A Book of a Thousand Days- Shannon Hale

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years because of Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, the other decidedly less so—the girls are confronted with both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

With Shannon Hale’s lyrical language, this little-known classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset in a land inspired by the Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.

My Review

Again Shannon Hale create an epic story out of a little known Grimm's Fairy Tale. Her Asian retelling is full of adventure, culture, and intrigue. Dashti is a very interesting character. Her lady is being imprisoned because she fears the suitor her father choose for her, yet Dashti to is being punished. Dashti could have left her lady like the rest of the servants, but the loyalty formed caused her to make the bold choice to stay in the tower for seven years. Throughout the story, Dashti begins to challenge the "heavenly highness" of the nobles, including her lady. Her story is told from a first person perspective in the form of a diary. It tells of their life in the tower and all of the things that Dashti has had to do for Saren because of her lady's fear. The Muckers were a neat culture of people to learn about. Dashti is one of them and like the rest of her people knows how to sing the healing songs. The healing songs awaken the body and reminds it how to heal itself. A brilliant idea on Shannon Hale's part. Saren's secret seemed a little strange and out of place in this book. I won't tell you what it was so that I don't give it away, but it was like putting Twilight in Eragon. It doesn't work. Also Saren's love life is at stake. The Prince that she chose for herself has never met her. This sets the perfect stage for Dashti to step in and pretend to her lady. Saren chose him because of the dread for her Father's choice. Eventually, Dashti finds herself in danger because of her devotion to Saren. Will Saren ever learn to gather up her courage as a noble and do things on her own? A very good question, a very good one indeed.

Stars: 4.5 out of 5