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Summary
Summary
A princess and a peasant girl must embark on a dangerous quest to outwit a centuries-old warning foretelling the fall of the Monarchy in this thrilling modern fairytale. In the center of the verdant Monarchy lies Dreadwillow Carse, a black and desolate bog that the happy people of the land do their best to ignore. Little is known about it, except for one dire warning: If any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall. Twelve-year-old Princess Jeniah yearns to know what the marsh could possibly conceal that might topple her family's thousand-year reign of peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, in the nearby town of Emberfell, where everyone lives with unending joy, a girl named Aon hides a sorrow she can never reveal. She knows that something in the carse--something that sings a haunting tune only Aon can hear--holds the cure for her sadness. Yet no matter how many times she tries to enter, the terror-inducing dreadwillow trees keep her away. After a chance meeting, Princess Jeniah and Aon hatch a plan to send Aon into the heart of the carse to unlock its darkest secret. But when Aon doesn't return, a guilt-stricken Jeniah must enter the carse to try and rescue her friend--even if it means risking the entire Monarchy. The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse weaves together classic fairy-tale elements--a princess, a forbidden land, and a dangerous quest--in a clever, fast-paced adventure that explores the importance of asking questions and the power of friendship.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Jeniah is only 12, but the impending death of her mother, Queen Sula, means that she faces a daunting task in ruling the Monarchy fairly and keeping its citizens happy. To do this, Jeniah attempts to obey her mother's command-"You must never set foot in Dreadwillow Carse"-but her curiosity and fascination with magic overcome her. She enlists 12-year-old Aon Greenlaw, who is searching for her father and the Crimson Hoods who took him, to uncover the bog's mysteries. In letters, Aon tells of her findings in the carse, and the girls learn that while others can easily forget their sadness and lost ones, they cannot. With only her tutor's bewildering lessons as a guide, Jeniah enters the carse herself and risks her kingdom's happiness when Aon goes missing. Farrey (the Vengekeep Prophecies series) blends subtle references to racial and sexual diversity with inventive fairy tale worldbuilding and enticing clues to the carse's mystery. The labyrinth of characters and dilemmas expands as the novel progresses, culminating in a rewarding ending that highlights the importance of embracing emotions, curiosity, and measured choices. Ages 8-12. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Princess Jeniah wants to heal her ill mother and believes the magic within Dreadwillow Carse can do that, but her visiting the bog is prophesied to end the monarchy. Jeniah enlists a peasant girl, Aon, to go in her stead, only to eventually follow after Aon in search of the Carse's darkest secrets. A quick-paced fairy tale centered on friendship, loyalty, and adventure. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Where Aon lives, everyone is happy. Always. Aon must be broken, though, because she often feels sad and is drawn to Dreadwillow Carse, a forest full of shadow and despair that everyone else avoids. When her father leaves to serve the queen, only Aon seems to remember him or grieve. Meanwhile, Princess Jeniah does not feel happy either. Her mother is dying, leaving young Jeniah ill-equipped to take over the kingdom. The queen's warning to avoid Dreadwillow Carse drives Jeniah to uncover the forest's secret. A chance meeting pairs the two, and Aon volunteers to explore the carse instead, in exchange for her father's return. What she discovers forces Jeniah to decide whether the happiness of many outweighs the suffering of a few. Perspective alternates between the two girls, and the magical land is thoroughly formed by the rich language and emotional resonance. Part fairy tale, part seemingly utopian society with a dark underbelly, this is a gripping, compelling story that will leave readers mulling over the ethical questions raised.--Harold, Suzanne Copyright 2016 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Set in a kingdom where everyone is expected to be happy at all times, this modern fairy tale features two 12-year-old girls who are each facing unbearable sadness. Princess Jeniah's mother is dying, leaving her to inherit a throne Jeniah does not yet feel ready for. On her deathbed, the queen warns Jeniah to stay out of Dreadwillow Carse, a mysterious bog that everyone in the kingdom avoids. Everyone, that is, except Aon, a village girl who is also facing excruciating sadness. After both her parents disappear, Aon feels drawn to the Carse and seeks it out as a place to grieve privately. After a chance meeting, the girls make a pact: Aon will explore the Carse for Jeniah, and Jeniah will search for and return Aon's father. But when Aon fails to come back from the Carse one evening, Jeniah must decide what is more important: heeding her mother's warning or trying to save her new friend's life. Using a strong British accent, narrator Ann Marie Gideon distinctively voices both girls, and each suspenseful chapter unfolds from their alternating perspectives. VERDICT Fantasy lovers will be drawn into this mysterious, magical world, and they will root for Jeniah and Aon as they uncover the bog's terrible secrets. ["A thoughtful, atmospheric fairy tale that tackles the subtleties of ethics and emotions": SLJ 3/16 starred review of the Algonquin book.]-Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
