About :Mae is a girl who lives with her father at the edge of a village in a hut they are outcast from others because not only are they poor but Mae and her father venture into the woods .These woods aren't like other woods that you and I are used to they are filled with magic and death and the villagers are terrified of them but Mae and her father use the woods to hunt and gather fire wood to sell at the village market to make ends meet .Mae's mother died in childbirth so it has just been Mae and her father from the beginning . It also doesn't help that a white stag appeared from no where the day Mae was born and has never left her side .They harbor a secret between each other though because Mae is craft born which means she can control the elements of nature .They hide this fact from everyone because in the country where Mae and her father live the kingdom and the surrounding land survives and thrives on the magic that the craft born posses .For centuries the king has decreed that a craft born if found must marry the first born prince and provide the kingdom with their magic .Mae is terrified of this she doesn't wish to marry a stuck up prince and leave her father and ways of climbing trees hunting and just getting dirty and being herself . Mae's quiet life is about to be turned upside down thought the king and his prince are looking for the craft born again and even though Mae is the craft born someone else in the village a girl named Ellen and her father have stepped up claiming that Ellen is the craft -born and that the magic has been passed down to her through her mother Mae is fine with letting everyone believe so .When things go horribly wrong on the day of the princes arrival .Mae must decide between keeping her secret and being happy ,or doing what she feels is right that might lead to her unhappiness .
my takeaway :This book was so good , it was so different from the books I've read before . Original ideas, captivating plot and characters. I found myself really bring worried about what would happen and hoping everything would be ok , the end of the book left me wanting more and I was hoping for a more polished ending but it was a huge cliff hanger . I am happy with this book though it contains magic , death , murder , poverty and love . Very well written .This book takes you on quite and adventure there are two more books in this series I am looking forward to reading them .
