The Changeling Sea
| Company type | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Changeling Sea is a fantasy novel aimed at young readers, authored by Patricia A. McKillip. Its initial hardcover release was handled by Atheneum/Macmillan in October 1988, followed by a paperback version issued by Del Rey/Ballantine in December 1989. In April 2003, Firebird/Penguin reintroduced the book in both paperback and digital formats. The first hardcover edition in the United Kingdom was published by Oxford University Press in September 1991, with an ebook edition later released by Gateway/Orion in December 2015.
Summary
Peri’s fisherman father is lost to the sea, leaving her mother engulfed in sorrow. When the wise woman who instructed Peri in magic vanishes, Peri takes over her cottage and devises a plan for vengeance by creating three curses aimed at the sea. Meanwhile, Prince Kir, heir to the throne, arrives seeking the wise woman’s aid to overcome his obsession with the ocean.
Using Kir’s offering, Peri casts her curses into the sea, inadvertently disturbing the enchantments of the sea queen. This act unleashes a bound sea dragon, attracts the wandering sorcerer Lyo to their village, and heightens Kir’s dreams connected to the sea.
As Peri attempts to assist Kir, she embarks on an underwater journey that reveals a sorrowful secret tied to the king’s history, exposes the true nature of the sea dragon, and awakens her own magical abilities.
Reception
Publishers Weekly lauded the novel for its "elegantly maintained metaphors" and "skillful character development," deeming it a memorable and emotionally resonant fantasy. Susan L. Rogers from School Library Journal referred to it as "a captivating fantasy blending realism with romance."
Ann F. Howey emphasized its feminist message, pointing out that McKillip empowers her female lead and inspires readers from diverse backgrounds to embrace their inner heroism.
Matthew David Surridge of Blackgate.com praised its folktale atmosphere and mythic qualities, highlighting how the sea functions as a symbolic realm of transformation. He described it as a poignant and effective coming-of-age romantic comedy about young individuals confronting ancestral mistakes.
Reviews also appeared in publications such as Locus and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
Awards
The book was a contender for the 1990 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and placed eighteenth in the 1989 Locus Poll Award for Best Fantasy Novel standings.