It went slowly in the middle but had a great second part. ( )

Read simply because it was written by Shannon Hale, I'll admit that the blurb on the back didn't immediately grab me, seeming to be for younger readers. Trusting Hale's wonderful writing though, I persevered and am so glad that I did!

Our heroine is Dashti, a mucker maid who joins the service of Lady Saren, moments before the Lady is locked away in a tower by her father, for refusing to marry Lord Khasar and betrothing herself to the young Khan Tegus. Saren becomes miserable in her seclusion and Dashti uses all her healing skills to help comfort her. After two and a half years in the tower, with the very real threat of Lord Khasar in the city, the girls make an escape, only to find new challenges and difficulties on their path to freedom.

The story is a lot more complicated that that, but the intricacies of Hale's storytelling are a delight to read, thus I do not want to spoil them for you here. The Book of a Thousand Days is another adaptation of a fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, Maid Maleen. Although clearly based on a fairytale, I also found this story interesting socially and is a classic adventure romance.

Dashti is a lovely character, plucky though resigned to her status and position in society, she is primarily very loyal to her Lady and takes her role very seriously. Tegus is a good lead male character, though with the all important flaws. I found Lady Saren most irritating at first, but her character and the orders she often gives Dashti added a great deal of mystery for me, and I was curious throughout the tale what her motivation might be.

I would recommend it for anyone who loves a good fairytale retelling, or simply a good yarn.

Loosely based on the fairy tale "Maid Maleen" (Grimm Brothers), "Book of a Thousand Days" begins with the imprisonment of maid Dashti and her mistress, Lady Saren. The story is Dashti's journal account of their time in the tower, their escape, and the events that follow. Raised to revere the upper classes as almost god-like beings, she does her best to protect her lady and restore Lady Saren to her rightful place. Dashti emerges as an intelligent, resourceful, and loyal companion, even as she comes to see her mistress in a less than favorable light.
The story is fast-paced and entertaining and Dashti is an engaging heroine. While some may say the ending is wraps up too neatly, this is a fairy tale and they are supposed to end with the villains dead and everyone else living happily ever after.

Shannon Hale is a Newbery Honor-winning author ( for her novel "Princess Academy") and has written several other acclaimed fairy-tale themed books for teens. ( )

Although I didn’t know it when I originally chose to read the book, this story is based on a little known fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, the same people who brought us the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and many others. As one might expect, the tale is as inviting as the others, and I found myself pulled in by the story.

To read the rest of my review, please visit:
http://www.dorolerium.com/?p=784 ( )

very interesting historical fiction book with a surprise twist ending ( )