Sisters of the Lost Marsh

Starred review from December 19, 2022
In medieval village Hollow-in-the-Marsh, the Curse of the Six Daughters is said to afflict any family with six girls, such as that of 12-year-old Willa and her five sisters, who live on a farm with story-loving Grammy and mercurial, alcohol-reliant Dadder. Though reading is largely forbidden, Grammy hides a trove of books in their home, including Tales of the Marshes, a collection of folktales written by their late mother. Seeking to avoid the curse, Dadder arranges to marry off eldest sister Grace to a wealthy—and potentially cruel—older man in exchange for a valuable horse. But Grace disappears following the magical Full Moon Fayre, where a fortune teller advises her, “Run.” A season later, she still hasn’t returned; when Dadder becomes more threatening and considers marrying off another daughter to the same man, Willa sets off to join Grace, with Tales of the Marshes in tow. Via taut pacing, complex plotting and memorable heroines, Strange (The Ghost of Midnight Lake) renders a standout work of historical fantasy, weaving nuanced familial and social dynamics against an atmospheric marshland setting. All characters cue as white. Ages 8–12.

December 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 Strange spins a folk-style tale of superstition, magic, family love, and self-determination in her account of the six Fernsby sisters of Hollow-in-the-Marsh. At 12 years old, Willa is seething with anger at her father for betrothing her eldest sister, Grace, to well-to-do but unkind Silas Kirby. Mr. Fernsby, however, considers his family beholden to an old rhyme that, if disregarded, will curse him for having six daughters; accordingly, Grace must marry well. The arrival of the magical Full Moon Fayre provides a welcome distraction for the girls, but when Grace disappears as the fair moves on, Mr. Fernsby takes his rage out on his remaining daughters. Sure that Grace has joined the Full Moon Fayre, Willa strikes out to join her, weathering many dangers on her journey. Original fairy tales thread their way through the atmospheric narrative, which sheds light on Willa's family history as well as the shadows cast by willful ignorance. What's more, women emerge as strong figures in control of their own fates in a world that doesn't always offer them agency.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 6, 2023

Gr 3-7-Strange (Secret of Nightingale Wood) immerses readers in a timeless historical fiction tale based on the real exploits of locals residing in Britain's Romney Marsh. The marsh is located in East Sussex where the author wholeheartedly conveys the loneliness and isolation of the villagers. Narrator Willa Fernsby, 12, is one of six motherless girls living on a farm with their abusive father and ahead-of-her-times grammy. Willa's dad is tortured by superstition and an elusive curse forces him to marry off his eldest daughter, Grace. When Grace runs away, Willa goes on a quest to bring her back and salvage her family. Readers will be swept up in the beguiling setting, rural folklore, witchcraft, adventure, and sisterhood. The ending paves the way for a sequel featuring further experiences of the Fernsby girls. This is an age-appropriate mystery for those who enjoy reading about divergent experiences of young women who don't fit the mold in history. VERDICT Strange has crafted a novel that is ideal for fans of Alcott's Little Women, and those who like stories of capable and tenacious girls overcoming adversity.-Laura Dooley-Taylor

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2023
Because of a (fictional) traditional rhyme that claims -- or threatens -- six motherless sisters' destinies according to birth order, their violent, often-drunk Dadder trades the beautiful eldest, Grace, as wife in exchange for a horse. When Grace escapes to avoid her fate and disappears with the seasonal fair, Willa, the second sister, sets off to fetch her back. Pursued by Dadder and his nasty fiance, Willa and the horse traverse marsh and mire to retrieve Grace and, somehow, persuade Dadder to undo her betrothal. But Willa can't find Grace with the fair: could it be she has become prey to the fabled Marsh King? Strange (The Ghost of Midnight Lake, rev. 3/22) draws on the horror of folktales of Britain's Romney Marsh in this quasi-medieval gothic fantasy. Girls are at the mercy of their fathers; reading is suspect; clever, articulate elders are punished with the ­ducking stool or murdered as witches. The story has a strong "and then" quality, as Willa rides off now here, now there; there's a certain ebullience (vigorously enhanced by the irrepressible youngest sisters), a handful of mysteries, and plenty of mire-y, marsh-lit atmosphere to keep readers immersed. Deirdre F. Baker

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 1, 2022
In Hollow-in-the-Marsh, having six daughters is considered a curse. Third daughter Willa's Dadder firmly believes in the curse: He trades Grace, his eldest, for a fine horse from a rich man who abuses his animals. The morning after a trip to the Full Moon Fayre--where Grace, second-oldest daughter Freya, and Willa learn that the fayre has an opening for a dancer--Grace is suddenly gone. In contrast to their father, their beloved, clever Grammy says that "superstitions do us harm--they bind us up with fear" and instead offers made-up stories that are "full of truth" and that are places "where we learn and feel and dream"; she has also secretly taught the girls to read, in opposition to a cultural taboo. Despite her love for her remaining four sisters and Grammy, when her father's cruelty goes too far Willa runs away, setting off on an adventure to find Grace--and she steals her father's fine horse to do so. The writing is impressively beautiful and sophisticated without sacrificing the reader-friendly clarity of the straightforward narrator. Willa's innate goodness and iron will carry her through adventures and physical trials, pitting her against superstitions and fairy tales alike. Her eventual happy ending is rich and bittersweet thanks to new revelations and understanding. Characters read White. An author's note details inspiration and geographical notes for the setting, which is British with an otherworldly feel. So engrossing a tale and world that readers won't want to come up for air. (Fantasy. 8-15)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2023
Because of a (fictional) traditional rhyme that claims -- or threatens -- six motherless sisters' destinies according to birth order, their violent, often-drunk Dadder trades the beautiful eldest, Grace, as wife in exchange for a horse. When Grace escapes to avoid her fate and disappears with the seasonal fair, Willa, the second sister, sets off to fetch her back. Pursued by Dadder and his nasty fianc�, Willa and the horse traverse marsh and mire to retrieve Grace and, somehow, persuade Dadder to undo her betrothal. But Willa can't find Grace with the fair: could it be she has become prey to the fabled Marsh King? Strange (The Ghost of Midnight Lake, rev. 3/22) draws on the horror of folktales of Britain's Romney Marsh in this quasi-medieval gothic fantasy. Girls are at the mercy of their fathers; reading is suspect; clever, articulate elders are punished with the ducking stool or murdered as witches. The story has a strong "and then" quality, as Willa rides off now here, now there; there's a certain ebullience (vigorously enhanced by the irrepressible youngest sisters), a handful of mysteries, and plenty of mire-y, marsh-lit atmosphere to keep readers immersed.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)