Archery and time travel combine in this YA debut from adult author Davies. Merry Owen is the first female in a long line of longbow men who are honorary protectors of the British Crown. Her family was gifted land for this service, property that originally belonged to the Earl de Courcy, and his descendants have spent 700 years trying to reclaim it. Foreclosure will eventually achieve what no de Courcy has managed, unless Merry can capitalize on an astonishing discovery she makes on the outskirts of her family's property. Short chapters keep the action moving, which is necessary, as the buildup to when Merry finally travels back in time and puts her longbow training to use is leisurely. Merry herself is a splendid character: rash, brave, loyal, and intelligent. While most secondary characters are not as richly developed, Merry's best friend, James de Courcy, is the exception, and their nonromantic relationship adds refreshing depth. Incorporating Welsh lore, sporting sequences, Henry VIII, and danger, this is otherworldly yet modern fare.

In 1346, Longbowman Owen saved the life of the heir to the English throne, and in exchange for his pledge he received a small farm within the de Courcy estate. But friction between the two families bubbled up periodically, and the present de Courcys are determined to regain their land. Merry Owen and current heir Lord James de Courcy are both fifteen years old, exceptional athletesMerry with the longbow and James in soccerand best friends. When Merry discovers a handwritten book buried under an uprooted oak, she precipitates deeper dissension and unusual danger. Although selling the book will help the Owens pay their mortgage, its link to an ancient tale propels Merry on a hazardous journey back in time to compete in a longbow tournament for the right to retain the land. The avaricious Professor Parks and a worried James follow Merry, and the outcome threatens to alter history.Set in the Welsh countryside and within the Black Castle, Longbow Girl shifts skillfully from the present world of soccer tryouts and texting to the sporting competitions of King Henry VIII, where one word brought beheading. Just enough detail is given in describing the skillful execution of the longbow with Merry's eye patch, attesting to its risks. Tension-filled wolfhound pursuits and near drowning in the perilous time passage capture and hold the reader. Complementing the feisty Merry are colorful players such as James and Mair, the healer. Well crafted and entertaining, this novel merits purchasing and pushing.Barbara Johnston.