The Perilous Gard

While you may not know what a "gard" is (a medieval castle), this book contains some timeless, relevant themes. The Perilous Gard is a wonderful retelling of the old English legend of Tam Lin, but that isn't what makes this book shine. Elizbeth Marie Pope wove the dramatic time period of Queen Elizabeth I along with fairy tale elements into a brilliant story of a heroine often overlooked for her more outgoing, beautiful sister. This is a fascinating tale of mystery, courage, and unlikely romance in which even the most "modern" girls can find something to relate to. Kate Sutton and her lovely sister Alicia are ladies-in-waiting to the Princess Elizabeth, who is being treated poorly by her own sister, Queen Mary. When bubble-headed Alicia complains to the Queen about her treatment of Elizabeth, steadfast Kate takes the blame (as usual)and is banished to a mysterious castle in the ancient Elvinwood. Kind Sir Geoffrey Heron is appointed her "guardian", but is suffering from a great sorrow. His young daughter disappeared, apparently the victim of a drowning in a bottomless well. Geoffrey's brother, Christopher was watching her at the time and all blame him for her disappearance and some think, murder. When Geoffrey is called away, Kate and Christopher become reluctant allies. The more Kate learns about the "fairy people" that supposedly guard the well, the more she wonders what really happened. One night she stumbles into something that she was not meant to see and becomes a prisoner of the guardians of the well. Meanwhile, Christopher has given himself to the fairy people for a sacrifice in exchange for the return of his niece. Through her inner integrity, Kate finds a way to save the day, although not at all in the way you would expect. This book has one of the most gripping endings that I have ever read, and I have read many thousands of books in my life. The humorous banter and arguments between Christopher and Kate are very true-to-life and enjoyable. Kate is a wonderful role model for girls as she refuses to compromise her integrity to get what she wants and triumphs in the end. This one has been on my top ten favorite list since I was twelve and I am now nearing fifty! My daughters adore it as well. Read it and see for yourself!

Set in 1558 England, The Perilous Gard tells the story of Kate Sutton, a young maid to Princess Elizabeth who is exiled by Queen Mary I to a remote, countryside castle. Once there, Kate quickly grows suspicious of local rumors and the castle's inhabitants. The mystery of a little girl's disappearance and the peculiar behaviors of Kate's guardian's brother Christopher soon bring her face to face with the Fairy Folk and their strange, mystical ways. When the Fairy Folk decide to sacrifice Christopher so they reclaim their power on the world, Kate realizes she might be the only one who can save him - and the only one brave enough to stand up to the Fairy Queen.I like a good classic now and then, and The Perilous Gard was a great recommendation. Kate is a fantastic heroine; she's intelligent, logical, and bluntly honest. She's not afraid to stand up for herself or follow her moral compass when characters try to sway her otherwise. The fantastical elements come courtesy of the Fairy Folk, from their ethereal underground realm to their practice of druidism (nature worship and blood sacrifice). This makes The Perilous Gard quite dark for a children's fantasy, and some of the content (though not graphic) might frighten young readers. But the amount of research reflected and the weaving of Scottish and British folklore (especially the ballad of Tam Lin) makes this story absorbing and eerily authentic.There were times when The Perilous Gard's lengthy passages and descriptions gnawed at my patience. But that kind of writing was acceptable in Pope's time (TPG was published in 1974), and I understood that. Once I powered through those sections, I was able to focus on the story's true gold - and there was plenty to be found. This is a must-read for fans of Fair Folk tales or older fantasy stories. But truthfully, anyone who's curious about The Perilous Gard and its quietly courageous heroine should give it a try.

I know I read this but I honestly forgot the story. I'm sure it was okay but my forgetting it when I remembered other stories from even before this book kinda makes me think it was mediocre? At the very least it's forgettable.

It's such a pity this author wrote only two books (as far as I can tell), because both are winners! This is an exciting and beautifully-written story. It is suitable for young adults but should not be considered YA-only. Anyone who enjoys a good historical adventure with a dash of the macabre will find this a fun and rewarding read.

This is a fantastic novel — and when you buy it for yourself, get an old library copy. I bought it “new”, and the edition I received was very badly printed. Every third page I found a line of text that was shrunken and distorted, as though it had been xeroxed in a hurry. I don’t know how this happened — something to do with a sub-par digital capture probably. There is no excuse for this! This book comes from Houghton Mifflin, a formerly legit publishing house! They are hastening the demise of the printed book if they can’t even be bothered to see that it’s printed properly.

I first read this book when I was 12 and have loved it ever since. My only complaint about the book I received is that a lot of the illustrations have not been properly formatted for the page, so several faces have been "cut off." Not a major issue for me since I remember what they look like, but it might be an issue for those buying it for younger readers.

What a fantastic book!

Elizabeth Pope was one of my favorite professors... a lovely human being with a childlike enthusiasm and a true scholar's depth. I discovered this book only recently and wish she was still living so I could write to her. I recognized in it so many themes she introduced me to long ago when I had the good fortune to sit enthralled in her mythology class and her Shakespeare sessions. Dr. Pope, you gave me things that have resonated my whole life long. Thank you.

Most of the reviewers have described the story so I will move onto the book itself. Elizabeth Marie Pope was an english literature professor who apparently wrote both Perilous Gard and the Sherwood Ring to demonstrate different writing styles to her students. She is such a brilliant author that I wish she had written dozens of books! This book is so chilling and sinister in its plot implications, so magnificent is the craftsmanship and the characters are so beautifully fleshed out with each nuance delicately explored that one is utterly enraptured. The Fairy Queen is one of the most terrifying personalities and the twists in the plot are such that one is genuinely unsure of what will happen next. To sustain the reader’s tension at fever pitch is shattering to one’s nerves :) but a fabulous demonstration of how gifted Pope was. The book is deliciously satisfying and fulfils one’s expectations since it keeps delivering right until the very last page. A must read for anyone who adores reading. Both her books will become among your most prized books

Thoroughly under-rated and under-acknowledged book. A fab twist on the Tam Lin story with a super heroine, a sweet romance and suitably dark and scary fae. Don't let the "children's book" classification scare you off - this is a fab read no matter what your age.

Already received it, way before the date it was suppose to arrived. I am very satisfied.

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