A review by monapearl
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

lighthearted sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

This was like picking up an old-fashioned fairy tale. It gave me Robin McKinley vibes, albeit for a younger/middle-grade reader. The small village in a faraway land, with characters who all know each other and have fairy tale like attributes. The storytelling, most of all, made it feel like one, with vivid descriptions that feel almost magical. Then of course, there is the main part of the story, where a young woman meets Death and is faced with challenges she must complete to keep her life and not die. It felt magical, and I wanted more of it. I did not want the story to end. Of course, it is an old-fashioned fairy tale, so one can expect the love interests to be too old while the main character and her friends are about sixteen (so like certain McKinley novels). Still, the story and the writing, like McKinley's books, are what make this story so incredible.

I loved the idea of Death being a person, and that Keturah had to keep facing his challenges in order for her chance to keep living. The ending was somewhat satisfying, as it tied in all the loose threads, but as I said before, I wanted more. I wanted this fairy tale to continue, so that I could enjoy the characters and writing some more. However, it ended where it did, and I have to say, overall, I really enjoyed the story.