(suggested) reading age: 11+
(suggested) interest age: 12+ / YA Gwales description:
'I will build you a castle here, to keep you safe forever.' Brycheiniog in the tenth century is a dangerous kingdom - so dangerous that the king's sister must be hidden from sight. Elwedd has not been allowed to leave the castle on the water for twelve years. On the island, she is safe. As she discovers the truth about the castle she is drawn into a battle for the whole kingdom.
Y Castell ar y Dŵr (The Castle on the Water) is a historical fiction story set in Brecon in the tenth century about a girl named Elwedd, the king's sister who has grown up away from the world in a castle that was built to keep her safe. Elwedd grows up believing that she doesn't get to see the outside world because it's too dangerous for her and she's quite happy with her life within the castle walls. She knows once it was safe enough she would be able to move to live with her brother. He reminds her of this every time he visits but when a craftsman named Syfaddan moves to work in the castle and gives her a taste of life outside her little world she starts questioning everything about her home life and family. Come with Elwedd and Syfaddan to find out what secrets Elwedd's family are trying so hard to keep from her.
I'd recommend Y Castell ar y Dŵr to people aged 12 or older as there are some difficult themes for younger children to understand. I'd also say it's a book aimed at people who love history and romance. I wouldn't suggest it to someone who didn't like violence or people being mistreated because there's quite a bit of that in the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Y Castell ar y Dŵr as it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. The characters were all interesting and complex and there was no one who was a completely good or completely bad person. There were also many unexpected twists and turns we'd never imagined coming. We also liked how it was hard to like some of the best characters in the book at the beginning of the story but they developed brilliantly throughout the book. It was also lovely to see two such different characters like Syfaddan and Elwedd become so close that it felt like they couldn’t live without each other.
I really enjoyed the book and I highly suggest you read it.
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