Plain Kate
Plain Kateby Erin Bow
Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square.For Kate and her village have fallen on hard times. Kate’s father has died, leaving her alone in the world. And a mysterious fog now covers the countryside, ruining crops and spreading fear of hunger and sickness. The townspeople are looking for someone to blame, and their eyes have fallen on Kate.Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he’ll give Kate the means to escape the angry town, and what’s more, he’ll grant her heart’s wish. It’s a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes she can't live shadowless forever -- and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed. (goodreads.com)
I have struggled to write this review since I finished the book on September 22. When I first finished the book I knew I needed a least a day to get over how emotional I was. Two days later I was still tearing up when I would tell people about the book. I just cannot find the words to express how much this book made me feel and how strongly I adore everything about it.Do NOT be like me and pick up the book in the store because the cover interests you but you don't know much about the book so you put it back and then curse yourself all week because you've changed your mind and you CAN'T GET A COPY TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. True story.Plain Kate is beautifully written, like reading a painting that's coming to life before your very eyes. This is pure, simple, folk story that will capture your heart within the first few pages. I am not kidding when I say this book made me weep for a handful of days after I finished it. Weeping in a good way. The story is emotional, heartwarming, heartbreaking and captivating. From the first pages I felt Kate's emotions like they were my own. I could taste her fear and loneliness on my tongue. I felt her joy and sadness, so real to me.Kate and Taggle are two of the best characters ever. Taggle might even win as best character in a book ever in my mind.Erin Bow wrote a powerful and magical tale and is a perfect example of how to write a beautiful book and an amazing story. And all of this for a debut author. More! More!!I don't know who has the power to get books nominated for fancy awards, but I want this book up on every book award nomination list in the world. I want this book to win copious amounts of awards for how brilliant it is.I have read many fantastic novels so far this year but I will, hands down, proclaim that Plain Kate is the book that I will remember the most. It is the most emotional (in a good way) book I have read in years. I can't recall the last time I felt so much after finishing a book that I couldn't read ANYTHING ELSE for over a week because I couldn't get it out of my head.In fact I have gone back to an old favourite right now - the Witches of Eileanan series, because I started and stopped 4 books since finishing Plain Kate. I need to wait until the book leaves my system and then... I might read it again.