On the island of Morovia, humans and alkonosts (birdlike people) used to live together, but after a disaster at sea in which the island's leaders were killed, for which the alkonosts were blamed, the two communities have been divided. Most of the alkonosts have singing magic within them; however, Linnet (the main protagonist) has yet to discover hers (much to her frustration).
Linnet's mother was amongst those killed during the disaster and now she and her father, Nightingale, have been forced to live in the swamps, stealing from human travellers in order to scrape by. But when her father is captured and imprisoned by the humans, it's up to Linnet to try to save him.
Sophie Anderson is one of those writers whose books are always wonderful to read; written with a timeless quality and a folktale style, she manages to weave gripping plots in a unique way that captures the imagination and looks at important themes in a way that engages readers of all ages, and The Thief Who Sang Storms is no exception.
Linnet is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death and her father's grief, whilst also coming to terms with the fact that she has been thrown out of her home. Her entire life has changed and she needs to be strong for herself as well as her father. From living a peaceful life, her world has been shattered and she is determined to find a way to bring harmony back to the island she calls home - a theme that I can imagine will resonate with many at the moment. Her strength and determination whilst she also battles her fears make her a relatable character.
Set on the fictional island of Morovia, the world-building is vivid and believable, and I was completely captivated. I also love that characters from Sophie's previous books make cameos in her other books and this one is no exception - Baba Yaga felt like an old friend I was happy to see when she appeared.
With powerful messages about friendship, kindness, accepting yourself and understanding difference, The Thief Who Sang Songs is guaranteed to be another hit for Sophie.
No comments:
Post a Comment