Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1)
Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all...
Product Details
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
At the heart of this surprisingly accomplished first novel, first book of the Sevenwaters trilogy, is a retelling of an ancient Celtic legend. Marillier's story, however, is much more than a slightly disguised fairy tale. Young Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Irish Lord Colum of Sevenwaters, a domain well protected from invading Saxons and Britons by dense forest where, legend says, fey Deirdre, the Lady of the Forest, walks the woodland paths at night. Colum is first and foremost a warrior, bent on maintaining his lands against all outsiders. Not all of his sons are so bound to the old ways, and that family friction leads to outright disobedience when Sorcha and her brother Finbar help a Briton captive escape from Colum's dungeon. Soon after, Colum brings home a new wife who ensorcels everyone she can't otherwise manipulate. By her spell Sorcha's brothers are cursed to become swans. Only Sorcha, hiding deep in the forest, can break the spell by painfully weaving shirts of starwort nettle--but then Sorcha is captured by Britons and taken away across the sea. Determined to break the curse despite her captivity, Sorcha continues to work, little expecting that ultimately she will have to chose between saving her brothers and protecting the Briton lord who has defended her throughout her trials. Marillier's writing is deft and heartfelt, bypassing the usual bombast of fantasy fireworks for a rich, magical story of loyalty and love. --Charlene Brusso
From Library Journal
As the only daughter and youngest child of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters, Sorcha grows up protected and pampered by her six older brothers. When a sorceress's evil magic ensorcels Colum's sons, transforming them into swans, only Sorcha's efforts can break the curse. Marillier's first novel uses a familiar Celtic legend to tell the story of a young woman's sacrifice for the sake of those she loves and her own discovery of unexpected joy in the midst of sorrow. The author's keen understanding of Celtic paganism and early Irish Christianity adds texture to a rich and vibrant novel that belongs in most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
'Juliet Marillier's intensely romantic first novel takes the reader to an Ireland on the edge, where history and fairy tale meet ... a stunning debut' AMAZON.CO.UK 'I enjoyed it enormously. It is a fantasy, full of the magic of the Celtic night, but it has that wonderful all-important feel of reality ... a wonderful, riveting story' BARBARA ERSKINE on Son of the Shadows
This, the first of a projected fantasy trilogy from newcomer Marillier, reworks and embroiders the fairy tale of the brothers who are transformed into swans by their evil stepmother; they can be returned to human form only by the agonizing labors of their young sister. In Ireland, patriarch Colum and his six sons and daughter Sorcha are beset by Britons in pursuit of an old blood feud. The brothers are variously gifted: Conor has druidic leanings, Cormack is the scholar, young Finbar has the Sight, etc. Then Colum's men capture a young Briton, Simon, from a raiding party, and torture him for the secrets he supposedly keeps; Conor and Finbar help him escape; and, later, Sorcha tends his injuries. Soon, however, the Lady Oonaghclearly a witchbeguiles Colum and plots to drive the brothers and Sorcha away. They attempt to restrain Oonagh with magic, but Oonagh's too strong and transforms the brothers into swans. The Lady of the Forest tells Sorcha how she can free themby hand-weaving each swan a shirt of barbs, and by keeping utter silence until the task is complete. In fleeing Oonagh's wrath, however, she falls in with a party of Britons looking for Simon. In distant England, meanwhile, Sorcha's mission seems more impossible than everand therell be many complications before matters are resolved in traditional style. (Kirkus Reviews)
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
I love this book! I have read this and everything else Juliette Marillier has written and this is still my favorite!
Simply wonderful!
A friend of mine recommended this series and to be honest, at first I was a bit apprehensive. I love fantasy novels but I was looking for something that might be a bit more of a "heavy" read. After a day or two I ended up ordering this novel and the moment I started reading I found that I could not put the book down.
I have now read this more than 10 times in the past 4 months. I take back ever calling fantasy novels "light" reads. I have learned that I just can't refer to any book, be it a biography, a collection of poems, a romance, or a fantasy novel as a "light" or "heavy" read. In truth, every book is so different and this first book of the trilogy taught me that.
I just fell in love with the whole family, especially the heroine Sorcha and her brother Finbar. I so enjoyed getting a beautiful look in the Celtic culture and reading about old tales. That was beyond fabulous. A great surprise was the beautiful love story that took place for Sorcha. And my God, I read some of the most romantic lines of my life. Absolutely heart melting. And speaking of hearts, I promise that when you read this novel you will find yourself crying your eyes out, from both sadness and pure happiness.
The story line is original and refreshing. This novel of the trilogy is on the top shelf of my bookcase, with the rest of my favorites.
Superb
This was an amazing story full of suspense, action, brilliant stories, and romance. It was moving in ways many stories these days are not. I cannot wait to finish the series!
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