The Seventh Bride

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Fifteen-year-old Rhea, a miller’s daughter of low birth, cannot imagine a life beyond working at the mill with her family, much less one that promises luxury as the wife of a nobleman. So when Lord Crevan shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage, she is understandably surprised. And concerned. Commoners don’t turn down lords, though, no matter how old (or sinister) they may seem, so Rhea reluctantly agrees to the engagement.

Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. It’s quite improper with them only be betrothed, but again, he’s a lord, so what can be done? Upon arrival, Rhea begins to realize the depth of her mistake. Not only is Lord Crevan a powerful sorcerer, but he was married six times before, and his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Rhea’s determined not to share their fate, but when she asserts her desire for freedom, Lord Crevan gives her an unusual ultimatum. She must complete a series of magical tasks. If she cannot complete them and return before dawn, he will marry her.

Time is running out. With each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.

The Seventh Bride is a retelling of Bluebeard, an already creepy fairy tale, made only creepier with elements of whimsical horror. Lighthearted one minute with darker imagery the next, it’s certainly a good option to read during the spooky October season. Throw into the mix an endearing hedgehog, an army of slugs, a floor that falls whenever it sees fit, and an array of uniquely strong female characters and you have a classic T. Kingfisher novel. 

Overall, there’s a little too much horror in this book for my liking, but as always, Kingfisher’s writing is vivid and witty, with frequent humor and delightfully whimsical details. Also, despite the horrors of her situation, Rhea does not fail to show empathy toward the other wives and their situations, wrapping the story up nicely with a message touching on the harsh impacts of self-blame and denial. 

Rated: Mild. Profanity includes 2 uses of moderate language, 14 uses of mild language, and 5 uses of the name of Deity. Violence includes some creepy fantasy imagery and the threat of death and suspicion of murder. Lord Crevan uses fantasy magic to abuse and imprison his wives. 

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