Melinda Robino

I’m usually not into magic and fantasy. I like time travel, alternative science, and of course, Space. So I was pleasantly surprised with the Magician’ Daughter. Even that title didn’t resonate with me. But the pacing is good, and the descriptions not overly verbose (ie. The Hobbit. gasps heard by all fans) Set just at the turn-of-the-century in the 1900s, the storyline is fresh and different. I especially liked that there were not any kings, knights, queens and princesses; all with names made up of all vowels! (i.e., Leuinia. Adatinia. Beaupherna…you get it) No one is a sage, a Merlin, or eldridge. But there are spells, magic, a look at the frailty of people, growth and redemption.t

Very interesting “recent history”. I was raising two little boys in a carefree America, while this family was fleeing for their lives. I had no idea of the scope of strife the peoples of Albania were experiencing. This story put a personal face on the plight of Albanian refugees. Prejudice and resentment towards immigrants continues to be an issue, everywhere. We were all refugees at some point, so we should learn from this story, and applaud the universal contributions of these two women.