Pay the Piper: A Novella of Utter Speculation by Sarah Connell
Publisher: Speculation Publications
Publication Date: April 1st, 2025
Publisher: Speculation Publications
Publication Date: April 1st, 2025
Paperback. 112 pages.
About Pay the Piper (from the publisher):
"In the dark days of plague and poverty, when the church rules with an iron fist, and knowledge is punished with fire, an orphaned girl stumbles upon a legacy of magic. Lucie has only ever known her small farm and the overprotective care of her brother, Tilo, until she learns of the Gathering. Run from the village of Hamelin by the tyrannical White Bishop, these exiles have been forced to live apart from their families. Lucie discovers that she and Tilo are part of this group, expelled from the village as the children of an accused witch.
The village of Hamelin is in trouble. Ragged children roam the streets, the poor and downtrodden struggle to fill their bellies, and the homes of the wealthy are infested with rats. A mysterious figure appears with an offer that is too good to be true; reunite the families torn asunder by accusations of witchcraft, provide a home for Lucie and her people, and the rats will be gone.
But this is a contract signed with blood, and for Lucie, the Mayor of Hamelin, and the White Bishop, the price may be too high."
The village of Hamelin is in trouble. Ragged children roam the streets, the poor and downtrodden struggle to fill their bellies, and the homes of the wealthy are infested with rats. A mysterious figure appears with an offer that is too good to be true; reunite the families torn asunder by accusations of witchcraft, provide a home for Lucie and her people, and the rats will be gone.
But this is a contract signed with blood, and for Lucie, the Mayor of Hamelin, and the White Bishop, the price may be too high."
I'm always up for a fairy tale retelling, especially when they are working with a slightly less popular story (at least currently in the mainstream fiction world) and bring it to life in new ways. I'm not quite as familiar with the Pied Piper tales as I am with other classic tales and I've actually been wanting to explore more versions of it, so I was thrilled when I was offered a chance to read Sarah Connell's Pay the Piper. I loved the way this short tale wove history, myth, and enchantments into a cohesive and entertaining tale.
The story follows Lucie, an orphaned girl who has been living with her brother, Tilo at their small farm. One day she discovers that her brother has been meeting with The Gathering, a group of people who have been exiled due to their following of the old ways and accusations of witchcraft. The town of Hamelin is also dealing with an extensive rat problem, and a curious figure arrives and offers a solution to the town's problem... if the town agrees to cease the exiling of those accused of witchcraft.
I really enjoyed Connell's writing in Pay the Piper and found it to be readily engaging and easy to read. It was descriptive, immersive, and very much captured the superstitious atmosphere that at times permeated the setting. It's clear from the author's note that Connell put extensive research into crafting the historical elements of the story, and I appreciated how much this really brought the story to life. The world felt completely rooted in its era and easily captured the mix of fear and folkloric elements of the story that matched the atmosphere.
Lucie is an excellent protagonist and I loved seeing her adapt to her new circumstances. Because she has inherited her mother's abilities and skills with her flute, we get to see her learn more about herself and her mother as she embraces and explores this new discovery. I really enjoyed learning about The Gathering and witches along with Lucie and found her attitude towards everything happening around her both relatable and admirable.
Pay the Piper is brief novella, but it felt like it was just the right length to feel complete--although I think there is also plenty of room for expansion if the occasion ever arose. I could easily see this tale and Lucie's story unfold into something longer and more complex. As it is, though, I think this shorter format worked excellently and the author balanced the setting, plot, character development, and related progressions in a thoughtful and successful manner.
The story follows Lucie, an orphaned girl who has been living with her brother, Tilo at their small farm. One day she discovers that her brother has been meeting with The Gathering, a group of people who have been exiled due to their following of the old ways and accusations of witchcraft. The town of Hamelin is also dealing with an extensive rat problem, and a curious figure arrives and offers a solution to the town's problem... if the town agrees to cease the exiling of those accused of witchcraft.
I really enjoyed Connell's writing in Pay the Piper and found it to be readily engaging and easy to read. It was descriptive, immersive, and very much captured the superstitious atmosphere that at times permeated the setting. It's clear from the author's note that Connell put extensive research into crafting the historical elements of the story, and I appreciated how much this really brought the story to life. The world felt completely rooted in its era and easily captured the mix of fear and folkloric elements of the story that matched the atmosphere.
Lucie is an excellent protagonist and I loved seeing her adapt to her new circumstances. Because she has inherited her mother's abilities and skills with her flute, we get to see her learn more about herself and her mother as she embraces and explores this new discovery. I really enjoyed learning about The Gathering and witches along with Lucie and found her attitude towards everything happening around her both relatable and admirable.
Pay the Piper is brief novella, but it felt like it was just the right length to feel complete--although I think there is also plenty of room for expansion if the occasion ever arose. I could easily see this tale and Lucie's story unfold into something longer and more complex. As it is, though, I think this shorter format worked excellently and the author balanced the setting, plot, character development, and related progressions in a thoughtful and successful manner.
If you enjoy fairy tales, historical fiction, a little bit of fantasy, or stories about the struggle to exist, then Pay the Piper is one you will want to add to your TBR.
*I received a copy of Pay the Piper in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*
Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org
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