The first little bit of the story is set in modern day Australia, then the next quarter or so in modern day Scotland. The protagonist is a 12 year old girl who discovers, upon travelling to Scotland to meet her father's family for the first time, that her family is cursed. She then manages to travel back to the Scotland of Mary Queen of Scots in order to remove the curse by solving various mysteries. It all sounds a bit ridiculous when set out like that, but it is typical Kate Forsyth: meticulously researched, but written in such a way that the research is not intrusive. The only little criticism I'd make of it is that the plot did seem a bit rushed towards the end; it perhaps would have benefited by being released as two books rather than one.
My favourite Kate Forsyth books are still by far her Witches of Eileanan series but I suspect I would very much have liked this, and her other books aimed at children/young adults, when I was in primary school. Speaking of which, I'm about to go and scour the library for the second and third volumes of her Chronicles of Estelliana series which I didn't realise had been published.
This post is part of my 2012 reading challenge.
4 comments:
I loved the Witches of Eileanan series as well so I might just have to add these other books of hers to my library list too :)
Thanks!
Thank you so much for reading & reviewing 'The Puzzle Ring' for me - I'm glad you enjoyed it, though I'm sorry you thought it a little rushed at the end. (I thought I was quickening pace towards the climax :)) It was such a wonderful book to write - I took my 3 children to Scotland and we stayed in a haunted castle, went monster hunting on Loch Ness, visited the Isle of Skye, and, of course, all the places mentioned in the book, which ar real places. 'The Puzzle Ring' is one of my favourites, so I'm always happy when someone else likes it - so thanks again!
PS: did you know I'm about to publish my first adult book in 8 years. It's called Bitter Greens and its a retelling of the Rapunzel fairytale, as an historical novel. It's no coincidence that my youngest is turning 8 the week it is published (I couldn't keep on writing such big, complex books with 3 chidlren under the age of 6!)
I have yet to read anything by Kate Forsyth though I have an ARC of her adult novel to read next month
Thanks for sharing your review for the Eclectic Reader Challenge
Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
Have you read the Chain of Charms series?? I thought they were just excellent. I didn't realise she has two further book in the series and I am off to The Library to place a Hold on The Puzzle Ring anon!!
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