Women imprisoned by superstition, chained by guilt.

Book blurb

Perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests is a village, rife with secrets. Cut off from the outside world it is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all.

Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her.

As the village becomes isolated in a sea of snow, Edith loses her power of speech. And it is this enchantment that will have far-reaching consequences, not only for Edith but for the whole village.

My thoughts

My first read in 2026 has been a wonderful one. Fairy or Folk Tale like this story has a darkness to it. Set in a village that is cut off from the wider world, ruled by a group of men, the elders, who are determined to keep this place their own kingdom. They are the butcher, the minister and the mayor. The villagers have lived this way for many years women are subject to their fathers, husbands and the village elders rule. Yet they, the ‘ordinary’ men, live in fear too.

Edith meets a shepherd who she falls in love with. They want to marry but Edith’s father, an alcoholic, has promised her to the butcher. The butcher is much older, a mean, nasty man who is determined to have Edith as his bride. He is widowed with two grown daughters who have families of their own.

Edith’s father has struck a deal with the butcher and refuses to let Edith marry the shepherd. When the shepherd must leave to tend to his flock Edith agrees to wait until his return to marry him.

What happens when the shepherd goes causes Edith to become mute. Other characters the butchers daughters, his grandson, his granddaughter and the mayor’s wife become (more) aware of the way in which they too are being treated, reflected in Edith’s plight. Their stories are brought to the surface, they too and their children have suffered.

The story is dark yet it isn’t difficult to read, nor is it graphic with regard to what happens to some characters and what some suffer is truly harrowing. There is much that happens, much to take in. There are characters to love and to hate. It’s a story that will resonate with readers and one which I enjoyed.

Book: Purchased

Information

Published: HarperCollins | October 28, 2021 | 304 pp | ISBN: 9780008217419 | ISBN 10: 0008217416

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Books

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Children’s books (include)

What to do Pernickity Boo (with Chris Mould) Age 7| Pernickity Boo (with Chris Mould) Age 7

Older Readers

Tinder (2013) | Maggot Moon (2012) | The Double Shadow (2011) | The Silver Blade (2008) | The Red Necklace (2007) | I, Coriander (2005)

Middle Readers

Wings & Co Book One: Operation Bunny (2012) | Wings & Co Book Two: Three Pickled Herrings (2012)

Magical Children Series:
The Strongest Girl in the World (1999) | The Smallest Girl Ever (2000) | The Boy Who Could Fly (2001) | The Invisible Boy (2002) | The Boy with the Magic Numbers (2003) | Magical Children (omnibus) (2004) | The Boy with the Lightning Feet (2006) | Magical Kids: The Invisible Boy and the Strongest Girl in the World (omnibus) (2007) | Magical Kids II: The Smallest Girl Ever and The Boy Who Could Fly (omnibus) (2008) | Lucy Willow (2006)

Early Readers

Tales from the Box:
Boolar’s Big Day Out (2003) | The Countess’s Calamity (2003) | The Little Nut Tree (1993) | A Hoof In The Door (2005)

Picture Books (Writer & Illustrator)

My Little Princess (1994) | The Fairy Catalogue (2000) | The Fairy Tale Catalog (2001) | The Glass Heart (2001) | Mummy, Don’t Go Out Tonight (2002) | Fairy Shopping (2003) | The Button Book (2006) | Cinderella (2011) | Sleeping Beauty (2011) | Snow White (2011) | The Frog Prince (2011) | The Princess and the Pea (2011)

Anthologies edited
Playtime Rhymes (1995) | A Book of Princesses (1997)

Adult books (include)

The Snow Song

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