The Perilous Gard Paperback – 29 Oct. 2001

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.

interesting book for fantasy lovers.

I picked up this book because people said it is a wonderful historical-fantasy YA story. They are SO right about that. The book does contain some "magic" if you want to call it that, though it is not the "invisible rabbit" thing (just like the way I like it :)), and a good romance (which made me LOVE the book :D)I simply adored the characters, specially Kate for the way her mind worked. And because of that, I really enjoyed the last 3 chapters very much.

I have only one complaint about this very accomplished fantasy, and that's that the author wrote only two YA fantasies. The Perilous Gard is a wonderful concoction of myth and folklore, set in Tudor England and holding definite echoes of Tam Lin.The setting and period are wonderfully realised, with the characters acting in character and in period.This book is a huge favourite of mine, as are some other Tam Lin inspired titles - Pamela Dean's "Tam Lin" and Diana Wynne Jones' "Fire and Hemlock".

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

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!

中ä¸-チューダー朝の英国。侍女ケイトはスタイルは悪いã-é¡"も父親ゆずり、ã-かã-頭はã-っかりã-ていて自分で考えて行動するæ°-が強い娘。女王のきã'ã‚"ã‚'そã"ね、åŒ-æ-¹ã®äººé‡Œé›¢ã‚ŒãŸåŸŽã¸è¿½æ"¾ã•ã‚Œã‚‹ã€‚その城は深い古代の森の奥、山ã€...のすそにあった。城の一æ-ã¯åå­-軍にもバラ戦争にも参加ã-なかったã-、宮廷にも出ず、ひたすら森ã‚'まもっていた。なã‚"と、その山の中にはキリスト教以前の古代å®-教ã‚'信仰する人ã€...が住ã‚"でいた。彼らはå¦-精とå'¼ã°ã‚Œã€ä¸æ€è­°ãªè¡"ã‚'使う。城の裏の泉はそのè-地で、城の一æ-ã¯ã²ãã‹ã«å½¼ã‚‰ã«ä»•ãˆã¦ã„た。彼らは貢物ã‚'å-り立てるだã'ではなかった、時には子供や大人ã‚'ç"Ÿè'„にするのだ。登å '人物が皆個性豊かにç"Ÿãç"Ÿãã¨æã‹ã‚Œã¦ã„ã‚‹ã-、å '面å '面の状況ã‚'絵のように書いているので、æ!œ¬!!å½"に物語のä¸-界にå...¥ã£ã¦ã-まいます。かã‚"

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 book is beautiful. The proud elves! The historical drama! Probably the best theory for where elves/fairies came from, oh, and the answer will suprise you!This books haunts you in that though there are mystical, magical elements in this story when you done reading you have to admit that it really COULD have happened. This book made me cry, I love it when books have the power to make you feel that much emotion. Do yourself a favour and read the book!