Book Review | Sorrow’s Knot | Erin Bow

Title: Sorrow’s Knot
Author: Erin Bow (web | twitter)
Genre: Fantasy YA, Native American, Horror YA
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Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Release date: October 29, 2013
Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley

From the acclaimed author of PLAIN KATE, a new novel about what lurks in the shadows, and how to put it to rest…

In the world of SORROW’S KNOT, the dead do not rest easy. Every patch of shadow might be home to something hungry, something deadly. Most of the people of this world live on the sunlit, treeless prairies. But a few carve out an uneasy living in the forest towns, keeping the dead at bay with wards made from magically knotted cords. The women who tie these knots are called binders. And Otter’s mother, Willow, is one of the greatest binders her people have ever known.

But Willow does not wish for her daughter to lead the lonely, heavy life of a binder, so she chooses another as her apprentice. Otter is devastated by this choice, and what’s more, it leaves her untrained when the village falls under attack. In a moment of desperation, Otter casts her first ward, and the results are disastrous. But now Otter may be her people’s only hope against the shadows that threaten them. Will the challenge be too great for her? Or will she find a way to put the dead to rest once and for all?

 SORROW’S KNOT is the first book I’ve ever read by Erin Bow, and I have to tell you: It sets a pretty high bar for any other books of hers I might read. And because of that bar being set so high, my likelihood of reading more of her books is likewise high. I LOVED SORROW’S KNOT. The writing was lovely, the story was original and fascinating, the characters were empathetic and full of emotions, and it made me cry. Winning combo of things. The only thing that I could possibly say stinks about this book is that I wish there were more. Yes, yes, I am an unapologetic lover of series books. But trust me: When you read SORROW’S KNOT, you’ll get to the end and be satisfied, but you’ll also want to see more of the world that Erin Bow built.

SORROW’S KNOT is a book set in a fantasy world loosely but obviously built on Native American culture and lore. Otter, the main character, lives in a place called Westmost. It’s pretty literally named in that it is the Westmost settlement in this world, and it is inhabited almost exclusively by women. In their culture—which I’ll get to in a little more detail in a moment—the women bind their dead high up in the trees to keep them safe from the dead spirits and beings that haunt the forest outside their protected village. These women live in particular fear of the White hand: dead spirits who wander the woods, and whose touch turns a living person’s skin gradually white and drives them mad until they die. Otter’s mother, Willow, is the binder of Westmost whose gifts slowly unravel and lead to tragedy for Otter and her mother, Otter and her friends, Kestrel and Cricket (one of the only boys in Westmost), and for the rest of her village.

There’s so many thought-provoking themes in SORROW’S KNOT. Mostly, though, this is a very poignant, SUPER creepy story about death and loved ones and not holding on too tightly to them after they die. It’s also about finding your place and love (although maybe not the kind you’d think) and subverting the norms in your culture. It’s about mothers and daughters, and friendship. It’s also about what basically amounts to ZOMBIES (which I normally don’t do), but I’m glad I didn’t get that sense from the synopsis otherwise I probably would’ve been put off from reading it. What a mistake that would’ve been!

I loved the world Erin Bow built in SORROW’S KNOT. It’s clearly Native American in inspiration, but has just the perfect touch of magic to it. Otter’s gifts as a binder and the mythology of the knots and all of the things they can do–they are offense and defense–was unique and so interesting. I can’t imagine it was easy to make something as simple as tying knots seem so mystical, but Erin Bow did an admirable job with it. I loved especially the role that knots played in the way these women handle death and the burial of their dead. The way the knots turned on Willow and Otter, too, was full of danger and devastation. I likey.

The real core of SORROW’S KNOT, though, is the relationships. Otter has a tumultuous one with her mother, especially as Willow slowly becomes mad. Theirs is a story of sacrifice and secrets. Well, secrets about the lore and history of Otter’s people play a very important role the story, but Otter and Willow are not always honest with each other and it unavoidably colors their relationship. But it was really the friendship between Otter, Kestrel, and Cricket that touched my heart and devastated me. Kestrel and Cricket are an oddity of sorts in Westmost–most boys leave Westmost as they come of age and never return. But the two of them are bound together in a rare ceremony that is basically marriage and I LOOOOOOOOVED THEM. They are sweet and thoughtful to one another, and all three are great friends. Cricket–charming, warm, supportive–was wonderful, and had one of my favorite lines (spoken to Kestrel):

I mean. WARM FUZZIES FOR DAYS. It’s no surprise to me that it’s these friendships and loves that stood out to me the most while reading SORROW’S KNOT, and that continue to leave an impression on me. The three friends are a force built on a strong foundation. Otter is never a third wheel.

The mythology of the people of Westmost also serves as a driving force in SORROW’S KNOT. At one point in the story, Otter and Kestrel (she’s a ranger) leave Westmost and venture to the long-deserted home of the very first binder, the Mad Spider, in order to discover the meaning of a story that Cricket–a storyteller–tells them. They meet a new face there who intrigues Otter. It’s very soulful and unassuming, the relationship she develops. I loved that Otter’s story isn’t about romance, though. It’s really about truth, change, and grief. Heavy stuff for sure, but very lovely.

Friends, I can’t recommend SORROW’S KNOT strongly enough. It’s very much a story like TIGER LILY in that they share the same tone and mood (otherwise, very different). The world-building is excellent, the relationships are heartwarming and heart-wrenching, there is a very palpable sense of fear and terror (I know I didn’t touch on this much, but TRUST ME), and the writing is full of pretty turns of phrase. Perhaps the ending seemed to wrap up quickly, but that could just be my chronic issue with standalones, as well as my longing for more. SORROW’S KNOT is one of my favorite reads this year.

Check out some other reviews of Sorrow’s Knot by Erin Bow!

Keertana @ Ivy Book Bindings: “I can certainly promise you one thing: it’ll leave your hearts in knots. Ones you just won’t want to untie.”

Angie @ Angieville: “It’s fantasy, but oh, it’s horror. It’s young adult, but it’s really very middle grade, too. It’s sad. But its moments of happiness are blinding. Which is why you really must read it so you can find out what it is for you.”