Longbow Girl by Linda Davies
Synopsis:
Set in the wilds of the Welsh mountains, the brave and beautiful longbow girl, Merry Owen, discovers a river that takes her back in time to the autocratic kingdom of King Henry VIII. While there she finds she must compete in an archery tournament to save her ancestors’ land from being seized by their aristocratic neighbors the de Courcys. Merry’s best friend James de Courcy (and heir to the de Courcy wealth) follows her back in time and the two get tangled up in their families’ ancient histories. There are forces working against them both in the past and the present. Will they be able to survive their pasts to save their futures?
Review:
Merry is a skilled archer with a kind heart. And when she stumbles across a box in the woods, it changes her life forever. Longbow Girl is a surprising dramatic fantasy. The story is intense and gripping. I read it one sitting, as it was too hard to put down. The Welsh land is immersive and beautifully written. And the characters are engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing, young adult fantasy.