The overarching idea behind this story is actually quite interesting, which I will not go into here because it would probably be considered a major spoiler, but the fact that this book is classified as science fiction is probably a big clue in and of itself that there is a bigger picture than that which we are presented at the beginning of the story. Moon-Flash is a story about Kyreol, a girl who grows up in a (seemingly) ancient tribal society, but her curiosity and desire to explore soon lead her to discover that there are things about her world that go far beyond what her society knows.

The four stars are for Moon-Flash, and I would give three stars at most to The Moon and the Face. This book consists of two very short novels, Moon-Flash and The Moon and the Face, which is a bit confusing as the omnibus itself is also titled Moon-Flash. Love between family members is also important in McKillip's writing, although members of her families often disagree. Many of her characters aren't even sure of their own ancestry. Her writing usually puts her characters in situations involving mysterious powers that they don't understand. There are forests, castles, and lords or kings, minstrels, tinkers and wizards. McKillip's stories usually take place in a setting similar to the Middle Ages. She is married to David Lunde, a poet.Īccording to Fantasy Book Review, Patricia McKillip grew up in Oregon, England, and Germany, and received a Bachelor of Arts (English) in 1971 and a Master of Arts in 1973 from San Jose State University. Most of her recent novels have cover paintings by Kinuko Y. She is a past winner of the World Fantasy Award and Locus Award, and she lives in Oregon.

Patricia Anne McKillip was an American author of fantasy and science fiction novels, distinguished by lyrical, delicate prose and careful attention to detail and characterization.

Moon-Flash by Patricia A. McKillip