Book of a Thousand Days

I love Shannon Hale’s books, but was reluctant to pick this one up.

Book of a Thousand Days is written as a diary. Yawn, I thought. I was wrong.

Dashti is a new lady’s maid to Lady Saren. As soon as she reports to her new mistress, they are whisked off to an isolated tower as punishment. Lady Saren refuses to marry the man her father chose for her.

Hale excels at creating strong, yet humble, female characters who find their voice against evil & wrong. At the same time these girls value and esteem their relationships with the good men in their lives as well as other women. All her protagonists have faith in something greater – in this book, it’s the ancestors.

Dashti is no exception. My favorite line in this book is at the height of the conflict when Dashti, in the midst of humility & shame, defeats the evil lord. The war advisor from the walled city rides out to meet the opposing army. He arrives behind Dashti and shouts, “Never underestimate a woman of faith!”

If you, like me, don’t particularly enjoy reading diary entries, please listen to this book. A full cast audio recording makes the audiobook especially enjoyable.

Highly recommended for ages 12 and up.