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virginia_pixley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
noragoudie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is a re-read for me -- I'll always remember the experience of reading this with my mom so fondly. This story made me fall in love with storybook retellings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Violence
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
daniparvu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Rape
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
crispycritter's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.25
Daughter of the Forest is a retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale - six brothers are turned into swans by their evil stepmother. Their sister Sorcha flees and must sew six shirts for them out of a barbarous weed in complete silence in order to break the spell. Her journey to complete her task spans years of heartbreak and suffering, and takes her far from her homeland into the land of her enemies, the Britons.
I first read this book in either 2001 or 2002, as a pre-teen/young teen. I picked it up at my local library, where I used to spend everyday after school. I went on to read the rest of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and loved these books so very much. I credit them with getting me into the fantasy genre. I spent a long time away from fiction, not feeling like I had the time to read fiction because who has time to read for fun as a grown up? I'm happy to say I finally found the time to re-read this after a long time away. These are my thoughts re-reading this book after TWENTY (yikes) years:
Juliet Marillier is still a brilliant writer and gifted storyteller. Beautiful, moving prose. Characters you will love with your whole heart and characters you with hate with every fiber for your being.
But I have found that I was not nearly as comfortable with some of the plot points as I was when I first read this book, as a kid. I don't know if this is because some of these things went over my head, if I just forgot the impact they made on me at the time, or if my sensitivity has changed after so much time and life has happened. In any event, here are some major content warnings you should be aware of, that I will put behind a spoiler tag: This book features graphic sexual assault of a child, animal abuse, and animal death.
These books will always be so special to me. However, they are in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire, where very bad things happen to good people with little respite. And that's no longer my idea of a good time. Read with care.
I first read this book in either 2001 or 2002, as a pre-teen/young teen. I picked it up at my local library, where I used to spend everyday after school. I went on to read the rest of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and loved these books so very much. I credit them with getting me into the fantasy genre. I spent a long time away from fiction, not feeling like I had the time to read fiction because who has time to read for fun as a grown up? I'm happy to say I finally found the time to re-read this after a long time away. These are my thoughts re-reading this book after TWENTY (yikes) years:
Juliet Marillier is still a brilliant writer and gifted storyteller. Beautiful, moving prose. Characters you will love with your whole heart and characters you with hate with every fiber for your being.
But I have found that I was not nearly as comfortable with some of the plot points as I was when I first read this book, as a kid. I don't know if this is because some of these things went over my head, if I just forgot the impact they made on me at the time, or if my sensitivity has changed after so much time and life has happened. In any event, here are some major content warnings you should be aware of, that I will put behind a spoiler tag:
These books will always be so special to me. However, they are in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire, where very bad things happen to good people with little respite. And that's no longer my idea of a good time. Read with care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
ashatroyal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a story! The way it was woven and unfolded was amazing. A mix of history, lore and fantasy. The author did not spare us of heartbreak, sorrow, pride or joy. This book gave me all the feels. I cried. I yelled out loud. Sorcha experienced so much at such a young age. Like she is such a strong FMC who you can’t help but root for. She was dealt such a hand and tasked with such a challenge to save her family. Her loyalty knew no bounds. Oonagh was so evil. Honestly, I cannot believe what Red did. I felt like he gave “Jenny” no choice. He put her in an awful position trying to protect her. I felt so bad for Simon and Fin. The Fair Folk are so cruel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, and War
effyapples's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
jo_d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Zoomed through reading this book, excellent story but very few happy moments
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
missgarceau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
theavidbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This book was truly heart-wrenching to read. If it's possible to both love and despise a book for the pain it puts you through, this is it. There was so much sadness that I really had a difficult time reading this... Can't say enjoyable but I also can't say that it wasn't a good book.
The writing is solid, and does a very good job of pulling you in and keeping you there. The characters are wonderfully written.
My biggest struggle with this book (and the reason I can't rate it) would be the abundance of pain and suffering. It almost seems like overkill?
There is a rather explicit rape scene (first person POV, MC).
The writing is solid, and does a very good job of pulling you in and keeping you there. The characters are wonderfully written.
My biggest struggle with this book (and the reason I can't rate it) would be the abundance of pain and suffering. It almost seems like overkill?
There is a rather explicit rape scene (first person POV, MC).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail