Call number
JF VOI
Collection
Genres
Publication
Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books (1999), Edition: 1st, 256 pages
Description
Thirteen-year-old Elske escapes rape and certain death at the hands of the leaders of her barbaric society and later becomes handmaiden to a rebellious noblewoman whose rightful throne together they reclaim.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pokylittlepuppy
I first read this in 2003, after learning it was a conclusion to one of my favorite series as a teenager. The genre is fantasy only in the made-up medieval "Kingdom" setting; think wooded journeys and Robin Hood figures, and that's what I loved it for. I reread this now because I wanted to give it
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as a gift to Amy, and I was curious to revisit its themes. The first time, I was stunned by it being one of the most overtly feminist novels I'd ever read -- and for teenagers.It is, producing not one but two girl characters written in a shamelessly feminist way, in a story whose purpose is to explore the influence of gender customs on societies and have them surpassed. It compares a few extremes and degrees, and how independently thinking girls are challenged in all unless they shape change. The characters speak plainly about rape in many contexts. In the accepted gender dialogue, simply sharing these ideas without softening them is radical itself.I mean, mostly it's an adventure story for Elske, who has to escape her explicitly barbaric society first for one that is happier but just as explicitly conservative. I know these two examples are key to the author's ideas, but I find the story gets extremely better once Elske finally meets Beriel, and the two girls get to interact. Beriel's secret is amazing, and both girls eventually get to lead heroic retribution at the climax.In particular, I like how Elske breaks the mold with everyone she meets, but in a way that is often unwelcome or dangerous. She ends up earning respect for her unique stature, but she does not ever change anyone's mind. She's not a "magical woman" character, the upbeat type that heals everyone with her unconventional impulses and charm. (It works perfectly for Mary Poppins, but is pretty tired by now.) Elske is serious and practical within a variety of rigid groups, each of which would restrict her if she didn't prefer to act as an individual. It's not easy to be that person.I would give this book to every teen reader. Even in the few places it lags as a novel, its effortless portrayal of girls who will not sacrifice themselves is the most valuable moral for any story. Show Less
LibraryThing member kebets
The last book in the series. And like the last one - this starts completely differently. This book begins with Elske, a child of the Wolfers. She has been raised by her grandmother, a woman stolen by the Wolfers, and freed by the sacrifice of her grandmother to the big unknown world.
Elske has a
As she wanders from her grandma she is taken in by a father and two sons as they make their way to the large northern city of Tradstad. They find her a place as a maid and she eventually becomes the maidservant for a headstrong out-of-control princess from a far away land. And her life changes again.
Elske is caught up in the politically intrigue of the Kingdom - and her unique past become very important.
I liked this book. Elske is an interesting main character. Her attitude and her presence change those around her without her even knowing. In the world of YA main characters - that is something unusual!
Elske has a
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worldview that matches no one. She is without most of the angst and neurosis of main characters. Instead, she simply lives her life as it unfolds - without guile and remorse. And because of that she finds herself in unexpected situations.As she wanders from her grandma she is taken in by a father and two sons as they make their way to the large northern city of Tradstad. They find her a place as a maid and she eventually becomes the maidservant for a headstrong out-of-control princess from a far away land. And her life changes again.
Elske is caught up in the politically intrigue of the Kingdom - and her unique past become very important.
I liked this book. Elske is an interesting main character. Her attitude and her presence change those around her without her even knowing. In the world of YA main characters - that is something unusual!
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Good story -- quite a fun read, even if not particularly fast-paced. I love Elske's defiant, straightforward answers -- the fearlessness in her. But Beriel's imperious ways do not endear her to me. The brutality of the wolfers is pretty graphically upsetting, but I appreciate the consistent
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commentary on the lack of women's rights in this world. Show Less
LibraryThing member bunnyjadwiga
Somewhat reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander's Westmark, and also of Diana Wynne Jones' Dalemark books.
LibraryThing member lexilewords
To be clear, Elske is the fourth book in Cynthia Voigt's loosely tied together series called The Kingdom. The other three (Jackaroo, Wings of a Falcon and On Fortune's Wheel) are all set in the Kingdom that Beriel hails from, while Elske is set in Trastad, a small country to the north of The
This can be a little dark at times with some of the subject matter. Elske's people, the Volkaric (Wolfers) are a barbaric, primitive people who live to eat, plunder and worship their leader the Volkking. The only place a woman has is to satisfy their needs--whatever they happen to be. Her grandmother however was from the South and was resigned to her fate, Elske was her joy and treasure. When she was chosen as the Death Maiden, to be a sacrifice for the Volkking's Death, something snapped. Idle no longer she schemed to save Elske and in doing so get the revenge she should have sought years ago.
And thus does our story start. Mirkele (Elske's grandmother) is preparing Elske to run away, and Elske (barely thirteen years old) stoically faces her newfound freedom. By chance she happens upon Tavyan and his sons as they traveled home and by chance she became Beriel's handmaiden. Two exiled souls in a city that alternately reviled them and tormented them. Beriel's story is also a sad, dark tale we don't learn for many chapters, but suffice to say they both needed each other greatly.
I love this book, I have ever since reading it in college that idle tuesday afternoon. It's a very different fantasy from what I was used to at the time (there's no magic or monsters), but captivated me with its thoughtful plotting and pace. At its core Elske is about two girls who were cut off from everyone and everything they understood, who band together to grant their hearts' desires. This isn't a fast book or flashy book, its not horrifically violent or filled with drama. Like many of Voigt's other books its a character study.
The book itself covers roughly three years altogether (with an epilogue discussing the after effects), charting the progress of Elske as she learns to adapt to her new life and Beriel as she plots to take back her throne. Beriel isn't an easy person to get along with--she's short tempered, vindictive and can be very cruel. A lot of her ire turns on Elske herself--you always hurt the one you love most right?--but Elske is the perfect target almost. Raised by people far more cruel and heartless then Beriel, she stoically takes what Beriel lashes out at her and then carefully helps her pick up the pieces.
This is dramatic storytelling at its best in my opinion--proving that sometimes the one with the quietest voice is the one with the most to say.
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Kingdom. You don't need prior knowledge of the other books, except perhaps to understand the truth behind the 'legends' that Beriel mentions. The legend of Jackaroo for instance is covered in depth in the book of the same name, while some of Beriel's ancestors are covered in On Fortune's Wheel.This can be a little dark at times with some of the subject matter. Elske's people, the Volkaric (Wolfers) are a barbaric, primitive people who live to eat, plunder and worship their leader the Volkking. The only place a woman has is to satisfy their needs--whatever they happen to be. Her grandmother however was from the South and was resigned to her fate, Elske was her joy and treasure. When she was chosen as the Death Maiden, to be a sacrifice for the Volkking's Death, something snapped. Idle no longer she schemed to save Elske and in doing so get the revenge she should have sought years ago.
And thus does our story start. Mirkele (Elske's grandmother) is preparing Elske to run away, and Elske (barely thirteen years old) stoically faces her newfound freedom. By chance she happens upon Tavyan and his sons as they traveled home and by chance she became Beriel's handmaiden. Two exiled souls in a city that alternately reviled them and tormented them. Beriel's story is also a sad, dark tale we don't learn for many chapters, but suffice to say they both needed each other greatly.
I love this book, I have ever since reading it in college that idle tuesday afternoon. It's a very different fantasy from what I was used to at the time (there's no magic or monsters), but captivated me with its thoughtful plotting and pace. At its core Elske is about two girls who were cut off from everyone and everything they understood, who band together to grant their hearts' desires. This isn't a fast book or flashy book, its not horrifically violent or filled with drama. Like many of Voigt's other books its a character study.
The book itself covers roughly three years altogether (with an epilogue discussing the after effects), charting the progress of Elske as she learns to adapt to her new life and Beriel as she plots to take back her throne. Beriel isn't an easy person to get along with--she's short tempered, vindictive and can be very cruel. A lot of her ire turns on Elske herself--you always hurt the one you love most right?--but Elske is the perfect target almost. Raised by people far more cruel and heartless then Beriel, she stoically takes what Beriel lashes out at her and then carefully helps her pick up the pieces.
This is dramatic storytelling at its best in my opinion--proving that sometimes the one with the quietest voice is the one with the most to say.
Show Less
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2000)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — High School — 2003)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2000)
Pages
256
ISBN
0689824726 / 9780689824722