The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope Book Review

    The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope is a YA fantasy novel. It was published in 1974 by Houghton Mifflin Company. It has 4.1 stars on Goodreads. Here are my thoughts.

    The Perilous Gard is about a girl named Kate Sutton who is banished to a castle in the country known as the Perilous Gard. When she arrives, the villagers and servants warn her about the People of the Hill, fairies known for stealing people away to serve in their realm. At the castle, she meets Christopher Heron, a recluse who blames himself for the disappearance of his niece, Cecily. She knows that Cecily's disappearance and the Fairy Folk must be connected, and she is determined to help both Christopher and Cecily... but she may lose herself in the process.

    The plot of The Perilous Gard is enthralling. Pope integrates the traditions of Tudor England and the fancies of faerie mythology, all while keeping the reader immersed in the Kate's harrowing quest.

    The main characters are Kate, Christopher, and John. Kate is an intelligent lady's maid, who has a strong stubborn streak. Christopher is the scrupulous younger brother of the owner of Perilous Gard, who can't forgive himself for past mistakes. John is the manipulative master of Perilous Gard, who makes questionable dealings with the Fairy Folk. These characters are relatable for their gifts that can become flaws, such as Kate's unyielding persistence.

    The writing of The Perilous Gard is descriptive. The lush English countryside and the magical fairy realm are rendered in beautiful detail in the reader's mind. The dialogue is realistically old-fashioned, but easily comprehensible.

    In conclusion, I would give The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Mary Pope 4 stars. I enjoyed the setting and mythology. I would have liked for more particulars of the fairies and their ways. I would recommend this book for readers looking for fantasy, fairies, and romance.