among_tomes_and_tales's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Rape
naomipetrash's review against another edition
5.0
“For the others, it was still just a tale, like all the tales we told, night by night, tales comical and strange, tales heroic and awe-inspiring, the tales that formed the fabric of our spirits.”
jennaem27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
Minor: Pregnancy
yak_attak's review against another edition
5.0
A gorgeous tale, reimagining a fairytale with such a vivid personal touch and realistic angle to everything that its heartfelt sorrow and joyful victories can't help but move you. This is one of the most frustrating books I've read - in a good way - due to the protagonist's self imposed powerlessness, but each time she ekes out a win, and each time we see her making meaningful bonds despite her challenge it's incredible. The way everything is wrapped up well, but without anything being too simple, too neat, too easy - just a perfect telling of the story start to finish. Highly recommended.
ljucubica's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
zhexenis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gaggaly's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully re-imagined version of the Six Swans myth. Has classic fairy tale elements, gorgeous descriptions and world building. It was a little too slow and verbose at times and the ending was underwhelming. However, an overall enjoyable read.
khaos1785's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pancakereads's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
It started off so good! I love the setting and the main character Sorcha and her six brothers. Their relationship was a highlight! But then halfway through it just took a path I didn’t like.
At the beginning, the scenes between Sorcha and Simon were so intimate and heart wrenching, so when the story became a romance between her and his brother, I lost interest.
As Sorcha thinks about Simon at the end, “Each of us wore our memories of what might have been.” I long for that other version, the far more compelling story about her and the boy she nursed back to health and saved from himself. This book disappointed me so thoroughly!
It started off so good! I love the setting and the main character Sorcha and her six brothers. Their relationship was a highlight! But then halfway through it just took a path I didn’t like.
At the beginning, the scenes between Sorcha and Simon were so intimate and heart wrenching, so when the story became a romance between her and his brother, I lost interest.
As Sorcha thinks about Simon at the end, “Each of us wore our memories of what might have been.” I long for that other version, the far more compelling story about her and the boy she nursed back to health and saved from himself. This book disappointed me so thoroughly!
nilaffle's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first foray into fantasy. I'd never cared for it in the past, and I don't even remember why I allowed my friend to foist this title on me that summer. It was so engrossing that I couldn't even put it down, even to sleep. I pretty much stayed awake until it was done... and then I started to read it again. I suppose it helps that it's a retelling of one of my favorite fairytales, but the way it was told was so new to me at the time, and Juliet Marillier is such a masterful storyteller. It's a title that rests in the back of my head as everything that is Good and Perfect in the fantasy genre. I read the next two books and they weren't quite as good (really didn't care for the second book in fact, the characters I really liked mostly died and the rest were pretty annoying), but when friends as me for fantasy recommendations, Daughter of the Forest is always near the top of my list.