This Young Adult novel, which was a Newbery Honor book but should have won the medal, is a tour de force that defies description. Is it a historical mystery with traces of the occult (practiced only by the "baddies," of course) or a mythic fantasy set in Elizabethan England? I do not know, but I love it either way. The characters are excellent, Kate in particular, and the ballad of Tam Lin is interwoven very effectively.

The protagonist's imprisonment under the Hill reminded me a little of Kezi's term in the underworld from Gail Carson Levine's novel Ever, except that in this case there is more of a point to her suffering. The Fairy Folk themselves were handled in a very interesting manner, and I was never certain whether they were another race of creatures, or druid-like humans who had been in Britain for centuries. And they were interesting well-rounded characters too, not stock villains: though Kate returns to her own people's ways in the end, she tells the Lady that there were certain things she preferred about their world. That whole last chapter was excellent, but my favorite scene by far was the one in which she discusses the teind with the Fairy Queen, urging her that it need not be paid any more, on account of the Great King who paid it once and for all in a land far away. Somehow it didn't come off as preachy, and was fully in keeping with the way in which the character would have been brought up. Even if Elizabeth Marie Pope isn't a Christian—and I find that difficult to believe—she has a knack for explaining the Gospel.

Make sure you get a copy with the original illustrations by Richard Cuffari. They're lovely and really add to the atmosphere of the story. ( )

I really enjoyed this book, which I gather is a retelling of the "Tam Lin" legend. I love fairy tales, but one frequently annoying aspect of them is that the heroine is usually passive, while the hero gets to prove himself and have all the adventures. In this novel, though, it's Kate Sutton who is strong and practical, she who overcomes the obstacles and breaks the spell. The first couple chapters are slow, but stick with the book - there's some lovely writing, as well as a unique and entrancing view of the fairy-folk. Even though it's a so-called children's novel, there is plenty here to interest adults.

The Perilogus Gard is a retelling of Tam Lin set in Tudor England. Kate is sent to the remote, cold Elvenwood Hall (known as the Perilous Gard) and becomes caught up in the secrets of Elvenwood and the disappearance of a small girl.
It is very well written (I particularly noticed the way she used language - the vivid descriptions and the witty dialogue); it is a strong retelling of the ballad - notable for being the least confusing retelling I have read yet; Kate is a clever, determined and compassionate heroine; and the era is interesting because I have read remarkably few books set then. All in all, it is a fantastic story.

But it was the illustrations which I keep coming back to (rather than bits I want to reread, although I have to admit I've done that too.) They are pen and ink drawings, and initially I dismissed them because they didn't appear to me to be particularly attractive. However, they are well placed (so they neither appear too early and are a spoiler, or appear to late, after the event they depict), and incredibly interesting - their detail and emotion. On top of which, this detail is surprisingly faithful to the story.
I'm not used to there being illustrations in novels, not YA. My Narnia novels small ones - they don't have the same detail to them, and one of my copies of Jane Eyre has poorly placed (and not particularly attractive) coloured illustrations. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be so effective and interesting. ( )

This is another young adult book that I still like. A young man, the heir to his brother's holdings, is thought to have "killed' his niece in order to maintain his inheritance. A young girl is drawn to his angst and goes with him willingly when the elves take him in place of his niece. It's a great adventure story with a wonderful romance.
The writing is for adolescents so it moves quickly for adults. The plot is great and makes up for the more simple language. Still on my favorites shelf. ( )

A young adult version of Tam Lin done as a novel set in tudor England. The heroine, snappish but intelligent, is sent into exile from court because of her (simpering idiot) sister's error. Alone in a strange castle, she seems to have stepped into a gothic novel with ruffs - a handsome man who is blamed for a child's death, a staff who are shifty, a lord of the manor who hates his home, and haughty gypsies.. who turn out to be remnant pagans.

There is a very low magic count in this fantasy, and a lot of the mystery is open to a scientific explanation if you squint, but it's a deeply satisfying story - the explanation in this of who the sidhe were was original and functional, both, and the irritable courtship of the romantic leads rereads well.

The current paperback cover is hideous. ( )