The Rampion Child by Minerva Hart

High in the mountains, Lorelai lives a quiet life with her mother, Breanne. Sometimes, Breanne is rougher than she intends to be, leaving bruises and scratches on her daughter’s soft skin, but that is only because her love for Lorelai is as great as her fear of the outside world. It is rife with monsters, Red Hoods, treacherous folk of both mundane and magical abilities, and – worst of all – the True Faith, who rules Shipbreaker Shore with an iron fist. They dominate all who live on the isle and execute those who don’t obey their holy laws. Even the royal family is terrified of them.

Mother and daughter live a life of seclusion to hide from such perils. While Lorelai is curious about the world beyond their tiny hut, Breanne insists they have all they need because they have each other.

Lorelai’s life is sheltered and lonely… until she meets and befriends Odele, a young Red Hood with a difficult past.

Lorelai is happier than she’s ever been. Little does she know that her mother is afraid of something far more tangible than dragons, ghouls, or even the True Faith: Time. Lorelai is twelve, on the cusp of womanhood, and Breanne will do the unspeakable to keep the girl from leaving her.

Artisan Book Reviews

The Rampion Child is an amazing dark fantasy, diverse, and distinctively subversive, as award winning author, Minerva Hart reanimates the favored fairytale classic in this complex magical retelling of Rapunzel. Her vivid prose works wonders for the imagination, adorning tragedy even as it cuts you.

Witchkind long hunted by the tyranny of the True Faith, Lorelai’s mother whisks them away to the safety of the mountains of Shipbreakers Shore. Their multicultural world is a wild one after all, teeming with magic and monsters and hostile to anyone irregular under the influence of the religious order and the preoccupied heirless king. Inevitably curious about the life she’s been shielded from, Lorelai has a chance encounter with Odele one day, a gentle-natured vulnerable Red Hood. Their distinct connection blossoms into friendship and solidarity as social outcasts. But things turn wild and ominous as paranoid and abusive Breanne grows desperate to shield rebellious Lorelai, Odele grapples with the dangers of his monster-hunting burden, and the growing tension between the king and his power-hungry younger brother triggers multiple powers into play.

Hart’s latest novel lures you into a complicated, enriched tale of friendship, motherhood, romance, trauma and treachery. The story features an abundance of fairytale staples with modern dark twists and a deeply affecting ending. Breanne stands out, morally warped by her past, complexly written and strangely sympathetic. The others are not far behind— Lorelai’s conflicted, hopeful nature is heartbreakingly authentic, Odele is a rare find and the king’s ostracized daughter is a welcome addition.

Minerva Hart’s writing style is extraordinary and some of the most evocative I’ve ever read, invoking fairytale magic viscerally while amplifying the undercurrent of sinister in a dark enchanting charm. Here’s a skilled writer, seamlessly integrating real-world commentary on marginalized communities and a wealth of other issues. This story accomplishes so much in a great balance.

The Rampion Child is an intense intricate fairytale retelling and high fantasy that is written with much heart, soul and imagination. It is a story of unconventional perspectives that gushes with passion and flavor. Even when it gets dark, the characters shine through, illuminating a fairytale as the story of many heroes, not one. This rich, deeply touching, and fascinating version of Rapunzel will surely stay with every reader. The Rampion Child by Minerva Hart comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. Book read and reviewed by Iris Fuller for Artisan Book Reviews.

Buy The Rampion Child by Minerva Hart 
The Rampion Child by Minerva Hart 
ABR International Book Excellence Award
For best
Dark Fantasy and Epic Fairytale Retelling
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