Anne McCaffrey was the first female fantasy/sci fi writer I ever read and as such she holds a special place in my heart. Her books are always wonderful, well written, and perfectly characterized. All of her series are great but I especially like the Crystal Singer series because of its action and clever look at the near future. ( )

Okay, I must have read this at least a half dozen times. I really enjoy the spunky main character of Killashandra. She kind of reminds me of my little sister. Feisty. Determined. Practical. If you enjoyed the first book, Crystal Singer, you will enjoy this one too. I also like the jabs McCaffrey takes at those who feel it is their responsibility to decide for others what is best for them. It is almost over the top with the symbolism she uses to do it, but it works in the context of this narrative. ( )

Killashandra Ree's life was one of catastrophic changes. She had joined the Heptite Guild to become a crystal singer, get rich, and forget her past. And at first everything went just as she had hoped. In one season on the deadly beautiful world of Ballybran, she had sung Black Crystal, grown wealthy, and met a man who made her sorrows seem unworthy of notice.

But then, a year later, a devastating storm turned her claim to useless rock. In short order she was broke, she had crystal sickness so bad she thought she'd die, and the only way she could be true to the man she loved was to leave him. ( )

This is the second book in the Crystal Singer trilogy. ( )

blase, milquetoast ( )

The real meat of the story. The first volume was more like a Prologue, and the third was an Afterword, but this second installment in the trilogy is where interesting things happen. I'm still not a big fan of the main character, but she was more intriguing here and I could see the beginnings of the person she becomes in the third book. There are still things that were a mystery to me (e.g. why keep on about the crystal singers losing memory if that doesn't really happen to her yet?), but mostly this was just an entertaining tale. I may pick up the third book again as I think I'll get more out of it having read the previous two now (these books do not make sense as stand-alones; very much a complete story only if all three volumes read). ( )

I'll admit it. Anne McCaffrey is a guilty secret I've had for years, starting with the Dragonriders of Pern. Honestly, I couldn't tell you why I read her stuff. I don't think she's a particularly good writer, and I find most of her female characters as histrionic as Lestat in Ann Rice's books. They're essentially sci-fi bodice-rippers. The dialog is generally awful. But I'll pick them up every time if they're lying around the house. I can't even honestly recommend them. For me, they're a time-killer, and I like the sci-fi setting. And, sometimes, that's all you need. Probably a good airplane read. ( )

I enjoyed the first two books of this series. This is a little more science fiction than the Pern series. Very similar in style and feel, but the characters are quite good, and there's no dragons. ( )

The sequel to Crystal Singer. I reread it recently, and found that I enjoyed it almost as much as the original book. Killa heads to a planet to help install crystal and observe some irregularities in the government structure. While there some try to use her as a pawn, but as usual, she's able to take very good care of herself.

Not quite as good as the first, imo, but still a very good read. ( )

Getting off Ballybran ahead of the mach storms is critical for crystal singers, but Killashandra's learned that accepting jobs hand-picked by the Hepatite Guildmaster has its risks. This time her mission will see her attacked, kidnapped and marooned - and that's only the beginning. ( )

First read this in the early 90s while I was living in Paris. Had to pay 28 bucks for an English book in France. But it was worth it. This is a great series for people that love to sing and love rocks, ie crystals. Anne McCaffrey does a great job creating a whole other world to get lost in, and it's great fun. You really dive into the character. ( )

I found the second book not as engaging as the first, I loved the scenes set on Ballybran and still find the society there fascinating, but I lost interest once the story moved off world to Optheria.
The story became less believable and even way back then I found it annoying that of course the kidnapped woman ends up falling in love with her kidnapper, who of course was always the true hero and honorable man he just had to use dishonorable means to get the job done. And considering the risks she takes every time she leaves Ballybran, that her symbiot will sicken and die, McCaffrey just sort of seemed to forget that one and left that hanging as a huge plot hole that bugs me to this day.

Worth reading if you liked the first one, but it only really works as part of the series. ( )

One of McCaffrey's best outside of the Pern series. MUCH better than Acorna. ( )

I enjoyed the first book, but this one was a big yawn. The basic story outline was interesting, but in execution it dragged on. In addition, the main character came across very poorly. Whatever I liked about her in the first book didn't hold up in this one. ( )

Crystal miner falls for kidnapper during island adventure. ( )

Sci-fi. Highly recommended if you like strong heroines. ( )

I loved the first book, and I am glad that killashandra gets a true love interest in the second. The character in the Crystal Singer books is very interesting, and I am always amazed at mccaffreys ability to build imaginary worlds and jobs in those world! ( )

This is the 2nd in the Crystal Singer Trilogy, and the continuing story of Killashandra Ree. Killashandra goes off planet on a Hepite Guild assignment, to repair an Organ manual in the Optheria system. A fantastic book, it got to the point where I couldn't put this book down had really got me hooked wonderful plot and captivating. I enjoyed it even more than the first in the Trilogy, Crystal Singer. Killashandra is a great, continuing the story of the life of the Crystal Singer, challenges faced, lost loves & new love found, and is great introduction to Lars. ( )

I had some hope for this book, but this second book in the series was not so interesting. ( )

CRYSTAL SINGER

1985