The Perilous Gard

Written by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Narrated by Jill Tanner

Kate Sutton is all arms and legs. She possesses none of her sister Alicia's honey-eyed beauty, but is intelligent and willful like her grandfather. It is an injustice, then, when Kate is falsely accused of Alicia's wrongdoing and is banished to remote Elvenwood Hall. But the world Kate encounters in Derbyshire, England is so strange and otherworldly that she has little time for regret. Elvenwood Hall has another, secret name-the Perilous Gard-and a mysterious history to go with it. It isn't long before Kate has a hundred questions about her new home. Who are the Fairy Folk? What is Master John's dark intent? And who is the Lady in the Green? Soon, she is deep in a terrifying adventure and a daring attempt to rescue Christopher Heron from strange and unimaginable forces.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781470356804

Reviews for The Perilous Gard

[Anna Scovel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So many things in this book reminded me of The Silver Chair. This one fist the bill for a classic fearie story. Good ending.

[Brian Cosby · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An inspiring and moving story, full of bravery and excitement!

[Dawn Burkey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book to read when wondering who you are or feel the need to compare yourself to others

[mutantpudding · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had a bit of trouble getting into this book, by which I mean I read the first chapter and then set it aside for many months, but when I started reading again I really loved it and finished it within a day.

The main character is a very straightforward kind of person and spends more time dealing with problems than avoiding them or getting upset, but at the same time she does react emotionally and her feelings were relateble to me. Shes also strong and resourceful in ways that felt right within the story and not overly modern. The book is on the gloomy side as a whole, but there were also funny and scary bits and the writing was enjoyable and easy to read. I really love fairy stories but am not always there for fancifulness and romancing and so this book was just the kind of thing I like.

[ashleytylerjohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one a lot. It seems on Goodreads that the average user, if they like a book, give it a 5. Not for me, I hold my 5s close and only use them when I can't help myself (like giving, for me, a rare standing ovation on Broadway). So 4's a good score, from me. The main character was great, the subsidiary characters were well-drawn and differentiated, the action moved steadily on, with enough twists and changes to keep one entertained throughout. There's a certain solid prosaic quality to the proceedings which may especially appeal to some, but probably kept this in the realm of the 4 for me--it's written in much the same tone as, say, Harriet the Spy, and I'm slightly more inclined toward Charmed Life.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Like the best books, this one manages to hit all the right notes - a familiar yet fascinating setting, the discovery of a magical world, a subtle love interest, and humorous dialogue. In fact, I think Kate's blunt and often hilarious descriptions are what had me loving this book by the end. I read it based on a friend's recommendation and because (while it's fantasy) it's also historical fiction set during one of my favorite periods. The early chapters when Kate arrives at the castle known as the Perilous Gard also have a bit of a gothic novel-feel to them, so essentially this book is a combination of all my favorite genres. Not to forget, the illustrations in the book go a long way to helping the reader picture what is happening in the story. Overall, a great read and one I hope more people enjoy.

[electrascaife · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kate Sutton finds herself accidentally in the bad graces of Queen Mary and sent to live in a remote castle with a secret and possibly dangerous past. She meets up with superstitious villagers, a gruff but lovable Lord of the castle, his mysterious and vexed (oh, and handsome, of course) younger brother, a disturbed but friendly troubadour, and a charm of wicked fairies. Kate is smart and stubborn and a bit clumsy, but strong, too, in all sorts of ways. In short, reader, I love her. And her story.

[rivkat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1558, Kate is sent in exile to a castle that turns out to be the last point of contact between elves and English people. She quickly starts trying to unravel the mystery of the elves, including the disappearance of the lord’s young daughter. Adventure and romance follow. It’s a good read with a strong protagonist whose stubbornness is her salvation.

[turtlesleap · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very nice historical novel for the young reader set in the reign of Queen Mary, immediately before and after Elizabeth's ascension to the throne. Kate Sutton is a teenaged companion of Elizabeth and, through no fault of her own, is exiled to Perilous Gard, a remote castle with a long and intriguing history. Kate's kind heart, integrity and determination involve her with one of the castle's deepest and most ancient mysteries and take her, for a time, among the fairy folk--who are not at all what we expect. This book sis very nicely done and should prove engaging to the young reader. Don't look for a heavy dose of history here, however. The historical period is background only.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When her sister Alicia thoughtlessly sends a note to Queen Mary about how abominable the castle where Princess Elizabeth is kept, her sister Kate is exiled. She is sent to the remote Perilous Gard, where she soon finds out that the gruff but kind Sir Geoffrey and a young man named Christopher Heron have a secret. Some of the people of the castle seem afraid to tell her too much, and only reference Those in the Well with a bit of awe. Kate can't help but get involved, whatever Christopher Heron may tell her!This was a Newbery Honor book in 1975, and it's too bad it's not better known because it's a really enjoyable book, and didn't feel dated at all. This was the sort of book that I hesitated to put down at the end of my breaks and wanted to pick up whenever I had a free moment. The plot is generally compelling, as the tension builds and time is running out. "Those of the Well" had a deliciously creep other-worldliness to them. Kate's as strong a character as some heroines of modern fantasy. She and Christopher were fabulous characters, and I enjoyed their banter. I would unhesitatingly read it again.

[satyridae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was lost from the opening scene with the young Lady Elizabeth Tudor. The transition from there into Fairy worked well. It was an unfamiliar kingdom, but to my eye at least, utterly believable. I bought the whole thing. The characters were three-dimensional and very interesting. Again, I'm sorry I missed this as a girl, but delighted to have it now. One of the most satisfying endings ever. I'll be reading this again. And again.

[skyebadger · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to like this book. I thought for sure I would. It had such great reviews. It was a fairy story. It featured the Tam Lin legend, which I love. I was positive I'd adore it. But... I didn't.As I read it I kept thinking it was just so long-winded. It took forever for anything to happen. And everyone talked so much, usually about nothing. Most of the characters weren't particularly interesting or endearing. The climax was singularly anti-climactic. It's very rare for me to just want a book to be over, but that's all I could think of as I read it. Not my favorite.

[silvernfire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This holds up well: I think I read it maybe 30 years ago, and rereading it now, I like it even more. Kate may have more modern sensibilities than a real teenage girl of 1558, but it's a tiny quibble, and anyway, the story might not have been as fun to read if she were more authentic. And I enjoyed the illustrations as well. This is one of those YA novels that many adults will enjoy as well (well, adults who like fantasy anyway).

[silentq_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I went into the book store looking for something completely different and walked out with this instead. :) It's a retelling of Tam Lin, where a woman has to save her love from a fairy queen. This version is set in England where Mary Queen of Scotts has exiled her sister Elizabeth's handmaiden to a lonely castle. Family tragedy and suspicious servants isolate Kate even more, but she soon gets curious and starts digging, and finds herself caught up in a story playing out around her. I liked the fact that the magic could almost be drugs, misdirection, old knowledge, hypnotism and psychological tricks. Or it could just be magic. :) Kate isn't as fully fleshed out as I would like, she's clumsy and stubborn and that's about it. The illustrations were lovely.

[phoebesmum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Historical fantasy set at the end of Mary Tudor's reign, spinning off the ballad of Tam Lin and the theory, which I've heard proposed as a serious belief, that the 'People of the Hills' were not so much supernatural as the survivors of an older time and religion, driven (literally) underground by invading newcomers. And, according to this, with some stonking good drugs at their disposal. Rather charming; I was surprised, when I glanced at the copyright page, to find that it originally came out in the early '70s. Books, other than a handful of classics, don't normally stay in print that long, but I'd never heard of this until it cropped up on my Amazon 'you might also like' list.

[ncgraham_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Young Adult novel, which was a Newberry Honor book but should have one the medal, is a tour de force that defies description. Is it a historical mystery with traces of the occult (practiced only by the "baddies," of course) or a mythic fantasy set in Elizabethan England? I do not know, but I love it either way. The characters are excellent, Kate in particular, and the ballad of Tam Lin is interwoven very effectively.The protagonist's imprisonment under the Hill reminded me a little of Kezi's term in the underworld from Gail Carson Levine's novel Ever, except that in this case there is more of a point to her suffering. The Fairy Folk themselves were handled in a very interesting manner, and I was never certain whether they were another race of creatures, or druid-like humans who had been in Britain for centuries. And they were interesting well-rounded characters too, not stock villains: though Kate returns to her own people's ways in the end, she tells the Lady that there were certain things she preferred about their world. That whole last chapter was excellent, but my favorite scene by far was the one in which she discusses the teind with the Fairy Queen, urging her that it need not be paid any more, on account of the Great King who paid it once and for all in a land far away. Somehow it didn't come off as preachy, and was fully in keeping with the way in which the character would have been brought up. Even if Elizabeth Marie Pope isn't a Christian—and I find that difficult to believe—she has a knack for explaining the Gospel.Make sure you get a copy with the original illustrations by Richard Cuffari. They're lovely and really add to the atmosphere of the story.

[herenya_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Perilogus Gard is a retelling of Tam Lin set in Tudor England. Kate is sent to the remote, cold Elvenwood Hall (known as the Perilous Gard) and becomes caught up in the secrets of Elvenwood and the disappearance of a small girl.It is very well written (I particularly noticed the way she used language - the vivid descriptions and the witty dialogue); it is a strong retelling of the ballad - notable for being the least confusing retelling I have read yet; Kate is a clever, determined and compassionate heroine; and the era is interesting because I have read remarkably few books set then. All in all, it is a fantastic story.But it was the illustrations which I keep coming back to (rather than bits I want to reread bits, although I have to admit I've done that too.) They are pen and ink drawings, and initially I dismissed them because they didn't appear to me to be particularly attractive. However, they are well placed (so they neither appear too early and are a spoiler, or appear to late, after the event they depict), and incredibly interesting - their detail and emotion. On top of which, this detail is surprisingly faithful to the story.I'm not used to there being illustrations in novels, not YA. My Narnia novels small ones - they don't have the same detail to them, and one of my copies of Jane Eyre has poorly placed (and not particularly attractive) coloured illustrations. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be so effective and interesting.

[annekiwi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is another young adult book that I still like. A young man, the heir to his brother's holdings, is thought to have "killed' his niece in order to maintain his inheritance. A young girl is drawn to his angst and goes with him willingly when the elves take him in place of his niece. It's a great adventure story with a wonderful romance.The writing is for adolescents so it moves quickly for adults. The plot is great and makes up for the more simple language. Still on my favorites shelf.

[nessreader_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A young adult version of Tam Lin done as a novel set in tudor England. The heroine, snappish but intelligent, is sent into exile from court because of her (simpering idiot) sister's error. Alone in a strange castle, she seems to have stepped into a gothic novel with ruffs - a handsome man who is blamed for a child's death, a staff who are shifty, a lord of the manor who hates his home, and haughty gypsies.. who turn out to be remnant pagans. There is a very low magic count in this fantasy, and a lot of the mystery is open to a scientific explanation if you squint, but it's a deeply satisfying story - the explanation in this of who the sidhe were was original and functional, both, and the irritable courtship of the romantic leads rereads well. The current paperback cover is hideous.

[auntieknickers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember this as excellent and I will probably reread it some time.

[luxlunae_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I still reread this book about once a year or so, and I'm 25 now!

[t1bclasslibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kate finds herself exiled in a strange castle with a strange set of characters, trying to solve a mystery of who the fairy folk are and what happened to a little girl. When she figures out that they are pagans, she is captured by them and trying to figure out an escape for herself and Christopher as her feelings for him grow.

[angelab86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A young woman of Princess Elizabeth's court is banished to a castle, cut off from her family. The mystery of the owner's missing daughter makes her stay much more interesting than she could have imagined. I love this book, and read it over and over again.

[crowyhead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fine fantasy that draws on the old faerie ballads like "Tam Lin" and "Thomas the Rhymer."

[kcollett_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Re-enactment of the Tam Lin story, set in Elizabethan times.