Every character of the book has their life entwined with several others. Cyan Dag is a knight of Gloinmere. He is loyal and honorable, but risks a great loss in his quest. Thane is the bitter son of the ruler of the North Islands desperate to free his people from the kingdom of Ives. Also, he wants to help his ruined father and protect his brother Craiche from danger. Sel is the baker of Stony Wood. She is a middle-aged woman seeking her past memories. They become linked together along with family members in a strange quest set by three magical sisters. Ms. McKillip provides believable characters through the descriptions and actions of her creations.
Another main element that makes the book memorable is the setting. The author presents islands and other landscapes with magic in an unforgettable style. Gloinmere is a mundane medieval land compared to the other lands. Skye is the magical land filled with mystical towers and creatures. No two towers are the same. They appear in different landscapes with their own stories. This setting affects the plot and characters, brought together by Ms. McKillip's expert handling of her descriptions.
In the end, it is the dynamic plot that makes the book memorable. It revolves around the towers of Skye. Cyan Dag is sent by the bard of Skye to find his king's wife, who is trapped in a tower. His leaving could cost him the woman he loves, but he goes anyway. At the same time, Thane Ysse leaves the bleak, defeated North Islands for Skye to find a dragon guarding treasure in a tower. Melanthus is the daughter of Sel, who spends time every day in the tower by Stony Wood village. She watches a magical mirror and embroiders the scene from the mirror. Sel seeks her out in the tower to become caught up in a search for her past. Their paths cross in various ways that keep the story compelling. Ms. McKillip weaves the plot elements into a memorable whole through fascinating descriptions.
The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip is a memorable book. She creates a powerful Fairy Tale Fantasy with the characters, setting and plot that borders on the mythical. Ending in a satisfying conclusion, the book remains in the reader's thoughts for a long time. Ms. McKillip proves herself again to be a master Fantasy author of the genre.
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