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amiascah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
There is something so heartwarming about returning to a favourite book series, setting, characters what have you and despite this story not being for me the same as the first three, just the fact that its yet another sevenwaters book made me want it and love it right away.
'Heir to Sevenwaters' comes after Juliet Marillier's trilogy called Sevenwaters. The first three books followed a different woman over a different generation of the family of Sevenwaters, this book breaks from that. Written over 5 years after the original three, this brings us back nearly to current times in the books. There's only been a scant few years since the battle for the islands and the family is enjoying relative peace. Lord Seans daughters are all growing up Murrin the eldest married Evan and has moved away, Deirdre is about to marry as well and Asling his wife is once again pregnant and hoping to finally have a boy that lives. Clodagh who will soon be the oldest daughter at home is a capable, respected, neat and organized miniature of her mother and does everything to set the household to rights and keep it running daily. Despite this she finds herself drawn more and more to friends Aidan and Cathal, warrior men of Johnny's band there to stay with them over the season. Eventually Asling gives birth to the long awaited for son only to suffer the pain of his kidnapping days after his birth. Left in his place a bunch of twigs and branch laid out to resemble a child, except that is not what Clodagh sees. For her the twigs and branches make up a living breathing child, a changeling. Being the only one who can see him as he truly is Clodagh realizes it's up to her to return him to the otherworld and bring back her brother.
Spoilers
If I wanted to tell a tale to a little girl to make her believe in herself and to inspire confidence I feel like out of all of Marillier's heroines Clodagh would be the one I pick. Sorcha was wise, and steadfast and a healer, Liadan was a renowned healer and remarkable woman, Fainne was a powerful sorceress. Clodagh is average, she is so wonderfully average, the only qualities that anyone says make her shine are that she'll be an excellent homemaker and wife. She's not an amazing beauty. She's not described as delicate and fragile, tiny yet strong, which was used way too often on the women in her family. She's just a girl who has been good and helps around the house. And with that she does what no one thinks is impossible, she defies the odds, she returns the changeling and brings her brother back. She goes up against the Lord of the Oak and wins, not cause she has magic, or amazing skills or a prophecy is about her, but just through strength of character and sheer will. She is beset time after time with hardship and yeah it gets her down but it doesn't stop her. She is not going to give up. It was refreshing. Did I connect with the character as much as I have with others? no. Did that detract from the story? Also no.
If I had any complaints about the story those are all at Cathals feet. I didnt feel it. I know we had over 100 pages, a fourth of the book before her brother is even born and isn't taken yet but theres so much missing from their relationship. It was completely believable to me that she was so thrown off guard when he kissed her goodbye outside the nursery. It felt like it came out of left field, there were crumbs, the little bits we over heard and saw between Cathal and Aidan but not enough. There was very much not enough to justify Mac Dara knowing Cathal would do anything for her. And then the falling in love in the otherworld. I actually really like and respect that in 'Daughter of the Forest' Red didnt keep Sorcha because of insta love but because she had a clue to his brother Simon. The idea that Clodagh's feelings completely changed and grew in what 4 days? maybe more. I just didnt feel it. It would have made more sense to me if Clodagh was taken and Cathal feeling guilty cause he showed a tiny bit of interest in a girl caused her to be taken and thus he goes after her. But that wouldn't go with the story, especially the story of the damsel being the one to save everything and everyone, which I appreciated I just think the love story missed its mark.
One favourite thing of mine was when she has gone back to get Cathal and she tells him she doesn't have a plan and she thinks to herself it's cause he needs to be able to say he did something to help otherwise his pride couldn't take it. I loved that. But to be honest I was mostly checked out once she rescued Finbar, I didnt really care if she went back for Cathal or not.
Very much enjoying my rereading of the Sevenwaters family and can't wait to start the next book.
'Heir to Sevenwaters' comes after Juliet Marillier's trilogy called Sevenwaters. The first three books followed a different woman over a different generation of the family of Sevenwaters, this book breaks from that. Written over 5 years after the original three, this brings us back nearly to current times in the books. There's only been a scant few years since the battle for the islands and the family is enjoying relative peace. Lord Seans daughters are all growing up Murrin the eldest married Evan and has moved away, Deirdre is about to marry as well and Asling his wife is once again pregnant and hoping to finally have a boy that lives. Clodagh who will soon be the oldest daughter at home is a capable, respected, neat and organized miniature of her mother and does everything to set the household to rights and keep it running daily. Despite this she finds herself drawn more and more to friends Aidan and Cathal, warrior men of Johnny's band there to stay with them over the season. Eventually Asling gives birth to the long awaited for son only to suffer the pain of his kidnapping days after his birth. Left in his place a bunch of twigs and branch laid out to resemble a child, except that is not what Clodagh sees. For her the twigs and branches make up a living breathing child, a changeling. Being the only one who can see him as he truly is Clodagh realizes it's up to her to return him to the otherworld and bring back her brother.
Spoilers
If I wanted to tell a tale to a little girl to make her believe in herself and to inspire confidence I feel like out of all of Marillier's heroines Clodagh would be the one I pick. Sorcha was wise, and steadfast and a healer, Liadan was a renowned healer and remarkable woman, Fainne was a powerful sorceress. Clodagh is average, she is so wonderfully average, the only qualities that anyone says make her shine are that she'll be an excellent homemaker and wife. She's not an amazing beauty. She's not described as delicate and fragile, tiny yet strong, which was used way too often on the women in her family. She's just a girl who has been good and helps around the house. And with that she does what no one thinks is impossible, she defies the odds, she returns the changeling and brings her brother back. She goes up against the Lord of the Oak and wins, not cause she has magic, or amazing skills or a prophecy is about her, but just through strength of character and sheer will. She is beset time after time with hardship and yeah it gets her down but it doesn't stop her. She is not going to give up. It was refreshing. Did I connect with the character as much as I have with others? no. Did that detract from the story? Also no.
If I had any complaints about the story those are all at Cathals feet. I didnt feel it. I know we had over 100 pages, a fourth of the book before her brother is even born and isn't taken yet but theres so much missing from their relationship. It was completely believable to me that she was so thrown off guard when he kissed her goodbye outside the nursery. It felt like it came out of left field, there were crumbs, the little bits we over heard and saw between Cathal and Aidan but not enough. There was very much not enough to justify Mac Dara knowing Cathal would do anything for her. And then the falling in love in the otherworld. I actually really like and respect that in 'Daughter of the Forest' Red didnt keep Sorcha because of insta love but because she had a clue to his brother Simon. The idea that Clodagh's feelings completely changed and grew in what 4 days? maybe more. I just didnt feel it. It would have made more sense to me if Clodagh was taken and Cathal feeling guilty cause he showed a tiny bit of interest in a girl caused her to be taken and thus he goes after her. But that wouldn't go with the story, especially the story of the damsel being the one to save everything and everyone, which I appreciated I just think the love story missed its mark.
One favourite thing of mine was when she has gone back to get Cathal and she tells him she doesn't have a plan and she thinks to herself it's cause he needs to be able to say he did something to help otherwise his pride couldn't take it. I loved that. But to be honest I was mostly checked out once she rescued Finbar, I didnt really care if she went back for Cathal or not.
Very much enjoying my rereading of the Sevenwaters family and can't wait to start the next book.
rmseng's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape
amandasbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
joxertd's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
leonorsds's review against another edition
5.0
Nem queria acreditar quando descobri que a Juliet ia continuar a saga Sevenwaters. Claro está que tentei logo comprar o livro. Ainda andei a penar algum tempo porque estava esgotado em todo lado.
Gostei imenso de conhecer melhor algumas personagens secundárias da saga.
Gostei imenso de conhecer melhor algumas personagens secundárias da saga.
elfinwynter's review against another edition
5.0
Not my favorite Sevenwaters book, but very enjoyable.
leenichole's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED the first three books in the Sevenwaters series. I was enchanted and entranced by all three. I liked this fourth installment a great deal, but it wasn’t quite the same.
Like the second book, this one was obviously and primarily a love story. But unlike the second book, I didn’t connect with the protagonist, which made it less tolerable. This book also felt less like a fairytale than the previous three, though I’m not sure why, since it contained far more faeries overall.
Those minor complaints aside, this is still an excellently crafted story written by a masterful fantasy author. It was beautiful and poignant. It’s a wonderful book, just marginally less wonderful than its predecessors.
Like the second book, this one was obviously and primarily a love story. But unlike the second book, I didn’t connect with the protagonist, which made it less tolerable. This book also felt less like a fairytale than the previous three, though I’m not sure why, since it contained far more faeries overall.
Those minor complaints aside, this is still an excellently crafted story written by a masterful fantasy author. It was beautiful and poignant. It’s a wonderful book, just marginally less wonderful than its predecessors.
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
This installment has a completely different vibe from the first three books, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am interested to see how book five compares. I adore this world and family so completely and have loved seeing them grown through the generations.
lookmairead's review against another edition
5.0
I find this entire series incredibly surprising and satisfying. (Can we get updated cover art though?)
poppybookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5