While an interesting look at making paper, the story itself was pretty predictable. Having a pretty good idea of what was going to happen to Auda was just a matter of continuing to read until the inevitable happened. I pretty much skimmed the last quarter of the book. ( )

Francia, 1320. Una extraña niña, blanca como la nieve, nace a la vez que muere su madre. Su aspecto indica que es hija del demonio, y para evitar que pronuncie la palabra de éste la comadrona le corta la lengua. Pero Auda es fuerte y sobrevive. Su padre, un prestigioso fabricante de papel de la ciudad, le enseña a escribir para que así pueda comunicarse. Su caligrafía es tan primorosa que encuentra un trabajo con los señores del castillo, donde estará a salvo de la Inquisición, que persigue a todos aquellos sospechosos de tener algún trato con Satanás. El Santo Oficio, sin embargo, acusa al padre de Auda de hacer negocios con los Hombres Buenos y lo condena a muerte. ¿Logrará Auda limpiar el nombre de su padre a tiempo para salvarle la vida?

Two stars for Historical research.
As a book of fiction it is lacking. The characters are underdeveloped. The internal monologue of the protagonist is grating, her motivations unclear. I felt no connection to her. The story does not flow. ( )

Loved, loved, loved this book. Set in France in the mid-1300s, amidst the Inquisition. The papermaker's daughter Auda is born under shocking circumstances that forever mark her. Despite the impediments of her birth, being female in a time when women are raised for the sole purpose of becoming wives and mothers, and living during a period of frightful fear mongering by and amongst religious groups, Auda steadfastly follows her own intellect, her own calling, and her own heart no matter what the personal cost.

This author is someone we should all watch out for to give us more great writing. That is unless she decides to cure cancer, or discover lifeforms on other planets, or solve the problems of global warming. Sankaran appears to be a most amazing person. ( )

a tender love story between a poet paper maker (mute albino, Auda) and her beloved Jaime. great evocation of medieval superstitions and fear of Inquisitors, far-fetched but still wonderful ( )