Gr 9 Up—Bethan is a young Roma woman living with her grandmother, the clan's healer, and learning the trade. Tired of just herb craft, she yearns to move on to magic. Silas, the chieftain's son, has decided she will be his, and with his three friends harasses Bethan. Wintering with the clan in Anwen's Crossing, Wales, Bethan meets Martyn at the local market. A farmer's son with some Roma blood, she quickly finds herself attracted to him but not without consequences. Silas and his friends trap and assault both of them, leaving Martyn lifeless. Bethan, with her grandmother's help, is plunged into the ways of blood magic, and finds herself on a gruesome quest where she confronts Silas and his accomplices to extract bits of them for a spell to save Martyn. Through the process, Bethan learns more about her past, and the high cost of magic and revenge. The characters are mostly three-dimensional, and glimpses into their lives give more background on their personalities. The text is descriptive with Romani terms peppered throughout and haunting descriptions of locations. The violence and trauma Bethan endures from Silas, and her subsequent acts are described in detail. The worst of her assault is alluded to. Both compelling and terrifying, this is a tense tale of love and fear. Due to the levels of violence, this is more appropriate for older readers.
VERDICT This book has strong appeal for fans of horror, supernatural, or revenge stories.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!