Murkmere

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FEB 20, 2006

This fantasy, an absorbing coming-of-age tale, centers on 15-year-old narrator Agnes, an orphan living in the desolate fenland of the Eastern Edge. The novel opens as the lord of Murkmere Hall, an isolated estate, has sent for Agnes to act as a companion to his ward, Leah, who was left as a foundling at his gates. Leah, a moody and wild adolescent, also 15, delights in escaping Aggie's watchful eye to go to the mere (which gives the castle its name) in order to be with the swans. The citizens of this land believe that birds are divine creatures, and some suspect that Leah is one of the cursed avia half-bird, half-human feared and hated by the villagers and outlawed by the ruling Ministration. The political and social climate for this bleak, joyless and puritanical fantasy land bears a strong resemblance to Oliver Cromwell's England (this land is also ruled by a Lord Protector). Elliott's (The Ice Boy) evocative prose describes the damp, dank castle and its surroundings so well that readers, too, may feel the chill. The warmth of the novel comes through the growing friendship between the two teen companions. Aggie's narration reflects her initial sense of awe and trepidation, then her growing sense of confidence as the story progresses and her strong conviction that others on the estate may not be what they seem. A gripping story. Ages 12-up.