The Shamer’s Daugther [Book review]
Five out of five signets
Would recommend if: You’ve read Harry Potter 500 times and feel like maybe it’s time to expand your literary horizon. Don’t worry, it’s only four books, you’ll be back at Hogwarts in no time.
Plot: 10 year old Dina Tonerre has inherited her mother’s shamer’s eyes. Shamer’s eyes allow the shamer to see what people are ashamed of, like reading their minds, bringing up the memories people would rather bury. As you might have figured out this “gift” doesn’t exactly help Dina get friends.
Shamers are often requested at trails to determine quilt, and this story takes place when Dina’s mother goes to Dunac to help determine the guilt of Nicodemus Ravens, accused of killing his father the Lord Ebnezer, his sister in law Adela and his nephew Bian, leaving him as heir to the throne.
This story has everything from epic fights and nerve wrecking suspense to dragons and skull ladies, and all of it told from the point of view of a young girl who just want a friend willing to look her in the eye. There are no elves or old wizards with long beards, but this story has everything a fantasy story needs.
Personal comment: This is one of the first books I remember reading. I was visiting my grandpa in the summer vacation, and of course he spoiled me. We went for ice cream, he bought me an ankle bracelet that I never really wore because it felt weird, but the thing I remember most vividly was when he took me to the bookstore. He asked the sales assistant if she had any recommendations since he had no idea what kids my age liked. She showed us this book, told us a little about it, and my grandpa bought it for me. She said we could return it if it wasn’t the right fit anyway, and we promised to come back and let her know what I thought.
I have this memory of finding him in the living room a few hours after we’d come home, and I told him we had to go back to the store. This is the only time I ever remember seeing grandpa scared, but at that moment he looked horrified at the thought that he had bought me something I didn’t like. I told him (truthfully) that I loved the book, and that I had to go back and tell the sales lady that. We went back the next day and bought the rest of the series.
A few years later we read the first book in school.
This book is as close as we come to a classic (not written by H. C. Anderson) in Denmark. As far as I know every child reads this in school at one point or other, and though I was maybe 10 or 11 when I got it, I’m still reading it at 22, and it’s held together by tape some places. I think this is literally the most read book I own (and yes, that includes Harry Potter).
Title: The Shamer’s Daughter (Original title: Skammerens Datter)
Author: Lene Kaaberbøl
Year of Publication: 2000
Genre: Fantasy
Part of a series: Yes. The Shamer’s Daughter, The Shamer’s Signet, The Serpent Gift, The Shamer’s War
Movie adaption: The first and the second movie is out so far
Where to buy:
English translation
Original Danish