The Quickening Trilogy

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Released in England in 2003 and the United States in 2005, The Quickening, by Fiona McIntosh, rapidly became a highly respected and well-known fantasy trilogy. The story centers around various realms, legions, heroes, knights, and sorcerers, while intermingling love and romance within battles between good and evil.

1 The Author
- 1.1 Early years
- 1.2 Current Life and Visions
2 Background Info on The Quickening Trilogy
3 Other Works
4 References
5 External Links

[edit] The Author

[edit] Early years

Fiona McIntosh was born in 1960 in Brighton, England and grew up in Sussex, England. In her younger years her family began to travel frequently between Africa and England. This is because her father worked in the gold mines in Ghana, Africa. She attended high school at Hove County Grammar School for Girls in England and mentions that she didn’t find herself doing anything out of the ordinary during high school. After Schooling she jumped right into her first job. She joined a public relations firm in London, but by the age of 19 she took a job in Paris for only a year before moving to Australia in 1980.

[edit] Current Life and Visions

In Australia she has a career with a travel agency and for the past 18 years has owned her own travel magazine. Fiona married her husband, and magazine-publisher, Ian, shortly after moving, and they now live in Adelaide, Australia with their two twin boys. She currently enjoys teaching multiple writing workshops near her home and is still writing.

[edit] Background Info on The Quickening Trilogy

At first the story is that of a general of a legion at war with a neighboring realm. As the story unwraps the reader learns of the frightening, emotional, and yet all too exciting life of Wyl Thirsk. Throughout the series a twist of magical elements is introduced and guides the life of the main character. McIntosh creatively sends the reader for a thrill ride as the plot is sure to twist multiple times. Her style gives The Quickening a flavor not seen in other typical fantasy novels.

[edit] The Novels

Myrren's Gift

The multiple adventures of legionnaire Wyl Thirsk.

Australian Release of Myrren's Gift

Blood and Memory

The unfamiliar faces of Wyl.

Australian Release of Blood and Memory

Bridge of Souls

The final chapter of his journey.

[edit] Characters

Fergys Thirsk – The General. The story begins with his death. A good friend of the king.

King Magnus – The king of Morgravia.

Wyl Thirsk – The main character, a rough red-headed teenage youth born as the general of the Morgravian army and legion, grows into a highly respected figurehead.

Ylena Thirsk – Wyl’s sister. Daughter of a noble family, a strong-willed girl who enjoys the simple things in life and has a pure voice.

Alyd Donal – The youngest son of a noble and loyal family to the crown. Newly wed to Ylena.

Gueryn le Gant – The Thirsk family body guard and close friend.

King Celimus – The new king, a wicked hot-headed murderer.

Fynch – A strange and unusually strong young boy who works in the castle.

Valentyna – The heir and queen of Briavel. An exotic beauty and young leader.

Elspyth of Yentro – A teenage girl born into a family of sorcerers.

Myrren – A convicted witch, she is burned at the stake in the town as an example.

Lothryn – Cailech’s right hand man and best friend.

King Cailech – The rugged mountain king.

[edit] Charts and Maps

Wyl Thirsk’s Transformations: The Quickening trilogy gets its name from a curse that is bestowed on the main character. Myrren, the last living witch, possesses a power that she gives to Wyl as he witnesses her death. This power is said to prevent Wyl from dying, while instead causing him to take on the body of his murderers until he has become who he was destined to be.

Inside of every book cover there is an overview map of the kingdoms.

[edit] Theme/Analyzation

Many times during the novels the reader can interpret a situation or conversation as having more than a surface meaning. In her own words, McIntosh's style is summed up thus:

"My leading characters are usually thrown into torrid circumstances, needing to live by their wits, and I need them making very human errors of judgment now and then. It steps up the tension and gives the reader good reason to go back for more to find out how these characters, that they're now helplessly involved with, solve their dilemmas. By making my characters experience lots of emotions, lots of hurdles, forcing them to essentially dig themselves out of horrendous situations by their own cunning and intelligence, it stops them being fantastical characters of magic and allows the reader to relate very strongly with them. Magic is increasingly my backdrop to a story rather than having individual characters wielding it too much or too often."