Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale
Dec. 6th, 2007 09:59 pmBook of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
306 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/YA
Under normal circumstances, this book would have been a thumbs-up for me; Hale is an established author in my books and has yet to disappoint. But this new novel is--take note,![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
oyceter!--set in medieval Mongolia. And all of the characters are Mongolian (complete with in-text illustrations that portray these characters as clearly Asian). Hell, the research even seems thorough and authentic. It's almost too good to be true. For this alone, you should read Book of a Thousand Days.
Even if you aren't particularly interested in Mongolia, it's a worthwhile read. Breezy, like most YA, but also lyrical and touching. I cried at a one point even though I knew that this was a young adult fairy tale with certain ending constraints. Two of Hale's major themes are freedom and classism, both of which I heartily support. It was fascinating to observe Dashti's slow personal transformation. I felt sorry for her at first, but as time passed I found myself pitying Saren much more.
Nitpicks: The ending was a little too neat, although plausible. Lady Vachir's characterization is flat. And how did Tegus accept Dashti's last lie so easily? She's a proven mucker, after all.
But those are extremely minor. I can't recommend this novel enough, and not only because of MONGOLIA. (What does it say about the majority of fantasy/young adult books today, that I feel the need to shout?)
by Shannon Hale
306 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/YA
Under normal circumstances, this book would have been a thumbs-up for me; Hale is an established author in my books and has yet to disappoint. But this new novel is--take note,
oyceter!--set in medieval Mongolia. And all of the characters are Mongolian (complete with in-text illustrations that portray these characters as clearly Asian). Hell, the research even seems thorough and authentic. It's almost too good to be true. For this alone, you should read Book of a Thousand Days.Even if you aren't particularly interested in Mongolia, it's a worthwhile read. Breezy, like most YA, but also lyrical and touching. I cried at a one point even though I knew that this was a young adult fairy tale with certain ending constraints. Two of Hale's major themes are freedom and classism, both of which I heartily support. It was fascinating to observe Dashti's slow personal transformation. I felt sorry for her at first, but as time passed I found myself pitying Saren much more.
Nitpicks: The ending was a little too neat, although plausible. Lady Vachir's characterization is flat. And how did Tegus accept Dashti's last lie so easily? She's a proven mucker, after all.
But those are extremely minor. I can't recommend this novel enough, and not only because of MONGOLIA. (What does it say about the majority of fantasy/young adult books today, that I feel the need to shout?)
