The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott - Bookstagram Tour - Day Nine
Morning BookWyrms,
I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the Darkroom Tours event for this book and I am thrilled because I finished this book within two days. I received an E-ARC of The Short Knife and want to share my honest review with you all. I found it to be so well written, with a plot that just keeps rolling and tumbling along, that it just pulled me in and suddenly I felt as if I were standing in the Dark Ages fighting to survive. I could not put this down. Truly.
The Short Knife is Historical Fiction and takes place in AD455 with flashbacks to AD454 - and if you know me then you know one of my stock phrases is "I'm not a huge lover of Historical Fiction." Which I’ve now decided is actually rubbish as every HF book I've picked up I've loved. Including this one.
Here is the blurb, from the Waterstone's website:
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It is the year 454AD. The Roman Empire has withdrawn from Britain, throwing it into the chaos of the Dark Ages. Mai has been kept safe by her father and her sister, Haf. But when Saxon warriors arrive at their farm, the family is forced to flee to the hills where British warlords lie in wait.
Can Mai survive in a dangerous world where speaking her mother tongue might be deadly, and where even the people she loves the most can’t be trusted?
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The story centres around Mai, a thirteen year old girl, trying to survive after the Romans leave Britain and the Saxons invade. This is a story of the loss of home and family, the loss of identity, the loss of innocence. It is painful to read in places and heartbreaking in others - yes I cried at one particular scene (you’ll know it when you read it). But then there are moments of joy which are equally captivating - mainly near the end of the book so it is worth sticking through the sad.
From the off set I adored Mai. She is our narrator and protagonist. Caldecott does such an amazing job that whilst reading I felt the unease and the fear that Mai felt as she fights to survive in harsh conditions surrounded by would be enemies. The writing is so clever that you can feel the tension building, you can feel the troubles coming.
I actually started reading The Short Knife late on a Thursday night curled up in my flat, in the darkness, and for me that just added to the atmospheric tones of the book. I could feel my heart beating madly with Mai's, I could feel my blood rushing when hers did. I felt my panic threatening to send me "wasp-wild" as the story unfolded before my eyes. I felt my heart swell with anger for her, with her and burst with sadness and joy when hers did.
I loved Mai. I loved how she had such a fighting spirit, even when she thought she was "mouse-meek" she was still strong. She was a determined, strong willed, morally good character who I really rooted for.
Haf, her slightly older sister, was also strong but in different ways. Ways that Mai didn't and couldn't understand. I felt less of a connection with Haf - but then the story is told through Mai's eyes and her voice and so I think that is to be expected.
Barring Mai, Viola was by far my favourite character - wilful, positive, bright - she was the light to Mai's darkness. The reason and the hope. She was the shining beacon guiding Mai to her strongest most resilient self and I loved her for that.
This was a story of two halves - old family and new family.
I don't want to give anything away, you know I only share spoiler free reviews here, but I really did love the ending. This book gave me a solid conclusion to some threads of the greater story while also leaving enough to my imagination.
In my mind this is a book about good versus evil, light versus dark, women versus men, tradition versus change. The Short Knife is a smart, captivating, brutal story about family, identity, loss and strength.
The Short Knife published on the 2nd July 2020 and here are the links to order:
For more information about The Short Knife:
Meet the Author
Elen Caldecott graduated with an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and was highly commended in the PFD Prize for Most Promising Writer for Young People. Before becoming a writer, she was an archaeologist, a nurse, a theatre usher and a museum security guard. Elen's debut novel, How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant, was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Prize and longlisted for the 2010 Carnegie Medal.
Author Socials:
Elen on Twitter Elen's Website
The Short Knife Bookstagram Tour continues......
As always, keep on reading.
Lottie
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