Front Street, 2006
214 pages
YA; Fantasy; Fairy Tale
4/5 stars
Source: Library
Read for YA Overlooked Book Battle.
This book had a very beautiful lyrical style that really put me in mind of fairy tales. It also helped that Keturah is a storyteller who uses keeps putting Death's claim off in exchange for stories without end a la Scheherazade in Arabian Nights.
The setting is a small, poor town in the corner of the kingdom. Keturah has long been marked as different but is protected by the esteem with which her grandmother is regarded. When she meets Death in a forest, the villagers further ostracize her due to their fear of her relationship with Death. She however needs their help in order to avoid being claimed by Death; if she can wed her true love, then she will be freed.
Her two best friends were so cute! They accept Keturah as she is and they eagerly help her search for her true love, even offering the men they love as they claim they don't. But the course of true love ends rightly as all three women wed their true loves.
Overall: This story cast a magical spell, drawing me into a quiet story of community and love.
Cover: I like the colors but it just seems a little blurry to me.
Hosted by Irena at This Miss Loves to Read.
This sounds fascinating! I like the idea of someone trying to put off Death himself with stories. This is a fairy-tale, but one must still wonder if Keturah succeeds. I would read this, definitely.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. Too bad it hasn't gotten more attention because it's such a beautiful fairy tale retelling.
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