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The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse
A princess and a peasant girl embark on a dangerous quest to outwit a warning foretelling the fall of the Monarchy. In the center of the verdant Monarchy lies Dreadwillow Carse, a desolate bog the people of the land do their best to ignore. Little is known about it except an ominous If any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall. Twelve-year-old Princess Jeniah yearns to know what the marsh could conceal that might topple her family’s thousand-year reign. After a chance meeting, Princess Jeniah strikes a secret deal with Aon, a girl from a nearby Aon will explore the Carse on the princess’s behalf, and Jeniah will locate Aon’s missing father. But when Aon doesn’t return from the Carse, a guilt-stricken Jeniah must try and rescue her friend—even if it means risking the entire Monarchy. In this thrilling modern fairytale, Brian Farrey has created an exciting new world where friendship is more powerful than fate and the most important thing is to question everything.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
21 people are currently reading
1576 people want to read
About the author
Brian Farrey
7 books158 followersBrian Farrey writes whatever pops into his head. Sometimes, it's books for children. Sometimes, it's books for adults. Sometimes, it's screenplays. He's never quite sure what will come out next but it's been quite a ride finding out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
November 23, 2015
Fafa's Book Corner (Wordpress)
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
I received this E-ARC via Algonquin Young Readers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When I saw this on Netgalley I simply assumed that it would be a sweet middle grade story. I did not except this to be slightly creepy and so engrossing. I am happy to be proven wrong.
The book begins with princess Jeniah. Jeniah is 12 years old and in short time she will soon be queen. Her mother is going to die soon leaving Jeniah orphaned and the only heir to the throne. By the beginning of the book Jeniah is queen ascendant.
Aon is a very different person than those in her village. The only emotion her townspeople seem to have is happiness. Whereas she has all emotions. More often than not she is sad. Her mother left her and her father years ago, for reasons unknown in the beginning. Since then she has been sad and lonely.
Jeniah is terrified of ruling and her mother dying. She has no idea how to rule and fears messing up. And she doesn't understand the Dreadwillow Carse. Why can't the royals enter? How will entering causing the monarchy to fall? Who came up with that warning? She desperately tries to find out all these answers while also getting tutored by Skonas who isn't doing a very good job of teaching her how to be a good queen. Jeniah decides that if she is to be a good queen she must understand the Carse. And to do that she decides to get someone to go inside and report to her.
Aon has a secret. Behind everyone's back she tries to walk into the Carse. Every time she does so she hears singing and that actually makes her happy. She only walks a few steps every time before the fear stops her from entering. She has not been able to enter. One day she hears a scream of help coming from the Carse. She saves the unknown girl. The girl turns out to be Jeniah. As she and Jeniah talk, the princess explains that she must find out what is inside the Carse and what is so bad about it. Aon offers to do so.
I actually had intentions of DNFing this. It was so disturbing to read about how the people were always happy and felt no other emotion! But because I liked the characters and the story I continued on. And I am very happy that I did so.
I felt so bad for both of the characters. They went threw so many struggles. Jeniah had so many fears. And they made sense. I could understand why she thought that she wasn't ready to be a queen and that she was afraid of disappointing her mother. Skonas was frustrating in the beginning. But his lessons started making sense later on in the book.
Aon's obsession with the Carse was also disturbing. It had a way of calming her down almost like a cure to her sadness. When she started making frequent trips to the Carse she found out that she is very much tied to it. Her friendship with Jeniah was sweet and it was nice that they both had an understanding of each other.
The Carse was terrifying! I had no idea that there was even a history behind it and some of the stuff in there along with the discoveries the girls make... To say the least it was completely unpredictable. The Carse is not your typical scary forest. It has a lot of mystery to it which I feel the author did a good job exploring.
There was a lot of character growth in this book. I was so surprised by some of the decisions and things Jeniah said towards the end of the book. She didn't sound like a 12 year old but a grown, mature woman. Readers do find out why Aon's mother left. By the end of this book Aon is happy and has another job to for Jeniah.
My only complaint would be is that there were times when I wondered why characters wouldn't ask certain questions. Despite this the book had a nice ending.
Overall this was a sweet story with a bit of a mystery and creepy factor! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read some middle grade creepy books, fans of middle grade, and anyone looking for another halloween story. It is still on Netgalley so you can request it.
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
I received this E-ARC via Algonquin Young Readers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When I saw this on Netgalley I simply assumed that it would be a sweet middle grade story. I did not except this to be slightly creepy and so engrossing. I am happy to be proven wrong.
The book begins with princess Jeniah. Jeniah is 12 years old and in short time she will soon be queen. Her mother is going to die soon leaving Jeniah orphaned and the only heir to the throne. By the beginning of the book Jeniah is queen ascendant.
Aon is a very different person than those in her village. The only emotion her townspeople seem to have is happiness. Whereas she has all emotions. More often than not she is sad. Her mother left her and her father years ago, for reasons unknown in the beginning. Since then she has been sad and lonely.
Jeniah is terrified of ruling and her mother dying. She has no idea how to rule and fears messing up. And she doesn't understand the Dreadwillow Carse. Why can't the royals enter? How will entering causing the monarchy to fall? Who came up with that warning? She desperately tries to find out all these answers while also getting tutored by Skonas who isn't doing a very good job of teaching her how to be a good queen. Jeniah decides that if she is to be a good queen she must understand the Carse. And to do that she decides to get someone to go inside and report to her.
Aon has a secret. Behind everyone's back she tries to walk into the Carse. Every time she does so she hears singing and that actually makes her happy. She only walks a few steps every time before the fear stops her from entering. She has not been able to enter. One day she hears a scream of help coming from the Carse. She saves the unknown girl. The girl turns out to be Jeniah. As she and Jeniah talk, the princess explains that she must find out what is inside the Carse and what is so bad about it. Aon offers to do so.
I actually had intentions of DNFing this. It was so disturbing to read about how the people were always happy and felt no other emotion! But because I liked the characters and the story I continued on. And I am very happy that I did so.
I felt so bad for both of the characters. They went threw so many struggles. Jeniah had so many fears. And they made sense. I could understand why she thought that she wasn't ready to be a queen and that she was afraid of disappointing her mother. Skonas was frustrating in the beginning. But his lessons started making sense later on in the book.
Aon's obsession with the Carse was also disturbing. It had a way of calming her down almost like a cure to her sadness. When she started making frequent trips to the Carse she found out that she is very much tied to it. Her friendship with Jeniah was sweet and it was nice that they both had an understanding of each other.
The Carse was terrifying! I had no idea that there was even a history behind it and some of the stuff in there along with the discoveries the girls make... To say the least it was completely unpredictable. The Carse is not your typical scary forest. It has a lot of mystery to it which I feel the author did a good job exploring.
There was a lot of character growth in this book. I was so surprised by some of the decisions and things Jeniah said towards the end of the book. She didn't sound like a 12 year old but a grown, mature woman. Readers do find out why Aon's mother left. By the end of this book Aon is happy and has another job to for Jeniah.
My only complaint would be is that there were times when I wondered why characters wouldn't ask certain questions. Despite this the book had a nice ending.
Overall this was a sweet story with a bit of a mystery and creepy factor! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read some middle grade creepy books, fans of middle grade, and anyone looking for another halloween story. It is still on Netgalley so you can request it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2015
Middle-grade fiction has come a long way and seriously evolved over the years, and that evolution is part of why I enjoy the genre so much to this day!
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse promises a rollicking fairy-tale adventure, and it delivers on that, in spades. But it also goes above and beyond that simple definition and brings us the suprisingly adult tale of 2 sypathetic female lead characters and friends, each wrestling with sadness and depression in their own way. (Having recently read The School for Good and Evil trilogy, I couldn't help but subconsciously compare the two books, which is a good thing!.)
More than the obligatory quest, the friendship and bond between the two girls is truly the crux of the book (much like the aforementioned "School for Good and Evil"), but through the power of that bond, the author deftly manages to illustrate some much larger concepts and philosophical questions as well, such as "What is the price of rulership?" "How far would I go to save a friend?"
And, of course, a shout-out for the wonderful cover art, which perfectly accentuates and sets the stage for the reader.
A thought-provoking, well-written, surpsingly intelligent, and (most importantly) entertaining novel! A solid 4 stars for this charming middle-grade novel.
Full disclosure: I received this digital copy from NetGalley (with my thanks!), in exhange for an honest review.
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse promises a rollicking fairy-tale adventure, and it delivers on that, in spades. But it also goes above and beyond that simple definition and brings us the suprisingly adult tale of 2 sypathetic female lead characters and friends, each wrestling with sadness and depression in their own way. (Having recently read The School for Good and Evil trilogy, I couldn't help but subconsciously compare the two books, which is a good thing!.)
More than the obligatory quest, the friendship and bond between the two girls is truly the crux of the book (much like the aforementioned "School for Good and Evil"), but through the power of that bond, the author deftly manages to illustrate some much larger concepts and philosophical questions as well, such as "What is the price of rulership?" "How far would I go to save a friend?"
And, of course, a shout-out for the wonderful cover art, which perfectly accentuates and sets the stage for the reader.
A thought-provoking, well-written, surpsingly intelligent, and (most importantly) entertaining novel! A solid 4 stars for this charming middle-grade novel.
Full disclosure: I received this digital copy from NetGalley (with my thanks!), in exhange for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
It’s not that often that I buy a young adult book upon finishing it. I may love reading them, but I don’t often reread them. But this one I think I’ll be going back to often enough to warrant having it on my shelf.
A princess is rushed into preparing to take the throne when her mother falls deathly ill. But one lesson distracts her to the point of obsession: a warning to never enter the black scar on their kingdom, known as Dreadwillow Carse. But there are more mysteries to uncover than she realizes, and when a clever solution to her problem brings her to the one person able to enter the Carse without its curse driving her back, these mysteries start piling upon them both in their desperate bid to solve them all before the queen’s death.
Princess Jeniah and Aon are a fairly nice pair of heroines together, but their stories are much better solo. Jeniah is working to uncover the secrets of the Monarchy so she can be the queen her people need, and has some difficult choices to make by the end. And Aon is living right in the middle of the majority of those secrets and is so accustomed to them that she doesn’t realize that everything she knows them to be is a dangerous lie. She has to travel into the Carse as the princess’s agent and uncovers things about hers family and about her kingdom that forces her to face some difficult choices of her own. It was an engaging plot and the struggles both girls had to deal with were thought-provoking.
My only gripe (as I must have one) is how Aon’s family problem is presented. At first I was amazed and thrilled; I had to put the book down and marvel at it. It was so tastefully done and added so much to Aon’s character and history. But a bit later we get an explanation for the problem that was unnecessary and more than a little insulting to those who have this problem in real life .
CHARACTERS:
The characters were interesting and handled their problems in understandable, human ways.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
I loved all three settings (the castle, the village, and the Carse), but I would like to say that I always get a giggle over the scene where the Queen shows Princess Jeniah the entire kingdom for the first time. The dialogue breaks down to: “LookSimba Jeniah, everything the light touches is our kingdom.” “What about that shadowy place?” “You must never go there, Simba Jeniah.”
PLOT/SOLUTION:
The plot was exciting and mysterious, and I feel could easily be reread.
OTHER ASPECTS:
+
Black princess leading lady ftw. But I’m taking a half that star right back off for the questionable handling of Aon’s family problem.
THE VERDICT?
I don’t often buy young adult fiction, but when I do they kick ass.
A princess is rushed into preparing to take the throne when her mother falls deathly ill. But one lesson distracts her to the point of obsession: a warning to never enter the black scar on their kingdom, known as Dreadwillow Carse. But there are more mysteries to uncover than she realizes, and when a clever solution to her problem brings her to the one person able to enter the Carse without its curse driving her back, these mysteries start piling upon them both in their desperate bid to solve them all before the queen’s death.
Princess Jeniah and Aon are a fairly nice pair of heroines together, but their stories are much better solo. Jeniah is working to uncover the secrets of the Monarchy so she can be the queen her people need, and has some difficult choices to make by the end. And Aon is living right in the middle of the majority of those secrets and is so accustomed to them that she doesn’t realize that everything she knows them to be is a dangerous lie. She has to travel into the Carse as the princess’s agent and uncovers things about hers family and about her kingdom that forces her to face some difficult choices of her own. It was an engaging plot and the struggles both girls had to deal with were thought-provoking.
My only gripe (as I must have one) is how Aon’s family problem is presented. At first I was amazed and thrilled; I had to put the book down and marvel at it. It was so tastefully done and added so much to Aon’s character and history. But a bit later we get an explanation for the problem that was unnecessary and more than a little insulting to those who have this problem in real life .
CHARACTERS:
The characters were interesting and handled their problems in understandable, human ways.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
I loved all three settings (the castle, the village, and the Carse), but I would like to say that I always get a giggle over the scene where the Queen shows Princess Jeniah the entire kingdom for the first time. The dialogue breaks down to: “Look
PLOT/SOLUTION:
The plot was exciting and mysterious, and I feel could easily be reread.
OTHER ASPECTS:
+Black princess leading lady ftw. But I’m taking a half that star right back off for the questionable handling of Aon’s family problem.
THE VERDICT?
I don’t often buy young adult fiction, but when I do they kick ass.
May 22, 2018
Oh, my gosh, what an awesome, incredible, brilliant book. After Laila and I read it the first time, we went back and read it again - we loved it that much. Page after page, this story kept us turning. There wasn't a single night that I read to her where we didn't wish for more time to read this book. It's beautifully well written and thought out. It's a strong story, with lots of little twists and turns.
Not once did we have to stop, not once did we have to slow down, and not once did we want to.
Out of the all the books I read to Laila this year, this one was by far our favorite, so much so, she begged me to buy her copy when it releases so she can share with her friends.
I intend to hunt down more books by Brian Farrey, so that Laila and I are guaranteed more great adventures before bed.
Not once did we have to stop, not once did we have to slow down, and not once did we want to.
Out of the all the books I read to Laila this year, this one was by far our favorite, so much so, she begged me to buy her copy when it releases so she can share with her friends.
I intend to hunt down more books by Brian Farrey, so that Laila and I are guaranteed more great adventures before bed.
December 16, 2015
The Secret of Dreadwilow Carse is the story of two girls living in Emberfell, Princess Jeniah and Aon. The 12 year old Princess' mother is dying and Jeniah must quickly learn to be queen. Her mother warns her that she must never enter Dreadwillow Carse, the dark forest in the center of the Monarchy or the Monarchy itself will fail. Emberfell is filled with people who only know how to feel happiness, with the exception of Aon. She feels a full range of emotions and believes she is "Broken."
Both girls know there is something in the carse that they must see. Aon has entered the Carse, but the dreadwillow trees keep her from going in very deep. The Princess realizes she can send Aon, who she meets by chance, into the Carse to find out what it holds.
What unfolds is a mysterious adventure to learn of what the Carse holds and for the Princess to prepare for Queendom. The friendship the girls form revolves around the shared ability to feel while everyone around them cannot.
I really enjoyed this story. It reminds me somewhat of the Spiderwick Chronicles. There is a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, a friendship and the question of how to best serve your fellow man. A great book for an later Elementary or Middle School reader.
Full Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for this honest review.
Both girls know there is something in the carse that they must see. Aon has entered the Carse, but the dreadwillow trees keep her from going in very deep. The Princess realizes she can send Aon, who she meets by chance, into the Carse to find out what it holds.
What unfolds is a mysterious adventure to learn of what the Carse holds and for the Princess to prepare for Queendom. The friendship the girls form revolves around the shared ability to feel while everyone around them cannot.
I really enjoyed this story. It reminds me somewhat of the Spiderwick Chronicles. There is a bit of magic, a bit of mystery, a friendship and the question of how to best serve your fellow man. A great book for an later Elementary or Middle School reader.
Full Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for this honest review.
September 5, 2016
Readers may have to look up the word "carse" (I did), but will have no trouble getting immediately absorbed into this tale of a princess forced into ruling the kingdom before her time, (but warned by her mother that no monarch can ever enter Dreadwillow Carse, or the kingdom will fall) and of a kingdom that is living the dream: everything is perfect! No one goes hungry; everyone is happy. If tragedy befalls you, life goes on and you don't worry about it too much. Aon, a village girl who lives with her father after the disappearance of her mother, knows that there must be something wrong with her, because she does feel sorrow and sadness. The only place she can go to express it is the creepy Dreadwillow Carse, a depressing bog that everyone else stays out of. And it is her help that the Princess Jeniah, who questions everything, will soon need. A good middle grade adventure fantasy by the author of the exciting Vengekeep books.
March 27, 2017
Rating: 4/5
"Questions are the lamplight that lead us from the darkness. And you know what lamplight really is, yes? Fire. You should tread carefully your highness."
~Skonas (The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse)
What is a young girl to do when her beloved mother, the queen of an entire kingdom, suddenly falls ill, leaving the girl with no other choice but to take up the throne much earlier than expected? This sudden horror has just become Jeniah's reality. She's a headstrong individual with a curiosity like no other and a desire to do her kingdom justice, a kingdom that has known nothing but prosperity for centuries upon centuries. However, she thought she had years to learn about becoming an efficient ruler before officially taking the throne, but this luxury is suddenly taken away from her as she is left with no other option. As time is quickly running out for her to understand how to fairly rule just as the current cherished queen does, the overbearing remembrance of her sickly mother is constantly hanging in the back of her mind. As a result, the fact that she is told the entire Monarchy will fall before her very eyes if she ever steps foot in the forbidden Dreadwillow Carse isn't exactly making the situation any better. Put a mystery in front of Jeniah, and she won't let the subject go until she figures it all out.
Aon is just a village girl living under the kingdom's rule . . . but she's not like the other villagers. No, Aon's got a secret of her very own that alienates her, even from her own family. Nobody else in the entire kingdom, save for the royalty, knows what sadness is or can even fathom the concept, let alone define it. Yet, Aon's the exception. This makes her drawn to the Carse (the one place in the entire kingdom that every other villager refuses to step foot in) where she is strangely comforted.
By a twist of fate, Jeniah's and Aon's lives intertwine, leading them both on a journey they never could have imagined! In return for a personal request to Jeniah, Aon agrees to figure out what goes on inside the enigmatic Carse for the princess, as no one else will dare go near the bog of unnatural darkness in a world that only knows light. However, something goes terribly wrong, and Jeniah is forced to put her entire kingdom at stake for one subject!
____________________________
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse will take you on a journey that not many fantasy Middle Grade novels have ever gone on before, challenging the reader to face hard-hitting questions while going on a creepy, topsy-turvy ride into a kingdom that never could have been imagined except by Brian Farrey! My favorite MG novels have always been in either the fantasy or contemporary genres, my ultimate favorites being The Thing About Jellyfish (contemporary) and The Thickety (fantasy). The fact that this book even rivaled my deep love of The Thickety by J. A. White, which is ridiculously hard to do, shocked me to my genuine, bookish core. I honestly had no idea how much I would come to deeply love and appreciate this delightfully spooky novel!
Farrey painted an eerie picture of a happy little kingdom that made me question just how far a conscience mind was willing to go in order to stay in a complete trance of bliss. For example, if a local villager was to die, he or she would immediately be forgotten by those around them, their house abandoned, and their children taken in by an adoptive family, as if there was never a loss to begin with. And the worst part was that the villagers had no idea that they were actually doing this. They knew no other way or emotions to conjure in these traditionally sorrowful times. Aon was the only one who noticed how messed up life truly was, but voicing her observations would have made no difference to the contented people who surrounded her every waking moment. I'm sure that everyone can easily agree that, hypothetically speaking, being in a constant jovial state without any stress or sorrow would be a blessing, but this book almost made it seem like an unwanted curse!
The two great female leads were much appreciated, as they were able to represent different struggles and opportunities throughout the book, as well as showcase that girls can have just as awesome of adventures as boys ever could and be equally brilliant and strong! (Haha Happenstance (the Books of Umber), Conn (the Magic Thief series), Beck (the Pillage series), and the Time Warp Trio dudes!!!! Guess not all books are dominated by males! Those are all really good books, though, guys. Check them out. Seriously. They're awesome, and that last part was not sarcasm!) For example, Aon communicated that being different had its own strengths, even though being different made her an outsider. If she hadn't been an outsider who had no qualms about going into the Carse, Jeniah would have never been able to investigate the Carse through a secondary party.
I also loved how Farrey demonstrated that being able to feel sadness wasn't something to be ashamed of. Instead, he tried to make the audience understand that it was normal and something that one shouldn't have to hide, which is a great message for the book's directed age range. In fact, the author tried to express the positive side to being unhappy or melancholic (if you can imagine that!). He conveyed that it is important to grieve and remember those who we have lost, and while recalling past loved ones may be painful, it can also bring about closure, fonder memories, hidden strength, and creative outlets.
Two other fabulous and thoroughly explored themes that I adored in The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse were curiosity and decision making.
Answers are the pyre that banishes darkness altogether.
~Skonas (The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse)
Despite the fact that Jeniah was constantly told to not question specific subjects (particularly the Carse) she couldn't help herself. However, she later discovered that some questions may be hard to answer and/or even fathom. Perhaps you may even wish that you never found out the truth to begin with, yet without truth, life would be a lie. I absolutely loved how this concept was explored and laid out. The story couldn't have unfolded in a better way, with a creepy, slightly unsettling atmosphere that only deepened as the book came to a finish, which makes The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse enjoyable for all ages. I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a unique MG experience with a surprisingly ominous atmosphere, an addictive mystery, a kick-butt female relationship, and amazing themes. Look no further! This is the perfect fit for you!
Please note that I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Algonquin Young Readers) in exchange for an honest review. However, this in no way influenced my review.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
"Questions are the lamplight that lead us from the darkness. And you know what lamplight really is, yes? Fire. You should tread carefully your highness."
~Skonas (The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse)
What is a young girl to do when her beloved mother, the queen of an entire kingdom, suddenly falls ill, leaving the girl with no other choice but to take up the throne much earlier than expected? This sudden horror has just become Jeniah's reality. She's a headstrong individual with a curiosity like no other and a desire to do her kingdom justice, a kingdom that has known nothing but prosperity for centuries upon centuries. However, she thought she had years to learn about becoming an efficient ruler before officially taking the throne, but this luxury is suddenly taken away from her as she is left with no other option. As time is quickly running out for her to understand how to fairly rule just as the current cherished queen does, the overbearing remembrance of her sickly mother is constantly hanging in the back of her mind. As a result, the fact that she is told the entire Monarchy will fall before her very eyes if she ever steps foot in the forbidden Dreadwillow Carse isn't exactly making the situation any better. Put a mystery in front of Jeniah, and she won't let the subject go until she figures it all out.
Aon is just a village girl living under the kingdom's rule . . . but she's not like the other villagers. No, Aon's got a secret of her very own that alienates her, even from her own family. Nobody else in the entire kingdom, save for the royalty, knows what sadness is or can even fathom the concept, let alone define it. Yet, Aon's the exception. This makes her drawn to the Carse (the one place in the entire kingdom that every other villager refuses to step foot in) where she is strangely comforted.
By a twist of fate, Jeniah's and Aon's lives intertwine, leading them both on a journey they never could have imagined! In return for a personal request to Jeniah, Aon agrees to figure out what goes on inside the enigmatic Carse for the princess, as no one else will dare go near the bog of unnatural darkness in a world that only knows light. However, something goes terribly wrong, and Jeniah is forced to put her entire kingdom at stake for one subject!
____________________________
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse will take you on a journey that not many fantasy Middle Grade novels have ever gone on before, challenging the reader to face hard-hitting questions while going on a creepy, topsy-turvy ride into a kingdom that never could have been imagined except by Brian Farrey! My favorite MG novels have always been in either the fantasy or contemporary genres, my ultimate favorites being The Thing About Jellyfish (contemporary) and The Thickety (fantasy). The fact that this book even rivaled my deep love of The Thickety by J. A. White, which is ridiculously hard to do, shocked me to my genuine, bookish core. I honestly had no idea how much I would come to deeply love and appreciate this delightfully spooky novel!
Farrey painted an eerie picture of a happy little kingdom that made me question just how far a conscience mind was willing to go in order to stay in a complete trance of bliss. For example, if a local villager was to die, he or she would immediately be forgotten by those around them, their house abandoned, and their children taken in by an adoptive family, as if there was never a loss to begin with. And the worst part was that the villagers had no idea that they were actually doing this. They knew no other way or emotions to conjure in these traditionally sorrowful times. Aon was the only one who noticed how messed up life truly was, but voicing her observations would have made no difference to the contented people who surrounded her every waking moment. I'm sure that everyone can easily agree that, hypothetically speaking, being in a constant jovial state without any stress or sorrow would be a blessing, but this book almost made it seem like an unwanted curse!
The two great female leads were much appreciated, as they were able to represent different struggles and opportunities throughout the book, as well as showcase that girls can have just as awesome of adventures as boys ever could and be equally brilliant and strong! (Haha Happenstance (the Books of Umber), Conn (the Magic Thief series), Beck (the Pillage series), and the Time Warp Trio dudes!!!! Guess not all books are dominated by males! Those are all really good books, though, guys. Check them out. Seriously. They're awesome, and that last part was not sarcasm!) For example, Aon communicated that being different had its own strengths, even though being different made her an outsider. If she hadn't been an outsider who had no qualms about going into the Carse, Jeniah would have never been able to investigate the Carse through a secondary party.
I also loved how Farrey demonstrated that being able to feel sadness wasn't something to be ashamed of. Instead, he tried to make the audience understand that it was normal and something that one shouldn't have to hide, which is a great message for the book's directed age range. In fact, the author tried to express the positive side to being unhappy or melancholic (if you can imagine that!). He conveyed that it is important to grieve and remember those who we have lost, and while recalling past loved ones may be painful, it can also bring about closure, fonder memories, hidden strength, and creative outlets.
Two other fabulous and thoroughly explored themes that I adored in The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse were curiosity and decision making.
Answers are the pyre that banishes darkness altogether.
~Skonas (The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse)
Despite the fact that Jeniah was constantly told to not question specific subjects (particularly the Carse) she couldn't help herself. However, she later discovered that some questions may be hard to answer and/or even fathom. Perhaps you may even wish that you never found out the truth to begin with, yet without truth, life would be a lie. I absolutely loved how this concept was explored and laid out. The story couldn't have unfolded in a better way, with a creepy, slightly unsettling atmosphere that only deepened as the book came to a finish, which makes The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse enjoyable for all ages. I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a unique MG experience with a surprisingly ominous atmosphere, an addictive mystery, a kick-butt female relationship, and amazing themes. Look no further! This is the perfect fit for you!
Please note that I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Algonquin Young Readers) in exchange for an honest review. However, this in no way influenced my review.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/.
December 29, 2017
What is the secret of Dreadwillow Carse worries Jeniah, the future queen of the Monarch? Her mother always warns her to never venture inside the Dreadwillow Carse, an ominous dreaded dark patch of woods, strangely situated in the midst of a thriving forest. Janiah lives in Emberfell, the Monarchy she will one day rule, populated by people who are always happy with not a trouble in the world. Jeniah believes she is the only one who doesn't share their carefree lifestyle, until she meets and befriends a girl from the village named Aon, who also experiences deep periods of sorrow. They both share an overwhelming curiosity about the mystery of Dreadwillow Carse. Their quest to discover the secret within the foreboding Dreadwillow Carse is skillfully told. Mesmerizing until the very end, this captivating tale of bravery and courage empowers the reader, reaffirming the universal need to always ask questions and seek your own answers. A powerful unforgettable fairy tale.
April 7, 2017
I'll keep this brief, because there's not much to say beyond that, for a comparatively slim middle grade fantasy novel, this one packs a punch.
Refreshingly, it is not a Harry Potter retread, and it never strays from its central, albeit slightly obvious, conceit: it is a profound and moving meditation on depression.
A worthwhile read, and one that will be quite valuable to many silently suffering children.
Refreshingly, it is not a Harry Potter retread, and it never strays from its central, albeit slightly obvious, conceit: it is a profound and moving meditation on depression.
A worthwhile read, and one that will be quite valuable to many silently suffering children.
May 31, 2017
The book was really mysterious. I recommend it to fairy tale lovers. The ending was really happy
Happily ever after for everyone, the end.
It's a really good book, quick read, and really interesting.
And ja, thats it
Happy Reading kids!
Happily ever after for everyone, the end.
It's a really good book, quick read, and really interesting.
And ja, thats it
Happy Reading kids!
July 1, 2019
Jeniah, the future queen and Aon, a peasant girl are able to feel sadness and grief in a society where everyone is always happy. But why? Could Dreadwillow Carse hold the answers? Aon has always felt an attraction to the Carse and Jeniah has been warned to stay away because of the danger it poses to her kingdom. Will either girl be able to stay away?
April 19, 2016
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
While perusing my Goodreads shelf for this year, I realized I have read quite a few younger-aged aimed books this year - and that I have been enjoying it immensely. These books aren't just fun to read, they are also extremely well-crafted stories that handle a variety of difficult topics in a way that younger audiences can understand. The most interesting aspect in each of these books, however, is that they seem to have messages for all ages and can be easily enjoyed by adults as well as younger kids.
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is an exciting fairytale that unfolds itself in a variety of delightful layers as the story progresses. It covers a variety of heavy topics in imaginative ways with such a deft hand that I am simply in awe of Farrey. The story focuses on Aon, a girl living in the town of Emberfell, and Jeniah, the princess of the land who is soon to become queen as her mother passes on.
Everyone in Emberfell is happy. If someone dies or goes away, that person is basically forgotten about so as not to have any sadness regarding their loss. Sad things do not happen and there is no crying because everything is happy. This sounds like it could possibly be a good thing, but it also sounds, quite frankly, creepy. Aon, however, does feel sadness, which thus makes her feel like an outcast and that something within her is 'broken.' I assume the author intended to use this as a metaphor for depression, but even if he didn't, I think it works itself into the storyline extremely well. While awareness for depression is increasing in the media, it is still somewhat of a taboo in certain families and culture, which makes those that do experience such negative feelings feel like there is something wrong with them. I felt that Aon's struggle with feeling differently than the rest of her town shed an interesting light on how experiencing different moods or emotions than what others think of as 'normal' can really make you feel alienated. I think this book does a good job showing that feeling differently from others is not wrong, but is instead normal and it is important to talk to others about these topics.
Jeniah, on the other hand, is largely separated from the town (until she goes to explore the Carse and meets Aon) and struggles to come to terms with her impending status as queen. Jeniah does not feel that she is mature enough to yet be queen - which I actually find to be quite mature of her - and she struggles to come to terms with how to be responsible for an entire kingdom, as well deal with her newly appointed tutor that does nothing but frustrate her. Throughout the course of the story, Farrey subtly and expertly crafts Jeniah's character from an insecure and unaware girl into a more self-aware and knowledgeable young woman.
Farrey's writing style is very accessible and a joy to read. It is not written in an overly simplistic manner, nor is it too advanced. His words flow smoothly, and there are moments of true beauty within his writing.
I feel as though every kid - or adult - should read this at some point because of the important topics it covers and for its reminders that it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be inexperienced, and it's okay to not always have the answers.
As a result, I am giving The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse five stars!
While perusing my Goodreads shelf for this year, I realized I have read quite a few younger-aged aimed books this year - and that I have been enjoying it immensely. These books aren't just fun to read, they are also extremely well-crafted stories that handle a variety of difficult topics in a way that younger audiences can understand. The most interesting aspect in each of these books, however, is that they seem to have messages for all ages and can be easily enjoyed by adults as well as younger kids.
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is an exciting fairytale that unfolds itself in a variety of delightful layers as the story progresses. It covers a variety of heavy topics in imaginative ways with such a deft hand that I am simply in awe of Farrey. The story focuses on Aon, a girl living in the town of Emberfell, and Jeniah, the princess of the land who is soon to become queen as her mother passes on.
Everyone in Emberfell is happy. If someone dies or goes away, that person is basically forgotten about so as not to have any sadness regarding their loss. Sad things do not happen and there is no crying because everything is happy. This sounds like it could possibly be a good thing, but it also sounds, quite frankly, creepy. Aon, however, does feel sadness, which thus makes her feel like an outcast and that something within her is 'broken.' I assume the author intended to use this as a metaphor for depression, but even if he didn't, I think it works itself into the storyline extremely well. While awareness for depression is increasing in the media, it is still somewhat of a taboo in certain families and culture, which makes those that do experience such negative feelings feel like there is something wrong with them. I felt that Aon's struggle with feeling differently than the rest of her town shed an interesting light on how experiencing different moods or emotions than what others think of as 'normal' can really make you feel alienated. I think this book does a good job showing that feeling differently from others is not wrong, but is instead normal and it is important to talk to others about these topics.
Jeniah, on the other hand, is largely separated from the town (until she goes to explore the Carse and meets Aon) and struggles to come to terms with her impending status as queen. Jeniah does not feel that she is mature enough to yet be queen - which I actually find to be quite mature of her - and she struggles to come to terms with how to be responsible for an entire kingdom, as well deal with her newly appointed tutor that does nothing but frustrate her. Throughout the course of the story, Farrey subtly and expertly crafts Jeniah's character from an insecure and unaware girl into a more self-aware and knowledgeable young woman.
Farrey's writing style is very accessible and a joy to read. It is not written in an overly simplistic manner, nor is it too advanced. His words flow smoothly, and there are moments of true beauty within his writing.
I feel as though every kid - or adult - should read this at some point because of the important topics it covers and for its reminders that it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be inexperienced, and it's okay to not always have the answers.
As a result, I am giving The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse five stars!
February 21, 2016
"It has been a land of peace and prosperity for a thousand years. Your first duty as queen is, and always will be, to protect that."
Queen Sula - wants all her subjects to be happy ... and so they are. Her subjects don't even know what nightmares are. But Queen Sula is desperately ill and it seems her daughter, Jeniah, will soon be taking control of the kingdom. The only thing her mother will tell her about being the Queen is that "If any Monarchy enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall." Jeniah is full of questions and wants to be a good queen, so her mother supplies her with a tutor to help complete her education. His name is Skonas and infuriates Jeniah to no end. He never really answers any of her questions or tells her anything. Instead, he tells her that "You are your own best teacher."
Aon Greenlaw of Emberfell, who lives near Dreadwillow Carse, isn't like any of the other vilagers. After all, everyone else is blissfully happy all the time. Yet Aon "hid a sorrow that no one in Emberfell would understand." Things only become worse for Aon when her father is chosen by the Crimson Hoods. They are envoys of the queen and it is an honor to be selected "performed duties vital to the continued prosperity of all in the land." It does mean, however, that she will never see her father again.
Both girls face unanswered questions in their lives... For Aon, it is questions about her mother who left when she was very young. For Jeniah, it is questions about magic and Dreadwillow Carse. "Following a rule just because it had always been followed felt strange. She liked to understand rules. She needed to." When Jeniah and Aon strike a deal to help each other with their struggles, it sends the two on a course that could change the monarchy forever. "Funny how truth changes, depending on who says it."
Can there be love without sorrow? Can there be happiness without pain? Should the peace and prosperity of 1000s be more important than the suffering of a few? "Could you risk the safety of the Monarchy to save one person?" A fantasy, reminiscent of The Giver, poses these questions and others to its readers. Two strong female characters and several interesting plot twists highlight this book.
Queen Sula - wants all her subjects to be happy ... and so they are. Her subjects don't even know what nightmares are. But Queen Sula is desperately ill and it seems her daughter, Jeniah, will soon be taking control of the kingdom. The only thing her mother will tell her about being the Queen is that "If any Monarchy enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall." Jeniah is full of questions and wants to be a good queen, so her mother supplies her with a tutor to help complete her education. His name is Skonas and infuriates Jeniah to no end. He never really answers any of her questions or tells her anything. Instead, he tells her that "You are your own best teacher."
Aon Greenlaw of Emberfell, who lives near Dreadwillow Carse, isn't like any of the other vilagers. After all, everyone else is blissfully happy all the time. Yet Aon "hid a sorrow that no one in Emberfell would understand." Things only become worse for Aon when her father is chosen by the Crimson Hoods. They are envoys of the queen and it is an honor to be selected "performed duties vital to the continued prosperity of all in the land." It does mean, however, that she will never see her father again.
Both girls face unanswered questions in their lives... For Aon, it is questions about her mother who left when she was very young. For Jeniah, it is questions about magic and Dreadwillow Carse. "Following a rule just because it had always been followed felt strange. She liked to understand rules. She needed to." When Jeniah and Aon strike a deal to help each other with their struggles, it sends the two on a course that could change the monarchy forever. "Funny how truth changes, depending on who says it."
Can there be love without sorrow? Can there be happiness without pain? Should the peace and prosperity of 1000s be more important than the suffering of a few? "Could you risk the safety of the Monarchy to save one person?" A fantasy, reminiscent of The Giver, poses these questions and others to its readers. Two strong female characters and several interesting plot twists highlight this book.
April 29, 2016
This review is also posted on kidsreads.com!
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Brian Farrey's THE SECRET OF DREADWILLOW CARSE is a short-but-sweet fantasy tale for middle-grade readers that would be a perfect jumping-off point for young readers in this genre. This novel tells the story of a 12-year-old princess named Jeniah whose mother, the queen, has fallen ill. Jeniah is told that she must never enter the mysterious place called Dreadwillow Carse --- if she does, the monarchy will fall. Meanwhile, in the town of Emberfell, where everyone is ceaselessly happy, a young girl named Aon is the only one who seems to feel sorrow --- and the only one who feels a strange connection to the Carse. The two girls meet by chance and form a strong friendship so that together they can discover the Carse's dark secret and save the kingdom.
Farrey's novel seems to me like an homage to Ursula K. Le Guin's famous short story "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas," and, if so, it is a strong and worthy tribute. The story is quickly paced and exciting with lots of twists and turns; I was able to breeze through it in a single sitting, eager to learn what happened next. As the two girls learned more about the Carse I occasionally found myself a bit lost and re-reading passages, or thinking that the happiness vs. sadness theme was too heavy-handed. Once I reached the end, however, all of my questions and concerns were satisfyingly resolved. The overall tone of the story is fairly dark as Jeniah and Aon suffer many losses and hardships, but their strong bond provided an uplifting and hopeful contrast.
The friendship that built between the two main characters was my favorite aspect of this novel --- I always appreciate and root for girls teaming up and being the heroes of their stories. I also applaud the author for creating complex and diverse characters who take leading roles; middle-grade and young adult literature always needs more characters like these. Farrey's ability to create a simple but immersive fantasy world populated with interesting characters, secrets, and a touch of magic makes THE SECRET OF DREADWILLOW CARSE an excellent fantasy story for young readers who are already fans of or new to this genre.
---
Brian Farrey's THE SECRET OF DREADWILLOW CARSE is a short-but-sweet fantasy tale for middle-grade readers that would be a perfect jumping-off point for young readers in this genre. This novel tells the story of a 12-year-old princess named Jeniah whose mother, the queen, has fallen ill. Jeniah is told that she must never enter the mysterious place called Dreadwillow Carse --- if she does, the monarchy will fall. Meanwhile, in the town of Emberfell, where everyone is ceaselessly happy, a young girl named Aon is the only one who seems to feel sorrow --- and the only one who feels a strange connection to the Carse. The two girls meet by chance and form a strong friendship so that together they can discover the Carse's dark secret and save the kingdom.
Farrey's novel seems to me like an homage to Ursula K. Le Guin's famous short story "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas," and, if so, it is a strong and worthy tribute. The story is quickly paced and exciting with lots of twists and turns; I was able to breeze through it in a single sitting, eager to learn what happened next. As the two girls learned more about the Carse I occasionally found myself a bit lost and re-reading passages, or thinking that the happiness vs. sadness theme was too heavy-handed. Once I reached the end, however, all of my questions and concerns were satisfyingly resolved. The overall tone of the story is fairly dark as Jeniah and Aon suffer many losses and hardships, but their strong bond provided an uplifting and hopeful contrast.
The friendship that built between the two main characters was my favorite aspect of this novel --- I always appreciate and root for girls teaming up and being the heroes of their stories. I also applaud the author for creating complex and diverse characters who take leading roles; middle-grade and young adult literature always needs more characters like these. Farrey's ability to create a simple but immersive fantasy world populated with interesting characters, secrets, and a touch of magic makes THE SECRET OF DREADWILLOW CARSE an excellent fantasy story for young readers who are already fans of or new to this genre.
April 5, 2016
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is the story of two girls living in Emberfell, Princess Jeniah and Aon. The 12 year old Princess' mother is dying and Jeniah must quickly learn to be queen. Her mother warns her that she must never enter Dreadwillow Carse, the dark forest in the center of the Monarchy or the Monarchy itself will fail. Emberfell is filled with people who only know how to feel happiness, with the exception of Aon. She feels a full range of emotions and believes she is "Broken." Aon, is now an orphan. Her mother disappeared when she was small and her father was taken by the crimson hoods. When Jeniah tells Aon that the crimson hoods do not work for her mother she is more determined to find out the secret of Dreadwillow Carse. Aon enters the Carse and pretends to be Jeniah. She stays longer every time she goes in, until one day, she does not come out. Laius goes and gets Jeniah as he has been instructed. Can Jeniah save Aon? What is the secret of Dreadwillow Carse? Will the monarchy fall if Jeniah goes in after Aon?
The story is a mysterious adventure to learn of what the Carse holds as well as a time for Princess Jeniah to prepare to be Queen. The friendship the girls form revolves around the shared ability to feel emotions, specifically pain and sadness, while everyone around them cannot.
I really enjoyed this story. There is fantasy, mystery, and magic. How friendship survives all and helps to solve the problem of the carse is a learning tool. A great book for an later Elementary or Middle School reader.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is a mysterious adventure to learn of what the Carse holds as well as a time for Princess Jeniah to prepare to be Queen. The friendship the girls form revolves around the shared ability to feel emotions, specifically pain and sadness, while everyone around them cannot.
I really enjoyed this story. There is fantasy, mystery, and magic. How friendship survives all and helps to solve the problem of the carse is a learning tool. A great book for an later Elementary or Middle School reader.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2022
"The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse" by Minnesota author, Brian Farray, is the most recent selection for the St. Paul Library's "One Book, One Minnesota" program. I chose it for that reason.
This tale takes place in Emberfell, in a kingdom in which the residents live in a perpetual state of happiness. As the story begins, 12 year old Princess Jeniah is named the Queen Ascendant in anticipation of her mother's death. In preparation for becoming queen, Jeniah is tutored by the mysterious Skonas, who seems to provide her with more questions than answers. Meanwhile, in the village, 12 year old Aon is left alone when her father is taken away by the mysterious Crimson Hoods on the occasion of the quarterly gloamingtide celebration. The two protagonists come together when Princess Jeniah questions the warning that no monarch enter the ominous Dreadwillow Carse, lest the monarchy fall, and she enlists Aon to help her solve the mystery of the Carse. In the process, the two become fast friends and face many difficult and far-reaching decisions.
Takeaways:
1. First and foremost, this is marketed as a book for 9-13 year olds. Yes, the protagonists are 12 year olds. However, I think this would be a tough read for most 9-13 year olds. Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of authors who believe in, and challenge, their readers, who don't dumb things down - Kate DiCamillo, for example. But this one pushes it a bit. As an adult, I had to really pay attention and think deeply in order to understand what the meanings and messages were here. Farrey's use of language is very sophisticated with lots and lots of words not found in the vocabulary of most kids this age. And the thematic material is deep and dark, very "esoteric." I'm not sure that most 9-13 year olds have had enough life experience to fully understand the deeper meanings found in "The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse."
2. I enjoyed the two protagonists - and the switching of point-of-view between the two. Both are faced with some pretty heavy life experiences, predicaments, and decisions for 9-13 year olds. They are interesting and multi-layered individuals, and Farrey develops them in such a way that we are invested in them and wish the best for them. I also enjoyed the fact that diverse characters populate the pages of this tale.
3. Farrey uses beautiful language - filled with meaningful metaphors, vibrant imagery, effective alliteration. However, the use of challenging vocabulary throughout the novel might make this novel less accessible to some 9-13 year old readers. Take, for example, on page 18: "The comfort she found in the strange music failed her. Now the music sounded shrill and discordant. She turned and hurried back out of the swamp." "Shrill" and "discordant" would be words most 9-13 year olds would need to look up - which I would hope they would - but words like this are frequently used. Reading a few paragraphs ahead, one finds words like "exhalation," "wended," and "chided." On page 25, though a lovely use of alliteration, "...it was very strange for Jeniah to suddenly find her brain exploding with queries and quandaries and the notion that there were things to know that weren't just going to be imparted to her, as had been her experience," "queries" and "quandaries" are not words that fall from the lips of 9-13 year olds.
4. Skonas teaches Princess Jeniah many significant lessons. Themes of curiosity, kindness, time, questions and answers, emotion, loss, friendship, considering the needs of many over the needs of a few, truth, power, failure and mistakes, magic, how to affect positive change, grief, sorrow, sadness are pretty heady for the intended audience.
The central ideas seem to be these: p. 233 -"'People are supposed to feel sad. They're supposed to get angry. Being happy all the time...It isn't real...You have to know fear to be brave...'" and p. 240 "'I need to question everything.'"
Though this was published in 2016, I loved the little nods to current (2022) events and issues, though I'm not sure how these things figure into the consciousness of a 12 year old:
- sexuality and class - p. 112 - "The next petitioner - a tall stick of a man with droopy shoulders - went on one knee before the throne. 'Your majesty,' he said, 'I am but a humble exchequer for the village of Bellshire. I am in love with the town's apothecary, but I worry I am not worthy of his affections. Do I dare tell him how I feel? Or should I seek a mate within my station?' Queen Sula did not take a moment to consider. 'The mate yo seek should be the one who fills your heart...Let no station in life create a barrier that dulls the joyful pleas of your deepest desires.'"
- truth - p. 47 - "The same is true of lies. Say a lie over and over, and people will start to think it's true." - p. 88 - "Everything I've said is the truth. Somebody's truth. Funny how truth changes, depending on who says it."
- democracy - p. 118 - "...she had learned it was important to consider the needs of the multitudes over the needs of a handful. That would no doubt guide her in future petitions." On the other hand, p. 220 - "'...happiness achieved at the expense of others is its own special brand of poison.'"
- power - p. 162 - "'Being queen is less about wielding power and more about knowing how to wield power...I'll tell you one more thing you should probably know: I can't tell you how to wield power. Oh, sure, you could look back on how all of those before you governed and learn from their mistakes. But you'll always encounter problems your ancestors never dreamt about. And then what good will that ancient wisdom get you? In the end, you're better off drawing on what you know and making up your own mind.' 'I can't tell you how to be queen. I can only tell you how I was queen.' Her mother's words came back to Jeniah."
* The idea that there are significant, defining moments in all of our lives that impact not only us but those around us has come up a lot lately in several books I have read, and in the discussions of those books ("Saint X" by Alexis Schaitkin, for example). This theme is also significant to "The Secret of Dreadwillow Curse." For example, on page 190, "The Mother-shade turned and walked to a nearby dreadwillow, 'The pieces people leave behind relive important events. Events that changed the person forever. For me, that was right in this spot. With this tree." Again, I am not sure that most 9-13 year olds have enough life experience to truly understand the meaning and significance of this theme and many of the other themes found in the book.
There are many powerful lessons found in this fable, beautiful language abounds, and interesting characters populate the pages of this tale. I question the intended audience, however. It will be interesting to hear Farrey talk about the book, to see who participates in the discussion of the book, and to listen to the responses of others to "The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse."
This tale takes place in Emberfell, in a kingdom in which the residents live in a perpetual state of happiness. As the story begins, 12 year old Princess Jeniah is named the Queen Ascendant in anticipation of her mother's death. In preparation for becoming queen, Jeniah is tutored by the mysterious Skonas, who seems to provide her with more questions than answers. Meanwhile, in the village, 12 year old Aon is left alone when her father is taken away by the mysterious Crimson Hoods on the occasion of the quarterly gloamingtide celebration. The two protagonists come together when Princess Jeniah questions the warning that no monarch enter the ominous Dreadwillow Carse, lest the monarchy fall, and she enlists Aon to help her solve the mystery of the Carse. In the process, the two become fast friends and face many difficult and far-reaching decisions.
Takeaways:
1. First and foremost, this is marketed as a book for 9-13 year olds. Yes, the protagonists are 12 year olds. However, I think this would be a tough read for most 9-13 year olds. Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of authors who believe in, and challenge, their readers, who don't dumb things down - Kate DiCamillo, for example. But this one pushes it a bit. As an adult, I had to really pay attention and think deeply in order to understand what the meanings and messages were here. Farrey's use of language is very sophisticated with lots and lots of words not found in the vocabulary of most kids this age. And the thematic material is deep and dark, very "esoteric." I'm not sure that most 9-13 year olds have had enough life experience to fully understand the deeper meanings found in "The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse."
2. I enjoyed the two protagonists - and the switching of point-of-view between the two. Both are faced with some pretty heavy life experiences, predicaments, and decisions for 9-13 year olds. They are interesting and multi-layered individuals, and Farrey develops them in such a way that we are invested in them and wish the best for them. I also enjoyed the fact that diverse characters populate the pages of this tale.
3. Farrey uses beautiful language - filled with meaningful metaphors, vibrant imagery, effective alliteration. However, the use of challenging vocabulary throughout the novel might make this novel less accessible to some 9-13 year old readers. Take, for example, on page 18: "The comfort she found in the strange music failed her. Now the music sounded shrill and discordant. She turned and hurried back out of the swamp." "Shrill" and "discordant" would be words most 9-13 year olds would need to look up - which I would hope they would - but words like this are frequently used. Reading a few paragraphs ahead, one finds words like "exhalation," "wended," and "chided." On page 25, though a lovely use of alliteration, "...it was very strange for Jeniah to suddenly find her brain exploding with queries and quandaries and the notion that there were things to know that weren't just going to be imparted to her, as had been her experience," "queries" and "quandaries" are not words that fall from the lips of 9-13 year olds.
4. Skonas teaches Princess Jeniah many significant lessons. Themes of curiosity, kindness, time, questions and answers, emotion, loss, friendship, considering the needs of many over the needs of a few, truth, power, failure and mistakes, magic, how to affect positive change, grief, sorrow, sadness are pretty heady for the intended audience.
The central ideas seem to be these: p. 233 -"'People are supposed to feel sad. They're supposed to get angry. Being happy all the time...It isn't real...You have to know fear to be brave...'" and p. 240 "'I need to question everything.'"
Though this was published in 2016, I loved the little nods to current (2022) events and issues, though I'm not sure how these things figure into the consciousness of a 12 year old:
- sexuality and class - p. 112 - "The next petitioner - a tall stick of a man with droopy shoulders - went on one knee before the throne. 'Your majesty,' he said, 'I am but a humble exchequer for the village of Bellshire. I am in love with the town's apothecary, but I worry I am not worthy of his affections. Do I dare tell him how I feel? Or should I seek a mate within my station?' Queen Sula did not take a moment to consider. 'The mate yo seek should be the one who fills your heart...Let no station in life create a barrier that dulls the joyful pleas of your deepest desires.'"
- truth - p. 47 - "The same is true of lies. Say a lie over and over, and people will start to think it's true." - p. 88 - "Everything I've said is the truth. Somebody's truth. Funny how truth changes, depending on who says it."
- democracy - p. 118 - "...she had learned it was important to consider the needs of the multitudes over the needs of a handful. That would no doubt guide her in future petitions." On the other hand, p. 220 - "'...happiness achieved at the expense of others is its own special brand of poison.'"
- power - p. 162 - "'Being queen is less about wielding power and more about knowing how to wield power...I'll tell you one more thing you should probably know: I can't tell you how to wield power. Oh, sure, you could look back on how all of those before you governed and learn from their mistakes. But you'll always encounter problems your ancestors never dreamt about. And then what good will that ancient wisdom get you? In the end, you're better off drawing on what you know and making up your own mind.' 'I can't tell you how to be queen. I can only tell you how I was queen.' Her mother's words came back to Jeniah."
* The idea that there are significant, defining moments in all of our lives that impact not only us but those around us has come up a lot lately in several books I have read, and in the discussions of those books ("Saint X" by Alexis Schaitkin, for example). This theme is also significant to "The Secret of Dreadwillow Curse." For example, on page 190, "The Mother-shade turned and walked to a nearby dreadwillow, 'The pieces people leave behind relive important events. Events that changed the person forever. For me, that was right in this spot. With this tree." Again, I am not sure that most 9-13 year olds have enough life experience to truly understand the meaning and significance of this theme and many of the other themes found in the book.
There are many powerful lessons found in this fable, beautiful language abounds, and interesting characters populate the pages of this tale. I question the intended audience, however. It will be interesting to hear Farrey talk about the book, to see who participates in the discussion of the book, and to listen to the responses of others to "The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse."
May 15, 2017
This was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a fantasy and got something much closer to horror. There is very real menace and disturbing concepts and images in the book. I'm sure many children will love the ghoulish aspects but it's not really made super clear in the book blurb. There is a central issue hinted at in the summary that is very original. Somehow, through a device we discover later, the people of the kingdom--except the royal family--feel nothing but happiness. There is no sorrow or grief or discontentment. Except for peasant girl Aon. Aon feels a pervasive sadness that she hides and feels guilty over. Somehow she feels that the answer lies in Dreadwillow Carse. The carse both draws and repels her. Princess Jeniah has a problem with the kingdom's safety that she feel somehow stems from Dreadwillow Carse but, due to an old legend, she is afraid to enter the carse herself. Aon negotiates with her to take Jeniah's place. This seems pretty simple and leads us to expect something magical with maybe some mild danger and big surprises. Instead we get life-threatening danger, gruesome images, and deep tragedy. As you can tell, I really didn't like the book, despite the good writing style and engaging story setup. I wouldn't hesitate to try another of the author's books however. This one just wasn't for me and maybe not for the youngest of elementary age readers.
June 21, 2016
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this when I started and then put it down for 2 weeks. But once I picked it up again, the mystery really held my attention. The princess is a POC and the other main character (also a girl) suffers from depression, which is treated in a really nuanced, interesting, age-and-fantasy-setting-appropriate way. It really infuses so much of what the book is about. I must have a thing for mysterious forests lately! I loved learning about the Carse and its connection to the Monarchy. It actually reminded me very much of Uprooted albeit in a MG fantasy setting. The ending felt abrupt but I really enjoyed most of the book.
September 22, 2016
A young adult novel about a princess (Janiah) whose mother is sick and it appears she will very shortly be heir to the throne. This is a land where everyone is happy but bordering their territory is a swampy area where she is told if she goes there she will bring down the monarchy. Janiah is driven to find out the "secret of the Carse". She befriends a girl named Aon to work as her as an agent but ultimately must decide whether or not to enter the depressing area herself. I think this will connect with its young readers.
December 11, 2019
Staff Pick
Heather
Nothing is what it seems in the Monarchy. The people are only ever able to feel one emotion: happy. Everyone feels this way except Aon and Princess Jeniah, the Queen Ascendant. Together the unlikely pair will set out to learn the secrets of the Dreadwillow Carse and of the Monarchy. Each has their own reasons for needing answers. Read it for yourself to learn the secrets held in the heart of the Carse.
Notes: Removed from spreadsheet 12/11/19
Heather
Nothing is what it seems in the Monarchy. The people are only ever able to feel one emotion: happy. Everyone feels this way except Aon and Princess Jeniah, the Queen Ascendant. Together the unlikely pair will set out to learn the secrets of the Dreadwillow Carse and of the Monarchy. Each has their own reasons for needing answers. Read it for yourself to learn the secrets held in the heart of the Carse.
Notes: Removed from spreadsheet 12/11/19
October 28, 2015
This is a story about sadness.
Dreadwillow Carse is exactly the sort of book I would have loved to read in the middle grades: a fairy tale featuring two wonderful female leads. Bonus points for the princess being a POC and the focus on depression without stigma.
Dreadwillow Carse is exactly the sort of book I would have loved to read in the middle grades: a fairy tale featuring two wonderful female leads. Bonus points for the princess being a POC and the focus on depression without stigma.
March 14, 2019
Fast paced and incredibly adventurous. I like that the book explores and examines emotions and whether or not it's okay to feel negative ones. Would life be better if no one felt sadness, guilt, or worry?
September 12, 2016
This one was wonderful and I'm working on a review right now!
August 19, 2017
Really enjoyable and slightly creepy
March 6, 2020
I chose this book on a whim. I needed something to listen to at work, and I didn't have much time to decide. This seemed decent and was available immediately which is typically all I care about when I choosing an audiobook on a deadline because I'm a completonist so despite how bad it might get 90% of the time I'm going to finish it anyways.
But, this book was way better than expected. It was an amazing original fantasy story with well written, genuine themes about loss, grief, and responsibility. Plus it was diverse with the princess being black and the two protagonists being female.
Princess Jeniah is about to ascend the throne at just 12 years old after her mother has become gravely ill. While she is grappling with her mother's fast-approaching death she also is desperate to figure out how best to be queen. The only thing she does know is the prophecy passed down generation to generation amongst the royal family; if any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse the monarchy will fall.
Aon is a commoner in the town of Emberfell, a town with no sadness whatsoever. All the townspeople are happy all the time - which only highlights Aon's on crippling feelings of despair. Her only reprieve is going into the Carse something no one else seems able (not to mention willing) to do.
And of course, after a chance meeting Jeniah has the brilliant idea to send Aon into the Carse. Aon accepts because she thinks the secret of her own sadness must be inside. Things, obviously, go wrong.
I loved how seriously this book took itself. From the first 'page' I was swept up in the world. A lot of books falling into the middle of the kids vs tweens category are written in a way that caters to the younger audience more than the older. I'm not entirely sure why, but it means a ton of kids books end up with lackluster or just very straightforward worldbuilding. So the style will be either simplistic plain writing or more whimsical, fanciful kind of prose. Either way there's usually less detail. But, this was the perfect balance. It felt like an adult author creating a book for all ages that primarily entertained children.
The emotions discussed within it are those that kids feel all too often but get swept aside because it's not that big a deal when it's a kid feeling them. It took the subject matter, which was unexpectedly thoughtful and mature, and turned it into a story that was relatable despite the fantasy setting. It also handled them with grace. It didn't talk down to the reader or make everything better because /kids book/. It let bad things happen, and trusted that the reader would be upset because they cared about the characters, but also would be better off for it because now they might know how to cope with their feelings instead of avoiding it.
Princess Jeniah and Aon were undeniably flawed, yet this didn't undermine their characters as each of them went through a solid amount of growth that addressed their respective issues. Especially in Jeniah's case.
A major undercurrent of the story is Jeniah figuring out how to balance her duty to herself vs others; something no one can learn soon enough. I was invested in her growth because it's also something I've struggled with even as an adult.
And Aon's quiet acceptance that she's just broken, was all too real in the worst possible way.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants an interesting fantasy story with some political intrigue or mystery with strong authentic storytelling. I couldn't stop listening as the Carse's mysteries continued to unfold.
But, this book was way better than expected. It was an amazing original fantasy story with well written, genuine themes about loss, grief, and responsibility. Plus it was diverse with the princess being black and the two protagonists being female.
Princess Jeniah is about to ascend the throne at just 12 years old after her mother has become gravely ill. While she is grappling with her mother's fast-approaching death she also is desperate to figure out how best to be queen. The only thing she does know is the prophecy passed down generation to generation amongst the royal family; if any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse the monarchy will fall.
Aon is a commoner in the town of Emberfell, a town with no sadness whatsoever. All the townspeople are happy all the time - which only highlights Aon's on crippling feelings of despair. Her only reprieve is going into the Carse something no one else seems able (not to mention willing) to do.
And of course, after a chance meeting Jeniah has the brilliant idea to send Aon into the Carse. Aon accepts because she thinks the secret of her own sadness must be inside. Things, obviously, go wrong.
I loved how seriously this book took itself. From the first 'page' I was swept up in the world. A lot of books falling into the middle of the kids vs tweens category are written in a way that caters to the younger audience more than the older. I'm not entirely sure why, but it means a ton of kids books end up with lackluster or just very straightforward worldbuilding. So the style will be either simplistic plain writing or more whimsical, fanciful kind of prose. Either way there's usually less detail. But, this was the perfect balance. It felt like an adult author creating a book for all ages that primarily entertained children.
The emotions discussed within it are those that kids feel all too often but get swept aside because it's not that big a deal when it's a kid feeling them. It took the subject matter, which was unexpectedly thoughtful and mature, and turned it into a story that was relatable despite the fantasy setting. It also handled them with grace. It didn't talk down to the reader or make everything better because /kids book/. It let bad things happen, and trusted that the reader would be upset because they cared about the characters, but also would be better off for it because now they might know how to cope with their feelings instead of avoiding it.
Princess Jeniah and Aon were undeniably flawed, yet this didn't undermine their characters as each of them went through a solid amount of growth that addressed their respective issues. Especially in Jeniah's case.
A major undercurrent of the story is Jeniah figuring out how to balance her duty to herself vs others; something no one can learn soon enough. I was invested in her growth because it's also something I've struggled with even as an adult.
And Aon's quiet acceptance that she's just broken, was all too real in the worst possible way.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who wants an interesting fantasy story with some political intrigue or mystery with strong authentic storytelling. I couldn't stop listening as the Carse's mysteries continued to unfold.
July 26, 2019
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a perfect example of why I adore the Maud Hart Lovelace awards. I always try to read all of the nominees before the school year starts so I can speak intelligently about them when students or parents ask me. I have discovered more than one gem among the nominees over the years that I would probably have never chosen from the shelves myself if they hadn't been on the nominees list. The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse definitely falls into that category!
There are two main characters: Princess Jeniah and Aon. Both are 12-year-old girls who live in the monarchy of Emberfell. The kingdom is happy and prosperous--and has been so for 1000 years. The twist is that Emberfell is only happy--its inhabitants are always happy and do not experience any negative emotions. The only exception seems to be Princess Jeniah's family and Aon, a commoner. Aon has always been able to feel sadness and was told by her mother to hide it and pretend to be happy in order to blend into the town and the people around her. There is a Carse (new word for me!--a marsh) in Emberfell that all are warned to stay away from. Aon finds herself curiously drawn to the Carse and often steals away to explore it in small doses. Princess Jeniah has received an even more specific warning:
At the beginning of the story the Queen has become ill and it is clear that she will not survive. Princess Jeniah must begin preparations to become the ruler of Emberfell. The warning about the Carse concerns her because no one seems to be able to tell her how the Monarchy is tied up with the Carse. In order to discover the mystery of the Carse and still obey the warning, Jeniah asks Aon to explore the Carse for her:
When Aon does not return from the Carse, Jeniah must decide if she is willing to risk the Monarchy to help her friend.
The atmosphere of the Carse is magnificently foreboding. While reading, I felt right beside Aon in the unsettling, fraught-with-unknown-danger of the Carse. The setting is a character in itself and is integral to the growth of both Jeniah and Aon. The secondary characters of the Queen, the enigmatic tutor, Skonas, Aon's father and her adopted brother, Laius, are also extraordinarily well-developed. They are not simply background for Jeniah and Aon; they serve to complement and complete their stories by emphasizing focal points in the girls' character development.
Both lead characters are incredibly three-dimensional. ( I am often leery of 'princess' characters, as I usually find them banal at best and annoying at worst. Princess Jeniah is nowhere on that spectrum!) The development of the girls' friendship, bonding over the fact they can share worries and sadness with each other because no one else has even a concept of those types of emotions, subtly becomes the basis upon which the story builds. The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse manages to be a lush and vibrant story with surprising depth. without externally manipulating either the characters or the plot.
In addition to the sheer enjoyment of the story all by itself, the book and its characters provide a wealth of springboards for discussions about friendship and the idea of 'sacrificing a few for the good of the many.' I was also thrilled to see that Brian Farrey is a local author here in the Twin Cities! I will definitely be looking into his backlist! The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a wonderful independent or read-aloud selection for middle grade readers!
There are two main characters: Princess Jeniah and Aon. Both are 12-year-old girls who live in the monarchy of Emberfell. The kingdom is happy and prosperous--and has been so for 1000 years. The twist is that Emberfell is only happy--its inhabitants are always happy and do not experience any negative emotions. The only exception seems to be Princess Jeniah's family and Aon, a commoner. Aon has always been able to feel sadness and was told by her mother to hide it and pretend to be happy in order to blend into the town and the people around her. There is a Carse (new word for me!--a marsh) in Emberfell that all are warned to stay away from. Aon finds herself curiously drawn to the Carse and often steals away to explore it in small doses. Princess Jeniah has received an even more specific warning:
If any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall.
At the beginning of the story the Queen has become ill and it is clear that she will not survive. Princess Jeniah must begin preparations to become the ruler of Emberfell. The warning about the Carse concerns her because no one seems to be able to tell her how the Monarchy is tied up with the Carse. In order to discover the mystery of the Carse and still obey the warning, Jeniah asks Aon to explore the Carse for her:
Before they parted ways, each swore to help the other.
And each told the other a lie.
When Aon does not return from the Carse, Jeniah must decide if she is willing to risk the Monarchy to help her friend.
The atmosphere of the Carse is magnificently foreboding. While reading, I felt right beside Aon in the unsettling, fraught-with-unknown-danger of the Carse. The setting is a character in itself and is integral to the growth of both Jeniah and Aon. The secondary characters of the Queen, the enigmatic tutor, Skonas, Aon's father and her adopted brother, Laius, are also extraordinarily well-developed. They are not simply background for Jeniah and Aon; they serve to complement and complete their stories by emphasizing focal points in the girls' character development.
Both lead characters are incredibly three-dimensional. ( I am often leery of 'princess' characters, as I usually find them banal at best and annoying at worst. Princess Jeniah is nowhere on that spectrum!) The development of the girls' friendship, bonding over the fact they can share worries and sadness with each other because no one else has even a concept of those types of emotions, subtly becomes the basis upon which the story builds. The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse manages to be a lush and vibrant story with surprising depth. without externally manipulating either the characters or the plot.
In addition to the sheer enjoyment of the story all by itself, the book and its characters provide a wealth of springboards for discussions about friendship and the idea of 'sacrificing a few for the good of the many.' I was also thrilled to see that Brian Farrey is a local author here in the Twin Cities! I will definitely be looking into his backlist! The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a wonderful independent or read-aloud selection for middle grade readers!
November 22, 2019
Read-along with my 12-year-old son.
Honest review, this middle grade fantasy adventure wasn't destined or intended to be up my alley.
I didn't love the writing, although there was impressive vocabulary used, plenty of opportunities for kids to break out a dictionary. One word that always tickles me to see is macabre. Indeed my 12 year old wasn't familiar with it. And indeed, the story becomes pretty macabre at one point.
I found it dark in tone, and though it has good themes and worthy messages, I think some of these might be lost on younger readers as they grapple with the (somewhat confusing?) plot and the strange names and words. The odd language seemed excessive to me, probably more so because I was reading it out loud.
It did have some gems of wisdom within.
The village, or monarchy of Emberfell is something of a Utopian society, and my biggest takeaway was this:
A world where people can only feel bliss and happiness would be downright frightening.
"People are supposed to feel sad. They're supposed to get angry. Being happy all the time . . . It isn't real. You have to know fear to be brave."
"How horrible it would be to disappear and have no one grieve for you. What good was the never-ending bliss.. if it meant they could never truly mourn what they lost? Was real love possible without the fear of loss?"
Beau (12):
I thought it was weird that it was about The Carse, which is a weird marsh thing, and a queen that's dying. It was creepy that the people were all happy without feelings. And the Dreadwillow trees were really creepy. The shades were weird. And the imps were weird.
*It only seems fair to note that, with the exception of Harry Potter (epic, legendary) and The Land of Stories series (traditional fairy tale roots), modern fantasy is not our genre of choice. Fantasy loving kids might just gobble it up!
Honest review, this middle grade fantasy adventure wasn't destined or intended to be up my alley.
I didn't love the writing, although there was impressive vocabulary used, plenty of opportunities for kids to break out a dictionary. One word that always tickles me to see is macabre. Indeed my 12 year old wasn't familiar with it. And indeed, the story becomes pretty macabre at one point.
I found it dark in tone, and though it has good themes and worthy messages, I think some of these might be lost on younger readers as they grapple with the (somewhat confusing?) plot and the strange names and words. The odd language seemed excessive to me, probably more so because I was reading it out loud.
It did have some gems of wisdom within.
The village, or monarchy of Emberfell is something of a Utopian society, and my biggest takeaway was this:
A world where people can only feel bliss and happiness would be downright frightening.
"People are supposed to feel sad. They're supposed to get angry. Being happy all the time . . . It isn't real. You have to know fear to be brave."
"How horrible it would be to disappear and have no one grieve for you. What good was the never-ending bliss.. if it meant they could never truly mourn what they lost? Was real love possible without the fear of loss?"
Beau (12):
I thought it was weird that it was about The Carse, which is a weird marsh thing, and a queen that's dying. It was creepy that the people were all happy without feelings. And the Dreadwillow trees were really creepy. The shades were weird. And the imps were weird.
*It only seems fair to note that, with the exception of Harry Potter (epic, legendary) and The Land of Stories series (traditional fairy tale roots), modern fantasy is not our genre of choice. Fantasy loving kids might just gobble it up!
August 13, 2017
A gripping coming-of-age tale, The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a complex examination of a young princess' preparation to ascend to her mother's throne. What lies behind the seemingly ever-joyful kingdom, and why is the princess forbidden to enter the foreboding carse, a treacherous bog where nothing is as it seems? Why can one peasant girl experience sadness and fear when others cannot? When the princess and peasant girl meet by chance, they are drawn to one another as they are each struggling with the loss of parents. The friendship in the story is genuine, and Princess Igenia's struggle to discover what it is like to rule a kingdom is very profound. I appreciated that Mr. Farrey raised such difficult questions: Does a ruler sacrifice a few for the greater good of the many? Is it expedient to take the easy route in ridding your kingdom of a problem, or is a more painstaking path better? If you could rid your land of pain in all its forms, would you do it, and how would that decision affect your subjects? Igenia struggles with these questions throughout the book. She makes mistakes and is very relatable.
I loved that, although this princess is only twelve, she is having to confront such issues. I also loved the princess' enigmatic tutor, who teaches by answering questions with his own questions. It was also refreshing to read a fairy tale that focussed on friendship rather than romance.
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a beautiful novel that I devoured in a day. However, I plan to read it again as the themes were so complex I feel I need to read more slowly in order to fully digest and appreciate them. In some ways, this story reminded me of Lois Lowry's The Giver. Please read this beautiful novel. God bless you all.
I loved that, although this princess is only twelve, she is having to confront such issues. I also loved the princess' enigmatic tutor, who teaches by answering questions with his own questions. It was also refreshing to read a fairy tale that focussed on friendship rather than romance.
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse is a beautiful novel that I devoured in a day. However, I plan to read it again as the themes were so complex I feel I need to read more slowly in order to fully digest and appreciate them. In some ways, this story reminded me of Lois Lowry's The Giver. Please read this beautiful novel. God bless you all.
January 12, 2022
This was a fantastically creepy tale reminiscent of old fairy tales. I went in with few expectations, but typically middle grade stories feel watered down and simplified. This book did not do that. Chock full of creepy imagery, hard earned lessons, and .
I breezed through this book, half due to length and half due to my inability to put it down. It has been quite a long time since I found myself needing to know what happened next. I often pride myself on predicting plot twists, but there were some here that I genuinely didn't see coming. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every second of it.
Jeniah and Aon as dual protagonists both have their own, strong voices and motivations. It was communicated clearly and effortlessly through their thoughts and actions. Both together and individually, these two characters shone brightly through the darkness plaguing both of them.
This story was a fantastic read, and I recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Grimm's original tales. Dark and twisting, this story will grab you like the vines and refuse to let go.
I breezed through this book, half due to length and half due to my inability to put it down. It has been quite a long time since I found myself needing to know what happened next. I often pride myself on predicting plot twists, but there were some here that I genuinely didn't see coming. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every second of it.
Jeniah and Aon as dual protagonists both have their own, strong voices and motivations. It was communicated clearly and effortlessly through their thoughts and actions. Both together and individually, these two characters shone brightly through the darkness plaguing both of them.
This story was a fantastic read, and I recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Grimm's original tales. Dark and twisting, this story will grab you like the vines and refuse to let go.
February 26, 2017
Kind of an interesting read. Not sure I can promote and have a student finish.
Two characters, girls, one a villager, one the Queen Ascendant. They live in a land where everyone is happy, there is not understanding of worry or sadness. How can this be? It's the Dreadwillow Carse. A Dreadwillow is a tree and a Carse is a bog.
"Truth shouldn't be flexible!" page 89
Jeniah is learning to be the queen:
"...But when she thought about it, she had learned it was important to consider the needs of the multitudes over the needs of a handful..." page 118
[Jeniah] "...I don't want to make mistakes."
[Her mother, the Queen] "There is only one way to ensure you never a mistake."
"What's that?"
"Do nothing." page 144
[Skonas, the odd character who is called in to teach Jeniah how to be Queen]
"Magic is misunderstood. .. Magic exists, and it is performed every day. It rests in the silence that follows a promise. It thrives in the heart of a selfless act. It stands side by side with courage and love." page 161
Two characters, girls, one a villager, one the Queen Ascendant. They live in a land where everyone is happy, there is not understanding of worry or sadness. How can this be? It's the Dreadwillow Carse. A Dreadwillow is a tree and a Carse is a bog.
"Truth shouldn't be flexible!" page 89
Jeniah is learning to be the queen:
"...But when she thought about it, she had learned it was important to consider the needs of the multitudes over the needs of a handful..." page 118
[Jeniah] "...I don't want to make mistakes."
[Her mother, the Queen] "There is only one way to ensure you never a mistake."
"What's that?"
"Do nothing." page 144
[Skonas, the odd character who is called in to teach Jeniah how to be Queen]
"Magic is misunderstood. .. Magic exists, and it is performed every day. It rests in the silence that follows a promise. It thrives in the heart of a selfless act. It stands side by side with courage and love." page 161
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