Sisters of the Lost Marsh

Starred review from December 19, 2022
In medieval village Hollow-in-the-Marsh, the Curse of the Six Daughters is said to afflict any family with six girls, such as that of 12-year-old Willa and her five sisters, who live on a farm with story-loving Grammy and mercurial, alcohol-reliant Dadder. Though reading is largely forbidden, Grammy hides a trove of books in their home, including Tales of the Marshes, a collection of folktales written by their late mother. Seeking to avoid the curse, Dadder arranges to marry off eldest sister Grace to a wealthy—and potentially cruel—older man in exchange for a valuable horse. But Grace disappears following the magical Full Moon Fayre, where a fortune teller advises her, “Run.” A season later, she still hasn’t returned; when Dadder becomes more threatening and considers marrying off another daughter to the same man, Willa sets off to join Grace, with Tales of the Marshes in tow. Via taut pacing, complex plotting and memorable heroines, Strange (The Ghost of Midnight Lake) renders a standout work of historical fantasy, weaving nuanced familial and social dynamics against an atmospheric marshland setting. All characters cue as white. Ages 8–12.