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glorpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
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.
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.”
“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]
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Incest
minniepauline's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
lauramcc7's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
hurricanyounot's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Incest
MAJOR Content Warnings: In chapter 6,cmbossy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
ashatroyal's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, and War
clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Questo libro è stata una piacevole sorpresa.
E’ un romanzo dall’impianto fiabesco, la cui struttura segue perfettamente nella sua tradizione. Padre rimasto vedovo con sette figli di cui una sola figlia, che poi si sposa eventualmente con una strega cattiva di cui è stregato.
Nel vano tentativo di ribellarsi, i sei fratelli saranno anch’essi vittima di un incantesimo. Solo Sorha, la protagonista, riesce a salvarsi grazie al sacrificio dei fratelli. Sarà lei infatti l’unica a poter spezzare l’incantesimo. A costo di grandi sacrifici, del suo silenzio e di duro lavoro, Sorha si imbarca quindi in questo viaggio per riavere i fratelli.
Fedele alla struttura fiabesca, la povera Sorha ne passerà di tutti i colori prima di raggiungere il suo obiettivo. Ma non temete, perché tra la tante peripezie, Sorha troverà l’amore. Un amore proibito, impossibile e di convenienza che salverà la vita ad entrambi, in più modi.
All’inizio ho avuto un po’ di difficoltà ad entrare nella storia per lo stile narrativo è molto asciutto e crea una distanza notevole con quanto narrato. Forse è il prodotto dei suoi tempi o del genere testuale al quale appartiene ma alla fine dei conti, mi sono trovata grata per questa scelta. Se fosse stata una narrazione ricca di pathos, sarebbe stata una lettura parecchio pesante da digerire.
Superato questo gradino però la lettura scorre veloce, coinvolti tra le disavventure di Sorha, risulta veramente difficile metter giù il libro. E’ così che mi sono trovata da metà alla fine praticamente in un solo pomeriggio.
Ho davvero apprezzato il rapporto che Sorha ha con i fratelli, mi ha davvero emozionato. Per non parlare dell’interesse amoroso che pur attraverso la freddezza dei toni della narrazione riesce a mostrare tutto il suo interesse e amore.
“non è importante che tu sia qui o altrove, perché la tua immagine è davanti ai miei occhi in ogni momento. Ti vedo nella luce sopra l'acqua, nei giovani alberi che oscillano alla brezza di primavera. Ti vedo nelle ombre delle grandi querce, e sento la tua voce di notte, nel chiurlo del gufo.
Sei il sangue che mi scorre nelle vene, e il battito del mio cuore.
Sei il mio primo pensiero del mattino, e il mio ultimo sospiro prima di prender sonno. Tu sei... tu sei fibra delle mie fibre, respiro del mio respiro.” (ho urlato)
La cosa che mi ha incuriosita subito di questo romanzo è stato l’impianto folkloristico irlandese dal quale l’autrice ha attinto per la creazione di questo mondo. Ambientato nell’Irlanda del X secolo, risulta veramente facile credere alle storia di Sorha, di maledizioni e del popolo fatato.
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
aarynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
kibbles15's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Torture, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Racism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
deathmetalpainter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail