Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Collections
Publication
Chicken House Ltd (2010), Edition: 1, Paperback, 320 pages
Description
In 1347, when fourteen-year-old orphan William Paynel, an impoverished servant at Crowfield Abbey, goes into the forest to gather wood and finds a magical creature caught in a trap, he discovers he has the ability to see fays and becomes embroiled in a strange mystery involving Old Magic, a bitter feud, and ancient secrets.
User reviews
LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Will, an orphan working as a servant at a monastery, finds a hob caught in a trap. Soon, mysterious visitors lead Will into grave danger--and mystery.
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Villagers try to avoid Whistling Hollow as it is rumored to be haunted. Something is buried beneath the snow, something that Will thought could never die. When mysterious people arrive at the abbey where Will lives his life takes a bizarre course.
I liked this book because it is scary, adventurous
I recommend this book for others because I think that everyone will enjoy it. I also like this book because it does not drag and isn’t boring.
I liked this book because it is scary, adventurous
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and is a great mix of reality and fantasy. Will manages to carry out his many mundane chores at the abbey whilst caring for an injured mythical creature.I recommend this book for others because I think that everyone will enjoy it. I also like this book because it does not drag and isn’t boring.
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LibraryThing member LeslitGS
When his family died in a fire, William was taken in by the monks and has remained at the abbey, working for them. He finds himself rescuing an odd creature that speaks and calls itself a hob, he has had little reason to suspect that there is any more to life than what is seen by all. But after
As has happened before, I was taken in by this book's cover. I hope you can understand that, because, I mean, look at it--the cover is beautiful. Here, in this 2d representation on your computer screen, it isn't so evident, but the cover is embossed [dry embossed--pressure on the paper with a stylus in a template] and certain parts, like the watching creatures' eyes, of it are accented with a metallic glossy red for emphasis. Its simplicity and stark silhouettes attract the eye. The shiny eye and blood touches didn't hurt either.
I had little idea what exactly I was picking up when I began to read. I was anticipating, perhaps, something akin to 13 Treasures with full-on fantasy realms and little dealing with the real world. I had forgotten it's archaic setting [1300's, isolated and borderline desolate abbey] and was even more surprised to find myself reading a story set in our world, in a Christian abbey, that treated Christianity respectfully. True, many of the monks were hard and singleminded, but they were not an evil bunch, nor malignant. They were tired, cold and hungry men dedicated to living their faith in their way. Those fellows you saw shine beyond the stern monk framework were not rebels, but rather good-hearted and loving men more willing to participate in the reality about them. I am not saying that I anticipate all fantasy writers to be antagonistic about the church.
Well, I'm not saying it now. I've seen enough negativity that I suppose it's just easier to expect the worst and be delighted when something more pleasant is delivered, either from the Church in talking fantasy or in fantasy talking Church. I find myself almost enjoying this set up more than worlds that merely avoid talk of God, with Walsh building fay and faith as interlocking pieces and one Creator above them all. Having recently been delving into L'Engle's time-twisting series as well as being a long-time supporter of Narnia, I was struck by how the authors expand our "knowledge" of our world and God to include things that are fantasy. You see, when I was younger and had decided that, not only did I want to write, but I wanted to write fantasy, I was concerned that I could not legitimately combine these magestic realms of my mind. I don't recall anyone going out of their way to say "fantasy is evil," but it had not been deeply included in my upbringing and I worry over everything anyway. Then I learned a bit more about Narnia and its author, and I found myself more relieved and enthralled than ever before. True, many "Christian" fantasies are didactic and many "athieist" fantasies are antagonistic, but there is no reason that we cannot combine our dreams and our faiths in a simple story that is exactly that: a story.
I'm rambing at this point, but happily. I am eager to lend The Crowfield's Curse to my friends and hear their input as well. Most likely when I get it back, I'll read it again.* The book was well-written and had a couple of characters that I would love to meet, and I look forward to trying some more of Pat Walsh's writing.
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this rescue comes another unexpected event, visitors in the abbey and strange happenings all around. With little warning, the boy and his new friend the hob are thrust into a dangerous game involving a dark secret kept by the monks, and a dark fay king set on having his way.As has happened before, I was taken in by this book's cover. I hope you can understand that, because, I mean, look at it--the cover is beautiful. Here, in this 2d representation on your computer screen, it isn't so evident, but the cover is embossed [dry embossed--pressure on the paper with a stylus in a template] and certain parts, like the watching creatures' eyes, of it are accented with a metallic glossy red for emphasis. Its simplicity and stark silhouettes attract the eye. The shiny eye and blood touches didn't hurt either.
I had little idea what exactly I was picking up when I began to read. I was anticipating, perhaps, something akin to 13 Treasures with full-on fantasy realms and little dealing with the real world. I had forgotten it's archaic setting [1300's, isolated and borderline desolate abbey] and was even more surprised to find myself reading a story set in our world, in a Christian abbey, that treated Christianity respectfully. True, many of the monks were hard and singleminded, but they were not an evil bunch, nor malignant. They were tired, cold and hungry men dedicated to living their faith in their way. Those fellows you saw shine beyond the stern monk framework were not rebels, but rather good-hearted and loving men more willing to participate in the reality about them. I am not saying that I anticipate all fantasy writers to be antagonistic about the church.
Well, I'm not saying it now. I've seen enough negativity that I suppose it's just easier to expect the worst and be delighted when something more pleasant is delivered, either from the Church in talking fantasy or in fantasy talking Church. I find myself almost enjoying this set up more than worlds that merely avoid talk of God, with Walsh building fay and faith as interlocking pieces and one Creator above them all. Having recently been delving into L'Engle's time-twisting series as well as being a long-time supporter of Narnia, I was struck by how the authors expand our "knowledge" of our world and God to include things that are fantasy. You see, when I was younger and had decided that, not only did I want to write, but I wanted to write fantasy, I was concerned that I could not legitimately combine these magestic realms of my mind. I don't recall anyone going out of their way to say "fantasy is evil," but it had not been deeply included in my upbringing and I worry over everything anyway. Then I learned a bit more about Narnia and its author, and I found myself more relieved and enthralled than ever before. True, many "Christian" fantasies are didactic and many "athieist" fantasies are antagonistic, but there is no reason that we cannot combine our dreams and our faiths in a simple story that is exactly that: a story.
I'm rambing at this point, but happily. I am eager to lend The Crowfield's Curse to my friends and hear their input as well. Most likely when I get it back, I'll read it again.* The book was well-written and had a couple of characters that I would love to meet, and I look forward to trying some more of Pat Walsh's writing.
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LibraryThing member soulesister
This book captured my interest initailly, but seemed to slow at the end. Great descriptions on the monestary - I was able to visualize very easily.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This story really did suck me in. Will is a boy who survived his family dying in a fire. The local abbey took him in as an odd-job man and he has befriended at least one of the monks. The old abbot is dying and there is a feeling of change about to come over the monastery. The story opens with Will
I really liked this story, Will is a great character and I really felt for him, you wonder as you read if he's going to survive and how he's going to survive. Brother Snail is also a great character and you can see the authors knowledge creep in. She's an archaeologist and you can see some of the detail about medieval monasteries from archaeology and from notes in manuscripts (some of the details about some of the readers at meals I recall from my own studies) to give it a good backbone, but the story she constructs around that backbone is quite good and interesting and I would recommend it to both adults and young adult readers. It won't take me as long to get around to reading the next one as the first!
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rescuing a Hob from a trap and this is a catalyst for a big change in his life, a change that will mean that nothing will ever be the same again for him.I really liked this story, Will is a great character and I really felt for him, you wonder as you read if he's going to survive and how he's going to survive. Brother Snail is also a great character and you can see the authors knowledge creep in. She's an archaeologist and you can see some of the detail about medieval monasteries from archaeology and from notes in manuscripts (some of the details about some of the readers at meals I recall from my own studies) to give it a good backbone, but the story she constructs around that backbone is quite good and interesting and I would recommend it to both adults and young adult readers. It won't take me as long to get around to reading the next one as the first!
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LibraryThing member lindap69
Compelling read with lots of evil, dark characters - references to devil and uses of magic make this book not for everyone. Sequel Crowfield Demon.
LibraryThing member krau0098
I was excited to read this book, it looked like an excellent middle grade historical fantasy with some creepiness added. It ended up being okay, but I had some trouble engaging with both the story and the characters. There is a second book in the series called The Crowfield Demon.
Will is sent to
I had a lot of trouble reading this book, but I also had a lot of trouble figuring out exactly why. The book is a quick read and the storyline is interesting. The book is kind of creepy and very much a historical fantasy mystery of sorts.
I found Will to be a very uninspiring character. He just came across as very dull to me, the only thing that made him really stand out from anyone else was the fact that he had the Sight. I just had a lot of trouble engaging with him as a character.
The story also lacked description, so the scenes never really came alive. I had trouble picturing the settings and again trouble engaging with the story. The whole thing was just told in a very dry way.
I did find the story intriguing. It was interesting how the monks put religious beliefs toward explanations of their fey neighbors. The story wasn’t completely predictable and there is some interesting world building going on.
Overall this was an okay read. The story is interesting enough, but it is told in a very dry way and the characters were hard to engage with. By the time I finished reading the story I forgot it, it was just that kind of book...a very forgettable read. I will not be reading the sequel to this series. I was kind of hoping that this would be a book similar in tone to The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, but that series is much better than this one.
Will is sent to
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live at Crowfield Abbey after his parents die. There he works in the kitchen for the monks. While in the forest one day he hears a cry for help and discovers a hobgoblin, apparently Will has the Sight and can see the Fey. When some strange visitors show up at the Abbey, Will is drawn into a mystery involving a buried angel and some evil Fey.I had a lot of trouble reading this book, but I also had a lot of trouble figuring out exactly why. The book is a quick read and the storyline is interesting. The book is kind of creepy and very much a historical fantasy mystery of sorts.
I found Will to be a very uninspiring character. He just came across as very dull to me, the only thing that made him really stand out from anyone else was the fact that he had the Sight. I just had a lot of trouble engaging with him as a character.
The story also lacked description, so the scenes never really came alive. I had trouble picturing the settings and again trouble engaging with the story. The whole thing was just told in a very dry way.
I did find the story intriguing. It was interesting how the monks put religious beliefs toward explanations of their fey neighbors. The story wasn’t completely predictable and there is some interesting world building going on.
Overall this was an okay read. The story is interesting enough, but it is told in a very dry way and the characters were hard to engage with. By the time I finished reading the story I forgot it, it was just that kind of book...a very forgettable read. I will not be reading the sequel to this series. I was kind of hoping that this would be a book similar in tone to The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney, but that series is much better than this one.
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Carson and Churchill - both out as of Aug. 3
LibraryThing member Inky_Fingers
Well written, wonderful historical setting, interesting characters, and an unusual plot. It was only with the introduction of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts that I felt Walsh was falling back on some fantasy cliches.
Awards
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 6-8 — 2011)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2013)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2011)
Branford Boase Award (Shortlist — 2011)
The White Ravens (2011)
CCBC Choices (2011)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2011)
Language
Original publication date
2010-01-04
Physical description
320 p.; 7.72 inches
ISBN
1906427151 / 9781906427153
UPC
001906427151
Local notes
Set in England in the winter of 1347. Fourteen-year-old William, whose family perished in a fire 18 months earlier, works as a servant at the local monastery in exchange for his room and board, meager as it is. While gathering firewood, he discovers a creature caught in a trap and saves its life. The hobgoblin tells him that he can only be seen by those with the Sight, a gift the boy did not know he possessed. As the hob recovers from his wounds, Will encounters a mystery that shakes him to his core. There is an angel secretly buried in the nearby woodlands, and a visitor to the abbey, a leper, is determined to find it.
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