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Wood Angel (2011)

by Erin Bow(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1906427607 (ISBN13: 9781906427603)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Chicken House

review 1: Plain Kate has a deceptively simple and straight forward tone and style, but it soon becomes evident that this is a beautiful, complex and haunting ghost story. Kate is being raised by her master wood carver father in a struggling world where pain and death have made people superstitious and suspicious. Kate has inherited her father's talent and learned even his most difficult skills. Having a traditionally male talent and superior gift makes her a target for paranoid gossip. After her father dies, she fears the town has decided she is a witch, and out of desperation, she makes a deal with a real witch to get her safely out of town. She joins a clan of wanderers who are equally superstitious and paranoid, but they are willing to give Kate a chance to prove she worthy of th... moreeir protection. It does not go well. Kate also suspects that the misery that is falling on the towns, people and land are somehow connected to the deal she made. She is determined to stop the deaths and somehow get out of the deal. Like most authentic folk tales, Plain Kate does not have a happily ever after ending. The ending is sad and dark, but also satisfying and hopeful. First time author Erin Bow has written a novel that is powerful, entertaining and memorable. Can't wait to read her next book.
review 2: I read the British version of this book called Wood Angel with a sparkly fairy illustration on the cover. I think the publishers must be mad. Never have I read a book less sparkly or fairy-ish. I am not sure the American version called Plain Kate would be a better title either, and the cover of that edition is also not really appropriate to the story. Anyway apart from that quibble the story is amazing. The author said she spent six years writing it and it shows. It is really well written and has an incredible story. I love the character of Kate and the talking cat Taggle. It is quite gory in parts and can seem quite despairing but it ends well I think. Kate is a marvellous strong character who keeps fighting for what she wants in a harsh world that does not care for women who are different. And in fact burns them as witches. All in all a marvellous read. less

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