seeditee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thewoollygeek's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this young adult historical fiction. It’s lovely to read books based in Wales, so many are about Scotland or Ireland, so it’s long overdue we get more books about Wales and especially YA. Although I found the first half of the book slow to start, it did pick up around midway and then it really took off, after that I just couldn’t put it down. It's beautifully written, I love the use of the Welsh language and phrases. Overall a good story, with great writing and I look forward to future books by the author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
ghillie_dhu's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
cathyp72's review against another edition
4.0
Not a period of history often used in fiction, I found this a well researched and compelling read. The characters were both convincing and complex, how they adapted to the changing world around them being particularly well done. You got a good feel for the trauma of the Saxon invasions on the British population, the sudden upheaval and precariousness of their existence and what people had to do to survive. My only quibble was you didn't really get a true sense of where in Britain they were, of the actual landscape, but it was only a mild one. Generally I found this well written and a really good read.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Anderson Press for the ARC in return for an honest review
My thanks to #NetGalley and Anderson Press for the ARC in return for an honest review
melycp's review against another edition
4.0
This review was posted at Young Creative Press if you like this review check out my other reviews at youngcreativepress.com
*I was given a copy of The Short Knife in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andersen Press and Elen Caldecott*
The Short Knife is a YA historical fiction set in 454AD just after the Roman Empire has withdrawn from Britain. Living on a farm with her sister Haf and their father, Mai has been sheltered and cared for her entire life, until Saxon men come across their farm and leave destruction in their wake.
Now with nowhere to live and fearing for their lives the family must flee their home in hope of finding fellow Britons to take them in.
Now I’m not usually one for historical fiction, but The Short Knife sounded too interesting for me to pass up. I loved this book. From the get-go, I was captive in its grasp and was only held stronger by the intensity and suspense that every page left me in.
The story is told by Mai, but from two different time periods. Beginning with her current time, the summer solstice 455AD, the story switches to the previous autumn in 454AD with the times intertwine throughout. The autumn time period shows how she came to where she is now.
At first, this was a little confusing but as time went on the story became clearer. I actually really enjoyed this format as it constantly left me wanting more. Mai refers to her sister, who in the summer solstice time is giving birth, after reading the first few chapters it became very clear who the father was. With what happened on the farm, Haf was injured by one of the men, I was worried that this baby was not conceived under consenting circumstances. However, thankfully that was not the case. Apologies if that is somewhat of a spoiler, but I would hate for that plotline to be a trigger for anyone.
Leaving me questioning what I knew about the story I found that I needed to keep reading as the want to know was great. I genuinely think that I would not have enjoyed this book as much if the plot was written chronologically. Yes, it would have still been interesting, however, the switching of time periods add mystery to the story and allowed the reader to wonder how events affected each other.
Mai was a wonderful main character. At just 13 years old she was strong-willed but knew when to let something go. She never lost her fight at any point during the book, instead, she found different ways to use it. Her narration was beautiful and at times I forgot her young age.
Seeing her over time creates new relationships and develop sisterly bonds was an important part of the story. It feels like you are experiencing her growing up with every page and the maturity of the girl at the end of the story feels wise beyond her 13 years.
I believe that The Short Knife is intended for the younger side of the YA community (ages 9 - 14), but it can definitely be enjoyed by those older. At 22 myself I found the book engaging and the darker parts of the story kept me interested. There were a few moments o
*I was given a copy of The Short Knife in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andersen Press and Elen Caldecott*
The Short Knife is a YA historical fiction set in 454AD just after the Roman Empire has withdrawn from Britain. Living on a farm with her sister Haf and their father, Mai has been sheltered and cared for her entire life, until Saxon men come across their farm and leave destruction in their wake.
Now with nowhere to live and fearing for their lives the family must flee their home in hope of finding fellow Britons to take them in.
Now I’m not usually one for historical fiction, but The Short Knife sounded too interesting for me to pass up. I loved this book. From the get-go, I was captive in its grasp and was only held stronger by the intensity and suspense that every page left me in.
The story is told by Mai, but from two different time periods. Beginning with her current time, the summer solstice 455AD, the story switches to the previous autumn in 454AD with the times intertwine throughout. The autumn time period shows how she came to where she is now.
At first, this was a little confusing but as time went on the story became clearer. I actually really enjoyed this format as it constantly left me wanting more. Mai refers to her sister, who in the summer solstice time is giving birth, after reading the first few chapters it became very clear who the father was. With what happened on the farm, Haf was injured by one of the men, I was worried that this baby was not conceived under consenting circumstances. However, thankfully that was not the case. Apologies if that is somewhat of a spoiler, but I would hate for that plotline to be a trigger for anyone.
Leaving me questioning what I knew about the story I found that I needed to keep reading as the want to know was great. I genuinely think that I would not have enjoyed this book as much if the plot was written chronologically. Yes, it would have still been interesting, however, the switching of time periods add mystery to the story and allowed the reader to wonder how events affected each other.
Mai was a wonderful main character. At just 13 years old she was strong-willed but knew when to let something go. She never lost her fight at any point during the book, instead, she found different ways to use it. Her narration was beautiful and at times I forgot her young age.
Seeing her over time creates new relationships and develop sisterly bonds was an important part of the story. It feels like you are experiencing her growing up with every page and the maturity of the girl at the end of the story feels wise beyond her 13 years.
I believe that The Short Knife is intended for the younger side of the YA community (ages 9 - 14), but it can definitely be enjoyed by those older. At 22 myself I found the book engaging and the darker parts of the story kept me interested. There were a few moments o
sophieameliareads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I don’t think I would have picked up this book if I didn’t receive it in my Book Box Club subscription box however I quite enjoyed it. I went into this knowing nothing apart from what was on the blurb and that it was a YA historical fiction novel.
I haven’t read a historical fiction novel set in the Dark Ages before so it was a refreshing change. The story was quite slow at times and I did not feel overly connected to any of the characters but it was still an enjoyable read. I loved the atmosphere of the book and I liked the relationship between Mai and Viola.
This is a story about growing up and finding yourself a place in the world, sisterhood, friendship and betrayal, but mostly survival. I recommend this if you are a fan of YA historical fiction and a strong female protagonist.
I don’t think I would have picked up this book if I didn’t receive it in my Book Box Club subscription box however I quite enjoyed it. I went into this knowing nothing apart from what was on the blurb and that it was a YA historical fiction novel.
I haven’t read a historical fiction novel set in the Dark Ages before so it was a refreshing change. The story was quite slow at times and I did not feel overly connected to any of the characters but it was still an enjoyable read. I loved the atmosphere of the book and I liked the relationship between Mai and Viola.
This is a story about growing up and finding yourself a place in the world, sisterhood, friendship and betrayal, but mostly survival. I recommend this if you are a fan of YA historical fiction and a strong female protagonist.
aimeethom05's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Trafficking
ellesha_syke's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read and I finished it over the weekend sitting in the sun. It is a story about sisterhood and survival, I was really rooting for Mai - she worked hard and pushed on even though she was terrified.
It was a bit predictable at times, I guessed pretty quickly which characters would return in the story. It would have been cool to have a word list at the end, with translations from the different languages.
The timeline was great, going from present to past and meeting at the end. I'm not sure if the author is planning a sequel, but the story could continue from where it's left open.
It was a bit predictable at times, I guessed pretty quickly which characters would return in the story. It would have been cool to have a word list at the end, with translations from the different languages.
The timeline was great, going from present to past and meeting at the end. I'm not sure if the author is planning a sequel, but the story could continue from where it's left open.
mechelle's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5