Tender Morsels

By: Margo Lanagan

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik, Michael Page

Liga lives modestly in her own personal heaven, given to her by natural magic in exchange for her earthly life. Her two daughters, gentle Branza and curious Urdda, grow up in this soft world, protected from the violence, predation, and village prejudice that once harmed their mother.

But the real world cannot be denied forever - magicked men and wild bears break down the borders of Liga's refuge. Now, having known heaven, how will these three women survive in a world where beauty and brutality lie side by side?

This is a tale of journeys and transformations. From girl to witch to woman. From boy to beast to man. From hell to heaven to . . . reality.

Building her tale on a mythic scaffolding, Margo Lanagan asks timeless questions about what it is to be human. She explores the evil and the sweetness in the world and reveals the essential magic of learning to live with both.

©2008 Margo Lanagan (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2009 World Fantasy Award, Best Novel

NOT FOR CHILDREN!!

Subject matter only appropriate for adults. Incest and rape. Listed in an inappropriate category. Caution.

Rich, inventive tale--but not for children

I loved the darkness and rich innocence of this created world. The characters and culture presented are a mix of old village life, fairy tale, and ... sexual perversion and cruelty. This story has incest, rape, and retaliatory sodomy. I can't figure out how it wound up in Audible Kids! It's a very well told tale--original, beautiful, and powerful--but it's not for kids.

Abrupt end...

Enjoyed immensely but disappointed in ending. I don’t have to have a perfect happy ending, but I do like endings for all the characters. Felt disappointed in this ending because it was too abrupt. Would have liked to see how the mothers life ended and the younger sisters besides, “she went off to study “ and “she watched her daughter marry the man she loved.” I would still recommend though.
The world built was well described and inviting.

Dark and Gloomy

I wasn't sure I would like this book much from what I heard in the little sample given, but I bought it on a whim and was very pleased. The story is dark and gloomy and at times a bit rough to get through (some of the narration is a little muddled) but all in all it was a good listen.

the cover of the bear and lady made the book look interesting to me

liked :the story had a great moral, showed that a person has strength to survive anything.
dislike: the story seem to jump around alot with different characters without making you aware of who was talking. also the spelling and wording is confusing.
it was a struggle to read very fast.