Kingfisher is new spin on an old tale that makes it feel shiny and nearly brand new. I'm not going to say more than that, b/c the more you're free to discover for yourself, the better. The world was vibrant with color, which only served to make the goings-on more creeptastic. Rhea had a showdown with a bullying, lunch-stealing swan that ended in excrement.īut I stuck with it, and our girl showed surprising backbone and intelligence.īeyond that, the retelling was delightful. It's hard enough to stomach a fifteen-year-old girl marrying a man her father's age-I don't care that once upon a time it was perfectly acceptable, now it's illegal and disgusting-but when said fifteen-year-old girl acts even younger than her numerical age. Kingfisher is the persona she uses while writing for adults. The contrast by itself would have made it difficult to adjust, but I was also expecting a more mature story-it specifically says on the author's Goodreads page that T. I had just finished THE BLACK COMPANY (which is darrrrrrk), and this had the bubblegum sweetness of a middle grade story. I struggled a little bit in the beginning. THE SEVENTH BRIDE is an interesting twist of the original, and it is as fantastical as it is clever. Curiosity overwhelms her, and she finds a way into the room, where she discovers. She has freedom to explore the many rooms of her new residence, but she is expressly forbidden to enter ONE of them. He immediately has to leave (b/c reasons).

Not a fairytale I was very familiar with, but I knew the basics: wealthy, lord(-like) guy marries a pretty, young thing and takes her home. Revised edition: This edition of The Seventh Bride includes editorial revisions. With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”

Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding.

Since commoners don’t turn down lords-no matter how sinister they may seem-Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement. Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage.

The seventh bride by t kingfisher