Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - Daughter of the Forest

Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

5 reviews

glorpy's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

I was on the fence about how I would rate this book. I had issue with some parts of the book and its content; specifically the ‘historically accurate ages’ thing. But in the end it is a 5 star. I don’t know what else it could be. It has found a place inside of my mind, very special, and I don’t think I can forget it. Even if I tried.

If you read the book and pretend beyond, ignoring canon, it becomes quite comfortable. I was not warned about it before I read the book, so this is my warning to others; Sorcha is 16 at the end of the book where red is 22-23. Majority of the book, with Red, is spent with 14-15 year old Sorcha. Use this knowledge and decide whether you’re interested in reading or not based on that.

This book is about sacrifice, love, and suffering. I have never seen so much suffering except for one other book, which I will not name because it is so hilariously different from this, save for the severely tense setting. I have never cried over 6 times about a book. I have never felt this pain in my chest, this sadness over the end of a story. I wish there was more to read of the characters; suspended in a time when they are happy. Forever happy. Forever. Sorcha’s journey is filled with death and horror. I don’t know what compelled Juliet Marillier to put this 13-15 year old through so much suffering, but boy did she do her best at it.

“My love for them had not lessened, but I did not think I could ever again hold them or hug them, although they were my brothers. I could no longer really trust them, because they had not been there when I needed them. That this was none of their doing made no difference. Such was the power of the evil thing done to me.”

The ending it extremely bittersweet and non-conclusional; HFN. Son of the Shadows is the sequel to this book and, as I’m told, completes the story of this generation (although it introduces Sorcha’s children, the next of the Sevenwaters. Daughter of the Forest’s ending sets up the beginning of Son of the Shadows. I appreciate that the first chapter is included in DotF, as I was able to cry my eyes about the fate of Cormack and Diarmid. Thank you so much Juliet Marillier.

“In this battle perished two of my mother’s brothers. Cormack was felled by a sword stroke clean to the heart, and died in Liam’s arms. And Diarmid, seeking to avenge his brother’s loss, fought as if possessed and at length was captured by the Britons. Liam’s men found his body, later, floating in the shallows as they launched their small craft and fled, outnumbered, exhausted, and heartsick. He had died from drowning, but only after the enemy had had their sport with him. They would not let my mother see his body when they brought him home.”

I couldn’t breathe. How could this be the end of them; so brutal, so horrific, so normal? Died in battle, just as thousands of other young men had done, fighting against the British. Diarmid’s ending leaves me so restless.

Cormack and Linn left a lasting imprint on my heart. I cried so hard I could barely speak when I was reading about what Cormack had done; and how he and his siblings had spoke after, “A dog does not judge you. She loves you, no matter what you do.”

The dog dies.
“I suppose it was a good death for a dog, to lose her life in defense of the one she loved. I only knew my friend was gone, and now I was really alone.”

In another persons review of this book, they said it often felt like we were suffering the long, arduous task of weaving just as Sorcha. Page after page, hope for hope.

I felt this book wasn’t very romantic. It kind of felt like the romance was sprung upon the reader; and the connection between them didn’t feel as natural as I wished it to be. Felt kind of cramped. I think the beach scene was probably among the best scenes of RedSorcha. Their initial traveling arc is also really enjoyable. The Harrowfield arc begins to get kind of boring; it becomes apparent nothing too different or exciting is going to happen. The same conflict as before, Richard has a weird sexual infatuation with her and wants her to DIE DIE DIE! And Lady Anne has no backbone and gets walked over, while also being cruel. Sorcha is alone, she has nobody but her tears to comfort her. Like the author was trying to convince me this was a real dire circumstance; and not that Red was the Lord Hugh of Harrowfield who had actual power to do something. BY GOD, MAN, DO SOMETHING! BE USEFUL!

I thought there were several things that didn’t make sense about the Harrowfield arc. I’m in entire agreement with the brothers about Red; I think he was a terrible protector and he failed the Fair Folk’s job several times over. I didn’t really understand Red’s personality; and we never learned why he is called Red [having red hair isnt sufficient enough.] Like I get Red’s personality, but there isn't a lasting impression of ‘This is Red’, like I have with the brothers. I could easily start a pinterest board for the brothers, I think. For Red? I mean, he likes being a steward. He is funny sometimes. He is a loner, but cool, and personable. He’s fun, but he deserved more substance.

I felt like some of the anticipated scenes that had 400+ pages of buildup were underwhelming; it was exciting all the same, but I feel like there could’ve been more, and then it would’ve truly been unmatched.

I am disappointed with how little Sorcha and Red talk. He keeps calling her Jenny, almost until the end of the book, and it is just so annoying to me. He should’ve called her by her name the first time he knew what it was. He knew Jenny was never her real name; only a placeholder.

Now for some of my favorite and/or notable quotes [I will be updating this as I go on]

p. 233 “We sat there quietly together, and after a while he took my hand in his, and for no reason at all I had a terrible feeling that this would be the last time he would ever touch me.” I’m pretty sure this was, in fact, the last time Finbar had ever touched her. I can’t recall any mention of them even hugging after this. I’m sick.

Content Warnings

elderlingfool's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

This was a reread for me and I like this book even more now, even though it has faults and some elements I don’t like. This was the first book published by the author and, as such, it’s really impressive.

This historical fantasy novel is a retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale, but expanded and with enough originality added. In this first book of the Sevenwaters series, we follow Sorcha, the seventh child of Lord Colum that looks very much like her deceased mother. Sorcha’s father decides to remarry with a woman called Oonagh that later transforms her brothers into swans. Sorcha manages to escape and The Lady of the Forest, queen of the Fair Folk, tells her that her brothers will regain human form twice a year and that the spell can be undone if she keeps silent and sews six shirts made from a painful nettle plant. Alone on her mission and without the possibility to return home or ask for help, Sorcha is determined to complete the task even when she arrives in enemy territory.

I really like the writing style, even though it can get repetitive at times and fall into the trap of too much telling instead of showing. However, there is enough character complexity and dialogue to make me forgive that.

The characters are great. I especially love the bond between Sorcha and her brothers and how distinct each of them is. Conor is still my favourite though, but I like all of them very much. Sorcha has a quiet strength that some people might not like. She is aware of her limits, especially being so young, and she takes advantage of all the protection she can get. I really liked Lady Oonagh, but Richard is one of the most annoying villains ever and I got tired of his disgusting and repetitive monologues.

There is a romance in this book, but very slow and doesn’t take over the entire plot. However, it happens between a minor and someone who is an adult, which always bothers me. There is also the hint of a marriage between cousins.

This book also has a graphic rape scene. This moment affects the character for the entirety of the story, but it was still too unnecessarily descriptive.

I really like the role of the Fae Folk and how they intervene solely to fulfil their mysterious goals. They aren’t completely good or evil and there is the feeling that they only to what they do to entertain themselves.

Even though this book can be read as a stand-alone there are still some questions left to be answered at the end and I hope the rest of the series provides some answers for I will be continuing it.

Content Warnings

matchai's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

coincidental's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

By turn delightful and devastating both. I don't have the energy for lengthy review, but safe to say this retelling of the story of the girl whose brothers were turned into swans is a beautiful one, full of the majesty and magic of Ireland, and all the fierce power of love and strength of will against unimaginable odds. I loved it.

Important trigger warnings to be aware of: SpoilerRape, emotional manipulation and abuse, physical abuse, starvation and disordered eating, self-harm by means of work/stings from a plant, animal abuse/murder, death of a parent, general violence.
For those sensitive to animals done harm: SpoilerThe dog does die - one at least. There is harm done to animals and whilst it is not discussed in excessive detail, the protagonist's narration of it does not gloss over.

Content Warnings

fleainabox's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

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