Killashandra (Crystal Singer Trilogy Book 2)

First I'd like to point out that all the reviews for this book (Killashandra) and the first in the series (Crystal Singer) are mixed up together on these item pages, very odd and I'm sure confusing for newcomers. Just a warning if you haven't read either book yet.I adored the first book. As a main character, Killashandra was a revelation to me. I had always scoffed at the idea of reading McCaffrey as a younger person interested in 'serious' books and had no idea she wrote such liberated female characters. Glad I overcame my prejudice! I loved that Killa was rather self-centered, ambitious and emotionally cold and made no apologies for it. It felt very unique to me and I was totally engrossed in her rise through the Crystal Singer ranks. The second book has let me down in this regard. The world is interesting as well as the plot but much of the book is taken up with a romance that I found not only dull but out-of-character for the Killashandra I admired in the first book. If her interest in her kidnapper had been tainted with a bit of 'utilitarianism' like her romance with the Guild Master in book one I would have found it less bothersome. But it isn't. Much of it is just straight out of a Harlequin, which makes me wonder with some disappointment how intentional the qualities were that I admired in the first book. Maybe McCaffrey was reacting to some criticism of her icy main character? (I notice even now in these reviews some people don't like her.) If so I wish she had stuck to her guns.I'll still read the third and other McCaffrey in the future. But what I'd really like to do even now while I'm typing this is re-read the first book and enjoy it again...

Over time I have purchased every one of my favorite Anne McCaffrey books again, this time in Kindle format, unlike my Hardcover or Mass market paperback editions, my Kindle editions won't fall apart in my hands due to excessive re-reading of the many favorite Series of hers that I've purchased over the years. The character development, storyline, and pace pull you along, never wanting to put them down. The World Anne has built is so realistic, her characters so endearing, you can't help but care about their trials and tribulations, laughing, crying, and coming back again and again throughout the years. If asked how many times I've re-read her books, saying over 50 times wouldn't even come close. Highly recommended.

Anne McCaffrey is the grand dame of Sci-Fi / fantasy writing. I'd place her along side of any of the greats such as Asimov, Bradbury and Heinlein. The Crystal singer series does not disappoint. Characters that you grow to know, and a story line that keeps you reading until the very end. I love the way the author overlaps other story series with this one, so that her universe keeps getting bigger and bigger. Whereever you go in the McCaffrey universe you find people you would like to know, fantasy you would dream of experiencing and science that you wish was in your life time.

One of my all-time favourite authors, Anne McCaffrey's, sequel to the superb, The Crystal Singer, the novel, Killashandra, takes the heroine (of the same name) off-world to fulfill an assignment repairing a shattered Optherian organ. On this apparently perfect world, Killa finds more trouble than anyone bargained for, but when she's kidnapped and stranded on an island, it's not only Killa's life that's at stake, but an entire world.For those who fell in love with The Crystal Singer, this is a good but not a great sequel. While the story is clever and the universe in which this planet exists and the planet itself beautifully rendered, there is something two-dimensional and 'staged' about parts of the book - particularly Killa's character which had been so wonderfully and sympathetically developed previously. I found myself losing patience with some of her antics.Overall, however, it's still a wonderful and quite romantic read.

And still enjoy to this day! Kills is such a strong g character and the world building that Anne McCaffery can create is always exceptional. I have read every book she has written and most of the co-authored collection ! Loved every minute of if!!!

This book is a new experience for the crystal singer! It take her to a planet of dubious distinction of its organ players! She is called upon to spy for the federation and gets into all kinds of mischief helping to straighten out the planets misguided rulers!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am an Anne McCaffrey fan and have almost all of her books. I would rate this as one of her best. The characters seem real, and the story is well written. I would definitely recommend this book!

Typesetting errors make it slightly annoying for me to read. I'm assuming this is not the first printing, but sloppy errors when I couldn't possibly get a job in the industry make me pissed to see in a 'professionally-printed' book.

There are some good points to the story and the fresh perspective is one. However, I’m not sure if the story is trying to be a sci-fi or a romance novel. It doesn’t do either well. The protagonist comes across as a really shallow character whose prime passions are to drink lots of alcohol and sleep around as much as possible and with no more motivation for her decision to travel across the galaxy than she wasn’t top of her class. Tedious.

I will pop the same review in for this series... because the first one enthralled me although the first paragraphs irritated me as Killashandra was not an immediately likeable person and I like to fall in love with my characters. I met Anne McCaffrey once at a book signing and wonder how one human can contain such creativity and on reading her life story I wonder even more but see the auto-biographical element in this book. Overall 'crystal singing' is a fascinating concept and in book one we have the introduction to the science. In book two Killa meets the love of her life and we meet the relationship stories that are characteristic of her books. Most like this book best of the three. The third book is arguably less exciting but I still enjoyed it with elements connecting to her other series, I enjoyed it even though it ends where I think the series could start over again. I have read the first book four times and the rest of the series three times which in itself says something as I discard books if they don't captivate me these days.

Following on from the first book, Killashandra is sent to a planet to set white crystals into a musical organ, though secretly there to scope out why the planet is such a paradise that no one ever leaves. Finding herself in trouble, the book winds through a tale of mystery and realisation, as well as truly meaningful love. A fluid second in the series, with beautiful crystal workings sprinkled throughout.

I've read and reread this book so many times I could (and probably) do recite it in my sleep. With The Crystal Singer and Crystal Line I'm taken away from my daily life into a world of fantasy which revitalises me and brings joy back into my life. These are the first books I've read since July (when my dad died) that I've managed to loose myself in and has left me smiling. Thank you Anne McCaffrey. Andrea

Absolutely loved this book, particularly as I'd read later storyline books, without realising I'd missed this one! A favourite author, and sadly missed. A great change from her Dragon books, but just as weel written, with characters written so you can imagine people walking past in the street.