The Gift (Alison Croggon novel)
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| The Gift | |
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| Author | Alison Croggon |
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| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Series | Pellinor novel |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
| Publication date | 1 October 2002 (Australia) |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 480 (1st Australian edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0140293434 |
| Followed by | The Riddle |
The Gift is 2002 fantasy novel by Alison Croggon. It is the first in her Pellinor quartet.
[edit] Plot summary
The Gift, or The Naming as it is known in the US, opens with Maerad in Gilman's Cot as a slave, where she has been for most of her life. She is discovered by Cadvan (one of the great Bards), who reveals to her that she too has "the Gift" of the Bards, of which she was previously ignorant due to her situation in life and the death of her mother when she was seven years old. Cadvan soon discovers that Maerad's mother was the leader of the First Circle of the destroyed School of Pellinor that was believed to have no survivors. Knowing this, Cadvan helps Maerad escape Gilman's cot on the supposition that meeting Maerad may have been the result of something greater than chance.
After a difficult journey Cadvan takes Maerad to the School of Innail to make the presence of a survivor from Pellinor known and to formally instate Maerad as a minor bard of Pellinor. During their time there, Maerad gains valuble knowledge that will help her survive along with obtaining a long forgotten prophecy concerning the Foretold One who will defeat the Nameless One (Sharma). After Maerad is instated and Cadvan named her soul teacher they depart.
After their abrupt stay at Innail, Cadvan takes Maerad across Annar through many trials, including the discovery of her brother Hem (Cai), they arrive at Norloch intending to have Maerad instated as a full bard and to discover her True Name to either prove or disprove the prophecy. If Maerad is indeed the Foretold, then the destiny that awaits her will be a long and arduous journey, however, other dark secrets are discovered during her stay at Norloch and the result of her appearance puts her life in mortal danger while other secrets are revelaed about Cadvans chequered background that could test there trust.
