Anna S. (annapi) reviewed on 3/1/2010 + 334 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Another excellent fairy tale retelling by Shannon Hale! This one is based on the Grimms "Maid Maleen", which I had never heard of, but that did not detract one bit from my enjoyment. Dashti, an orphan "mucker" or healer girl from the Mongolian steppes, goes to the city to make a living after her mother dies. She end up a ladies' maid to the Lord's daughter and stays with her mistress when she is condemned to be bricked up in a tower for 7 years for disobeying her father's command to marry a cruel neighboring lord. They eventually escape and must find their way through a war-ravaged land. Hale's stories are full of magical realism and adventure, and have a way of sweeping you up into strange and beautiful lands full of fascinating people.

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