The Cygnet and the Firebird
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award nominee 1994.
The firebird came at night – a magnificent creature whose magical cry seemed to transform objects at random. Gifted with powers of her own, Meguet tried to reach out to the bird. But at moonrise, the firebird became human, a prince cursed by dark magic. Meguet vowed to help him. But then the mystery carried her away, on alien winds, to a land far from her home... At the edge of the world, the Luxor Desert awaits – a barren land where a sorcerer's war rages. Where invisible dragons cast shadows over ruined castles. And where Meguet's own fate depends upon a secret locked away in a tower for centuries...
Patricia A. McKillip
Patricia Anne McKillip (born 1948) is an American author, distinguished by lyrical, delicate prose and careful attention to detail and characterization. She is a winner of the World Fantasy Award (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, 1975, Ombria in Shadow, 2003) and Mythopoeic Award (Ombria in Shadow). Most of her recent novels have cover paintings by Kinuko Y. Craft. She is married to a poet David Lunde and lives in Oregon.
Cygnet
Cygnet consists of two primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
