Greetings faerie friends!
This evening I'll be telling you about the first ARC book I've ever read, West of the Moon by Margi Preus. The book will come out April of 2014, so not for another four months.
Astri and her sister Greta were taken in by their cruel Aunt after their mother's death, and their father's journey to America in search of his fortune. Back in Norway Astri's aunt has sold her to a terrifying "goat man" a grizzly goat farmer that either in reality or Astri's imagination is either old man, or perhaps a terrifying creature from the folklore of her land. In a strange and exhilarating combination of folktale, legend, myth, and fiction, Astri and Greta seek out their way to America with troll treasure, a book of black magic, a magic hair brush, and mysterious young girl in foot, and the goat man in pursuit, the sisters travel through mountains and forests, rivers and towns, haunted both by sin and the legend of the prince who was a bear, they head for America, in a tale more magic than matter.
While there was much about this book I enjoyed, my main criticism would be that some parts of the book seemed to be intended for rather older readers (a close call with rape and many musings about sin and redemption) yet, the story lacked the complex plot of a book I would expect was aimed for an audience other than children. Though I adored the mix of folklore and fiction, I wish the plot had a bit more to it in general.
Total Pages: 197
Number of Flying Platypus Tea Cups: 6/10
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it as much as you hoped you would; it's always disappointing when a plot doesn't hold up like it should. I would be interested to read some of the folklore parts of the book, though.
ReplyDelete