Reviews with content warning for Grief - Daughter of the Forest

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

15 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

minniepauline's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.25

Content Warnings

lauramcc7's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

Content Warnings

hurricanyounot's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

I'd sell BOTH my kidneys if it meant I got to read this for the first time again.

Content Warnings

cmbossy's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

I loved the whimsical fairy-tale style of this book. It was beautiful and sweeping, despite how sad and traumatic the main character’s journey is. The character’s youth added a sweet storytelling aspect and I thought it was great. Very dark storylines though.

Content Warnings

ashatroyal's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? 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.

Content Warnings

aarynn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

Content Warnings

kibbles15's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a well written emotional roller coaster of a fairy tale. I literally could not put down the book and read it in one day. The author did an amazing job of interpreting the Grimm Brother's Tale "The Six Swans" (or "the Wild Swans") in a way that makes you feel the literal pain that both the sister and the six brothers feel as they work to break a curse on their family. In the process they are all presented with very real set-backs and trials. Please note that this book contains references to torture and rape. While it is a fairy tale, I would not recommend this book to young readers.

Content Warnings

deathmetalpainter's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

More...