What an extraordinary tale! At the age of ten, children can go to have their fates tattooed on their hand- it can only be on their 10th birthday and it will guide them on a path through life. Metty is excited to see what fate has divined for her and she has a new dictionary of fates that she can study.
Whenever she meets someone new, she looks their tattoo up to check the meaning. Her father has a ship, meaning he is likely to be a sailor and her mother has a rose, meaning she is likely to marry often. When Metty receives a skull being held by a glove, she is devastated to learn it means she will be a murderer.
Life changes drastically for Metty as her father quickly whisks her away to an old farmhouse in Wales to protect her. Metty is determined to discover her murderous side and it causes upset for those living with her. When her father disappears and her Aunt Mag comes for her, Metty finds herself embroiled in a dangerous plot that makes no sense without the answers to her questions.
She spends the next week with her Aunt trying to find her father and figure out why the Black Moths are keen to capture her. Nothing is simple and there are added challenges as her mother gets involved and a huge secret is revealed.
Extraordinary and imaginative, this is a fantastic story. Metty is a wonderfully charming character who is determined to do whatever it takes to find her father, even if it means breaking the rules and putting herself in certain danger!
My Shelves Are Full 