History Literature / TheForgottenBeastsOfEld

''The Forgotten Beasts of Eld'' is a 1974 UsefulNotes/WorldFantasyAward-winning novel by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip; the very first book to win that award. It was her breakout novel. The story has a fairy-tale-like quality, but, as usual with [=McKillip's=] works, the myths and legends mentioned in the story are almost entirely her own invention.

* HeirClubForMen: Tamlorn's mother is Sybel's aunt, who married King Drede. His father is either the king, in which case he's the heir, or another man, who the king killed in a fit of jealousy, which is why Tam's life is in danger, especially since in the latter case, he could be a pretender for the king's rivals to gather around. [[spoiler: It's revealed he's Drede's son, and goes home with him to Mondor, living as his heir.]]

* DisappearedDad: Sybel's grandfather never realized he'd fathered a child, as it's said he had only slept with her grandmother once. Her father therefore grew up without ever knowing him.

* BadDreams: Coren wakes Sybel with his screams and when she goes to wake him, he is babbling of his brothers and a disastrous battle they fought.

* MagicGenetics: Sybel, her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all able to do magic, indicating it's a hereditary ability (at least for some).

* OneNightStandPregnancy: Sybel's father was conceived this way, according to the introduction, being the result of a tryst in the city.

* CompellingVoice

-->''...her eyes curved slightly in a smile. "Go home to your world of the living, Coren. That is where you belong. I can take care of myself."''
-->''"Perhaps." He gathered the reins in his hands, turned his mount toward the road that wound downward to Mondor. Then he looked back at her, his eyes the color of clear mountain water. "But one day you will find out how good it is to have someone who chooses to come when you call."''

The beautiful young sorceress Sybel (child of the Wizard Ogam and a noblewoman he called with magic) lives on a remote mountain deep in the Eldwold. With both her parents dead, Sybel knows little of the world of mankind; she keeps company with the collection of magical beasts started by her grandfather, which includes the wise Boar Cyrin, The Black Swan of Tirlith, the spell-casting black cat Moriah, the Dragon Gyld, and many more. With her powerful magic, Sybel seeks little but to expand her collection, calling beasts out of legend to join her on Eld mountain.

* SwansASwimming: The Black Swan of Tirlith, who once carried a king's daughter from the stone tower of exile. Larger and stronger than an ordinary swan, the Black Swan is unafraid of mere men.

* SdrawkcabAlias: Used to speak of The Rommalb. To say his name properly (''Blammor'') is to summon it.

* MosesInTheBullrushes: Tamlorn, the child of Queen Rianna, is brought to the sorceress Sybel to keep him safe. She raises him in ignorance of his heritage.

''The Forgotten Beasts of Eld'' is a 1974 WorldFantasyAward-winning novel by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip; the very first book to win that award. It was her breakout novel. The story has a fairy-tale-like quality, but, as usual with [=McKillip's=] works, the myths and legends mentioned in the story are almost entirely her own invention.

* DoubleStandardRapeSciFi: Sybil's mother probably didn't consent to have sex with her father, since he called her to him with magic and she's described as being afraid of him. Sybil thinks her maternal grandfather, Lord Horst of Hilt, might be unwelcoming to her given this, yet neither characters or the text ever describe her conception as even ''possibly'' due to rape.

* DoubleStandardRapeSciFi: Sybil's mother probably didn't consent to have sex with her father, since he called her to him with magic and she's described as being afraid of him. Sybil thinks her maternal grandfather, Lord Horst of Hilt, might be unwelcoming to her given this.

* ChildByRape: Sybil, quite possibly.

* QuestionableConsent: It's unclear whether Sybil's mother consented to have sex with her father, since he called her to him with magic and she's described as being afraid of him. Sybil thinks her maternal grandfather, Lord Horst of Hilt, might be unwelcoming to her given what her father did.

* QuestionableConsent: It's unclear whether Sybil's mother consented to have sex with her father, since he called her to him with magic and she's described as being afraid of him. Sybil acknowledges this later by noting that her maternal grandfather, Lord Horst of Hilt, might be unwelcoming to Sybil given these circumstances.

The beautiful young sorceress Sybel (child of the Wizard Ogam and a noblewoman he seduced) lives on a remote mountain deep in the Eldwold. With both her parents dead, Sybel knows little of the world of mankind; she keeps company with the collection of magical beasts started by her grandfather, which includes the wise Boar Cyrin, The Black Swan of Tirlith, the spellcasting black cat Moriah, the Dragon Gyld, and many more. With her powerful magic, Sybel seeks little but to expand her collection, calling beasts out of legend to join her on Eld mountain.

One day a frightened man, Coren of Sirle, shows up on Sybel's mountain with a baby. The baby, Tamlorn, is a possible heir to the throne, and being hunted by the King. It is also a cousin of Sybel's, on her mother's side, so, although she has no experience with or interest in children, she reluctantly agrees to keep it safe, and soon comes to love it as she loves her beasts. Then, when Tam is twelve years old, Coren reappears. Sybel may be drawn into the affairs of mankind after all.

* HeirClubForMen: Tamlorn's mother is Sybel's aunt, who married King Drede. His father is either the king, in which case he's the heir, or another man, who the king killed in a fit of jealousy, which is why Tam's life is in danger, especially since in the latter case, he could be a pretender for the king's rivals to gather around.

* RevengeBeforeReason: After the MindRape that was intended to destroy her personality and turn her into a [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul happy little slave]], Sybel decides that no sacrifice--not even the love and happiness of those closest to her, and certainly not the death of uninvolved third parties--is too great to make if it will ensure that the man responsible suffers the depths of terror and despair before he dies.

* BadDreams: Coren wakes Sybil with his screams and when she goes to wake him, he is babbling of his brothers and a disastrous battle they fought.

* ThickerThanWater: Sybel, who has no interest in the company of other humans, agrees to keep the baby Tam safe from those hunting him only because he's related to her mother. She also find the baby appealing and thinks he will go well in the collection.

''The Forgotten Beasts of Eld'' is a 1974 WorldFantasyAward-winning novel by Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip; the very first book to win that award. It was her breakout novel. The story has a fairy-tail-like quality, but, as usual with [=McKillip's=] works, the myths and legends mentioned in the story are almost entirely her own invention.

* SdrawkcabAlias: Used to speak of The Rommalb. To say his name properly is to summon him.