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Murkmere Hall #1
Murkmere
Aggie's life in the village is as normal and dull as any girl's; she has never questioned the rule of the Ministration or the power of the divine beings-the birds. Then, the crippled master of the nearby manor, Murkmere, sends for Aggie to become a lady's companion to his ward, Leah. Aggie accepts and even starts to befriend the wild and strange girl who seems to want nothing but to escape Murkmere and its powermongering steward, Silas. As preparations begin for the ball celebrating Leah's sixteenth birthday, Aggie finds herself further and further enmeshed in the sinister plots that surround Murkmere, Leah, and the mysterious Master. Suspenseful and haunting, Murkmere pulls the reader into an unforgettable world between history and myth.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2004
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416 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Elliott
18 books76 followersPatricia Elliott was born in London and grew up in Europe and the Far East. She has worked in publishing in London and in a children's bookshop in New York. She now teaches a course in children's literature at an adult education college. She lives in London with her husband, two sons, and a yellow labrodor named Finagal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 17, 2008
Great setting, Wrong Point of View
Clouds hang low in the sky where I live. They seem to touch the flat brown fields around our village, and to shadow the broad backs of the horses pulling the plow.
From the opening sentence I was trapped in the dark, oppressing world Patricia Elliot so convincingly creates in Murkmere.
This is a world where the search for knowledge is severely punished and birds are worshiped as gods; their wishes, mysteriously translated by an inbreeding elite called the Ministration, used to submit the people. High above them, in the distant capital, the Lord Protector, divinely bound with the Eagle, the supreme of all Gods, rules uncontested.
Yet not everyone is content. Forbidden books are still read in hiding and the peasants, pushed to their limits by a brutal militia, are flirting with rebellion. But nothing threatens the established order more than the rumors about the avia. The avia, the legend claims, are the descendents of those who long ago dared to challenge the gods by flying. In punishment, they were forced to be trapped between two forms, bird and human, for ever.
Far from the capital, at the edge of the civilized world, lies Murkmere, a rural state that has been deteriorating since its Master became crippled in an accident following the death of his beloved wife in childbirth.
As the book begins Aggie, a girl from the nearby village, is called to the manor in Murkmere to be the companion of Leah, the Master’s ward, a wild girl of fifteen, he plans to make his heir on her sixteenth birthday.
Like in so many classics of the gothic genre—the tale of a young girl coming to a decrepit old manor—the girl is the narrator of the story. But in this case, the choice of Aggie as the narrator is, in my opinion, a big mistake.
Aggie is a secondary character, with an uninteresting story of her own. Yet because she is the narrator the reader is forced to follow her through all her boring daily activities. The story picks up when Aggie interacts with Leah, with the master, or even with Silas, the handsome, mysterious steward. These three are, by far, much more interesting characters than Aggie. Unfortunately they are not in the foreground often enough.
Aggie is not only an unreliable narrator—her vision of the events she relates is distorted by her religious zeal—but her motivations and actions are somehow bizarre. She is always at the right time and place, without a convincing reason to be there except that she must tell the reader what is happening. Also, her changing feelings for her mistress, a development that propels most of her comings and goings, seems forced.
Aggie is a character so secondary that if she were to be taken from the story, the main plot would remain unchanged.
Murkmere had the potential of being a powerful story, but the choice of the wrong narrator, an ending that lacks resolution and a plot that fails to address the most interesting elements of the story ruined it for me.
At the end, and although I was impressed by the haunting beauty of Murkmere and the depth of the world the author has created, I was disappointed.
Clouds hang low in the sky where I live. They seem to touch the flat brown fields around our village, and to shadow the broad backs of the horses pulling the plow.
From the opening sentence I was trapped in the dark, oppressing world Patricia Elliot so convincingly creates in Murkmere.
This is a world where the search for knowledge is severely punished and birds are worshiped as gods; their wishes, mysteriously translated by an inbreeding elite called the Ministration, used to submit the people. High above them, in the distant capital, the Lord Protector, divinely bound with the Eagle, the supreme of all Gods, rules uncontested.
Yet not everyone is content. Forbidden books are still read in hiding and the peasants, pushed to their limits by a brutal militia, are flirting with rebellion. But nothing threatens the established order more than the rumors about the avia. The avia, the legend claims, are the descendents of those who long ago dared to challenge the gods by flying. In punishment, they were forced to be trapped between two forms, bird and human, for ever.
Far from the capital, at the edge of the civilized world, lies Murkmere, a rural state that has been deteriorating since its Master became crippled in an accident following the death of his beloved wife in childbirth.
As the book begins Aggie, a girl from the nearby village, is called to the manor in Murkmere to be the companion of Leah, the Master’s ward, a wild girl of fifteen, he plans to make his heir on her sixteenth birthday.
Like in so many classics of the gothic genre—the tale of a young girl coming to a decrepit old manor—the girl is the narrator of the story. But in this case, the choice of Aggie as the narrator is, in my opinion, a big mistake.
Aggie is a secondary character, with an uninteresting story of her own. Yet because she is the narrator the reader is forced to follow her through all her boring daily activities. The story picks up when Aggie interacts with Leah, with the master, or even with Silas, the handsome, mysterious steward. These three are, by far, much more interesting characters than Aggie. Unfortunately they are not in the foreground often enough.
Aggie is not only an unreliable narrator—her vision of the events she relates is distorted by her religious zeal—but her motivations and actions are somehow bizarre. She is always at the right time and place, without a convincing reason to be there except that she must tell the reader what is happening. Also, her changing feelings for her mistress, a development that propels most of her comings and goings, seems forced.
Aggie is a character so secondary that if she were to be taken from the story, the main plot would remain unchanged.
Murkmere had the potential of being a powerful story, but the choice of the wrong narrator, an ending that lacks resolution and a plot that fails to address the most interesting elements of the story ruined it for me.
At the end, and although I was impressed by the haunting beauty of Murkmere and the depth of the world the author has created, I was disappointed.
April 13, 2009
This book reminded me of the secret garden. There is a secret and a family that is kinda outcast or misunderstood. There is a girl that comes in and befriends the wild child, who has a fascination with birds. The mother is gone, the father crippled, and a society with very strict rules. The leaders (both spiritual and temporal) of this society are called the "Ministration." Their organization and complete power/control reminds me of the Magistirium of the Golden Compass series. I think this story has origins in a fairy tale, and it is artfully told. I liked this book; it is not a happy fairy tale, but makes one think and appreciate what we have in life.
January 12, 2009
Aggie Cotter grew up in a world where birds meant everything. There's an entire Table of Significance about them in fact. And she has it memorized. You see, in Aggie's world, the Almighty is the Eagle. There are Birds of Light and Birds of Night, and one must carry protection against the latter, so as not to risk harm to one's soul.
There is a story of a people called the avia--people who were not content with their lot, who longed to sore with the birds, to leave the earth behind for the sky. It's said they were punished by Eagle, their souls bonded with the bird form, allowing them no rest as they would never truly be bird or human again.
Aggie's life, as it happens, is entirely wrapped up in these ideas. More so than even she knows.
When it comes time for her schooling to end, and her working years to begin, Aggie fears she will waste away as a spinner. So when Silas Seed comes to the village and offers her a job at the mysterious Murkmere, the estate at which her mother worked so long ago, Aggie excepts, albeit apprehensively. Her Aunt Jennet, who raised Aggie from the time she lost her parents, doesn't want her to go, but allows it.
At the gates of the estate, Aggie begins to lose her nerve. When the gates are opened for her by none other than the handsome Silas himself, she finds she can't bring herself to walk in. The Rooks nesting near the house speak to her of doom. Until Silas reminds her that Rooks nesting near a house actually signify good luck. She shakes her head at the contradictions of The Table of Significance, clutches her amber, and enters.
Once inside the manor itself, it becomes clear to Aggie immediately that life here shall be no easy, or even enjoyable, thing. Mistress Crumplin takes an apparent dislike to her, as do most of the rest of the staff, only the little girl Scuff even bothering to talk to her. Worse still, her first encounter with Miss Leah, whom she is to be companion to, consists of Leah telling her to pack her things and go.
Leah loses her battle with the Master on this point, as it was he who hired Aggie in the first place. But it will be a long time before she truly warms to her companion. At best, she will tolerate her.
Similarly, it is a long while before Aggie earns any kind of respect from her fellow workers. It takes much less time for her to lose her respect for Silas Seed, who is not at all who he first seems.
Hoping to escape life at Murkmere, Aggie plans to run away during a trip to the village to fetch the Sweep to clean a chimney blocked with a Rooks' nest. (The staff are afraid to touch it.) Her plan is foiled on many levels. The Militia are in the Village. Only her employment at Murkmere (the Master is a member of the Ministration) saves her from questioning and capture. Worse still, her aunt has been arrested for stealing. The soldiers found forbidden books bearing the Murkmere crest hidden in her cottage.
Again using her employment status to her advantage, Aggie manages to see her Aunt and question her about the books. Which is when she learns the truth of her mother's story, and of Leah's as well. Knowing what she now does, she realizes she can't abandon Leah. In addition, the Master is her only hope of rescuing her aunt.
Her return brings joy to some at the manor, and much anger to the Master, who wasn't told of the militia's presence. He does send Silas for the Captain though, to free her aunt.
From then on, life at Murkmere becomes more and more treacherous. She has a falling-out with Leah, after they had grown so close. She knows Silas can't be trusted, and yet the Master does trust him, with everything in fact. Not knowing what she can do to change things, Aggie lives day to day, hoping to repair the bonds she's broken, and somehow find a way to set things right.
It all comes to a head at Leah's coming of age. In her honor, a ball is thrown. The ministration is invited. Plots unfold.
_________
I'm not sure how I missed this one in my fantasy readings. I remember picking it up a couple of times, but I never brought it home. Then while I was perusing our new Teen holdings a couple weeks ago I picked up Ambergate, which is the sequel, and brought them both home. It was definitely worth it.
The idea of a religion based on bird is intriguing. And watching Aggie struggle with her upbringing versus new knowledge she gains at Murkmere is reminiscent of the entire human struggle for meaning.
Highly recommended.
There is a story of a people called the avia--people who were not content with their lot, who longed to sore with the birds, to leave the earth behind for the sky. It's said they were punished by Eagle, their souls bonded with the bird form, allowing them no rest as they would never truly be bird or human again.
Aggie's life, as it happens, is entirely wrapped up in these ideas. More so than even she knows.
When it comes time for her schooling to end, and her working years to begin, Aggie fears she will waste away as a spinner. So when Silas Seed comes to the village and offers her a job at the mysterious Murkmere, the estate at which her mother worked so long ago, Aggie excepts, albeit apprehensively. Her Aunt Jennet, who raised Aggie from the time she lost her parents, doesn't want her to go, but allows it.
At the gates of the estate, Aggie begins to lose her nerve. When the gates are opened for her by none other than the handsome Silas himself, she finds she can't bring herself to walk in. The Rooks nesting near the house speak to her of doom. Until Silas reminds her that Rooks nesting near a house actually signify good luck. She shakes her head at the contradictions of The Table of Significance, clutches her amber, and enters.
Once inside the manor itself, it becomes clear to Aggie immediately that life here shall be no easy, or even enjoyable, thing. Mistress Crumplin takes an apparent dislike to her, as do most of the rest of the staff, only the little girl Scuff even bothering to talk to her. Worse still, her first encounter with Miss Leah, whom she is to be companion to, consists of Leah telling her to pack her things and go.
Leah loses her battle with the Master on this point, as it was he who hired Aggie in the first place. But it will be a long time before she truly warms to her companion. At best, she will tolerate her.
Similarly, it is a long while before Aggie earns any kind of respect from her fellow workers. It takes much less time for her to lose her respect for Silas Seed, who is not at all who he first seems.
Hoping to escape life at Murkmere, Aggie plans to run away during a trip to the village to fetch the Sweep to clean a chimney blocked with a Rooks' nest. (The staff are afraid to touch it.) Her plan is foiled on many levels. The Militia are in the Village. Only her employment at Murkmere (the Master is a member of the Ministration) saves her from questioning and capture. Worse still, her aunt has been arrested for stealing. The soldiers found forbidden books bearing the Murkmere crest hidden in her cottage.
Again using her employment status to her advantage, Aggie manages to see her Aunt and question her about the books. Which is when she learns the truth of her mother's story, and of Leah's as well. Knowing what she now does, she realizes she can't abandon Leah. In addition, the Master is her only hope of rescuing her aunt.
Her return brings joy to some at the manor, and much anger to the Master, who wasn't told of the militia's presence. He does send Silas for the Captain though, to free her aunt.
From then on, life at Murkmere becomes more and more treacherous. She has a falling-out with Leah, after they had grown so close. She knows Silas can't be trusted, and yet the Master does trust him, with everything in fact. Not knowing what she can do to change things, Aggie lives day to day, hoping to repair the bonds she's broken, and somehow find a way to set things right.
It all comes to a head at Leah's coming of age. In her honor, a ball is thrown. The ministration is invited. Plots unfold.
_________
I'm not sure how I missed this one in my fantasy readings. I remember picking it up a couple of times, but I never brought it home. Then while I was perusing our new Teen holdings a couple weeks ago I picked up Ambergate, which is the sequel, and brought them both home. It was definitely worth it.
The idea of a religion based on bird is intriguing. And watching Aggie struggle with her upbringing versus new knowledge she gains at Murkmere is reminiscent of the entire human struggle for meaning.
Highly recommended.
October 7, 2011
The protagonist of this book follows a religion that involves worshipping birds, wearing protective amulets, and not going outside at night. It's government-sanctioned and spooky. At first, I thought that the book was set in a parallel fantasy dimension, but there are moments here and there that, quite possibly, (spoiler alert) indicate that this is a science fiction dystopia a la Handmaid's Tale.
The book's excellent up until the last 30 pages or so, when it sort of crumbles and leaves a very vague, open-ended finale. But I'd be up to read more from this author, if I can find it.
The book's excellent up until the last 30 pages or so, when it sort of crumbles and leaves a very vague, open-ended finale. But I'd be up to read more from this author, if I can find it.
January 13, 2016
I went in expecting a gothic and instead got a dark fantasy - though there was actually only implied magic - none that we see. The book is set in a fantasy land heavily based on historical England, though there doesn't seem to be a clear time period it's based on. I enjoyed Murkmere, but I'm not really into books wholly set in fantasy worlds, to be quite honest.
February 8, 2009
This book was just what I needed right now. The dark setting of the decaying Murkmere estate, and the development of strong bonds between two young women kept me turning the pages.
The religious values created for this novel were quite interesting. The villagers worship the birds, and there is a dark, and a light side to their deities. The eagle (for instance) is considered "the almighty", the creator... and each bird below the eagle has it's own "meaning" and is either a member of the birds of darkness or birds of light.
But when Agnes is summoned to work at Murkmere as a companion to the Master's ward (Leah), all her beliefs will be challenged. Murkmere holds a dangerous secret, and as Agnes begins to earn the trust of Leah, the secrets will start to unravel..
The religious values created for this novel were quite interesting. The villagers worship the birds, and there is a dark, and a light side to their deities. The eagle (for instance) is considered "the almighty", the creator... and each bird below the eagle has it's own "meaning" and is either a member of the birds of darkness or birds of light.
But when Agnes is summoned to work at Murkmere as a companion to the Master's ward (Leah), all her beliefs will be challenged. Murkmere holds a dangerous secret, and as Agnes begins to earn the trust of Leah, the secrets will start to unravel..
May 5, 2017
Murkmere is an excellent addition to the gothic genre of secluded manor houses tainted by tragic, mysterious pasts.
What makes this book stand out from the Rebeccas and the Jane Eyres is its world building about an oppressive theocratic regime based on the symbolism of birds. There's a ton of material there to plague these characters' minds with superstition.
Even though I could accurately predict a lot of the "shocking reveals" (this is an unfortunately repetitive genre, after all), my attention was always held because the plot is never stale; the author is good at keeping it in motion.
The ending could have easily turned into a George R. R. Martin type of dramatic mess, but I'm kind of glad it didn't.
I'll look forward to the sequel.
What makes this book stand out from the Rebeccas and the Jane Eyres is its world building about an oppressive theocratic regime based on the symbolism of birds. There's a ton of material there to plague these characters' minds with superstition.
Even though I could accurately predict a lot of the "shocking reveals" (this is an unfortunately repetitive genre, after all), my attention was always held because the plot is never stale; the author is good at keeping it in motion.
The ending could have easily turned into a George R. R. Martin type of dramatic mess, but I'm kind of glad it didn't.
I'll look forward to the sequel.
December 30, 2014
Beautifully written, engaging and enjoyable.
July 14, 2020
(3.5 stars) This is the first book in the series. Aggie lives in the village, follows the rules of the Ministration and worships the birds as she has been taught, knowing which birds are Birds of Light and which are Birds of Night, wearing a charm to protect. When she is summoned to the manor, she is shocked to be given a position as a companion to the ward, Miss Leah, of the lord of Murkmere. However, the mistress and her maid take a dislike to her. Miss Leah is constantly headed to the marshes, where she secretly watches the swans. As she learns more about her past, and her mother who once worked at Murkmere, she also learns of Leah��s mother and secrets held at the manor. Aggie finds that what she has been told of the birds is only a partial truth and the power of the birds and the humans who aspire to flight is a deeper truth. The book takes a nugget from a fairy tale and builds a more complex and compelling tale.
March 19, 2019
I read this because a long time ago I read the companion novel, Ambergate, and enjoyed it but I hadn’t had the full story so now I have. Though maybe the back story isn’t as interesting as I thought it would be after having read the second book first back then. This book was predictable and the characters believed things and acted in ways that didn’t make sense to me. The descriptions of the mere and Leah were beautiful but it was slow going still.
October 18, 2019
3.5. I really liked the characters, particularly the master, and the plot as a whole. The magic was intriguing but I wish it had been more central to the story and a bit more developed rather than just background.
November 6, 2024
Murkmere has an amazing premise and idea but it’s done so poorly. Another commenter by the name of Carmen said exactly what I was thinking while reading this book. That Aggie should have been a secondary character. In my opinion the story should have been told from Leah’s eyes.
December 10, 2019
A gothic novel set in an alternative reality. Good premise, interesting world, just not very engaging for me, though it might be for a young teen.
July 29, 2024
Childhood favorite of mine.
March 5, 2008
In a land where the Eagle is God and bird omens determine the course of human life, young Aggie Cotter leaves her village for the nearby estate, Murkmere, where she will be companion to Leah, the willful ward of the estate's Master. As she struggles to gain acceptance, Aggie begins to suspect that nothing is what she thought or as it seemed: not Leah, who disregards the superstitions of faith and has an unnatural bond with the mere's swans—nor Aggie's family, or the religion and government that she has always trusted. Murkmere suffers from a number of faults, including poorly constructed characters and an unsatisfying conclusion, yet the book is engrossing and possesses a certain sense of otherworldy magic that keeps the reader constantly curious, always hoping to discover more. Although I have reservations, I recommend the book on the basis of that mystery and magic, and I hope that the sequel delves deeper into that promising aspect.
On the whole, this book is unremarkable. It is peppered by a number of faults: The villains, both large and local, are unoriginal, some following the tired trope of twisting religion for personal gain, some merely evil by nature. The narrator, although the purported protagonist, goes through little character growth and is much less interesting than Leah, who has a more important story to tell. Although the book's climax is satisfying, the ending feels empty—for Aggie, there is no real conclusion; the reader is not privy to the end of Leah's story. Although minor on their own, together these faults combine to take the book down a notch, making it a little too simple to read, a little too shallow in depth.
For all of this, Murkmere has a certain charm. By and large the writing style is nothing special, but skillful pacing builds a sense of foreboding, inserts action to hold reader interest, and leads to a satisfying climax that fulfills the sense and scope of the book. More than all of this, there is also a strange, unearthly beauty to the story: in the obsession with birds, in the Leah's still-secretive nature, in the secrets also of Murkmere itself, the book seems to offer a magical world that is not yet explored. I wish that the book did delve more into this world, indulge in the fantastical aspects, show us more of Leah's story and her character—yet even if I wish for more, what is present is atmospheric and interesting, pulling the reader deep into the book (which is quite hard to put down) and keeping him ever curious for more information, for one more glimpse of magic.
It was the mysterious fantastical aspects that kept me avidly interested in Murkmere and it is on that basis that I recommend the book. While far from the best I've ever read, I found myself constantly intrigued. I hope that the sequel better embraces this aspect—the faith without close-binding rules, the magic without fear or superstition—and, even better, that they adopt Leah as the narrator or at least the primary character. However, even in the sequel disappoints, I do recommend this book. It has many faults, but it also has a sense of beauty, mystery, and wonder that I wish I saw in more books and greatly enjoyed the the tantalizing, limited glimpses in which it is presented here.
On the whole, this book is unremarkable. It is peppered by a number of faults: The villains, both large and local, are unoriginal, some following the tired trope of twisting religion for personal gain, some merely evil by nature. The narrator, although the purported protagonist, goes through little character growth and is much less interesting than Leah, who has a more important story to tell. Although the book's climax is satisfying, the ending feels empty—for Aggie, there is no real conclusion; the reader is not privy to the end of Leah's story. Although minor on their own, together these faults combine to take the book down a notch, making it a little too simple to read, a little too shallow in depth.
For all of this, Murkmere has a certain charm. By and large the writing style is nothing special, but skillful pacing builds a sense of foreboding, inserts action to hold reader interest, and leads to a satisfying climax that fulfills the sense and scope of the book. More than all of this, there is also a strange, unearthly beauty to the story: in the obsession with birds, in the Leah's still-secretive nature, in the secrets also of Murkmere itself, the book seems to offer a magical world that is not yet explored. I wish that the book did delve more into this world, indulge in the fantastical aspects, show us more of Leah's story and her character—yet even if I wish for more, what is present is atmospheric and interesting, pulling the reader deep into the book (which is quite hard to put down) and keeping him ever curious for more information, for one more glimpse of magic.
It was the mysterious fantastical aspects that kept me avidly interested in Murkmere and it is on that basis that I recommend the book. While far from the best I've ever read, I found myself constantly intrigued. I hope that the sequel better embraces this aspect—the faith without close-binding rules, the magic without fear or superstition—and, even better, that they adopt Leah as the narrator or at least the primary character. However, even in the sequel disappoints, I do recommend this book. It has many faults, but it also has a sense of beauty, mystery, and wonder that I wish I saw in more books and greatly enjoyed the the tantalizing, limited glimpses in which it is presented here.
February 24, 2013
Taking place at the mysterious mansion at the edge of the city, Aggie is sent to care for an even more mysterious girl. Having grown up in the village, under loose surveillance of the Ministry, Aggie lived in suspicion, along with the rest of the citizens, of what lay beyond the iron gates. As if pushing her curiosity, Aggie was thus thrown into a wild world of continuous rebellion, mysteries, and teachings as she continued her new life in Murkmere, a place with secrets of it's own. The strangest of all was Leah, the minister's daughter, strange in appearance, mind, and interests, who proved to be Aggie's hardest challenge.
I really liked this book because it was unusual. Although I often read fiction books, this book was different in that the weirdness was not in the story plot, or the settings, or even most of the characters (even the main character). For me, the main interest came from Leah and that was really it. It was full of normal activities of an esteemed mansion but, although Leah was a 'normal' girl, her whole mental state was off somehow (not in an illness sense). I think that having a side character be kind of the focal point was interesting because most books stress the importance of the main character. This is in addition to the fact that most are either a more spread out point of view or a limited point of view of the main character. This book, though it was told in the perspective of Aggie, was also almost in the perspective of Leah as well. (It's kind of hard to explain)
Another thing that I liked was (this was not mentioned in the plot above) the fact that only one person from the village/town got to come into Murkmere. As vaguely stated, the village was watched by the Ministries, with Murkmere as one of them. Instead of look over them as a part of the village and the people, they aimed to stay removed, as only a form of power. This is where Aggie is marked unusual, or more so the chance which she was given, unusual. After receiving the letter summoning her, all the rest of those she knew continued to tell her stories, warning her to beware and such. It was interesting to see that the reserved ministry would allow not even a skilled person, but a young girl to enter. Overall I really enjoyed this book as it held many mysteries and secrets not just to how things happened but to characters' identities.
I really liked this book because it was unusual. Although I often read fiction books, this book was different in that the weirdness was not in the story plot, or the settings, or even most of the characters (even the main character). For me, the main interest came from Leah and that was really it. It was full of normal activities of an esteemed mansion but, although Leah was a 'normal' girl, her whole mental state was off somehow (not in an illness sense). I think that having a side character be kind of the focal point was interesting because most books stress the importance of the main character. This is in addition to the fact that most are either a more spread out point of view or a limited point of view of the main character. This book, though it was told in the perspective of Aggie, was also almost in the perspective of Leah as well. (It's kind of hard to explain)
Another thing that I liked was (this was not mentioned in the plot above) the fact that only one person from the village/town got to come into Murkmere. As vaguely stated, the village was watched by the Ministries, with Murkmere as one of them. Instead of look over them as a part of the village and the people, they aimed to stay removed, as only a form of power. This is where Aggie is marked unusual, or more so the chance which she was given, unusual. After receiving the letter summoning her, all the rest of those she knew continued to tell her stories, warning her to beware and such. It was interesting to see that the reserved ministry would allow not even a skilled person, but a young girl to enter. Overall I really enjoyed this book as it held many mysteries and secrets not just to how things happened but to characters' identities.
August 10, 2012
Recently I've wanted to reread a few books I read when I was a lot younger that I can't really remember anymore. This was one of them.
For the life of me, I don't know how I forgot it.
Murkmere is about 15 year old Aggie who lives with her Aunt in a small village. She's summoned by the Master of a nearby manor, Murkmere, to come and be companion to his ward, Leah. Murkmere is a a really dark place, pretty eerie and no one is friendly to Aggie (especially not Leah who doesn't want her there.) But the longer Aggie is there the closer her and Leah become. Alternately, the longer Aggie is at Murkmere the more she realizes there are a lot of pretty dark secrets about the house, the inhabitants and her entire life.
When we first meet Aggie she is very innocent, very naive and very devout to the practiced religion of her society. Their religion is one that worships and fears birds. Birds are considered 'divine' creatures and some are good and some are evil. The steward of the manor asks Aggie to keep an eye on Leah as there is some speculation over the danger of Leah's soul. Leah doesn't believe in the religion or the superstition around it.
There is a LOT of character development in this novel which I love. Watching Aggie's transformation as well as Leah's transformation was so interesting.
I liked that it was from Aggie's point of view only because I think it would've been a more OBVIOUS choice had the story been from Leah's point of view as Leah is the wild, interesting, adventerous one and most of the events and dangers happen to Leah as opposed to Aggie.
I liked the plot; it had hints of dystopia but it wasn't overwhelming so if someone was sick of dystopia they could still enjoy this book.
Be warned that there is some anti-religious undertones of the novel so if you'd be offended by that there might be moments of discomfort for you.
The villains were good villains, the protagonists were likeable and realistic.
Good imagery. Good plot.
It isn't very action packed, but still very exciting to read what with all the secrets and such.
Definitely better than when I first read it!
For the life of me, I don't know how I forgot it.
Murkmere is about 15 year old Aggie who lives with her Aunt in a small village. She's summoned by the Master of a nearby manor, Murkmere, to come and be companion to his ward, Leah. Murkmere is a a really dark place, pretty eerie and no one is friendly to Aggie (especially not Leah who doesn't want her there.) But the longer Aggie is there the closer her and Leah become. Alternately, the longer Aggie is at Murkmere the more she realizes there are a lot of pretty dark secrets about the house, the inhabitants and her entire life.
When we first meet Aggie she is very innocent, very naive and very devout to the practiced religion of her society. Their religion is one that worships and fears birds. Birds are considered 'divine' creatures and some are good and some are evil. The steward of the manor asks Aggie to keep an eye on Leah as there is some speculation over the danger of Leah's soul. Leah doesn't believe in the religion or the superstition around it.
There is a LOT of character development in this novel which I love. Watching Aggie's transformation as well as Leah's transformation was so interesting.
I liked that it was from Aggie's point of view only because I think it would've been a more OBVIOUS choice had the story been from Leah's point of view as Leah is the wild, interesting, adventerous one and most of the events and dangers happen to Leah as opposed to Aggie.
I liked the plot; it had hints of dystopia but it wasn't overwhelming so if someone was sick of dystopia they could still enjoy this book.
Be warned that there is some anti-religious undertones of the novel so if you'd be offended by that there might be moments of discomfort for you.
The villains were good villains, the protagonists were likeable and realistic.
Good imagery. Good plot.
It isn't very action packed, but still very exciting to read what with all the secrets and such.
Definitely better than when I first read it!
February 4, 2012
In Aggie Cotter’s world, birds are at the heart of everything. She has spent much of her life learning about and memorizing the Birds of Light and the Birds of Night, as well as their meanings. History tells the story of a group of people known as the Avia that wanted to fly with the birds. It is said that the Avia were punished by the Almighty, forced to live life as half-human and half-bird. Aggie lives by the Table of Significance, keeping her amber close for protection; then she meets Leah and everything changes.
After reading the synopsis for Murkmere, I was definitely curious about a world where birds are god-like. Honestly, I wasn’t immediately captivated by the story, and the pace of the story was a touch on the slow side for my liking, but I stuck with it. I’m so glad that I did. Elliott’s characters are fantastic. While the story revolved mainly around Aggie, I wanted to know more about Leah. Leah was so mysterious, and for good reason too. I wont say why; you’ll have to read to find out, but she’s very memorable. I really enjoyed watching Aggie grow as an individual and become a well-rounded character in the end.
The bird religion is still really weird to me. Birds being gods because they could fly and see everything is just too strange. And when you top that off with the Eagle being the Almighty because it laid the egg that is the world then it’s even more strange …er…unsettling. The idea is original and works well with the society as a whole.
Elliott tells an interesting tale of friendship, family, and religion, with a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the unusual characters that graced the pages of Murkmere, making the plot even more lively and exciting with the turn of each page. I highly recommend Murkmere to readers that enjoy mixing fantasy and mystery. Elliott paints a vivid image of Murkmere, filling it with the most insane ideas and quirky characters.
After reading the synopsis for Murkmere, I was definitely curious about a world where birds are god-like. Honestly, I wasn’t immediately captivated by the story, and the pace of the story was a touch on the slow side for my liking, but I stuck with it. I’m so glad that I did. Elliott’s characters are fantastic. While the story revolved mainly around Aggie, I wanted to know more about Leah. Leah was so mysterious, and for good reason too. I wont say why; you’ll have to read to find out, but she’s very memorable. I really enjoyed watching Aggie grow as an individual and become a well-rounded character in the end.
The bird religion is still really weird to me. Birds being gods because they could fly and see everything is just too strange. And when you top that off with the Eagle being the Almighty because it laid the egg that is the world then it’s even more strange …er…unsettling. The idea is original and works well with the society as a whole.
Elliott tells an interesting tale of friendship, family, and religion, with a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the unusual characters that graced the pages of Murkmere, making the plot even more lively and exciting with the turn of each page. I highly recommend Murkmere to readers that enjoy mixing fantasy and mystery. Elliott paints a vivid image of Murkmere, filling it with the most insane ideas and quirky characters.
February 17, 2008
Jane Eyre meets The Golden Compass....
Aggie is offered a job at Murkmere manor to be a lady’s companion to the Lord’s ward, Leah. She accepts the job because she can then send money back to her Aunt Jennet. Her mother worked at Murkmere before her death and she thinks that if she knows more about Murkmere, she’d know more about her mother. But Leah is so strange, wild and moody and she has a strange bond with the swans on the estate. The Master is trapped in a caged wheelchair and has blasphemous books. Silas, the steward, rules over the servants with an iron hand but is really pious, or is he? No one is who he or she seems to be and whom can Aggie trust? How can she protect Leah?
This is one of those books that reads like historical fiction then all of a sudden you realize that it has major fantasy elements. Kind of a “whoops, I guess we’re not in Kansas after all” moment. In this case, this reads like the late 19th century until you learn that most books are blasphemous and there’s an alternate religion based on birds. Really, birds – the Great Eagle is the Almighty. The political structure is different too, as the aristrocrats are Ministers in the government that is considered the mouthpiece of the gods on Earth. The Lord Protector is the head of the Ministration and is involved in the plot as he comes to Murkmere for Leah’s debut birthday.
This book is historical fiction/fantasy/mystery with some retold fairy tale (the swan maiden) too! There’s also political intrigue and questions about religion. I really enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s well written and the plot soars along.
Highly recommended to anyone who likes any of the above genres!
Aggie is offered a job at Murkmere manor to be a lady’s companion to the Lord’s ward, Leah. She accepts the job because she can then send money back to her Aunt Jennet. Her mother worked at Murkmere before her death and she thinks that if she knows more about Murkmere, she’d know more about her mother. But Leah is so strange, wild and moody and she has a strange bond with the swans on the estate. The Master is trapped in a caged wheelchair and has blasphemous books. Silas, the steward, rules over the servants with an iron hand but is really pious, or is he? No one is who he or she seems to be and whom can Aggie trust? How can she protect Leah?
This is one of those books that reads like historical fiction then all of a sudden you realize that it has major fantasy elements. Kind of a “whoops, I guess we’re not in Kansas after all” moment. In this case, this reads like the late 19th century until you learn that most books are blasphemous and there’s an alternate religion based on birds. Really, birds – the Great Eagle is the Almighty. The political structure is different too, as the aristrocrats are Ministers in the government that is considered the mouthpiece of the gods on Earth. The Lord Protector is the head of the Ministration and is involved in the plot as he comes to Murkmere for Leah’s debut birthday.
This book is historical fiction/fantasy/mystery with some retold fairy tale (the swan maiden) too! There’s also political intrigue and questions about religion. I really enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s well written and the plot soars along.
Highly recommended to anyone who likes any of the above genres!
May 2, 2011
I would probably give this three and a half stars. There was a lot to like about the novel. It had a dark, creepy feeling to it, and Elliot definitely knows how to build suspense and tension within the story. I also like when a character grows and changes over the course of the story, and Aggie certainly does. I also thought the writing in general was beautiful. The opening paragraph was quite lovely and indicative of what was to come.
I have never been the biggest fan of stories that are narrated by someone other than who the story is truly about. So, it's really nothing against the book, it's just my personal preference. The story is narrated by Aggie, but, in truth, it's about Leah. I like Aggie very well, but Leah could have been the protagonist.
I also could have used a bit more world building, such as, more background of Aggie's life in the village and the beliefs of the "Ministration," the rule-makers of Aggie's world. In Aggie's world, birds are considered holy, but for me it was a little bit vague. When Aggie goes back to the village after being at Murkmere, I had no idea how to picture it or think about it besides in a general way.
I did enjoy the novel. It had some good things to say about freedom of choice and how events are all relative to the person's perspective. I wasn't sure in the end if Aggie still believed in the bird religion or not, but I guess it's okay to have that left up to the reader.
The companion to this novel, Ambergate, is at the local library, so I will definitely check that one out and read it as well.
I have never been the biggest fan of stories that are narrated by someone other than who the story is truly about. So, it's really nothing against the book, it's just my personal preference. The story is narrated by Aggie, but, in truth, it's about Leah. I like Aggie very well, but Leah could have been the protagonist.
I also could have used a bit more world building, such as, more background of Aggie's life in the village and the beliefs of the "Ministration," the rule-makers of Aggie's world. In Aggie's world, birds are considered holy, but for me it was a little bit vague. When Aggie goes back to the village after being at Murkmere, I had no idea how to picture it or think about it besides in a general way.
I did enjoy the novel. It had some good things to say about freedom of choice and how events are all relative to the person's perspective. I wasn't sure in the end if Aggie still believed in the bird religion or not, but I guess it's okay to have that left up to the reader.
The companion to this novel, Ambergate, is at the local library, so I will definitely check that one out and read it as well.
September 20, 2012
Murkmere is really two stories at once. It is the story of Aggie's coming of age, of her realization that the world is much more complex than it seemed, and it is the puzzle of Leah, and who she is. Leah may or may not be related to the swans of Murkmere, a dark and dreary manor, but she has some kind of relationship with them. Aggie, who has grown up with a simple view of the world, is unsure what to make of Leah or Murkmere, and finds her understanding of the world radically changed by her interactions with Leah.
This was a lovely book, although I wish I'd read it when I was younger. It handles the coming-of-age story better than most, and the mystery of the nature of Leah very well.
I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending, as I thought it was just a little too easy, as Overall, though, I enjoyed this book.
This was a lovely book, although I wish I'd read it when I was younger. It handles the coming-of-age story better than most, and the mystery of the nature of Leah very well.
I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending, as I thought it was just a little too easy, as Overall, though, I enjoyed this book.
August 28, 2008
*spoiler alert*
This book is an interesting read. I felt like it was dark, so I would read it before you shared it with your children. When I started to read it I thought it might be along the lines of "The Golden Compass" where religion is slavery, and the "ministration" is a group of religious hypocritical zealots. However, in the end I decided that happily enough, that wasn't the message.
In the book a people called the "avia" were long ago punished by God for wanting to fly like the birds. They were changed so they would either be man or human. This was a curse. Later, it turns out that there is another view of the story. Some used to see it as a blessing, God was allowing them the opportunity to choose what was best for them.
The main character, Aggie, asks the fool which view is right. He tells her that both are. It depends on your point of views. Do you see agency as a blessing? Or a curse?
Interesting, but like I said it is dark and you have to read the whole book before understanding that this is the message. Interesting book to read once, not one I would choose to share for this message with my kids.
This book is an interesting read. I felt like it was dark, so I would read it before you shared it with your children. When I started to read it I thought it might be along the lines of "The Golden Compass" where religion is slavery, and the "ministration" is a group of religious hypocritical zealots. However, in the end I decided that happily enough, that wasn't the message.
In the book a people called the "avia" were long ago punished by God for wanting to fly like the birds. They were changed so they would either be man or human. This was a curse. Later, it turns out that there is another view of the story. Some used to see it as a blessing, God was allowing them the opportunity to choose what was best for them.
The main character, Aggie, asks the fool which view is right. He tells her that both are. It depends on your point of views. Do you see agency as a blessing? Or a curse?
Interesting, but like I said it is dark and you have to read the whole book before understanding that this is the message. Interesting book to read once, not one I would choose to share for this message with my kids.
May 19, 2013
A disappointment. The cover is rather wonderful; the book contained within, less so. Let me state that while I have nothing against charming pretty redheaded bookworms in real life, as main characters they are cliche. Let me also state that by page twenty I knew how the story was going to go: . I ended up liking none of the characters; they were all character types, and at no point convinced me that they might be real people. The setting didn't make up for it, either; a story in a gloomy old hall should be atmospheric, but aside from a few baying hounds and drafts, Murkmere Hall was a nonentity instead of participating in the story as it could have. Makes me want to write a story where the ward is genuinely crazy, the steward is good, and the land itself has magic woven into it.
August 6, 2014
I picked this book up on a whim, when I was thinking I needed a plethora of books for the vacation I was taking. As it turned out I ended up reading this book before I left. I read it in just a few hours.
The cover is gorgeous. Smooth and compelling, beautiful and haunting. I judge books by their covers. Get over it.
The story was interesting, very gothic with the decaying manor and sense of oppression. The character development was awesome, and the developing relationship between the to girls in the novel was wonderful.
It also had a very interesting take on religion. Very obviously a critique of religion, but it was very intriguing how the protagonist was such a devout believer and then began questioning things as she grew up.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending as it didn’t answer all the questions about the wider world, and I didn’t really like the development of the love story either. But other than that, I loved this book!
This book deserves 4 stars, and if you are looking for a quick gothic read- take a gander.
Read more reviews at Read Bookworm Read
The cover is gorgeous. Smooth and compelling, beautiful and haunting. I judge books by their covers. Get over it.
The story was interesting, very gothic with the decaying manor and sense of oppression. The character development was awesome, and the developing relationship between the to girls in the novel was wonderful.
It also had a very interesting take on religion. Very obviously a critique of religion, but it was very intriguing how the protagonist was such a devout believer and then began questioning things as she grew up.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending as it didn’t answer all the questions about the wider world, and I didn’t really like the development of the love story either. But other than that, I loved this book!
This book deserves 4 stars, and if you are looking for a quick gothic read- take a gander.
Read more reviews at Read Bookworm Read
January 25, 2017
I think this was a book I inherited somewhere along the way, so it's been sitting on my shelf without me really knowing what it was supposed to be about. I was pleasantly surprised upon reading it - it was better than whatever unknown I had expected it to be. Although a relatively simple story on the outside, a number of deeper themes run throughout the text: the meaning and practice of religious piety, the sinister ways in which political power can play out, the finding and accepting of identity in one's self and in others. The contrast between Aggie and Leah and the jagged yet loyal relationship that builds between them is well-illustrated and believable - neither too simple nor too complicated. I'm intrigued to read the companion novel.
May 12, 2009
The writing drove me crazy. I couldn’t read it. The story was interesting enough, so I skimmed the entire book, really reading only the dialogue. I can’t even put my finger on what exactly it was that was wrong. I think the author used to many ‘to be’ verbs, and they didn’t show the action--just referred back to it. I also thought the characters main goals were weak, and there wasn’t much character growth from the narrator. It was an interesting story, that could have had some real depth, had it not been told by the uninteresting and largely uninvolved sidekick. I would not recommend this book.
September 28, 2010
This story opens with strictly devout Agnes Cotter being sent to Murkmere Manor to become companion to the Master's ward, Leah. Agnes, being raised to be fearful of the Manor, is just glad to get away from the the village she was raised in.
But something's not quite right at the Manor. Leah is resistant to Agnes' presence and is openly hostile. And Agnes isn't making many friends in the house. She is deeply troubled by the lack of religious devotion shown by Leah and the Master.
Eventually, Leah comes to accept and depend on Agnes. But when Agnes learns the truth of Leah's birth, will she be able to keep Leah from danger?
But something's not quite right at the Manor. Leah is resistant to Agnes' presence and is openly hostile. And Agnes isn't making many friends in the house. She is deeply troubled by the lack of religious devotion shown by Leah and the Master.
Eventually, Leah comes to accept and depend on Agnes. But when Agnes learns the truth of Leah's birth, will she be able to keep Leah from danger?
March 16, 2014
I first read this book probably about ten years ago. I remember loving it and it being one of my favorites. I remember it being haunting and fantastical. When I was having difficulty find the perfect book to read, I decided to re-read this book. I’m so glad I did, because I couldn’t remember the plot twists or anything like that. It was as if I was reading it for the first time and I loved it just as much. This is an YA, gothic fantasy and it is just lovely. The author really created a story with an amazing atmosphere. Seriously, read this book. Also the companion novel: Ambergate
May 20, 2009
This book has some dark elements to it--sort of a darker version of The Goose Girl. The bad guys come across as truly sinister so if you don't like reading about that kind of bad guy, don't bother with this book. I think I might like the second book better because the characters are set up so ideally for an interesting plot next time.
Actually, it reminded me in a way of Wurthering Heights and Jane Eyere--damp manner house, mysterious men who are slightly cruel or haunted or whatever you want to call them. A mysterious lady...secrets.
Actually, it reminded me in a way of Wurthering Heights and Jane Eyere--damp manner house, mysterious men who are slightly cruel or haunted or whatever you want to call them. A mysterious lady...secrets.
December 21, 2015
This is a world where birds are worshipped as Gods, and anyone who talks about them is in danger of being 'blasphemous'. Aggie is a simple village girl, but when she is summoned to be companion to the Master's ward, her life changes. Leah does not want anything to do with her, and the servants of the manor do not like her. Leah is a strange girl. She is obsessed with the swans of the mere, and takes any chance to slip away from her maid and companion to be with them. Can Aggie discover why, before it's too late? What about the master, with his failing health?
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