Murkmere

Patricia Elliot makes a compelling YA fantasy out of old-fashioned elements: an old, decrepit mansion in the North Country with a crippled master and many mysteries, a petulant heiress to be brought out of her shell, and a good-hearted servant-girl protagonist. The quasi-18th century feel evokes the marvelous YA novels of Joan Aiken, to whom Elliot is a worthy successor. But while the building blocks are almost Victorian, the putting-together has the sensibilities of modern fantasy as well. The setting is remsniscient of Cromwellian England, with the populace ruled by religious superstition and a harsh Ministration. The mysterious figures Aggie finds at _Murkmere_ are not merely hiding missing children or grieving widowers, but, shape-shifters and heterodoxy. Persecution, censorship, and religious dogmatism are all taken on as the plot moves toward more than just a story of frienship gained and trust won. In spite of its heroine Aggie's journey from obedient believer in authority to revolutionary, _Murkmere_ never comes close to didacticism or allegory. Aggie's personal journey is gradual and entirely her own: she does not immediately abandon the worldview she has been raised with. Elliot's treatment of religion is one of the high points of her world-building here. She creates an interesting set of doctrines, myths, and superstitions which for her world to interpret that approximate the function of the early-modern Church without being merely an imitation of Christianity. The very fact that this can be described as "a YA fantasy with themes of heterodoxy versus orthodoxy" would make it worthy of multiple stars. Attention to character is what really distinguishes _Murkmere_ from the standard run of YA fantasy. Aggie makes mistakes in judgement from naivete, fear, and misunderstanding. Even when she and her mistress Miss Leah come to a tentative detente, their relationship fluctuates constantly with Leah's arrogance and impatience, and Aggie's stubbornness. By the time Leah and Aggie really do unite to work together in the book's climactic chapters, it is an alliance, but not necessarily a dear friendship. While it is certainly a fantasy, _Murkmere_ is at root a story about people.

I would actually give this book 3 or 2.5 stars for the first few chapters then 5 stars for every other chapter. This book is set in a very different belief system then ours, based on birds, which is never really explained. It makes sense as the book goes along, but makes it hard to get into the story at first. It is a gloomy sort of slow to develope story, which does develope into a great story . . . if you stick with it. Its a good sort of Jane Eyre kind of gloom. Characters are not always what they seem, so stick with it and you will not be disappointed.

Reviewed by Sarah Corley (age 13) for Reader Views (03/07) Agnes Cotter, who lives with her Aunt Jennet in the village, takes up a position at Murkmere Hall as companion to the crippled Master's ward Leah, whom he keeps hidden behind the high walls of his estate. Agnes' mother worked as a maid at Murkmere before her death. Agnes wears an amber amulet for protection and sees signs in the appearance of different species of birds. She keeps in touch with her childhood friend, Jethro Sim, who does not want her to work at Murkmere, and has his own secrets. At first, Miss Leah does not welcome a companion, but over time and with many misunderstandings, she and Aggie develop a degree of friendship. Leah visits the frozen lake at every opportunity to commune with its swans, who allow her close to them. The villain of the piece is the estate's handsome steward Silas Steed, whom the Master foolishly trusts, but who has his own ambitious plans. These come to fruition at Leah's birthday celebration, which is attended by the Lord Protector himself, along with his wise fool Gobchick. "Murkmere" is an interesting, at times slow moving, tale of a young woman's coming of age, and how she attacks and makes it through many conflicts between loyalty and faith. The story has a surprising ending that leaves you begging for more.

Fifteen-year-old Agnes Cotter, aka Aggie, always expected to live the rest of her life in the village on the Eastern Edge, where she grew up under the care of her Aunt Jennet, a recently retired schoolteacher. Aggie has never questioned the rule of the Ministration or the power of the divine beings --- the Birds. Aggie and her Aunt Jennet, like many of the villagers, wear amulets as a source of protection from the Birds of the Night and a symbol of devotion for the Eagle, even though Aggie is fearful of his absolute power. When the Master of Murkmere Hall, a member of the Ministration, seeks Aggie to be a companion to his ward, she accepts, seeing the job as an opportunity to improve her life and that of her aunt's. Little does she realize just how difficult the job will be. When Aggie passes through the gates of Murkmere, she immediately has an uneasy feeling as she sees the rooks nesting above her. She continues to feel out of place when she meets the estate's steward Silas Seed and the housekeeper Miss Crumplin, whose disdainful remarks about Aggie's deceased mother Eliza makes Aggie uncomfortable but curious to know more about the life her mother had while working at Murkmere years before. Then Aggie meets the mysterious Mr. Tunstall, the Master bounded to a wheelchair as the result of a terrible accident, and his ward Leah. A moody, restless girl who prefers to visit the mere and its swans every chance she gets, Leah often eludes her sour-faced maid Doggett, aka Dog, who quickly sees Aggie as an enemy rather than a friend. Leah makes it clear that she would rather not have a companion or be at Murkmere at all. When Aggie voices her concern about Leah to the Master, she sees that the Master cares for Leah even though his protectiveness makes Leah --- and later Aggie --- feel imprisoned behind the gates of the estate, just as the Master himself seems to be from behind the iron bars that restrain him in his wheelchair. The Master's overprotectiveness, his rumored secret "blasphemous" book collection, and the dangerous machine in the estate's watchtower add to the mystery that surrounds Murkmere. While Aggie settles into her new life, she soon discovers that the devout charming Silas is not as dutiful as he seems and becomes entangled in a deadly web of secrets and lies involving Murkmere, the village, and even the Capital. As the celebration of Leah's 16th birthday approaches, Aggie realizes she must save Leah and herself, or else be trapped in the mysterious Murkmere forever. MURKMERE is a well-crafted fantasy that teems with suspense, intrigue and symbolism --- all the while remaining descriptive of the haunting scenery that brings Aggie and Leah's story to life. --- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle ([email protected])

This book is an example of how intelligent young adult fantasy can be, and should be a benchmark by which others in the genre are judged. It is completely intoxicating, and engaging to the point you let dinner burn on the stove as you can't bear to put it down! It is, as the saying goes, a "thumping good read." Borrowing from the gothic tradition of literature, _Murkmere_ is a great brooding, dark sort of book. It's dark in the way _Wuthering Heights_ is, with the setting being as much a dominating force as any of the characters. It also reminds me of the wonderful Gormenghast series of books, to the extent I wonder if Elliott wasn't influenced by them. The imagery is just gorgeous, and allows even this jaded adult reader to completely lose all sense of the outside world while reading it. The characters are brilliantly drawn and sympathetic from the start, and the use of myth and legend is done with just the right touch. Elliott writes with such a graceful flair, and never falls into the trap of being self-conscious. You can tell she believes in what she's writing, which makes the magic of it all absolutely take flight. I read a fair amount in this area of fiction, and aside from the Harry Potter books and a few other gems I haven't found anything at all that's as completely consuming as this book. I can only hope Ms. Elliott keeps writing, and the more prolific she is the better! A brilliant book. If there were a higher than 5 star rating I would give it!