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sierrainstitches's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I just loved it so much 🥹
routergirl's review against another edition
2.0
Some books by Juliet Marillier strike me as amazing. This one, however, is simply "Just fine."
I liked Bridei and Tuala. I liked the plot, and it did engage me, but it also lost me here and there, and there were times I had to work just to pick it up and keep reading.
I liked Bridei and Tuala. I liked the plot, and it did engage me, but it also lost me here and there, and there were times I had to work just to pick it up and keep reading.
frodomom214's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed it, but couldn't help but compare it to other trilogies like LOTR and Dragonlance. Looking forward to reading the next two books to compare the trilogy as a whole.
racheln23's review against another edition
2.0
I love Juliet Marillier, but this book was bland and boring to me. There were not enough magical elements and danger interacting with the Fair Folk. Bridai is very measured and tempered and he stays that way in the whole book (in a very boring way). I needed to see some exciting action and intensity, but I didn’t get that. I think the author was so focused on creating something historic that she forgot it shouldn’t read like a history text.
Marillier’s writing is beautiful. She leisurely ambles down the path of a tame story. If that’s your thing, you might like this. But when you read over a hundred pages of six year olds, it starts wearing on you.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters which made the book a chore.
Marillier’s writing is beautiful. She leisurely ambles down the path of a tame story. If that’s your thing, you might like this. But when you read over a hundred pages of six year olds, it starts wearing on you.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters which made the book a chore.
thegoodmariner's review against another edition
4.0
Great fantasy novel based on a blend of historical speculation of an ancient pagan community and literary/fantastic embellishment. I wasn't sure if I'd like it but I moved right on to book two.
magratajostiernos's review against another edition
5.0
He amado muchÃsimo este libro.
Lo tiene todo para que me guste, es una historia sobre un niño destinado a convertirse en rey y una niña medio humana que puede cambiar el destino de su pueblo. Vamos a verlos crecer en un mundo de batallas y guerras en constante conflicto por el poder y rodeados de rituales y el misticismo de druidas y mujeres sabias.
Es una de las novelas más pausadas que he leÃdo de Marillier, se recrea en la ambientación y en los elementos históricos de la trama, que no son pocos, está ambientado en la Escocia del siglo VI y entremezcla a personajes reales (empezando por el protagonista). A más de uno le puede resultar un libro aburrido o pesado pero a mi me ha hecho disfrutar una barbaridad su estilo.
Me he enamorado de varios personajes secundarios como Faolan, Telaraña, Madreselva, Fola o Ferada, y los protagonistas aunque forman parte de los tÃpicos protagonistas de Marillier que tiran más por lo "sufriente" que carismático, me han tenido muy atrapada.
Son 600 páginas de rituales, leyendas, luchas de poder y magia ancestral que he degustado durante un mes completo. Sabrán disfrutarlo los que como yo, disfruten de los relatos pausados de ficción histórica fantástica.
Me muero por ponerme con el segundo de la trilogÃa ya.
Lo tiene todo para que me guste, es una historia sobre un niño destinado a convertirse en rey y una niña medio humana que puede cambiar el destino de su pueblo. Vamos a verlos crecer en un mundo de batallas y guerras en constante conflicto por el poder y rodeados de rituales y el misticismo de druidas y mujeres sabias.
Es una de las novelas más pausadas que he leÃdo de Marillier, se recrea en la ambientación y en los elementos históricos de la trama, que no son pocos, está ambientado en la Escocia del siglo VI y entremezcla a personajes reales (empezando por el protagonista). A más de uno le puede resultar un libro aburrido o pesado pero a mi me ha hecho disfrutar una barbaridad su estilo.
Me he enamorado de varios personajes secundarios como Faolan, Telaraña, Madreselva, Fola o Ferada, y los protagonistas aunque forman parte de los tÃpicos protagonistas de Marillier que tiran más por lo "sufriente" que carismático, me han tenido muy atrapada.
Son 600 páginas de rituales, leyendas, luchas de poder y magia ancestral que he degustado durante un mes completo. Sabrán disfrutarlo los que como yo, disfruten de los relatos pausados de ficción histórica fantástica.
Me muero por ponerme con el segundo de la trilogÃa ya.
lisanussd's review against another edition
Perfect fantasy. Dropped into another world with interesting characters...going to read the whole series.
withthebanned's review against another edition
4.0
The Dark Mirror was one of those books that broke my heart a little bit, the relationship between Bridei and Tuala is very sweet and I loved the strength shown from both of them. Each has to deal with their own struggles, but it was the struggle that Tuala faced that really felt heart wrenching to me. I liked how The Dark Mirror set the tone for the rest of the series, though the next two books branch off, they always come back to the backbone that is Bridei’s kingdom, and the relationship between he and Tuala. If I am being honest, though I did enjoy book one in this trilogy, I did not LOVE it and it was the promise of better things to come that had me continuing on with the series. The relationship between Bridei and Tuala was very sweet, but it was the secondary characters that really piqued my interest. Had I not known that the next two books would be focusing on Faolan (hubba, hubba) I am not sure that I would have been as excited to continue on.
chanizzle's review against another edition
2.0
Not one I will likely read again. This was a pretty slow moving story. Pretty predictable, and it had a lot of detail on ancient rituals and the ancient gods of this fantasy world... A bit too much for my taste. It was an okay story but I don't have any interest in continuing the series.
wyldkyss's review against another edition
4.0
I'm picking this book back up, hoping it will be a quick read before my two new books come in the mail this week.
I rushed through this book so I can get to the Wheel of Time, but I decided to take my time half way through and just enjoy it. The Pict culture that Marillier pulls from history and conjecture is interesting. From druidic practice to court intrique and political unrest, not to mention the Good Folk, all kept me reading. I will certainly be looking for the next book of this series soon.
I rushed through this book so I can get to the Wheel of Time, but I decided to take my time half way through and just enjoy it. The Pict culture that Marillier pulls from history and conjecture is interesting. From druidic practice to court intrique and political unrest, not to mention the Good Folk, all kept me reading. I will certainly be looking for the next book of this series soon.