Voices by Ursula Le Guin

Ursula Le Guin has written another outstanding fantasy book tackling thought provoking issues like religious fervour, revenge, cruelty, women's rights, leadershipand peaceful negotiation. Voices is the second book in the Annals of the Western Shore trilogy and follows the book Gifts where protagonists, Orrec, a storyteller and Gry who can call to animals, were first introduced as teenagers. It can, however, be read as a stand-alone. It is a compelling coming-of-age story.
 
Ansul, once a beautiful trading city with a famous library, has been conquered by the Alds, a desert people who fear the demons in writing and destroy any books that they find. One last small library is concealed in the Oracle House and it is here that fugitives bring books for safe keeping. 17 year old Memer and the Waylord are scholars and guardians of the library and the Oracle that lies hidden in it. When Orrec and Gry arrive with their half lion they are the catalyst for the uprising of a conquered people.

Pat Pledger