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Cecilia Dart-Thornton

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The Ill-Made Mute (The Bitterbynde Trilogy) Kindle Edition

by Cecilia Dart-Thornton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Book 1 of 3: The Bitterbynde Trilogy

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In a dark and perilous realm, a nameless outcast seeks a voice, a past, and a future: “A dazzling debut” (Jennifer Roberson).

In all of Erith, there is perhaps no one as wretched as the nameless mute foundling confined to the lowest depths of Isse Tower. Abused by many and despised by all, the pathetic creature lives without memories in the shadows. The amnesiac longs to escape—to roam the wild landscape in search of a past, a name, a destiny—but dangers surround the tower. Only flying ships and majestic winged horses carrying important visitors can reach the castle safely, landing high above the ground on its battlements. The local servants whisper about malevolent creatures that roam the forests and bear no love for humankind. Escape seems impossible in this treacherous world of wights and monsters.

Praised as Australia’s J. R. R. Tolkien, Cecilia Dart-Thornton has set a towering new standard for fantasy fiction, earning the respect and acclaim of readers, reviewers, and some of the world’s most renowned fantasists. With roots firmly embedded in the ancient folklore of the British Isles, The Ill-Made Mute—the opening volume of Dart-Thornton’s magnificent Bitterbynde Trilogy—introduces fantasy lovers to an unforgettable character whose remarkable adventures rival the epic trials of the Bagginses and the tales of The Silmarillion.

Book 1 of 3

The Bitterbynde Trilogy
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612 pages
Language

English
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Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publication date

August 25, 2015
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6104 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This first novel by Australian writer Cecilia Dart-Thornton begins the Bitterbynde series, the saga of a young woman's search for her past as well as her destiny. An orphaned refugee taken in as a servant of powerful Isse Tower, a prominent Relay Station in the world's communications network, the main character is a nameless, badly scarred mute with little hope for better--until he escapes by stowing away on a magical Windship and is befriended by cheerful Sianadh, a self-professed madman and adventurer. Sianadh gives his companion two precious gifts: a name, Imrhien, and the knowledge that he is really she, raised as a boy to protect her from even worse treatment. Together, the two journey into the deep green heart of a great forest, defeat the tricky magics of various eldritch wights, and discover a vast treasure that will change their lives forever. When Imrhien learns of Maeve One-Eye, a healer who may be able to repair her scars and restore her memory, the girl is determined to seek her out. On the dangerous trip west, Imrhien meets and falls in love with the Dainnan ranger Thorn, but doubts he could ever return her affections. While this novel doesn't stand well alone, readers who crave long and detailed journeys through fantastic lands filled with magical creatures will enjoy Imrhien's travels. Dart-Thornton's world takes many traditional elements of epic fantasy and manages to stir them into something charming and new. --Charlene Brusso

From Publishers Weekly

The world of Erith, a strange, wild land filled with humans and fey creatures called wights, has its charms, but unfortunately a lack of underlying depth weakens this first novel from Australian Dart-Thornton. To Erith comes a poor unidentified soul who cannot speak and has lost all sense of self, including all memories of a past. This creature without a life has also become shunned by all after being horribly disfigured by an encounter with a poisonous plant. As the plot slowly, disjointedly spins out, the creature acquires a name Imrhien and a new identity. Her story is full of little adventures and unrelated incidents, but the author provides almost no foreshadowing or any real idea why Imrhien has lost her voice and her looks. The girl's travels, which carry her from one end of Erith to the other, include encounters with wights, which can be "seelie" (mostly not harmful) and "unseelie" (evil), and with Sianadh, a friendly man who gives her not only her name but the chance to seek pirate treasure. Later Imrhien and Sianadh's niece try to find Maeve One-Eye, a carlin who might help her recover her memory. Nasty folk try to thwart her, but their motives are never explained. Hopefully future installments will supply more background, but this initial volume makes a decidedly shallow start. (May 23)Forecast: With a blurb from Andre Norton likening this book to Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, as well as a plug from Elizabeth Hand, this novel may attract a lot of initial attention, but the sequel is going to have to be stronger to sustain interest.

From Library Journal

A misshapen girl, unable to speak and scorned by those who dwell in Isse Tower, makes her escape into the world and seeks a destiny beyond her allotted fate. As the mute Imrhien learns to speak with her hands, she also discovers a deep love for the ranger Thorn even as she plunges into a deadly war against forces of evil. Dart-Thornton's first novel depicts a world that borrows from Celtic mythology but adds a few unique and refreshing twists. Featuring a courageous and unusual heroine, this series opener belongs in most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Imrhein, a scarred, mute girl, is taken on as a servant in Isse Tower. Eventually, with the aid of a friendly wanderer, she escapes, learns handspeech, and begins her search for the secret of her origin and a way to recover the power of speech. On the way she learns that many of the tales of unworldly and dangerous creatures she has heard are true and that she and the land in which she dwells are in mortal danger. Dart-Thornton is a serious folklorist and has tried to use the British material on Faerie with as much fidelity as the narrative allows; indeed, she even alters the narrative to preserve folkloric authenticity. Hence, the book betrays a tension between being a fantasy tale and being folkloric exegesis that may not appeal to some. Yet enough will be won over by Dart-Thornton's world building and characterization to consume what must be considered an exceptionally proficient first book for its author and the series she launches with it. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

With deep roots in folklore and myth, tirelessly inventive, fascinating, affecting and profoundly satisfying - and Dart-Thornton has plenty in reserve for sequels. A stunning, dazzling debut.
- KIRKUS REVIEWS

"The Ill-Made Mute might well become one of the great fantasies."
- The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

'The opener of Dart-Thornton's series proves a sweet surprise... The Ill-Made Mute is the best Fantasy novel I've read. . . at last, a book to get excited about.
-THE WASHINGTON POST

Dart-Thornton's Bitterbynde trilogy deserves to win every fantasy award there is. This glorious book gives my back my faith in fantasy fiction... to Cecilia Dart-Thornton I extend the plea: More! More!
- TANITH LEE, World Fantasy Award Winner

"Not since Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' have I been so impressed by a beautifully spun fantasy."
- Andre Norton, Grand Master of Science Fiction

From the Author

THE ILL-MADE MUTE has attracted wonderful reviews from such well-known authors as Andre Norton, Jennifer Roberson, Elizabeth Hand, Susan Krinard and Rosemary Edghill, as well as Kirkus Reviews.

The story draws deeply on the genuine folklore of the British Isles. I delight in weaving these tales throughout my novels, bringing them out of the dusty archives of the 19th century into the light of the third millennium. Some of my favourite species of fairies, or eldritch wights, are the handsome ganconers, who lure mortal maidens to their doom. The female version of the ganconers are the baobhan sith; beauteous, lethal damsels. There are also swan-maidens, spriggans, wicked water-horses, fuaths and duergars. British folklore collectors have given us a fascinating multitude of immortal wights - some good, some evil, others mischievous practical jokers.

The other titles in the trilogy are "The Lady of the Sorrows (2002) and "The Battle of Evernight" (2003).

About the Author

Cecilia Dart-Thornton is the author of numerous bestselling fantasy novels, notably the Bitterbynde Trilogy, which includes The Ill-Made Mute, The Lady of the Sorrows, and The Battle of Evernight. The daughter of an architect and an academic, Dart-Thornton holds a bachelor of arts degree and a post-graduate diploma of education from Monash University. Having started out as a schoolteacher, she became a full-time writer in 2000, after her work was discovered on the Internet and brought to print by a New York publishing house. She is a strong supporter of animal rights and her interests include music, the fine arts‚—particularly Pre-Raphaelite paintings—and edible gardening. Visit her online at www.dartthornton.com and www.leavesofgrasspress.com.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0113IKJEO
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy (August 25, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 25, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 6104 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 612 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #236,586 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #148 in Folklore (Kindle Store)
- #1,833 in Fairy Tale Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- #2,413 in Dark Fantasy Horror

Customer Reviews:
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Cecilia Dart-Thornton

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Cecilia Dart-Thornton is a full-time writer. A keen supporter of animal rights and wilderness conservation, she is also interested in art, craft, horticulture, playing folk music, and digital media.

Her books are published around the world and have been translated into several languages.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

THE BITTERBYNDE TRILOGY

'This series follows the journey of a mute, amnesiac foundling through a world of beauty and peril, teeming with faerie creatures.'

The Ill-Made Mute (2001)

The Lady of the Sorrows (2002)

The Battle of Evernight (2003)

SHORT STORIES

"Long the Clouds are Over me Tonight" (Published in the anthology EMERALD MAGIC: Great Tales of Irish Fantasy; Tor Books, 2004)

"The Stolen Swanmaiden" (Published in Australian Women's Weekly September 2005)

"The Lanes of Camberwell" (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology DREAMING AGAIN, 2008)

"The Enchanted" (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology LEGENDS OF AUSTRALIAN FANTASY, 2010)

Four short stories in "NIGHT'S NIECES: The Legacy of Tanith Lee", Immanion Press December 2015

“The Churchyard Yarrow” (published in BORDERLANDS: TALES FROM THE EDGE— a new anthology. Ford Street Publishing, March 2024.)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

230 global ratings

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Marta

Stunning

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014

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This is not an easy book to lose yourself in to. You have to concentrate to appreciate the author's prose and to give yourself a chance to understand the rich, real world she's created.

But once you take the time, it's beautiful. The writing is elegant and the land extraordinary. This book is like a fairy-tale but the protagonists aren't princesses or beasts - they're people. Some good, some bad, but none all good, nor all bad. They're just human.

This is fantasy at its best - mythical creatures roam and magical storms sweep the land. People, as a matter of course, take precautions, but then just get on with life. We accept the magic in this world because the people do. And at the end of the day, magic doesn't seem to be the focus. This is a story about acceptance - of others, of yourself; about companionship; about the importance and permissibility of dreams. Everyone's allowed to hope for something better. Everyone can reach above her station.

By the time you come out of this story, you care, desperately, for the mute, scarred child who rises above her deformity to become someone who cares, who sees truly when others don't, who loves though she feels she hasn't the right, and who wins friends through her loyalty and her capacity for joy.

I want a happy ending for her. I can't wait to read the rest. I can't wait to be in this world again.

5 people found this helpful

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ealovitt

Courageous heroine, dream-like prose

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2002

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Cecilia Dart-Thornton's Bitterbynde series reminds me of "The Worm Oroborous" by ER Eddison or "The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Lord Dunsany, in its power to describe a new and dream-like world. Reading "The Ill-Made Mute" was like looking through a series of Aubrey Beardsley drawings---the detail was minute, intense and unforgettable. There was so much description, it almost overwhelmed the plot.
In fact, there isn't much plot. This is a story of a mute, facially-scarred amnesiac who sets out on a journey to find someone with the right kind of magic to heal her. The plot is the journey, or the journey is the plot. Along the way, the ill-made mute interacts with flying horses, flying galleons, an Irishman straight out of a Mike and Pat joke, a treasure cave, unstorms, pirates, King's rangers, and eldritch wights. There is plenty of drama, and wondrous sights to see along the way. Read slowly and savor the rich text. Journey's end is only partially satisfying, but a wonderful sequel has already been published--"The Lady of the Sorrows"---I've already read it and it's even better than "The Ill-Made Mute." The third book of the trilogy, "The Battle of Evernight," is promised for April, 2003.
It's going to be a long wait. Now that I've read the first two books of the Bitterbynde trilogy, it will be very hard to go back to the generic, Robert Jordan, ya da-da, ya da-da, 'the hero slays the dragon, saves the maiden, and finds the ring of eternal spin-offs' type fantasy.

10 people found this helpful

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Rural Mom

Lots of woven fables

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2013

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This is a fantasy story written with lots of old fables woven in - specifically celtic seelie and unseelie creatures. An intellectual fantasy that was imaginative and fun to read.

2 people found this helpful

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TJ Grant

Well worth the effort to get in to it!

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2016

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What a gift this book! She has done fantasy and folk fairy literature readers a great service. She has crafted a fascinating and gritty real fantasy world that treats the oldest fairy tales and folk tales as utter reality, and then told her story within her weaving of that reality. I've never seen a similar feat. Yes her language can be heavy-handed from time to time. But it's more often beautiful and and finds it's stride, which happens to be a dance. Such beautiful and poetic descriptions of mundane reality! And such a success, to craft such a world of mystery, and unexpected turns! What a creative mind! We are all lucky to have her and this work of her passion and love.

7 people found this helpful

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Roger L. Chesser

Interesting plot

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

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As stated in other reviews, the words often get in the way of the telling of the tale.

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Jenifer Aronson

Words, words and more words.

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2015

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Wow. I appreciate the authors love of books and words but even with my graduate education I found her use of obscure vocabulary excessive and unnecessary. Almost laughable when the title character is a mute I read a ways and then gave up on the book and deleted it from my Kindle. There were no natural chapter divisions, only a continuous ramble.

2 people found this helpful

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dramaprof

Compelling, imaginative, ultimately addictive

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013

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The last time I became so obsessed with a fantasy series was decades ago, with Dune. Or maybe it was the Pern books. Or possibly the Lord of the Rings. Anyhow, I came to the series late, then bought the 2nd and 3rd books before I'd gotten through the 1st. Googled the author and was amazed to discover she wrote all 3 books when she was 16. Went through all 3 books in probably the equivalent of 72 hours, unable to put them down - lost a lot of sleep, captivated and obsessed. Now I'm in the throes of the langothe. (You'll have to read the books to see what the heck that is.)

Warning: the books are not for the bestseller crowd, or those who can only deal with linear plots and plain-vanilla narration. They are, however, for the literate, Tolkien-loving, Shakespeare-gobbling, romantic fantasy set. They're unique and magical.

6 people found this helpful

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Courtney Hodgkin

My Well-Warn Favorite

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2014

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Aftre reading this magical book for the third time, i am still as in love with it as the first time i read it, when i was 15. This is the book, or the tirology, that first enticed me to read thick fantasy books by the backpack full.
Cecillia Dart-Thorton weaves an elaborate and intensly detailed story of trials and triumphs, loves and loss and of course fantastic adventure. Sleep is for the weak when I'm captured in this page-turner.
I'm off to buy the second part right now, praying that the day may slow down a little so i can avoid work and get caught up in more reading. And thank heavens for kindle, i can read in the dark and without straining my wrists!
I would recomend this book to anyone but those who like fantasy novels would probably enjoy it most.

2 people found this helpful

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WESTERMAN

The best trilogy I’ve ever read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2022

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This is such a sweeping, epic tale, full of magic, romance, danger and mystery. The writing is superb (and yes, flowery, but that adds to the reading experience!) and the plotting is incredible. It’s unlike any other book I’ve read before and has to be my firm favourite series of all time. The overall arc of the plot is so vast and there is just so much folklore and bizarre enchantment involved, I found it weird adjusting to normal reality after haha. Definitely not like the usual commercial fiction on the market nowadays, which is probably jarring for a lot of people, but I loved it that way. I can’t wait to read it again! Perfect escapism!

Shatiel

Attenzione potreste riceve la vecchia edizione o quella di amazon publishing

Reviewed in Italy on February 7, 2022

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Per quanto riguarda il libro in se non ho niente da dire a parte che è uno dei più bei romanzi che io abbia mai letto.
Volevo acquistare la special edition in inglese per collezione e quando ho sentito dell'uscita della special edition con queste nuove copertine (e non quelle con le donne in copertina) ho capito che volevo averle assolutamente. Purtroppo ricevere questo libro è stata un'odissea.
Al primo ordine effettuato a dicembre ho ricevuto la vecchia edizione del 2013. Ho provato a fare il reso ma il sistema non mi permetteva di richiederne un altro, ho quindi chiamato il customer service che mi ha risolto il problema e ho fatto il reso. Purtroppo mi è arrivato nuovamente l'edizione del 2013 e il customer service mi ha rimborsata dato che non poteva inviarne un'altra copia e mi ha detto di provare a riordinarlo più avanti e che se il prezzo fosse stato maggiore mi avrebbero rimborsato la differenza a cui l'avevo pagato originiariamente.
Ho quindi aspettato un po' e che tornasse disponibile venduto e spedito da amazon. Fortunatamente quando l'ho ordinato era sceso a 14 circa (che era il prezzo che avevo speso a dicembre) e ho ricevuto l'edizione corretta. Ho sentito personalmente l'autrice via IG che mi ha confermato che l'edizione corretta ha la sovraccoperta con la nuova copertina. La cover rigida infatti è blu satinata e col titolo embossato sul dorso. Quindi la copia di The lady of the sorrows che ho ricevuto (che avevo ordinato a dicembre insieme a The ill made mute) è una copia di bassa qualità di amazon publishing probabilmente...e non quello che dovevo ricevere.
Quindi fate attenzione ad ordinarlo spedito e venduto da amazon in modo che possiate fare il reso in caso non vi arrivi l'edizione corretta.

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Sagar Vibhute

Visual

Reviewed in India on September 6, 2021

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The Ill-made Mute is my first fantasy read in a while, following The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings which I read over a year ago. I actually found this by way of a compilation list of books similar to Tolkien's masterpiece, so expectations were naturally high.

There are elements where Cecelia Dart-Thornton doesn't disappoint, and even exceeds expectations from it when pitted against Tolkien's magnum opus. Of these what stands out the most is the justice done to world building in a deliciously visual style of narration. I could imagine every single scene in my head as I read along which for a fantasy with so many elements is no mean feat! From simple ones like the forests and the forts to significantly more complex ones like the encounters with the multitude of fantastic elements and characters, Dart-Thornton's writing is lucid, engrossing and emotive without being daunting. The very first chapter which introduces the protagonist is perhaps the very best of this style of writing I've read.

The writing style is perhaps what kept me going through the nearly 350 pages, because the story itself couldn't. Here's where the comparisons with LoTR or Hobbit are way off the mark. There is no closure to any story or even a sub-plot, characters and elements are introduced but by the time you seek a pay-off for your investment the focus of attention shifts to something else. Too many different, and what felt like significant, subjects are under utilized which segues into my other problem with the book - there are too many elements. I'm aware that this is the first in a trilogy so maybe the investments in book one pay off later on, but that's not to my liking as a reader. A stronger conclusion with lesser pieces could have been better.

5/5 for the beautiful narrative and language.
2/5 for the story.
3-3.5 overall.

Mr O. Fricko

Must read for fantasy fans

Reviewed in Germany on August 24, 2018

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The entire book series has been fascinating. With extensive descriptions of sceneries and characters the book is must read for all fantasy fans. Unfortunately there are only three books all of which I absorbed like a sponge.

Kindle Customer

Fantastic!

Reviewed in Australia on January 27, 2014

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I love every bit of folk lore woven into this incredible tale, it has you intrigued from the start and the small tales within the story are just as enthralling as the main story itself. Loved it!

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The Ill-Made Mute (The Bitterbynde Trilogy) Kindle Edition

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