Fantastical Bees

This weekend I reread a beautiful story by one of my most favourite fantasy authors ever - Robin McKinley. Instead of writing vast series about one particular land, McKinley writes lovely little books about different lands and very rarely continues a series. Each fantasy world is perfectly imagined and completely draws you in. The book I read this weekend was Chalice.

Now, I don't want to say too much about this book. I want you to read and experience it like I did - not too sure what is going on, but picking up how things work and the clues along the way. Learning along with the character, actually, because Mirasol has unexpectedly found herself in a position of importance in her land. The reader grows with Mirasol as she discovers how to use her newfound abilities.

I do, I suppose, have to tell you a little bit about the book or you probably won't read it. It reads like a myth or chronicle of old and the story just sweeps you along as it goes. And when it ends, you are sad at the ending and want more - not necessarily of Mirasol, but more stories from other parts of this land - stories referred to in the chronicles so poured over by Mirasol. There is a dreamy quality to this work that I quite like. It really helps to pull you in to McKinley's lovely little world.

Mirasol is a resident of Willowlands - one portion (demesne) of an unnamed kingdom. The king oversees the demesnes with an Overlord. Each individual demesne is ruled over by a Master with the assistance of a Chalice and a Circle. The Circle is a group of advisers that help the Master govern his demesne. The Chalice is something special. The position of Chalice appears to always be held by a woman, and is tied to liquid in some form - usually wine or water. This liquid is carried in a special cup (or chalice) held by the Chalice and served by her at all important meetings. The Chalice will mix in different herbs and put stones in the bottom of the cup depending upon the nature of the meeting and the participants of the meeting. The purpose of the cup is to help bind the decisions made at the meeting, to tie the people closer to their land, or to help calm and strengthen the participants. Mirasol is the new Chalice and is young and inexperienced. She is a beekeeper and harvests honey from her fantastical bees. Mirasol is a honey Chalice - which is unusual.

The Master whom Mirasol serves is unusual as well. When he was younger, he was sent to the Elemental Priesthood of Fire by his older (and possibly jealous) brother (the then-Master). The brother was a bad Master and he and his Chalice died in terrible circumstances, leaving no heir other than the young man at the Elemental Priesthood of Fire. At the Priesthood, the Master has been studying the ways of fire. And in his studies, he has been transformed. He is no longer entirely human, but not yet entirely a Priest of Fire. He is caught between the two worlds, but he is now Master of Willowlands and must try to bind his demesne together.

But the book is about more than just those bare facts. The book is about ownership and the ties that bind landowners to their land. It is about bees, and honey. It is about learning, and growing. It is about sacrifice. It is about love.

This is a lovely little gem of a book that will leave you wanting more - another glimpse into the lives of other Chalices and other Masters in other demesnes. It doesn't succumb to the usual Celtic-Middle Earth cliches that so much fantasy writing falls into. It is its own unique creation. It is a beautiful, lovely story by a master of fantasy fiction.

For those of you wanting information about real bees, as opposed to Mirasol's fictional and fantastical bees, check out this great bee blog for more information: http://www.edmontonsnewbees.blogspot.com/