My review for the first of these four books: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1099479472

I love how creative these are. In the first we got to know harpies, and how, with their superior powers, they interact with a human community to the point of... well, I can't tell you, that would spoil it. In this we learn about the windsingers, creatures somewhat like minor gods, who are actually transformed, not bred, from young girls of assorted mortal races. Not an elf or a warrior or an evil prime minister in the book.

There's not even any sexism. I mean, sure, there are vain women, grasping for eternal youth, but there are vain men, too.. and there is romance, but it's between men and women, not 'man and wife' or 'man and girl' in any sense of those ideas.

Oh, I don't know what to say. What I've said so far isn't scratching the surface of what you should know. Just read them yourself. ( )

It's been 3 years since I read the first book in the series; I wish it'd been a little fresher in my memory...
Still, this is an excellent fantasy, following the adventures of Ki and Vandien...
The itinerant almost-couple, who we met in 'Harpy's Flight' have to split up in this installment - Vandien commits himself to a treasure hunt in a remote fishing village, while Ki gets herself sucked into a feud between the wizard Dresh and the powerful Windsingers - women who control the weather with their voices, and exact payment for assuring favorable conditions.
For a good part of the book, the two stories feel very separate (and I found Vandien's story much more compelling), but Lindholm does a great job of eventually tying the two narratives together.

What might seem fairly standard fantasy fare is lifted above the typical by a deft and nuanced treatment of characters and relationships - there's a lot of emotional tension around Vandien's scarred face - a scar which he got while saving Ki's life, in the last book - and the situation is handled well. Nice action, plenty of entertainment, a bit of humor, and a dash of romance. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series before another 3 years go by! ( )

Heerlijk om te lezen en boven verwachting. ( )

Cette suite du Vol des harpies n'est pas au niveau du premier tome. En effet, les aventures des personnages manquent un peu d'intérêt, certains rebondissements sont attendus, les personnages secondaires un peu fades. Il reste à espérer que le volume suivant rehausse le niveau. ( )

...I'm not entirely sure which novel I would rate higher. Harpy's Flight is more frantic, I liked the tension in that novel and the plot better. The Windsingers is definitely better structured though. I felt some of the tension in the sections with Ki and Dresh was lacking a bit although some readers might appreciate the surreal surrounding Ki finds herself in. I guess it is a matter of taste, there is something to be said for each novel. Whichever you prefer, The Windsingers is a solid entry into this series. Ki and Vandien are a more mature set of heroes than you normally find in fantasy and that is refreshing, even thirty years after they were written. I can't think of many fantasy series that have achieved that.

Full Random Comments review ( )