Book review #2
This story is loosely based on the Grimm's Fairytale "Maid Maleen". Hale has chosen to put her tale in a Mongolian setting. I have to give Hale her due the book seems very well researched and Hale uses a consistent voice throughout the novel. Unfortunately, I think that many people find the first person diarist style that is used in the novel less pleasant to read. Couple that with the fact that the main character Dashti's voice is somewhat halting and voila many people say that this is a disappointing work by Ms. Hale.
But I didn't read the book the first time I "read" it; I listened to a audio copy of the book and I have to say that the book is very well designed to be read aloud. I loved the story and thought that it was Hale's best book yet. So this month when I chose it for my bookclub to read and actually "read" the book I didn't enjoy it as much as I had when I had listened to it. The book didn't flow as well when I was reading it as it had when I had listened to it.
I still think that this is one of Shannon's great books and I would recommend it any young female reader. But if the child (or adult) that you are recommending the book for isn't much of a reader then perhaps have them listen to this one instead of reading it. The story is definitely worth it!
I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
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