Technically this falls under the category of What I’ve Already Read, but since I loved all three books, I want to share.
Juliet Marillier’s trilogy begins with Daughter of the Forest. This breathtaking tale of a heroic young girl was my favorite in the series and put Ms. Marillier on my list of favorite authors. I loved the setting, a beautiful forest steeped in magic and mystery. I was hooked by the main character, strong and stubborn Sorcha who would endure anything to save her brothers. The fairytale quality made the story simultaneously dark and beautiful. To top it all off there’s romance; innocent and heart-wrenching. I finished Daughter of the Forest in a matter of days. Toward the end of the book I literally could not put it down. When I was finally forced to stop reading, I rushed to the book store to buy the next two of the Sevenwaters Trilogy.
The series continues with Son of Shadows. An element that I found intriguing was how Ms. Marillier wrote all three books toward the same ultimate goal, yet each story was a stand-alone novel with new main characters. The characters with whom you previously fell in love were still there, in the background, but new characters became primary. I really enjoyed this. One thing that I find difficult about almost any series (reading or writing one) is that the first book introduces this amazing new world, engaging new characters, and I am enthralled from page one. Then the second book talks about the same world, and the same characters. It can still be a fantastic story but the wonder and imagination that surrounds the discovery of a completely new idea is often diminished. I didn’t feel that with these books. So, Son of Shadows… the second book remains true to form with strong sexual tension, engaging and realistic characters, as well as a page-turning plot. Sorcha’s daughter, Liadan, becomes the heroine in a gripping tale of love, loss, and prophecy.
The trilogy ends with Child of the Prophecy. The main character, Fainne, was the most difficult for me to connect with out of the three books. I was still hooked, still loved the story, but I think I was more interested in what would happen to Darragh, the boy who loved her, and whom she continued to hurt. Regardless, I once again read long into the night, and at every opportunity during the day, until I reached the truly fantastic ending. It was a satisfying ending to the third story as well as closure on the events of the entire trilogy. Beautifully done.
I can’t wait to read more by Juliet Marillier!