Rough-and-tumble Saturday Woodcutter thinks she's the only one of her sisters without any magic - until the day she accidentally conjures an ocean in the backyard. With her sword in tow, Saturday sets sail on a pirate ship, only to find herself kidnapped and whisked off to the top of the world. Is Saturday powerful enough to kill the mountain witch who holds her captive and save the world from sure destruction? And, as she wonders grumpily, "Did romance have to be part of the adventure?" As in Enchanted, readers will revel in the fragments of fairy tales that embellish this action-packed story of adventure and, yes, romance.
I am so silly in love with this book and this world and all of these characters. Saturday wasn't even my favorite sister and I really don't like cross dressing stories. But this one is whimsical and fun and not awkward at all. And Saturday, though stubborn and obtuse, is also clever and strong and becomes much more interesting as her heart lets go a little. I like how she didn't fall in love so much as surrender to it.
And Peregrine is awesome. His story is good but it really comes to life with Saturday and I enjoyed the things they shared. And Betwixt was awesome. Kontis' characters are so well developed and so much fun to read. Their witty and stubborn and bold and fearful and I really, really like spending time with them.
Perhaps most of all I love the fairy tales. They are woven into this story with such an elegant simplicity. And beyond the themes and elements of fairy tales, this is a story written with the very nature of a fairy tale. It's dark but also beautiful and light and fun but sad and hard - it's a delightful story that doesn't dull the edges of things that are difficult.
I'm so impressed with how the world opens up at the end and how we get a glimpse of the larger story that's unfolding. I'm so excited for every single sister's story and to see how they're woven together like one of Friday's patchwork skirts!
