The Folk Keeper

By: Franny Billingsley

Narrated by: Marian Tomas Griffin

Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“Here in the Cellar”, Corinna says, “I control the Folk. Here, I’m queen of the world”. As Folk Keeper at the Rhysbridge Home, she feeds the fierce, dark-dwelling cave Folk; keeps them from souring the milk, killing the chickens, and venting their anger on the neighborhood; and writes it all down in her Folk Record. Since only boys are Folk Keepers, she has disguised herself as a boy, Corin, and it is a boy and a Folk Keeper she intends to stay.

Yet there comes a moment when someone else knows the truth. Old, dying Lord Merton not only knows she is a girl, but knows some of her other secrets as well. It is at his bidding that she, as Corin, leaves Rhysbridge to become Folk Keeper and a member of the family on Cliffsend, an isle where the Folk are fiercer than ever they were at Rhysbridge.

It is on Cliffsend that Corina comes face to face with herself, with the powers she does have and those she does not have. Who really is she? Why does her hair grow two inches a night? Why does the sea draw her? What does she really want? And what future can and will she choose?

©2001 Franny Billingsley (P)2010 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Billingsley draws on storytelling traditions yet invents a thoroughly original subterranean world inhabited by menacing creatures called Folk. Hang on for a hair-raising ride." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great Listen

This was an enjoyable listen. I found that there was always an unexpected twist or turn in the story to keep me on my toes. While some areas could have been more descriptive it was generally a well written fantasy novel.

good story.

I picked this up because my wife told me how much she loved it. I must say it was very good with a great narrator.

So charming!

A wonderfully enchanting tale that sucks you in from the beginning. If you are in the mood for a story like a fairy tale this is the book for you. Set in a somewhat medieval place this is the story of a young woman that has chosen to live as a boy to watch over "The Folk". A creepy magical people that live beneath people's houses and cause general havoc for everyone when they are not tamed by the Keeper. Corrina, the Folk Keeper, plans to stay and tend the Folk forever when she is visited by a Lord Martin who takes her away to a new life, and a place where she discovers many secrets about herself and the world around her. Just a fun read. I would highly recommend this if you have an afternoon to spend in dreamy repose.

I love this book.

This is a beautiful story beautifully told. There are many elements of a good fairy tale in the book including evil fairy's (the folk), a foundling, misidentification, an evil usurper, misunderstood powers, love, selkies (sealfolk), understanding and accepting ones-self, and poetry and poetic language.