Book of a Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

[wyvernfriend]

Loosely based on the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale "Maid Maleen" , "Book of a Thousand Days" begins with the sealing in of maid Dashti and her mistress, Lady Saren. Saren has refused to marry Lord Khasar and her father imprisons her in a tower with enough food to last seven years to see if she would change her mind.

Dashi is a Mucker, or nomad, who has healing songs and an ability to cope. Saren has a break down when she realises that there is no way out.

This is told from the point of view of Dashi, it's a world a lot unlike the regular fantasy world and it's a good thing for that, Dashi is an interesting character and when Saren makes her pretend to be her she does question the morality of the act and does think it through on the page. She is a loyal servant who eventually gets a reward and the relationships in the story are well told and believable.

I look forward to reading more by Shannon Hale.