Summary: Kate Sutton, lady-in-waiting to the Lady Elizabeth, thought her life had turned upside-down when her mistress was exiled to a drafty manor house far away from her jealous sister, Queen Mary. But circumstances for Kate take a turn for the worse when she ends up being punished for something her airheaded younger sister is responsible for. As a result, she is exiled even further away to a mansion under the keep of Sir Geoffrey Heron. But there is something very strange about Elvenwood Hall, not the least of which being the people who live there. Though warned against it, Kate befriends Sir Geoffrey's troubled younger brother Christopher Heron, and together they become caught up in the mystery surrounding the Perilous Gard. In the end, only Kate and her ready wit can save Christopher and herself.
Violence/Disturbing Images: Minimal; according to Druidic ritual a teind (human sacrifice) must be paid, however the ritual is never actually gone through with.
Sensuality/Nudity: Minimal; mention of a ballad in which a woman "claims" her lover; character is asked whether she loves another character; characters become engaged (Note: any romance is mostly in the background until the end of the story)
Profanity: One reference to the "d---ned" souls in hell
Morality: Good. While there is repeated reference to the Druid religion, it is portrayed as barbaric and flawed. Kate apparently belongs to the most-accepted religion of the day, the Church of England, and particularly in one scene combats the Druidic superstition with the truth of Jesus and the Bible. Her feelings about faith are limited to that one scene however.
Since the first time I read it, The Perilous Gard has held an honored place in my bookshelf. It possesses all my favorite elements to a book! Adventure, history, a hint of fantasy, a dash of mystery, and a relatable main character. I wasn't aware of the fact that this was Elizabeth Pope's retelling of an old folk tale, but it makes the story all the more interesting to me!
Overall Recommendation: Ages 12+
God bless!
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