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9th out of 128 books
—
82 voters
The Crowfield Curse (Crowfield Abbey #1)
by
Pat Walsh (Goodreads Author)
Sent into the forest to gather firewood for the medieval abbey where he's an apprentice, Will hears a cry for help, and comes upon a creature no bigger than a cat. Trapped and wounded, it's a hobgoblin, who confesses a horrible secret: Something is buried deep in the snow, just beyond the graveyard. A mythical being, doomed by an ancient curse...
What does this mystery have...more
What does this mystery have...more
Paperback, 322 pages
Published
2010
by The Chicken House
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I gave this book five stars based on the originality of the concept within it's pages. I have read stories I enjoy more, but the overall idea of this book won me over.
I read this book because during Friday Favourites, a regular book sharing event at school, one young man so enthusiastically reviewed it. I borrowed the book, not expecting to love it, but found that I was completely captivated. Pat Walsh is a new author, and this book was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, a British literary award for new writers.
The year is 1347, and we are introduced to Will, a monks apprentice, who lives in Crowfield Abbey, possibly the coldest, hardest environment b...more
The year is 1347, and we are introduced to Will, a monks apprentice, who lives in Crowfield Abbey, possibly the coldest, hardest environment b...more
We are introduced to a fourteen year old William who is living in an abbey among christian monks after the death of his family. The story quickly introduce another character primarily known as the hob, later known as Brother Walter, whom William saved from an animal trap. The hob gives us the idea of magical creatures running around in this book, and it is very intriguing seeing how these magical creatures are written together alongside of christian monks and what-nots. Soon afterwards readers a...more
This story really did suck me in. Will is a boy who survived his family dying in a fire. The local abbey took him in as an odd-job man and he has befriended at least one of the monks. The old abbot is dying and there is a feeling of change about to come over the monastery. The story opens with Will rescuing a Hob from a trap and this is a catalyst for a big change in his life, a change that will mean that nothing will ever be the same again for him.
I really liked this story, Will is a great char...more
I really liked this story, Will is a great char...more
Apr 19, 2012
Brenda Proper
added it
Will is 14 years old, an orphan and lives the life of a servant to a group of monks in an abbey. That's a place where monks live and work. So you can tell this story is set in the past. In fact, way past. It's 1347 when the story starts. Will's story starts when he is out in the woods looking for firewood and he hears a creature caught in a trap. He goes to free the creature, only to discover it is not an animal like he thinks, but a hobgoblin, or hob, for short. This little guy is the size of a...more
A medieval mystery of sorts for kids (with a bit of magic thrown in), The Crowfield Curse is a wonderful adventure.
Set in 1347, the story follows monks' apprentice, William, as he finds himself caught up in a battle between light and dark forces that seem to surround the abbey where he lives. After finding a hobgoblin caught in a trap, Will's eyes are opened to the magical creatures around him. There are several "fay" creatures, old pagan gods, witches and healers, and a secret buried deep in th...more
Set in 1347, the story follows monks' apprentice, William, as he finds himself caught up in a battle between light and dark forces that seem to surround the abbey where he lives. After finding a hobgoblin caught in a trap, Will's eyes are opened to the magical creatures around him. There are several "fay" creatures, old pagan gods, witches and healers, and a secret buried deep in th...more
The Crowfield Curse is a magical and wonderfully lyrical story, with a truly rich and believable historical setting. The story has just the right blend of everything - old world magic, horror, suspense, thrills, fairies, monks and a boy with tremendous courage and compassion - and the Sight!
Pat seamlessly blends the reality of Middle Ages Christianity with the old belief systems that tie into nature worship and in the middle of it all, she places Will, an orphaned boy, pretty much alone in the w...more
Pat seamlessly blends the reality of Middle Ages Christianity with the old belief systems that tie into nature worship and in the middle of it all, she places Will, an orphaned boy, pretty much alone in the w...more
I liked this book, and would give it 4.5 stars if that was possible. It has an intriguing story line, a unique setting, and a very likable protagonist name William. I've read some reviews of the book, and those who don't seem to enjoy it much complain that the story unfolds too slowly. There's not enough action or character development. I disagree with this assessment and would argue that the narrative unfolds in accordance with William's personality. He's not a thrill-seeker. Like many a good f...more
Maybe 3 1/2 stars, and maybe more YA than children's, because there are some seriously scary bits in here. So, if you're looking for a ghost story, this might be a good choice (though it's not ghosts you have to worry about in this story).
Will lives in an abbey. He was taken in after his family died when their mill burned down. No one in town would take him, so he's working for his room and board with the monks. It's a pretty grim existence, though he does have a few friends, Peter, a slow but s...more
Will lives in an abbey. He was taken in after his family died when their mill burned down. No one in town would take him, so he's working for his room and board with the monks. It's a pretty grim existence, though he does have a few friends, Peter, a slow but s...more
This book is more about fairies and fairy folklore than about angels (as touted on the book blurb) but Pat Welsh has written a marvelously intriguing tale about an orphaned boy named Will living in an English abbey in the 1300s. The attention to detail and the daily life of the monks was amazing--the author certainly didn't skimp on the research and was able to recreate an engrossing world without infodumps or overloading on tedious detail. There's also a helpful glossary of terms in the back, t...more
Set in 1347, the author's detailed descriptions transport you to a monastery in England. You see the dark light of winter in the cold stone abbey, feel Will's and the monk's frost-cold fingers, hear the bells calling the monks to prayer, even taste the horrid pottage made by the irrascible cook and smell the privy. It is a hard life, especially in winter, but there is also beauty in Brother Snail's herb garden, in the wood's flora and fauna, in the warm friendship betwen the hunchbacked infirmar...more
As I expected from the description, this turned out to be an interesting read. The placement of a fairy myth lore into a Christian context creates something different than the typical fairy fantasy. Also, understand that when I say fairy myth lore, I’m not necessarily referring to fairies specifically in the sense of little creatures with wings, but the fairy court, fay warriors and such.
In some ways it actually reminds me a lot of Tithe by Holly Black, but in my opinion is actually better beca...more
In some ways it actually reminds me a lot of Tithe by Holly Black, but in my opinion is actually better beca...more
Will is fifteen; an orphan in the Crowfield Abbey who works hard for his keep. When he discovers an injured hob in the woods and brings him home, everything begins to change rather rapidly. The Crowfield Curse is a well-written, faced paced story for young adults which very much resembles the front cover in mood. I found myself almost shivering with the cold, colourless imagery of the Abbey and surrounding woods.
This book is a very well-executed blend of realistic 'middle ages' environment and...more
This book is a very well-executed blend of realistic 'middle ages' environment and...more
Jun 04, 2011
H.R. Harkness
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
atmospheric,
angel,
dark-fantasy,
faerie,
occult-supernatural,
uk-horror,
ya-horror,
quiet-horror
What a wonderfully atmospheric book this is! I know it seems like a strange point to latch onto first, but the weather in The Crowfield Curse is almost a character in itself - the constant cold that seeps through everything is the perfect recurring theme for this chilling and at times slightly claustrophobic book. The pace is slow and contemplative, which fits the narrative perfectly: the journey does not begin with explosions and a hurried race away from the forces of darkness, but instead star...more
William is an orphan, in the 1300's, living with the monks as their servant. He finds a "hob," a creature out of myth, who is caught in a trap. He helps to care for the hob and learns that he has "The Sight."
Crowfield guards a 100 year old secret, and the fay are looking for something, and want William's help. Magic and mythical creatures abound in this tale.
This book is a quick read (I read it in one day) and the plot develops quickly. I didn't expect to like it much but I think it had a lot...more
Crowfield guards a 100 year old secret, and the fay are looking for something, and want William's help. Magic and mythical creatures abound in this tale.
This book is a quick read (I read it in one day) and the plot develops quickly. I didn't expect to like it much but I think it had a lot...more
William is a fifteen year old orphan in in early 14th century England. After his family died in a fire, the monks at Crowfield took him in when the people of his village shunned him as the only survivor of the fire that killed his family and destroyed their mill. Will's life is filled with hard labor, and his only friend is Brother Snail, the healer of the abbey who suffers from severe curviture of the spine.
One cold winter day, William hears a voice pleading for help or death and he comes upon...more
One cold winter day, William hears a voice pleading for help or death and he comes upon...more
After his family’s mill burns down, William finds himself the only survivor. He is sent to live at Crowfield Abbey, where the monks provide food to eat and a place to sleep in return for hard labor. William’s life becomes more interesting when he comes across an injured Hob in the forest. Although he is unfamiliar with such strange creatures, William cannot stand the sight of another in pain, so he agrees to take him back to a trusted confidant at the Abbey for treatment. Then a strange man and...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Targetted at the 9-12 age group, this is a very engaging read suitable for all ages. It is 1347 and our narrator, 15 year old William, is taken in by the monks at Crowfield Abbey when his parents perish in a fire which William miraculously survives. These are hard times and William has to work very hard for his keep in freezing conditions with little food available to any of the inmates. His only ally at the abbey is Brother Snail, a healer who helps William when he discovers a "hob" (fox like f...more
Feb 13, 2013
Zuzana
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read2013,
young-adult
Táto kniha mi bola dosť odporúčaná a keď som ju našla v knižnici, tak som sa úplne potešila, pretože som očakávala niečo úplne super - a nedočkala som sa. Ale tým nemyslím, že by to bola zlá kniha alebo príbeh. Práve naopak. Príbeh je ozaj milý, ale aj napriek tomu, že sa v ňom promenádovali nadprirodzené bytosti mi prišiel málo magický (čo asi bolo tým, že všetko sa tam dialo ozaj rýchlo a nikto sa nad tou mágiou nepozastavoval?). Ale aj napriek tomu sa mi magické postavy páčili (brat Walter, a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
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This book caught my eye at the library with its GORGEOUS cover: the silhouettes stand out starkly against the fairy-tale-ish castle in the background, the 'splashes' of snow and the character's posture and the flow of the clothes do a great job of creating the illusion of movement, and the red foil is a wonderful touch that could easily have been overused, but wasn't.
And... I loved it! What a wonderful surprise.
I think what I liked best about it was that you had a 'chosen one' story without a Ma...more
And... I loved it! What a wonderful surprise.
I think what I liked best about it was that you had a 'chosen one' story without a Ma...more
Pat Walsh's atmospheric debut offering is a historical fantasy with a magical twist. Gone are the expected swords and battles, and in their place are mysterious angels and loveable hobs.
A hob is a fay creature, with similar physical attributes to that of a fox. They can hold conversations as well as the next human, and prove quite useful when unravelling age-old mysteries of angels buried in nearby forests. Brother Walter is a lovely little guy, and due to my enthusiasm for tiny creatures, I fel...more
A hob is a fay creature, with similar physical attributes to that of a fox. They can hold conversations as well as the next human, and prove quite useful when unravelling age-old mysteries of angels buried in nearby forests. Brother Walter is a lovely little guy, and due to my enthusiasm for tiny creatures, I fel...more
The Corwfield Curse is about a boy named Will who was taken in by the monks of an abbey since he became an orphan. One day while collecting wood, he finds a hobgoblin caught in a trap, concerned, he frees the hobgoblin and brings him to one of the monks named Brother Snail. Afraid that the other monks would kill the hob, they keep him a secret and hid him. Will and Brother Snail soon befriends the hob and find out that Will has the sight which is rare. Later in the story, the abby have a wealth...more
Jun 14, 2012
Erik
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mg-fantasy-sci-fi,
read-in-sk
Čo sa môže stať, keď pochováš anjela?
Will, ma asi strnast (ja si taketo veci nepamatam:), vyrasta v Crowfieldskom opatstve, pretoze cela jeho rodina zomrela pri poziari mlyna. Jedneho zimneho dna narazi v lese na zvlastneho tvora -- hoba. (Hob je nieco z rodiny Skriatkov) Hob ma nozicku uvaznenu v pasci na lesne zvery a hrozi mu smrt. Will sa onho postara a odnesie hop do opatstva, kde sa onho postara.
Niekolko dni po tejto udalosti prichadza do chudobneho opatstva tajomny host... Jacobus Bane...more
Will, ma asi strnast (ja si taketo veci nepamatam:), vyrasta v Crowfieldskom opatstve, pretoze cela jeho rodina zomrela pri poziari mlyna. Jedneho zimneho dna narazi v lese na zvlastneho tvora -- hoba. (Hob je nieco z rodiny Skriatkov) Hob ma nozicku uvaznenu v pasci na lesne zvery a hrozi mu smrt. Will sa onho postara a odnesie hop do opatstva, kde sa onho postara.
Niekolko dni po tejto udalosti prichadza do chudobneho opatstva tajomny host... Jacobus Bane...more
ENGLAND:1347, Crowfield Abbey
Will, sent into the forest surrounding a medieval abbey to gather firewood, hears a cry from someone or something. He finds a hobgoblin no bigger than a cat and it is stuck in a trap. Will helps the hob back to the abbey where a brother helps him back to health. Soon two men named Master bone, a leper, and his servant Shadlock, a seelie (literally means light fay) fay person, arrive at the abbey looking for a dead angel. The angel was one of the abbeys greatest se...more
It is probably one of those cusp books that can either be for middle grade readers or for the young adult. Or the adult, in my case.
Unlike some other books I have read recently, I didn't skip around: it held my attention long enough that I made it through from cover to cover. I found the characters quite fascinating and the premise of the plot very intriguing. I will admit to a flicker of worry in the middle that it would be another "ancient powerful ways supplant Christianity which has no powe...more
Unlike some other books I have read recently, I didn't skip around: it held my attention long enough that I made it through from cover to cover. I found the characters quite fascinating and the premise of the plot very intriguing. I will admit to a flicker of worry in the middle that it would be another "ancient powerful ways supplant Christianity which has no powe...more
I bought this on clearance at the scholastic book fair at school- it must have been on clearance because it had a slightly flawed binding because it was a wonderful book that was worth much more than $3. It seamlessly integrated fantasy with historical fiction (14th century England at a monastery). It was a really interesting story, almost like a fairy tale. It also had an ending that left the possibility of a sequel open while still giving the reader a sense of completion. I think it is quite a...more
This book had me hooked very quickly and it was refreshingly different from a lot of other similar books out there. Will is a recent orphan and is living at Crow Field Abby with the monks. One day in the woods he discovers a creature stuck in a trap, a creature like he has never seen before. As the plot unfolds Will becomes involved with a secret the abby has kept for hundreds of years, that an angel was killed and buried there. Some strange people come looking to uncover that secret and Will ag...more
3.67 stars. Oh man. This book gets some bonus points for 1.) uniqueness of the story 2.) unusual time period, and 3.) amazingly good atmosphere/tone on the part of the author. 'Twas creepy! Fast-paced, interesting fantasy that's likely going to be a series or at least have a sequel. Not my favorite book ever though. I think most of the characters were lacking, and this may just have been because there were too many of them. I didn't really care a whole lot about Will by the end (he was kind of b...more
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Apr 09, 2012 10:30am