rsadelle: (0)
Ruth Sadelle Alderson ([personal profile] rsadelle) wrote in [community profile] yuletide 2019-09-28 09:37 pm (UTC)

FANDOM NAME: Quest for a Maid by Frances Mary Hendry

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT:
Back of the book summary:
When I was nine years old, I hid under a table and heard my sister kill a king.

Meg's sister Inge is a witch, and the spell she uses to kill King Alexander sets in motion a power struggle which threatens to tear Scotland apart. When Meg is chosen for the perilous journey to bring the rightful queen home to rule, she finds herself challenging Inge's power, and discovering more strength in herself than anyone knew she had.
Some other plot points that may intrigue you:
- As a child, Meg saves Davie Spens from drowning. Davie has a harelip, and no one but Meg can understand him. Their fathers betroth them and Meg moves from her father's Norwegian-style hall and into the Spens house to learn from Mistress Spens.
- While living with the Spens, Meg uses her smarts to save Peem Jackson, a cottar's son who helped save them from drowning, from his cruel overlord. Peem then becomes Meg's devoted manservant.
- Meg's father builds them a boat, and Master Spens teaches them to sail.
- There are fun sailing adventures!
- Meg, who speaks Norse, goes with the party to fetch the Maid of Norway, the rightful heir to the throne.
- There are seafaring adventures, and intrigue!
- Meg, Peem, Davie, and Marie, the Maid, become a found family.

This is a children's book, so it is a quick, easy read if you want to pick up a great historical novel with an engaging girl protagonist.

WHERE CAN I FIND IT?: Worldcat shows holdings at many libraries. IndieBound can help you find a copy at a bookstore near you.

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