The Beast Is an Animal

January 30, 2017
Alys was only seven when soul eaters killed the adults in the village of Gwenith. She was then taken to nearby Defaid, where she made a life with new parents. It isn’t much of a life, though: when soul eaters attack Defaid, a “great wooden Gate” is built around the village, and the children of Gwenith must guard the Gate through the night. Theirs is a colorless existence, and Alys feels the pull of the dark “fforest” surrounding the village, and the beast that lives there. From the sorrowful opening that introduces the soul eaters, van Arsdale’s lyrical debut spans about eight years, revealing the growing darkness Alys feels inside and the weight of the secret she carries. When Alys is accused of a terrible crime, she’s forced to leave the village and confront her destiny. Atmospheric and immersive, van Arsdale’s eerie fantasy keeps its focus on Alys’s struggle to reconcile who she is with what she wants to be as it builds toward a poignant and satisfying conclusion. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Narrator Candace Thaxton's raspy timbre is perfect for Van Arsdale's spirited prose. With calm, measured pacing and a mix of brusqueness and warmth, Thaxton's delivery engages listeners with a complex and unnerving coming-of-age tale. Alys is a young woman with unusual powers. When all the adults in her home of Gwenith are killed, she makes her way to devout, fearful Defaid. Van Arsdale's compelling story examines superstition and magic, fear and hope, and the unlikely partnerships between strangers in frightening times. Thaxton's characterizations expertly reflect the resilience of Alys and her young friends, the casual malevolence of the devout villagers, and the humanity in beings that others regard only as monsters. Ideal for fans of suspense and folktales. K.S.B. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine