“I love anything by Shannon Hale, while this is not my favorite (that would be "Goose Girl") it did not disapoint. I love how soothing her writing style is, not to say her books are not exciting, this one had a hint of magic (less than any of her other books really) but there were wars, some mental instability, desperation, and wild animal attacks, and I think the scene when the main character, Dashti, a Lady's Maid forced to pretend to be the Lady herself against her better judgement, goes off to face the villian (after learning just how bloodthirsty he can be)---is very well written--you can't help liking a character with that much loyalty and bravery. I think at that point it became a completely different book, and I have flash backs to reading my favorite fantasy novel, "The Hero and the Crown", it's the same feeling of a character standing up against something that can, and will probably kill her, but still doing so because she knows she is the only one who can protect the people she cares about. I've mentioned this in other reviews, but the reason I like Shannon Hale's work so much is that she mixes in some darkness ("Enna Burning" is a great example) so they are something other than just another princess story. This story also had that dark edge, but it's best qualility is the first person narrative, and the creation of a character who is rooted in the normal day to day things, and is pushed to become more than she ever thought possible.
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Melissa wrote this review Friday, July 25 2008.
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