which the story is going starts to fade away.

By the time the story is all wrapped up and neatly tied off, there are plenty of surprising reveals and turns.

After so many chapters of meandering and exploring, hunting for something, I fully expected the narrative to fail to neatly wrap up all the plot threads.

Thankfully, Beagle is a professional and wouldn't let such a thing happen.

In the end, all the characters are used in a satisfying way, and their arcs conclude in a good place - beautifully unfinished, leaving the reader to wonder what they got up to after the book ends.

Beagle's books always end in a strange place in the reader's stomach, where one simultaneously feels that nothing was missing, yet at the same time, there is an odd sensation of "that's it?" in the mind.

But with time, all the little open spots, the strange mysteries, the unexplained events, and the negative space all come together to paint a vivid picture of the events that occur in the characters' complicated and busy lives, and it is truly wonderful to think about.

Beagle loves to write about the journey rather than the destination as the purpose of the story.

As I closed the final chapters, I began to see the narrative lines connecting everything.

Lal's history as a sailor and a swordswoman, Nyateneri's as a woman on the run, Lukassa's death and rebirth...

By the end, it is never explicitly stated why the reader came along in the first place, but one feels it in one's core as one watches their arcs conclude and they move on to the next stage of their lives, all magnified by Rosseth's perspective on the whole story.

Beagle is smart and knows that the story will resonate more deeply if he doesn't make it as blunt as a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie about why the reader came along, and for that, we should be grateful.

Final note: I appreciate how mature this book is.

While Beagle's tendencies often lean towards younger audiences, even in this fairy tale full of magic and wonder, sexual desire, nudity, and love are all intertwined, making the characters complex and diverse.

It is a wonderful departure from the sexless, perfectly smooth world of YA and found family stories, yet it never lingers too long in such territory to be crass.

As much as I have an appreciation for Beagle's prose, even within the context of this work, the novel "Innkeeper" simply didn't resonate with me.

My primary grievance lies in its vagueness. The poetic writing style, while beautiful, often left me feeling that the setting, the characters' backstories, and the actual events were all somewhat unclear. It was as if a cloud hung over the narrative, obscuring the details that I craved. While this ambiguity did enhance the literary experience to some extent, it also demanded a significant amount of energy from me to maintain my focus. I didn't encounter such difficulties with "The Last Unicorn" or "A Fine and Private Place," so I'm left wondering why this particular work went astray.

Similarly, the setting was disappointingly ill-defined. There were repeated mentions of fictional fauna, but these were merely names without any descriptions, appearances in the story, or other forms of relevance. Bandits and a war (presumably long past) were also introduced suddenly at the end, without any prior discussion or hinting. Additionally, there was a mention of gender rules, such as women never traveling unattended, but when a foreign female warrior broke this local rule, it was never brought up again after the initial mention. I find myself using the word "mention" frequently because that's all Beagle provided in many cases. It was as if the inn existed in a vacuum, isolated from the rest of the world.

Well, perhaps there was one exception - the magic. Magic forcefully intruded into the inn, shaking it up, tearing it apart, and then rebuilding it. However, in doing so, it seemed to leave its own rules outside the doorstep, allowing the author to accomplish anything and everything as they saw fit. This could be tedious for the reader and, at times, even unintentionally humorous. My favorite moment, though, had more to do with actual technology than magic. It was revealed that a character had been carrying a disassembled wooden boat in their normal-sized travel bag, as they were like a scout "prepared for all eventualities." (It turns out they weren't prepared for the heroine to lie and cheat her way out of a fight with them, despite being a professional assassin.) So, yes, that was quite amusing, and the random resurrection of the dying wizard came in a close second.

Finally, the backgrounds of the point-of-view characters were also mostly left in a state of haziness. You could get a rough idea of what had happened to them, but that was all. For me, at least, it wasn't enough to truly empathize with them. Out of the eight main point-of-view characters, the only one that stood out to me was the fox, and that was only because he was really entertaining in the "present" storyline (as much as a storyline recounted in retrospect can be considered present). Given his nature, the obscurity surrounding him actually seemed to work. I think that, at the very least, the characters' past histories with the dying wizard (who was annoyingly only referred to by nicknames) should have been more fully developed. This would have given more weight to their concern for him, considering they went to such great lengths throughout the book to try and help him.

Despite all my complaints, the fact that the book was still somewhat readable is a testament to the author's skill. However, it had the potential to be so much better.

I can clearly understand why Beagle selected this particular novel as his personal favorite among all his works.

The characters within it possess an astonishing depth, with a wealth of love and humanity underlying their every action and emotion.

The plot, although it may initially seem to meander aimlessly, actually progresses in a way that is both engaging and captivating. It seems to have a rhythm of its own, almost as if it is singing a song that draws the reader in.

Moreover, Beagle has that extremely rare gift of writing about magic in a manner that is truly spellbinding. He is able to evoke the uncanny and the unreal with a level of eloquence that is simply remarkable.

This novel represents a much more mature and sophisticated foray into the world of fantasy. It is not just because of its more risqué moments, but rather because it delves deep into the themes of stories, love, and teaching.

I have no doubt that I will find myself drawn back to this novel again in the future, eager to explore its rich and enchanting world once more.

One of the most easily read books that I had was truly a gem.

I favored it for a long time because it had a certain charm that drew me in from the very beginning.

The story was engaging and the language was simple yet effective, making it accessible to readers of all ages.

Every time I picked up this book, I would be transported to a different world, filled with interesting characters and exciting adventures.

It was like a little escape from reality, a place where I could unwind and let my imagination run wild.

The author's writing style was so captivating that I couldn't put the book down once I started reading.

Even after I finished the book, I would often find myself thinking about the story and the characters, as if they were real people.

This book will always hold a special place in my heart and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.