Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede
Title: Thirteenth Child
Author: Patricia Wrede
Series: Frontier Magic #1.
Genre: Alternate history fantasy
Reason for Reading: This is an odd one. I heard this book being criticized as part of Racefail 09, and I felt like I didn't want to attack or defend it without reading it myself. (You can see my personal journal for what I thought about that, I'm not going to go into it here.)
Copyright Date: 2009
Cover: Parchment backing, little stencil shapes of a dragon, a windmill, and a horse and cart, Old West style typeface.
First line: "Everybody knows that a seventh son is lucky."
Best part: I really enjoyed the plot.
Worst part: I was able to see the plot twists coming quite a ways off.
Imaginary Theme Song: "Superstitious" by Stevie Wonder
Grade: B-
Recommended for: Fans of Harry Turtledove, Kim Newman, and other alternate history writers.
Related Reads: Territory by Emma Bull is the only one I can think of. This is a niche genre for sure.
Eff is a thirteenth child. Believed inherently wicked, she is the object of superstition and fear among all that she meets. Lan, her twin brother, is a double-seven - the seventh son of a seventh son. Believed inherently good and powerful, he is the object of praise and admiration among all that he meets. But now Eff's parents are moving out to the frontier, where no one knows that Eff is a thirteenth child. Will she finally get a chance to come into her own?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It is sweet and original. According to Wrede's website, it is the first in a trilogy. Recommended to Old West fans and those who like YA fantasy.
Author: Patricia Wrede
Series: Frontier Magic #1.
Genre: Alternate history fantasy
Reason for Reading: This is an odd one. I heard this book being criticized as part of Racefail 09, and I felt like I didn't want to attack or defend it without reading it myself. (You can see my personal journal for what I thought about that, I'm not going to go into it here.)
Copyright Date: 2009
Cover: Parchment backing, little stencil shapes of a dragon, a windmill, and a horse and cart, Old West style typeface.
First line: "Everybody knows that a seventh son is lucky."
Best part: I really enjoyed the plot.
Worst part: I was able to see the plot twists coming quite a ways off.
Imaginary Theme Song: "Superstitious" by Stevie Wonder
Grade: B-
Recommended for: Fans of Harry Turtledove, Kim Newman, and other alternate history writers.
Related Reads: Territory by Emma Bull is the only one I can think of. This is a niche genre for sure.
Eff is a thirteenth child. Believed inherently wicked, she is the object of superstition and fear among all that she meets. Lan, her twin brother, is a double-seven - the seventh son of a seventh son. Believed inherently good and powerful, he is the object of praise and admiration among all that he meets. But now Eff's parents are moving out to the frontier, where no one knows that Eff is a thirteenth child. Will she finally get a chance to come into her own?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It is sweet and original. According to Wrede's website, it is the first in a trilogy. Recommended to Old West fans and those who like YA fantasy.