Previously worked as a journalist for Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Poetry editor for Overland Extra, 1992, Modern Writing, 1992-94, and Voices, 1996 founding editor of literary arts journal Masthead.

Writer, poet, playwright, editor, and critic. Tolkienesque in style, this series represents high fantasy at its most elegant in addition, Meredith Pierce fans looking for tough but realistic heroines will likely embrace Maerad as one of their favorites.Born 1962, in South Africa married Daniel Keene (a playwright) children: three, including Josh. Readers will be fully drawn into Maerad's adventures, and they will therefore likely devour the end matter (maps and appendices firmly reinforcing the claim that this series is indeed drawn from manuscripts of the lost civilization of Edil-Amarandh) that may indicate what will happen to her next. Fortunately, strong character development, intriguing and ever-changing landscapes, and the integration of Bardic poetry and spells easily compensate for the lack of resolution. This entry suffers a bit from middle-novel syndrome, containing many events but little actual plot movement as Maerad travels toward the destination she is to reach in the next volume. If Maerad can't figure out how the Treesong plays into her destiny as the Chosen One, though, the world will soon be overcome by darkness and evil, making friendships, schooling, and self-exoneration all meaningless. More pressing than the developing relationships or the continuation of her formal education, however, are the imminent and potentially lethal dangers that Maerad faces at every turn indeed, both she and Cadvan have been framed as traitors to the Light and are wanted dead. She finds her growing relationship with Cadvan, a Bard who helped her escape her life as a slave and who is now traveling with her to work out the puzzle of the Treesong, both frightening (Maerad has never trusted men) and exhilarating (this is the first family she's had in years).

Maerad, obstinate, troubled, and magically gifted, continues her quest to save the world in this sequel to The Naming (BCCB 9/05).

The riddle by alison croggon