kim_m's review against another edition
4.0
Marillier writes the kind of female protagonist that I like. They are strong and use their brains instead of swords.
memorytales's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
haewilya's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not finished yet but I'm rating it now. I would have given it a 1 if not for the fact that it was better written than other stuff out there. I suppose it's just my preference that I didn't like it and it suffer greatly since I read it (still reading it) right after Daughter of the Forest (which is awesome to the nth power).
Things I do not like about this book:
- the new characters I can't emphatize/sympathize with
- the old characters that doesn't seem to be themselves
- the heroine can do no evil and has all the power
- *vomit*, star-crossed lover and instaloves, *vomit* (this, coming from a romance fan)
- double-standards (Liadan forgives/accepts/trusts the Painted Man's gang even if they are hired killers but she doesn't trust her family who did one thing wrong (or maybe two).
- Kylo Ren-ish characters
- why is everyone a psycho
Such a disappointment. I'm just finishing it because I'm O.C. and, after all, there' only 7% left.
Things I do not like about this book:
- the new characters I can't emphatize/sympathize with
- the old characters that doesn't seem to be themselves
- the heroine can do no evil and has all the power
- *vomit*, star-crossed lover and instaloves, *vomit* (this, coming from a romance fan)
- double-standards (Liadan forgives/accepts/trusts the Painted Man's gang even if they are hired killers but she doesn't trust her family who did one thing wrong (or maybe two).
- Kylo Ren-ish characters
- why is everyone a psycho
Such a disappointment. I'm just finishing it because I'm O.C. and, after all, there' only 7% left.
yak_attak's review against another edition
4.0
4.5? The dark and wonderful saga of Sevenwaters continues in another awesome family drama full of hardship, heartache, and romance. I can't quite say that this matches the previous entry, whether that's some effervescent quality that's missing, perhaps just the novelty isn't there, or what - sometimes it seems the character's dialogue isn't as finely honed as before, sometimes the prose is as good as ever - and this much more fits in as a 2nd chapter in a series than the first book's fairly standalone nature. Basically, this isn't *quite* as wholly complete and perfect as book 1 - but boy is it a damn worthy sequel.
celise_winter's review
3.0
The second book in the Sevenwaters trilogy, a fantasy- historical fiction series that is definitely longer than a trilogy! Daughter of the Forest, the first book, is easily one of my new favourite books, and will probably remain one of my favourite books of all time. This one was a bit of a let down.
Do not continue reading if you have not read the first book. (Also GO read the first book).
This one follows Liadan, Sorcha and Red's daughter. They have three children: an older daughter Niamh, who enters into a forbidden romance that may bring evil back to Sevenwaters; Sean, the next Lord of Sevenwaters; and Liadan, Sean's twin who is a healer like Sorcha, and can also communicate telepathically, like her mother.
Essentially Liadan is a copy of Sorcha, but her trial isn't as earnest, as far-reaching, as deep as her mother's, as time sensitive, as well-defined. Personally I think she sounds like the least interesting of the three children.
There was a very structured idea driving everything forward in the first book, that allowed all of the things that happened on the side to have so much more emotional impact. Sorcha had to finish six shirts to lift her brothers curse, in complete silence, destroying her hands with every stitch. It's such a clear narrative. During those years, things happened to slow her down and you just feel the stress and the pain of it.
By comparison Son of The Shadows had a more directionless plot with less of an emotional stake. I couldn't tell what the main driving storyline was meant to be, so I didn't feel the impact of the side characters hindering Liadan as much. Maybe for that reason I would actually like it more on a reread, now that I know what I'm supposed to be following (I really didn't think it would be about Bran and Eamon so much, or that she'd have a baby so quickly! [not that there's anything wrong with that, I just didn't anticipate it being the focus of the narrative])
There were also so many plot points that required a ton of suspension of disbelief. But now I'm just being picky.
It wasn't a bad book by any means, I just can't bring myself to give it a four when comparing it to the first in the series. I kind of felt like perhaps it would have been more interesting to follow Niamh, just because Liadan was too much like the narrator of the first book, but didn't live up to her. Niamh seemed like a completely different person, and I liked the twisted forbidden love angle.
Do not continue reading if you have not read the first book. (Also GO read the first book).
This one follows Liadan, Sorcha and Red's daughter. They have three children: an older daughter Niamh, who enters into a forbidden romance that may bring evil back to Sevenwaters; Sean, the next Lord of Sevenwaters; and Liadan, Sean's twin who is a healer like Sorcha, and can also communicate telepathically, like her mother.
Essentially Liadan is a copy of Sorcha, but her trial isn't as earnest, as far-reaching, as deep as her mother's, as time sensitive, as well-defined. Personally I think she sounds like the least interesting of the three children.
There was a very structured idea driving everything forward in the first book, that allowed all of the things that happened on the side to have so much more emotional impact. Sorcha had to finish six shirts to lift her brothers curse, in complete silence, destroying her hands with every stitch. It's such a clear narrative. During those years, things happened to slow her down and you just feel the stress and the pain of it.
By comparison Son of The Shadows had a more directionless plot with less of an emotional stake. I couldn't tell what the main driving storyline was meant to be, so I didn't feel the impact of the side characters hindering Liadan as much. Maybe for that reason I would actually like it more on a reread, now that I know what I'm supposed to be following (I really didn't think it would be about Bran and Eamon so much, or that she'd have a baby so quickly! [not that there's anything wrong with that, I just didn't anticipate it being the focus of the narrative])
There were also so many plot points that required a ton of suspension of disbelief.
Spoiler
Red was able to just go back to jolly ole England, ask a few questions, and figure out EXACTLY how Bran ended up where he did as a child, and who he was? And in the first place, he was able to look at the face of a baby and be like hey he looks like my old buddy John who I haven't even seen in 19 years. And sure, the baby's birth was similar to the delivery Margery went through, but breached babies aren't unheard of.It wasn't a bad book by any means, I just can't bring myself to give it a four when comparing it to the first in the series. I kind of felt like perhaps it would have been more interesting to follow Niamh, just because Liadan was too much like the narrator of the first book, but didn't live up to her. Niamh seemed like a completely different person, and I liked the twisted forbidden love angle.
book_nut's review
3.0
Mostly enjoyed it, but thought it was a bit long in spots. Reminded me strongly of Mists of Avalon.