Dark angels by Katherine Langrish
HarperCollins,
2009. ISBN
9780007214891.
(Age 11+) Recommended. After being
abandoned
by his parents at the monastery at the age of five, and terrorised by
Brother Thomas,
Wolf flees to the hills, where he is pursued to Devil's Edge by a pack
of dogs.
Believing that they are the Hounds from Hell, he runs and becomes even
more
terrified when he glimpses a strange little figure escaping into a
cave. This is a place known to be inhabited by
elves, goblins and demons. When Sir Hugo finds him, Wolf leads him to
the elf
child and finds himself at Sir Hugo's castle, looking after the strange
creature he names Elfgift. Nest, Sir Hugo's daughter, is determined to
do
something worthwhile before she is married and with Wolf she takes the
elf
child into her care.
I was drawn into this compelling medieval tale right from the
beginning. It is so
engrossing and well researched that it took me straight into the times
of the
Crusades, into a world on the border of Wales and England, where Celtic
myths
are mixed with Christian beliefs. The description of a place where
people look
at things differently makes for fascinating reading. The simple
acceptance of
the supernatural by the inhabitants of Sir Hugo's castle adds depth and
interest. I found myself, like the
characters in the book, believing in the existence of the White Lady,
an
ethereal ghost who begs to be allowed inside and the hearth hob who
plays
mischievous tricks on Wolf.
Langrish's characters are wonderful. I
became
absorbed in the character of outspoken Wolf, and longed for a happy
ending for strange
Elfgift and Nest. The unhappy Sir Hugo,
obsessed with the belief that he could recover his wife from Elfland,
and the
dangerous jester who beguiles him with strange songs and stories, are
brought
magnificently to life.
There is plenty of action for those who like adventure stories. With
its vivid
descriptions of medieval life, strong characters and often frightening
mysteries, this is a book that was very difficult to put down.
Pat Pledger