Spindle and Dagger
Registered by gypsysmom of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on 11/9/2019
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I received this Advance Reading Copy from Candlewick Press through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I thought this book was written for Young Adults because that is what this author is best known for writing. However, I'm not sure I would feel comfortable giving this book to just any teenager. There are quite a few adult themes and I think I would recommend a reader be adult. (Of course I may be out of touch with what teenagers are reading these days so maybe it is commonplace; I do think that the author has branched out into historical fiction for an older audience here.)
Elen and her family were poor farmers living in Wales in the early twelfth century. The son of the king of Powys, Owain ap Cadwgan, raided their home with his warband. Elen was the only one who survived. She did it by healing Owain's wound and telling him that he was guarded by St. Elen who would not let anyone kill him as long as he kept Elen by his side. So Elen became Owain's companion and bedmate. But the horrors of the raid on her home and the killing of her sisters and parents remained with her. She thought she was safe with Owain and that was her primary goal. Then Owain came home from raiding the castle of a Norman lord with the lord's wife, Nest, and three children in tow. This sparks a manhunt for Owain and anyone with him. There goes Elen's safety and security and she needs to re-evaluate her choices.
It seemed to me that the author did a good job of researching the time period. I especially appreciated the pronunciation guide provided at the beginning of the book. I'm not quite sure I buy Elen's decision to throw her lot in with Owain after he and his men killed the rest of her family. It does make for an interesting dynamic though especially when Nest comes on the scene.
Elen and her family were poor farmers living in Wales in the early twelfth century. The son of the king of Powys, Owain ap Cadwgan, raided their home with his warband. Elen was the only one who survived. She did it by healing Owain's wound and telling him that he was guarded by St. Elen who would not let anyone kill him as long as he kept Elen by his side. So Elen became Owain's companion and bedmate. But the horrors of the raid on her home and the killing of her sisters and parents remained with her. She thought she was safe with Owain and that was her primary goal. Then Owain came home from raiding the castle of a Norman lord with the lord's wife, Nest, and three children in tow. This sparks a manhunt for Owain and anyone with him. There goes Elen's safety and security and she needs to re-evaluate her choices.
It seemed to me that the author did a good job of researching the time period. I especially appreciated the pronunciation guide provided at the beginning of the book. I'm not quite sure I buy Elen's decision to throw her lot in with Owain after he and his men killed the rest of her family. It does make for an interesting dynamic though especially when Nest comes on the scene.
Journal Entry 3 by gypsysmom at Boundary Co-op - Deloraine Home Centre in Deloraine, Manitoba Canada on Monday, June 15, 2020
Released 3 yrs ago (6/11/2020 UTC) at Boundary Co-op - Deloraine Home Centre in Deloraine, Manitoba Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book on a bench outside the entrance . This release is for the 2020 52 Towns in 52 weeks release challenge - Town #3 - Deloraine, MB . When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.
