The mill of silence

"The Mill of Silence" by Bernard Capes is a late 19th-century novel taking place in a shunned rural mill, where Renalt Trender meets Zyp, a mysterious girl claiming to be a changeling. The story explores themes of family issues, concealed secrets, and the unreal, focusing on how these elements impact the strained relationships between Renalt, his brothers Jason and Modred, and their father battling alcoholism. As Renalt takes on the responsibility of caring for Zyp, who symbolizes innocence and magic, the reader is drawn into the haunting atmosphere of the mill and the escalating tension of sibling rivalries, creating a dark mood filled with emotion and mystery.