SISTERS OF THE LOST MARSH

In Hollow-in-the-Marsh, having six daughters is considered a curse.

Third daughter Willa’s Dadder firmly believes in the curse: He trades Grace, his eldest, for a fine horse from a rich man who abuses his animals. The morning after a trip to the Full Moon Fayre—where Grace, second-oldest daughter Freya, and Willa learn that the fayre has an opening for a dancer—Grace is suddenly gone. In contrast to their father, their beloved, clever Grammy says that “superstitions do us harm—they bind us up with fear” and instead offers made-up stories that are “full of truth” and that are places “where we learn and feel and dream”; she has also secretly taught the girls to read, in opposition to a cultural taboo. Despite her love for her remaining four sisters and Grammy, when her father’s cruelty goes too far Willa runs away, setting off on an adventure to find Grace—and she steals her father’s fine horse to do so. The writing is impressively beautiful and sophisticated without sacrificing the reader-friendly clarity of the straightforward narrator. Willa’s innate goodness and iron will carry her through adventures and physical trials, pitting her against superstitions and fairy tales alike. Her eventual happy ending is rich and bittersweet thanks to new revelations and understanding. Characters read White. An author’s note details inspiration and geographical notes for the setting, which is British with an otherworldly feel.

So engrossing a tale and world that readers won’t want to come up for air.