The Seventh Bride

By: T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Kaylin Heath

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2015 Ursula Vernon (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Creative Story

This was listed under the horror genre, it's not at all horror. It's more akin to Alice in Wonderland or Lemony Snickets, and definitely geared toward the young adult audience. Though it wasn't what I was in the mood for, I still really enjoyed it.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Great Performance

The narration was so good! A really fun story. I began reading the story from my Kindle but partially through changed to listen on audible. The story transformed. The narrator really brought it to life. I highly recommend.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

interesting

it is suited for teens and young adults who enjoy a good story about a girl who manages to triumph over some pretty confusing and scary circumstances.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

My first T. Kingfisher book

I've followed this author's artwork for more than a decade and have long enjoyed her Twitter screeds but this is the first book I've read/listened to by her.

I LOVED it but before purchasing I recommend that you are familiar with the author's "flavor", if you will. I often dive into fairy tale retellings for the ethereal beauty of them and if that's what you're after - sexy beauty and fantastical sexy drama - this is not quiiiite that. I'd describe it as warty, overrun with common sense, and more absurd than fantastical. If you know the author's style you'll know exactly what I mean.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this book for preteen and teen readers. They'll get it, because the only person who hates bull* more than T Kingfisher will be the teenagers. Adult fantasy readers, make sure this is the escapism you're looking for! Otherwise it's going to be like expecting cherry pie and taking a bite of onion instead.

The narrator does a masterful job and nails the main character's inner dialogue. If you're still on the fence I think the narration pushes it into go-for-it territory.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ursula Vernon is a national treasure.

Delightful story, skillfully read. Convince your friends and family to buy T Kingfisher books. Hopefully we can encourage her to write more.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

SHE BELIEVED THE HEDGE HOG

SHE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT BEING 15
I greatly enjoyed this book, but understand that it is not for everyone. I am a big fan of fairy tales and that is what this is, including: Witches, Sorcerers, Glacier Monsters, Demons, Gremlins, Rat Speakers, Man Eating Whippoorwills, Bird Golems, Conjure Wife and a Clock Wife. Skim the top and you may think it cute, but down deep it can be disturbing. Their is plenty of humor, not LOL, but chuckle with an occasional laugh. Down deep it may have more in common with Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns.
TIME IS A LARGE COUNTRY
I thought the writer was clever and very entertaining. Narrator does an excellent job.

I WOULD FOLLOW THIS HEDGEHOG INTO THE MOUTH OF HELL.

21 of 28 people found this review helpful

Good book, superbly narrated

Good story, perfectly told. To pass the time in the family car, you can't go far wrong. But there are some grim scenes. The wizard deals in black blood magic. Necromancy, maybe. But the pragmatic heroine and the loyal hedgehog truly lighten things up.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great audio performances

Kaylin Heath has a remarkably appropriate voice to relate this story. And her reading performance is perfect.

An excellent fairy tale retelling

Rhea is just fifteen, a miller's daughter, and no more than pleasing in appearance, so it's very, very strange when a lord shows up and wants to marry her. Neither she nor her parents think this is normal or good, but they're not in a position to say no to a lord who is, moreover, a friend of their own lord.

It's even more disturbing when he insists Rhea come for an overnight visit at his home before the wedding.

All of this is nothing to how disturbed Rhea is when she arrives and finds that Lord Crevan has six previous wives, only one of whom is respectably dead.

Rhea soon learns that Crevan takes something from each of his wives when they marry. He has no plans to let her return home before the wedding. And he has tasks for her to do each night. If she fails to complete a task, he will immediately marry her.

What does he plan to take from her?

Maria and Sylvie may be potential allies. Ingvie is doing Crevan's work. Lady Elegans is dead. The other two? They are now the Golem Wife and the Clock Wife.

Her only other ally, her only certain ally, is the hedgehog she met on the way to Lord Crevan's manor.

Rhea is a smart, capable young woman, inexperienced in the world outside her village, but not ready to give up. She's completely believable for the circumstances she comes from. Both character development and world-building are excellent as one would expect from Kingfisher. This is a fairy tale plot used extremely well.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

This is Weird. I Enjoyed That.

This was weird, which is the biggest vote in its favor. It has a middle grade voice, with a YA main character, and most of the other characters are adults. It's a strange blend, but I enjoyed that. I really liked the hedgehog, and I don't always enjoy animal side characters.