Title: An Exchange of Gifts
Author: Anne McCaffrey
A random small review for a small book. 🙂
I’ve never read anything by McCaffrey before — I’m mostly aware of her as being the author of a number of Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy books which I haven’t read. But when I saw this little book at a library sale, it looked so darling I couldn’t resist picking it up, and I’m glad I did. 🙂
An Exchange of Gifts is a bite-sized fantasy novella (complete with illustrations) which I quite enjoyed. 🙂
It reminded me a little of The Princess and the Goblin, and The Ordinary Princess, though less fairy-tale-ish, and more realistic/older. (Like YA instead of Children’s?) But it did have an intriguing fantasy element which I liked — the way their Gifts were woven in was really neat. The mysterious sort of twist to it was interesting as well.
Meanne (the heroine) was quite well written (although I kind of thought she was a younger teen, and then found out near the end she must be older, since her eighteenth birthday was mentioned), and Wisp (the hero) I really liked! He was awesome and I liked his twists too. 😀
I liked how it wrapped up — though part of me wonders about a few things, since there wasn’t time to explore them… but at the same time it just WORKED really well to just have this little glimpse into this story and world.
Anyhow, not a “must-read” exactly, but I liked it muchly all the same. It just… kinda made me happy. *shrug* A very small fantasy tale which I really enjoyed reading. ^_^ (I think I miss reading fantasy! O_O This must be remedied…)
From Goodreads:
When Meanne, a princess of the realm, runs away from her father’s castle and an unwanted suitor, little does she realize the hardships and difficulties that lie ahead of her. Loneliness is the worst part — until she finds a fellow refugee, a boy named Wisp. Together they must make new lives for themselves. Yet they both have secrets — hidden pasts and magical powers that can tear them apart!
Illustrated: Pat Morrissey
Genre/Category: Fantasy Novella
Age Group: YA
Published: 1995
Pages: 92
When Read: September 6, 2016
Favorite Character: Wisp! 🙂
Source: Library sale.
{Goodreads} • {Amazon}
Thanks for reading!
Dream away in those pages . . .
~ The Page Dreamer
The Page Dreamer (Deborah O'Carroll) 
That IS a darling looking little book!
Years ago I read Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey and didn’t like it at all. It confused me to no end, was just…weird (and not really in the good way), and had some pretty iffy stuff in it to boot. So I pretty much wrote her off after that. But maybe I should give her other stuff a try! Or at least this one. It seems like the perfect little fairytale-ish read, and I do love those. ^_^
Thanks for sharing with us! If I ever come across a copy of this I’m gonna have to pick it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yus, I just love its look. ^_^
That’s sad you had such an experience… I’ve heard VERY mixed reviews on her dragon books… many people LOVE them and others… don’t. XD Plus, I’ve heard it’s basically sci-fi with fantasy-elements of dragons on another planet, basically, and historically you and I are more hardcore fantasy, not sci-fi? But yes, if you ever come across this, definitely give it a try because I think you’d like it. ^_^
You’re welcome! Thanks for commenting on it. 😀
LikeLike
Hmm, I haven’t read much McCaffrey at all. I picked up a book of hers at the library “The Girl Who Heard Dragons” only to discover that it was a (not at all as advertised in any way shape or form) a collection of short stories, and I was so interested in the characters/plot of the first one (which was titled “The Girl Who Heard Dragons” and was really quite good, but ended abruptly) and upset that it was over so quickly and didn’t have a very satisfying resolution, that I took the book back promptly and never read anything of hers again. However… this sounds interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is literally my first of hers, so. 🙂 Aww, that’s unfortunate! 😦 Apparently people have unpleasant McCaffrey encounters. XD Yikes, I can imagine that would be a horrible experience, thinking a collection was a novel. O_O Eep. People REALLY should advertise books correctly. >.> But I think if you tried reading this one you’d like it. 🙂
LikeLike
Looks adorable! I might see if my library has it…as a short little something to read during the hectic-ness of NaNo. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, you might! And I totally agree that it’s nice finding short books to read during NaNo. XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, it looks like such an adorable read! I MUST HAVE IT. *adds to TBR*
Great review, Deborah! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, you’re so funny. XD I’m such a problem always adding so many books to your TBR! 😛
Thanks so much, Savannah! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: october ishness | The Road of a Writer