Title: The Seventh Bride

Author: T. Kingfisher

Publisher: 47North 2015

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 226

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall TBR

Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Since commoners don’t turn down lords—no matter how sinister they may seem—Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement.

Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”

With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.

I’m slowly working my way through all of T. Kingfisher’s books and I finally grabbed this Bluebeard retelling. I loved how we are just thrown into an unknown land full of unknown dangers. We get to see the entire story unfold from Rhea’s perspective and hers is very limited. She’s never been away from the mill and the small village. And yet, she explores her new prison and learns its secrets in time to save everyone. This is a typical fairy tale set-up and follow-through but with FMC that grows greatly throughout the pages. I really enjoyed this book. Meeting Lord Crevan’s wives was my favorite part. So much fun!

Next up on the TBR pile: