novel_nomad's review against another edition
5.0
This fairytale retelling is beautifully woven into a 10th century Celtic setting where the land and people are rich with folklore. A tale of redemption, struggle and healing that shows life is never easy but happiness can be found in family and those who see us for our true selves. Best of all, the tale finishes in a way to leave you content but also wanting and asking for more.
wildflowerz76's review
4.0
I read this for the Vaginal Fantasy Book Club, April 2014.
I've had this one sitting on my to-read shelf for ages. I think I picked it up after perusing some of Felicia Day's books here at GR and seeing it so highly rated. But it sat on my shelf and I never got to it. Since it was the VF pick this month, I finally read it.
I'm kind of conflicted. And not for the reasons most people seem to be on this book. I loved the beginning of the this book and the fleshing out of the characters. But the middle, probably 1/2, of the book, I got kind of bored. Though then it picked up again and I found that I enjoyed it. I liked most of the characters and the setting. The story idea was good. I felt like there was a lot of repetitiveness and that this story could have been reduced by a third and still been perfectly lovely. I doubt I'll read any more of this series...but I might.
I've had this one sitting on my to-read shelf for ages. I think I picked it up after perusing some of Felicia Day's books here at GR and seeing it so highly rated. But it sat on my shelf and I never got to it. Since it was the VF pick this month, I finally read it.
I'm kind of conflicted. And not for the reasons most people seem to be on this book. I loved the beginning of the this book and the fleshing out of the characters. But the middle, probably 1/2, of the book, I got kind of bored. Though then it picked up again and I found that I enjoyed it. I liked most of the characters and the setting. The story idea was good. I felt like there was a lot of repetitiveness and that this story could have been reduced by a third and still been perfectly lovely. I doubt I'll read any more of this series...but I might.
unsweetener's review
Indulgent but satisfying Celtic historical romance. I read this years ago and liked it very much, and still do. I found the first third tedious, and was consistently frustrated by reading a suffering protagonist with absolutely no agency, but by the time I was halfway through, I couldn't put it down.
yazthebookish's review
5.0
This is a book I love with a passion and it instantly became one of my all-time favorites. From Marillier’s brilliant writing style, to the so tender and passionate romance, to the immersive world of Celtic magic and folklore, to the gripping and emotional story of sacrifice, familial bonds and selflessness, I was left speechless and awed. This book shattered my heart to pieces and I consider Sorcha to be one of the strongest fictional heroines.
This is from an old review I found in my bookstagram but once I do a reread I’ll give this book the review it deserves!
Trigger warning: there is a r*pe scene that happens in chapter 6 from page 152 and ends on page 154. It's short but kind of graphic so I'm specifying the pages for those that want to skip it.
This is from an old review I found in my bookstagram but once I do a reread I’ll give this book the review it deserves!
Trigger warning: there is a r*pe scene that happens in chapter 6 from page 152 and ends on page 154. It's short but kind of graphic so I'm specifying the pages for those that want to skip it.
jojorenji's review
4.0
So a few days ago I was like, "Wait, why haven't I read this book yet? I love Juliet Marillier!" And then I got 36% in and
Even with that and even though and , I really loved a lot about this. Not an easy read - certainly a bittersweet one - but really satisfying.
Spoiler
oh, yeah, this book has a horrific rape scene I'd heard about and that's why I had avoided it. I hit a point a while back where I decided I was just so so so done with reading and watching things with sexual violence as a plot point. So I tend to avoid stuff when I know it features rape. That said, while what happens to Sorcha is awful, I appreciated how the trauma of it was dealt with for the rest of the book. By the end she's healing but not healed (and specifically says that it's something that cannot be completely forgotten), and falling in love didn't make everything magically be okay. (But that said...I am so so so done with reading about rape.)Even with that and even though
Spoiler
A DOG DIESSpoiler
the romance is between a fifteen-year-old girl (twelve at the beginning of the book and sixteen by the end and referred to throughout as "a child" by so many characters) and a twenty-two-year-old manviolinplayer76's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i_hype_romance's review against another edition
5.0
A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to revisit one of my favorite books of all time.
Do you love fairy-tale re-tellings with a twist of darkness? If you do, then this book is for you. The Wild Swans is one of my favorite fairytales, and Marillier's imaginative, evocative retelling will have you fiendishly devouring every page.
The kingdom of Sevenwaters is a bastion against the encroaching wilderness and the threat of Viking invasion. It is steeped in magic that emanates from the land around it. It is the safety net for a ragtag band of siblings. Sorcha is the only daughter of Sevenwaters, and her 6 brothers protect her from the dangers that surround them and from the despair of their father's neglect.
Sorcha's world is shattered when their father comes home with a new wife. Their new stepmother walks in nightmares, and wields their power to bewitch and bind her new family. Their father becomes nothing more than her minion, and Sorcha and her brothers must fend for themselves.
Their new life becomes too much to bear when their new stepmother enchants Sorcha's brothers. Sorcha is forced to make an impossible bargain with the Fair Folk in order to rescue them, and struggles to make her family whole again as she is cast from her home.
Do you love fairy-tale re-tellings with a twist of darkness? If you do, then this book is for you. The Wild Swans is one of my favorite fairytales, and Marillier's imaginative, evocative retelling will have you fiendishly devouring every page.
The kingdom of Sevenwaters is a bastion against the encroaching wilderness and the threat of Viking invasion. It is steeped in magic that emanates from the land around it. It is the safety net for a ragtag band of siblings. Sorcha is the only daughter of Sevenwaters, and her 6 brothers protect her from the dangers that surround them and from the despair of their father's neglect.
Sorcha's world is shattered when their father comes home with a new wife. Their new stepmother walks in nightmares, and wields their power to bewitch and bind her new family. Their father becomes nothing more than her minion, and Sorcha and her brothers must fend for themselves.
Their new life becomes too much to bear when their new stepmother enchants Sorcha's brothers. Sorcha is forced to make an impossible bargain with the Fair Folk in order to rescue them, and struggles to make her family whole again as she is cast from her home.