A review by zenithharpink
Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
4.0
This was a really strong installment for this series. Marilier is a truly gifted writer and storyteller, and Clodagh's story was a great example of her skill.
I was admittedly distracted while reading this book, but it was still a great read-I thoroughly enjoyed the snatches of time I grabbed to read this. Clodagh was an interesting character with great depth, but I found her to be just a little lacking in personal ability-she was far too much the damsel in distress, and over-reliant on her knight, Cathal.
Ah, Cathal-while he was certainly a compelling character, I didn't connect with him too much, the way his story was revealed, as well as the context for his behavior, felt a bit inauthentic to me. This inauthenticity, however was nothing comparing to the downright sappiness of the love story-which literally had me clenching my teeth at times. Our hero and heroine devolved into blithering idiots that were so tender with each other (inconsistent with behavior from earlier in the book), that the transition was jarring and unwelcome-Marilier laid it on just a bit too thick.
Overall, this was a great read, featuring a compelling villain and a beloved family/heroine. I'm truly dedicated to this series, and have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series-they're so wonderfully inventive and fantastical!
I recommend this book to fans of Marilier, fantasy or any looking for a Celtic-based nature-based read. It's beautifully written and a ton of fun!
I was admittedly distracted while reading this book, but it was still a great read-I thoroughly enjoyed the snatches of time I grabbed to read this. Clodagh was an interesting character with great depth, but I found her to be just a little lacking in personal ability-she was far too much the damsel in distress, and over-reliant on her knight, Cathal.
Ah, Cathal-while he was certainly a compelling character, I didn't connect with him too much, the way his story was revealed, as well as the context for his behavior, felt a bit inauthentic to me. This inauthenticity, however was nothing comparing to the downright sappiness of the love story-which literally had me clenching my teeth at times. Our hero and heroine devolved into blithering idiots that were so tender with each other (inconsistent with behavior from earlier in the book), that the transition was jarring and unwelcome-Marilier laid it on just a bit too thick.
Overall, this was a great read, featuring a compelling villain and a beloved family/heroine. I'm truly dedicated to this series, and have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series-they're so wonderfully inventive and fantastical!
I recommend this book to fans of Marilier, fantasy or any looking for a Celtic-based nature-based read. It's beautifully written and a ton of fun!