What with everything going on this year, my reading pace has slowed to a crawl. But my partner and I did finish Dragonsinger on audiobook, and it was a more or less delightful continuation of the first novel in the series.

Beginning mere hours after Dragonsong ended, Dragonsinger concerns itself with Menolly's first week at Harper Hall. It doesn't seem like all the events of the novel could fit into a week, but I think that's thanks to McCaffrey mimicking so well the overwhelmed and confused feelings one gets when one is dropped in a new place. Our intrepid heroine Menolly rushes and stumbles among teachers, lessons, physical therapy, bullying, fire lizard care, and a festival. She struggles to find her place and make friends in the strange, musical world. One of the friends she makes is the small and clever tenor Piemur, who I understand is the protagonist of the next book.

Menolly was a well-fleshed out character, the plot was engaging, and McCaffrey once again wove a seeming small stakes story with utter seriousness and kept the tension. The patriarchy rankled more than ever. After coming-of-age in the last book, Menolly is still not taken seriously by her male teachers and peers. Not a one can believe a girl tamed nine fire lizards and will not give them away to "deserving" boys. She can't be that talented at music, can she? Menolly has to bring 110% to the table to be grudgingly given respect.

If I had one complaint about the book, it was the lack of female friends and allies. Instead, women were enemies who tore Menolly down. I know this was published in 1977, but that's contemporary with Octavia Butler's Kindred and Wild Seed series, and only seven years from Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. It would be believable that not all women supported her, but the majority should! If Menolly breaks the gender restrictions, then women can also be Harpers instead of being limited to wives and mothers! Hello???!!! McCaffrey's storytelling decision here was a culture shock to me and my partner, because we're so used to stories about positive female friendship.

Overall, Dragonsinger was a satisfying story, and I don't think it's a spoiler to say Menolly crushes her challengers. I miss her already. I want to read it again.