Review: The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison
Tanya can see faeires.
Her mother, frustrated as what she perceives at her daughters misbehaviour, has shipped her of to stay with her grandmother’s rambling old manor house in the country for a few weeks.
Only, Tanya’s not misbehaving, it’s the faeries that are causing the trouble, and that’s hardly an excuse anyone will believe, is it?
Not only that, you’d think the old house with its secret passages, locked doors, and overgrown walls, would be heaven to Tanya and Fabian the slightly geeky groundkeeper’s son who also lives on the grounds. But in reality, it’s a pretty gloomy place, and the fun of exploring is rather lessened when the place is teeming with faeries!
There’s also the decades old mystery, of a young girl who went missing in the village and was never found, is intertwined in both their families lives, and when come across a girl in the woods that resembles a photograph of the girl, they resolve to find out the truth. As they begin to uncover some shocking secrets…
This isn’t a book that I would have normally picked up, despite it winning the 2009 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. However I was lucky enough to win a copy from the publisher in the October Readathon.
One of the joys of the book is the development of the friendship between Tanya and Fabian, at the start it’s a friendship created by living in the same house, but as the story develops, it becomes one where the pair support each other when the going gets tough.
Aimed at a slightly younger age group these aren’t the sensuous fae, to be found in other recent novels such as Tithe and Wicked Lovely. But that does not mean they are any less dark, they still mean business and are prepared to do anything to get what they want.
Despite a shaky early section, I did like it. Once the story reaches the manor house and the introductions to the house and characters are out of the way, the story really hits its stride, and becomes an engaging, gothicy and slightly old-fashioned (in a good way) adventurous romp.
Other Reviews to Consider
Buy: The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison from The Book Depository.
You can check out the authors fantastic website, and find out about the sequel, The Thirteen Curses.
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Great review! I haven’t heard of this one before (strange…), but it definitely sounds like a good read. Sometimes books aimed at younger readers bring a certain lightness to the story that you don’t usually find in everyday fiction. It’s good to take a break like that every now and again. Thanks for sharing (and adding to my wish list)….and happy reading!
Gina´s last blog ..Diamond in the Rough: The Second Circle: Guardian by Dorothy Dreyer
I love MG and YA stuff because it puts the characters and story front and center, rather than style and technical brilliance (and with the very best MG/YA you get that too!)
This is a great review. I would be very pleased to read this book on a dark stormy night. It has a lot of suspence in it like my book.
It is nice ti see that there are authors out there that still enjoy giving a child a good read.
Keep up the good work.
A dark and stormy night would be perfect for this one!
I believe I may have won the same giveaway as you, and this is one of the books I hadn’t heard anything about! I shelved it, but figured I’d put it off, but it sounds like something I could finish quickly and still mostly enjoy. I’ll have to keep that in mind. Great review!
Meghan´s last blog ..Review: Saffron Dreams, Shaila Abdullah
Hope you enjoy it, when you get chance to read it.
I haven’t heard of this novel before – and it definitely sounds a bit different and entertaining! Because it is an award winner ,I have to say I am more intrigued in reading it.
Allison´s last blog ..Friday Firsts: The EVERAFTER #Meme
I’ve only seen decent reviews for it.
Good Review! This does sound like it’s aimed at a slightly younger age group that I’m used to reading. I encountered that last year (sounds funny saying that since it really was only a few months ago!) when I read the first few books of Suzanne Collins’ OTHER series, the Gregor the Overlander Series. Really enjoyed it, but it WAS a bit young.
This sounds like a good one for my daughter!
Stephanie´s last blog ..GLBT Challenge….AND the January Mini-Challenge
It’s actually, not too young, but compared to stuff like Wicked Lovely and Tithe, it does feel it.
Sounds like a lot of fun! I love a good haunted-house-type story.
Jenny´s last blog ..The puppy, a woeful lack of willpower, and Christmas gifts
It’s loads of fun, with plenty of great twists too!
I want to read this book eventually. It looks really good!
Kailana´s last blog ..The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye by A.S. Byatt
It’s a great read.
This sounds really interesting, gorgeous cover too.
Joanne´s last blog ..Review ♦ Only True Genius In The Family
Isn’t it just?!
I’m thinking I’m going to have to pick this one up when it gets published here in the states. It looks interesting. Glad you enjoyed it.
Michelle´s last blog ..LRT Road Map – 1/10
Sometimes I think it’s a shame that it takes books so long to cross the pond (so to speak). I discovered this book because the author started following me on Twitter and when I went to look up her book it, she didn’t even exist on any north American book selling place. That’s when I discovered The Book Depository (through a friend) and ordered it that way. Only this summer is it coming out in North America, and yet it’s won an award already in the UK. I am just starting The 13 Curses right now, again, I ordered it from overseas.
I’m impatient, what can I say!
Thanks for the link!
Cat´s last blog ..Out of My Pocket #24 / In My Mailbox #29
I agree that this was an old school children’s novel. I found it enjoyable, with a good mix of light and dark scenes. Occasionally, the pace was a little too slow for my liking, but I wanted to keep reading.
I’ve included the The Thirteen Curses on another reading list for 2010 so will be interested to see where Michelle takes the story. I think she’ll just get better and better.
MC Rogerson´s last blog ..The Last Mile