The cover design is a definite eye catcher, and I really appreciated an opportunity to receive a copy of this book. The setting is a general medieval time in a fantasy kingdom with character names that are modern enough phonetically to not require more attention than the plot itself. While the publicity release emphasized the architectural skills of first-person narrator Catrin, the plot seems to place more emphasis on Catrin's mystical connection to moonlight in addition to recent murders.
I was also interested in the large number of orphan and foundling girls as well as the the prioress's secret book which lists every foundlings' origin or suspected origin. Catrin is familiar with this book, but I won't say more in order to avoid spoilers. I might be wrong, but the book's references to known parentage hints at church scandals of births among church leaders who took vows of abstinence and need to dispose of this proof of their broken vows. Interesting, too, is the fact that orphanages or brothels seem to be the two choices as places of refuge for females.
I applaud the author for attempting to address mental health issues in this book, but to be honest, I was surprised when the author's note at the end of the book references schizophrenia. When Mother Agnes mentions that some citizens think criminal family members are possessed and she taps her head, saying scholars don't understand what's going on in there [the heads of criminals], it was not obvious that this was schizophrenia.Unfortunately, since I was not as enthralled with this book as I expected to be, I may not have been doing a close reading.
I was also interested in the large number of orphan and foundling girls as well as the the prioress's secret book which lists every foundlings' origin or suspected origin. Catrin is familiar with this book, but I won't say more in order to avoid spoilers. I might be wrong, but the book's references to known parentage hints at church scandals of births among church leaders who took vows of abstinence and need to dispose of this proof of their broken vows. Interesting, too, is the fact that orphanages or brothels seem to be the two choices as places of refuge for females.
I applaud the author for attempting to address mental health issues in this book, but to be honest, I was surprised when the author's note at the end of the book references schizophrenia. When Mother Agnes mentions that some citizens think criminal family members are possessed and she taps her head, saying scholars don't understand what's going on in there [the heads of criminals], it was not obvious that this was schizophrenia.Unfortunately, since I was not as enthralled with this book as I expected to be, I may not have been doing a close reading.