Realms Review: 'Book of a Thousand Days'

What's more terrifying than death? Being locked away in a tower for seven years. Dashti, a maid to Lady Saren, is locked away with her mistress in a tower after Lady Saren refuses to marry a man she despises. Dashti is the protagonist in Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, which is written in the form of a journal entry. Food begins to run low and they both suffer from extreme heat and cold. Lady Saren's two suitors come to them from time to time: one who is welcome and brings hope, and one who is downright terrifying.
          In the days to come, they will need to figure out why the guards of Lady Saren's kingdom have stopped coming, how they can escape, and if the hopeful suitor will help them. Hale's beautiful writing weaves this re-told fairy tale on the Asian Steppes with intrigue, suspense, love, and surprise. There is murder, distrust, disguise, and hope, but who can Dashti and Lady Saren trust?
          At Realms, we give this story five out of five stars for its ability to take an old story and transform it into something original, its strong protagonist (and characters, overall), lovely world-building, and the thrills of the built-up suspense. You will not be able to put it down. Your opinions of characters will change in between the beginning and the end. You will want Dashti to have her happy ending, but will she obtain it? Read the highly recommended Book of a Thousand Days by master storyteller Shannon Hale to find out.