In a more or less Olde Norse background, Jutta is 'banished' to spend some time with some distant relatives, and she is sure she will be miserable out in the 'boonies.' Sure enough, just as she suspected, her old grandmother and aunties are really peculiar, there aren't any servants, she has to get up early and do chores, and even the numerous cats are treated with more respect.
But, for an isolated spot out in the hinterlands, there sure are a lot of people wandering here and there. A bunch of women studying magic wander the neighborhood (mostly at night.) A very strange. one-eyed old man has romantic designs on her old grandmother. Two strangers from an alternate universe seem to have gotten lost nearby, and have been taken in by the local lord, who longs for battles as in the olden days---while the Lord's son hates even the thought of violence, so the two are constantly at odds. Then there are the grave robbers digging up Jutta's ancestors . . .
But, for an isolated spot out in the hinterlands, there sure are a lot of people wandering here and there. A bunch of women studying magic wander the neighborhood (mostly at night.) A very strange. one-eyed old man has romantic designs on her old grandmother. Two strangers from an alternate universe seem to have gotten lost nearby, and have been taken in by the local lord, who longs for battles as in the olden days---while the Lord's son hates even the thought of violence, so the two are constantly at odds. Then there are the grave robbers digging up Jutta's ancestors . . .
This is a very enjoyable fantasy especially if you like cats!
pub. 1994. Based on Norse legend with the author's own twist. Jutta doesn't quite fit in at home yet when she's sent off to live with her aged relatives she doesn't quite fit in there either and proceeds to make some bad decisions. But with the help of the very special cats living with these relatives Jutta meets danger, violence, magic, and mayhem successfully.
I got about halfway through and skipped to the end. For me, it was hard slogging and much of it didn't make sense. Also, I didn't particularly like most of the characters. The one interesting feature was the cats for me.
This is the third book in the Skyla series. I have not read the first two books in the series but the books are only loosely related. I read the first 120 pages and just couldn't get into it. This wasn't an awful book, it was just slow moving and boring. There wasn't a lot going on here that I was interested in; the writing style felt very stilted and dated to me.
The story is about a 19 year old girl who is sent to live with her five grandmothers. The grandmothers are obsessed with their cats that they say aren't cats at all but are magical creatures from another realm.
I really struggled to stay engaged with this story and decided to set it aside. The world wasn't explained that well and none of the characters were that interesting to me. It looked like an interesting mystery might be developing around the grave barrows near where Jetta is sent to live; however it was just so slow moving that it never really grabbed my attention.
The book does have a very classic mid-90's fantasy feel to it. So if you are feeling nostalgic for an older, slower moving fantasy you might enjoy this one. As I said, it wasn't awful it just wasn't all that great either. If I had nothing else to read I would have probably finished it.
Overall an okay fantasy book but a bit too slow moving and boring for me. Has a very classic fantasy feel to it. I wish the world had been better developed, the characters more interesting, and the story more fast-paced an engaging. I don't plan on reading anymore by Boyer.
The story is about a 19 year old girl who is sent to live with her five grandmothers. The grandmothers are obsessed with their cats that they say aren't cats at all but are magical creatures from another realm.
I really struggled to stay engaged with this story and decided to set it aside. The world wasn't explained that well and none of the characters were that interesting to me. It looked like an interesting mystery might be developing around the grave barrows near where Jetta is sent to live; however it was just so slow moving that it never really grabbed my attention.
The book does have a very classic mid-90's fantasy feel to it. So if you are feeling nostalgic for an older, slower moving fantasy you might enjoy this one. As I said, it wasn't awful it just wasn't all that great either. If I had nothing else to read I would have probably finished it.
Overall an okay fantasy book but a bit too slow moving and boring for me. Has a very classic fantasy feel to it. I wish the world had been better developed, the characters more interesting, and the story more fast-paced an engaging. I don't plan on reading anymore by Boyer.
