Knocking out another VF book club review with Deerskin. Instead of aliens and greek-like gods, we read a dark fairytale about a princess named Lissar whose mother was the most beautiful queen of all the kingdoms. Her beauty so captivating that all the land including the King hardly remember the princess exists. But alas the queen cannot live forever, so she captures her beauty in a striking painting before her death. It’s almost as if she curses her daughter to live behind her shadow even after death.
[MILD SPOILERS]
Her death drives Lissar’s father absolutely mad who decides to marry Lissar in order to hold on to a semblance of the queen’s beauty. Obviously the kingdom is a bit taken aback, but no one challenges him. He’s so wild with insistance that Lissar cannot bear to be in same room as him fearing the grief, lust and madness illuminated in his eyes. She escapes with Ash, her loyal dog she’s never been without since the pup’s birth, into the forest. Running on barefeet away, as far as she can until she takes refuge in deserted cabin. After the winter passes, spring time approaches and she emerges transformed into a beautiful woman with long blong hair wearing only a deerskin dress. She takes on the name Deerskin as she continues her journey away from her kingdom and her forgotten past.
She stumbles upon a kingdom where she and Ash care for the prince’s hunting puppies , the only remaining joy in her life. The book follows her attempts to reconnect with society as reborn only months before. Will she ever remember her former self, Lissar? Or remain the simple quiet maiden Deerskin?
This was one of my favorite picks this year despite the dark subject matter. And who doesn’t love a good story with puppies in it?! Ash and Lissar’s friendship and devotion to each other is absolute. It gives her (and the reader to an extent) the strength to continue her journey. A human romance does develop towards the end, but the main story is about Lissar’s journey back to herself. I’d recommend this for any fantasy reader who loves dogs. Also anyone who loved Wendy and Lucy with Michelle Williams. Yes the subject matter is dark at the start, but sticking it through to the end is very satisfying and beautiful.
Read other reviews on my blog, Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict.
happy quarter cannonball!
Thanks! Let’s see how many more I can chuck out in next 5 days. I have book club meetup tomorrow, so have to actually get down to some reading today. :)