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lemon_the_emu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shareen17's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed her writing. I can't think of a better way to describe it than lyrical and full of simple imagery. Shannon Hale always does a great job of creating strong female characters, and this one is my favorite. I like how the she learns to challenge her belief system to find her happiness.
vibeke_hiatt's review against another edition
3.0
In parts, this book reminded me of The Goose Girl, although it wasn't as entertaining and Dashti wasn't as likable as Ani. Shannon Hale has a wonderful ability to take a story and allow her imagination to run with it and make it her own. The progress Dashti and Saren made throughout the story was natural and they both learned to make choices based on their own consciences and not the rules of society. Even though the playful talking between Dashti and Khan Tegus often seemed forced, their relationship was natural and believable, too. This book is definitely worth reading.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
5.0
Hale evokes both a fantasy world based on ancient Mongolia and fairy tale happenings to tell the story of a lord's daughter and her maid, shut up in a tower for seven years because the young lady refuses to marry the man her father has chosen. Her maid, Dashti, keeps a journal of her days: three years in the tower, and then their adventures after. This book is beautifully written. The depth of the characters is incredible, and the way Hale can tease full character development out of a few amazing lines is wondrous.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
Lady Saren and her lady’s maid Dashti, a common “mucker” from the dirt-poor steppes, are bricked up in a stone tower when Lady Saren refuses to marry the cruel Lord Khasar. Lady Saren frets and seems to welcome death, but the illustrious Dashti decides to keep a journal of their imprisonment in between her lady’s maid duties. She also sings mucker healing songs to attempt to lift her lady’s aches and complaints, often to no avail. All is dark and depressing within the tower, but Dashti never succumbs to the nightmares and mental anguish.
At first her strength is helped by the visits of Khan Tegus, the man that Lady Saren claimed she was betrothed in order to get out of the marriage to Lord Khasar. She speaks to him as Lady Saren on her lady’s orders, and he helps her remember what it was like to be alive and living under the blue sky. However, it cannot last. Khan Tegus returns to his own realm, to be replaced by Lord Khasar, who slaps Dashti’s hands against the tower walls and flicks fiery pellets at them through the waste door.
Dashti thought life within the tower with her sullen lady was hard, but her real challenge begins after they manage to escape the tower and trek all the way to Khan Tegus’ realm, to end up in his house as servants. Faced with an imminent threat of Lord Khasar and his armies, with Lady Saren too scared to do anything, Dashti must reach inside to find, within her simple healing songs, courage she never believed possible. Her actions may cost her her life, but it just might also bring her happiness she never thought was in her reach.
BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is lyrical and, quite simply, lovely. Shannon Hale’s wonderful way with words flows out of Dashti’s own pen, unobstructed. This novel was a sweet treat to read.
At first her strength is helped by the visits of Khan Tegus, the man that Lady Saren claimed she was betrothed in order to get out of the marriage to Lord Khasar. She speaks to him as Lady Saren on her lady’s orders, and he helps her remember what it was like to be alive and living under the blue sky. However, it cannot last. Khan Tegus returns to his own realm, to be replaced by Lord Khasar, who slaps Dashti’s hands against the tower walls and flicks fiery pellets at them through the waste door.
Dashti thought life within the tower with her sullen lady was hard, but her real challenge begins after they manage to escape the tower and trek all the way to Khan Tegus’ realm, to end up in his house as servants. Faced with an imminent threat of Lord Khasar and his armies, with Lady Saren too scared to do anything, Dashti must reach inside to find, within her simple healing songs, courage she never believed possible. Her actions may cost her her life, but it just might also bring her happiness she never thought was in her reach.
BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is lyrical and, quite simply, lovely. Shannon Hale’s wonderful way with words flows out of Dashti’s own pen, unobstructed. This novel was a sweet treat to read.
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
This one started slow and I wasn't impressed for the first 100 pages or so, but it picked up after that and then I couldn't put it down. I really like how Hale makes the inner beauty of her heroines the most important thing.
lcbatten's review against another edition
5.0
A surprising heroine, who shows that faith and song hold far more power than fear or might. The romance, while appropriate for young readers, was emotionally as powerful as any adult novel.
val_eris's review against another edition
5.0
Two female characters who has their differences of outlook and temperament but the narrative doesn’t make either the villain? You love to see it. The romance actually worked for me, and I had a great time.
katiebtatton's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book! It has a lot of similarities to [b:Fairest|183660|Fairest|Gail Carson Levine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172520011s/183660.jpg|2581] (which I'm currently reading with Alli). Dashti is a mucker maid with no family who ends up by chance sworn to Lady Saren on the day she's to be locked in a tower for defying her father's wishes to marry Lord Khasar. Saren has secretly betrothed herself to Khan Tegus and in her father's furious anger, he declares she won't be released from the tower for seven years unless she defers to marry Lord Khasar. Saren is weak and depressed, and while Dashti is a good lady's maid who sings the healing mucker songs, Saren does not get any better.
Khan Tegus comes to the tower, and weak Saren forces Dashti to pretend to be her and talk to Tegus. Dashti and Tegus really hit it off, but then he has to go back to his kingdom. He promises he will return, but soon after Lord Khasar comes and displays his horrible behavior (throwing flaming sticks into the tower and generally frightening the heck out of the girls. Saren continues to spiral downward, and for two years the rats eat everything. Finally Dashti finds a way to break out. The girls discover that the entire kingdom has been razed and there is nothing left. They head towards Tegus' kingdom because they don't know what else to do.
Once there, they find work in the kitchens of the castle. Tegus is injured in battle, and Dashti is called to sing the healing songs to him. Saren has refused to tell Tegus who she is, and has implored Dashti to pretend to be her. When Khasar comes with his army to claim Lady Saren, will Dashti be able to save the kingdom?
This was a fantastic book. The storytelling is clear and moving, and Dashti is a wonderful narrator who's easy to identify with. She is a true friend, even---or maybe especially---when that is hard. The love that develops between Tegus and Dashti-as-Lady-Saren is sweet and pure and funny, and I rooted for them the entire read. I do hope Alli will read this in a few years---the themes of war and evil men are not terribly graphic, but still not something I want in her head just yet. When the girls are locked in the tower, pillagers attempt to tear down the walls. The book never says they are there to rape the girls, but it is implied. I think the themes of bravery and doing the right thing are more prevalent, and the book left me smiling.
Khan Tegus comes to the tower, and weak Saren forces Dashti to pretend to be her and talk to Tegus. Dashti and Tegus really hit it off, but then he has to go back to his kingdom. He promises he will return, but soon after Lord Khasar comes and displays his horrible behavior (throwing flaming sticks into the tower and generally frightening the heck out of the girls. Saren continues to spiral downward, and for two years the rats eat everything. Finally Dashti finds a way to break out. The girls discover that the entire kingdom has been razed and there is nothing left. They head towards Tegus' kingdom because they don't know what else to do.
Once there, they find work in the kitchens of the castle. Tegus is injured in battle, and Dashti is called to sing the healing songs to him. Saren has refused to tell Tegus who she is, and has implored Dashti to pretend to be her. When Khasar comes with his army to claim Lady Saren, will Dashti be able to save the kingdom?
This was a fantastic book. The storytelling is clear and moving, and Dashti is a wonderful narrator who's easy to identify with. She is a true friend, even---or maybe especially---when that is hard. The love that develops between Tegus and Dashti-as-Lady-Saren is sweet and pure and funny, and I rooted for them the entire read. I do hope Alli will read this in a few years---the themes of war and evil men are not terribly graphic, but still not something I want in her head just yet. When the girls are locked in the tower, pillagers attempt to tear down the walls. The book never says they are there to rape the girls, but it is implied. I think the themes of bravery and doing the right thing are more prevalent, and the book left me smiling.
mary00's review against another edition
5.0
My husband bought me a signed copy of this book for Christmas and I finally got around to reading it. I must say that I loved it. I couldn't put it down and I read it in two sittings. Dashti is a strong, unselfish heroine - the kind of person that you would want to be your best friend. I think that this book replaces Goose Girl as the favorite Shannon Hale novel that I've read. Hale writes beautifully and is an entrancing storyteller. I know that Stephenie Meyer is all the rage, but I think that Hale is easily the more talented young adult writer. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading Meyer's novels as much as the next girl at heart, but Hale's novels leave me feeling satisfied in a way that only a truly beautiful book can.
I've just convinced myself to bump my rating up to 5 stars rather than just 4.
I've just convinced myself to bump my rating up to 5 stars rather than just 4.