Wood Angel by Erin Bow

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 288

Publisher: Chicken House

Released: 7th of March 2011

Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver’s daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square. A mysterious fog ruins crops and spreads hunger and sickness. The townspeople blame Kate.

The stranger Linay will exchange her shadow for escape and her heart’s wish. It’s a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes she can’t live shadowless forever — and that Linay’s anger and grief can "level a city"

What I Have to Say

I really loved the society in this book. It was really well made. I would have loved to see more about the Roamers, but at the same time, I would have loved to stay in the city and see more of the society there. It seemed like a really interesting world. I'd like to find out what country it was based on and explore more of it. I want to say Russia? 

It was a really good plot as well. Told in a way that made it seem like an old fairy tale. It really showed how devastating the paranoia about witchcraft can be, whether or not the person is actually a witch. Also, how easily it can be manipulated. 

Also I loved Taggle so much! He was just such a cute and accurate portrayal of what a cat would actually be like if it could talk.