scijessreads

I love a good magical quest story. And one that includes a misfit band of people coming together to work toward a common goal… even better. In so many fantasy books, the quest is long and arduous, and there are many twists and turns and betrayals along the way. Almost operatic, in many cases.

This one has some of those things but is also spare. That simplicity does not detract from the realness of the quest, the heartfelt desire of Marra to reach her goal. If anything, it makes it seem so much more real and important a journey.

Marra just wants to save her sister. And in the process meets up with a witch, a decidedly different sort of fairy godmother, and a warrior unable to go home. With her crew and her faithful Bonedog, she does the impossible to try to break a curse and save a queen.

This is a fairytale (and very much a folk tale) where the most unassuming group comes together for a singular moment. And along the way Marra finds out just how much she can do on her own, and with the help of others, to give a sister a chance to live.

There was beauty in the simplicity and realness of this story. And a demon chicken.