Synopsis
In 1558, while exiled by Queen Mary Tudor to a remote castle known as Perilous Gard, young Kate Sutton becomes involved in a series of mysterious events that lead her to an underground world peopled by Fairy Folk—whose customs are even older than the Druids’ and include human sacrifice.
Children's Literature
This reissue of a 1975 Newbery Honor Book filled with myth, magic and mystery should appeal to fans of Harry Potter. In this tale set in 1558, Katherine Sutton, an attendant to Princess Elizabeth, is banished through no fault of her own to a remote and fearsome castle, Perilous Gard. In this isolated spot, she can't help investigating the mysterious happenings no one will talk about. When she discovers that fairies guard the profitable magic well at Perilous Gard, she ends up a prisoner in the underground fairyland. The Queen of the Fairies is impressed with Kate's courage, so allows her special privileges when she completes her menial chores. As Kate explores this strange world, she discovers that her friend, Christopher, is imprisoned there. He is being prepared as the human sacrifice the fairies must offer to maintain their power. She vows to save him and uses all her strength and ingenuity to succeed. This ends, as do most good fairy tales, with the heroine living happily ever after. Cleverly written descriptions and dialog bring the Tudor times to life. For example, the author describes Kate's ancestor who founded the family fortunes thus—"Sir Giles had started life as a common merchant seaman (the malicious rumor that he had been a pirate was almost universally discredited), and though in the end he had grown rich and died knighted, it was not for his grace or good looks." 2001 (orig. 1974), Houghton Mifflin, $5.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley<%ISBN%>0618150730