Juliet Marillier - Heart's Blood

Courtesy of Tor books.

A young scribe fleeing an abusive home finds herself in the strange town of Whistling Tor. Strange things whisper in the woods up to the Tor itself and the town itself is barricaded against the world. Caitrin takes up a post in the strange household of the regions Lord, Anluan, disfigured and frightening and finds herself drawn into an old curse.

Heart's Blood is essentially a beauty and the beast romance, but it's extremely well written and gripping. Caitrin becomes the catalyst for the townspeople, the Lord's household and her own life and family shaking off their tragedy and stagnation. There are supernatural horrors violent and unpleasant family members, enemies marching through the land laying claim to it, romance and betrayal.

I've read a fair few of these over the years and this is definitely one of the better examples I have come across. It has more unusual elements, more believable characters (even the supernatural ones) and more genuine feeling than many.

I am not a fan of the cover though, it doesn't feel right for such a deliciously atmospheric book.