The Owl Service is a fantasy novel for young adults by Alan Garner (1967). Set in modern Wales, it retells the story of Blodeuwedd, a bride made from flowers by the magician Gwydyon for his nephew Lleu and cursed to become an owl when she betrays Lleu for his enemy Goronwy. Three teenagers find a dinner service decorated with owls and are cursed to re-enact the story of love and betrayal. They discover they are not the first to suffer the curse and are unable to leave the valley. They must work within the legend itself in the hope of satisfying it before one of them dies.
Garner won the annual Carnegie Medal from the Library Association in 1999.
Adaptations[]
The Owl Service was made into a Granada Television serial in 1969.