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Summary: Killashandra (by stardustraven)
Review: Together with Helva and Menolly, Killashandra is one of Anne McCaffrey's unforgettable musical heroines. I would like to recommend to read first 'The Crystal Singer' in order to understand past events in Killashandra's life and The Heptite Guild of Crystal singers. Neither has any of the aforementioned heroines ever disappointed me. Because like Helva and Menolly Killashandra is remarkably strong, resourceful and intelligent and thus effortlessly wins the reader's sympathy. Although Killashandra can be quite high handed, she is a gold hearted prima donna! How deftly Anne McCaffrey presents the characterization of Killashandra and her two great loves guild master Lanzecki and Lars Dahl of Optheria. With all their flaws and strengths, Anne McCaffrey provides the reader with truly memorable characters, whom the reader can love or hate. Like many of her other novels 'Killashandra' brims with fine McCaffrey humour and her poetic turns of phrase. In this second volume of the Crystal singer trilogy Killashandra accepts an assignment on the distant planet of Optheria. Dubious activities are rumoured to be going on there. On Optheria Killashandra meets her new love the extremely musically talented young Lars Dahl. There's a wonderful chemistry between Killashandra and Lars. Further Killashandra discovers that the Optherian rulers use music to keep their subjects under control. Actually 'Killashandra' features quite a lot of music ranging from the musical sublimal conditioning to many gatherings in song spent on Optherian beaches. In short an excellent, sparkling and very well written second installment.
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