Rating: 
Summary: Character development draws you in
Review: This book was full of delightful surprises, as I had just picked it up on a whim and didn't expect much. The characters are soundly developed. The reader ends up caring about the unfolding drama and the interconnections between the families, the teachers, nature, and the various loves. The imagery is lush and inviting, leaving lasting images of the pictoral surroundings. The reworking of an old fairy tale was endearing and absorbing. I never realized how like the capricious gods of Olympus are the faery folk.
The ending seemed a bit contrived and rushed slightly for my taste. I would give it a 4 and half stars if I could. But as I am interested in the further parts of this trilogy, I prefer rating it with 5 stars than settling for 4.
I'll be eagerly seeking the further installments, though this is complete in itself.
Rating:
Summary: Character development draws you in
Review: This embellished Celtic fairy tale was full of delightful surprises, as I had just picked it up on a whim and didn't expect much.
It is an inspiring heroic saga with true archtypal figures. As in all good hero tales, there are journeys where characters leave the safe areas for growth and trials, and find the road leads to what is true to the heart. There are tests and tempering of the metal of spirit in the firey choices of life. There are the sacrifices or the giving up of selfishness for greater true gains.
The characters are soundly developed. The reader easily cares about the unfolding drama and the interconnections between the families, the teachers, nature, and the various loves. The imagery is lush and inviting, leaving lasting mindscapes of the pictoral surroundings. This reworking of an old fairy tale was endearing and absorbing. I never realized how like the capricious gods of Olympus are the faery folk.
The ending seemed a bit contrived and rushed slightly for my taste. I would give it a 4 and half stars if I could. But as I am interested in the further parts of this trilogy, I prefer rating it with 5 stars than settling for 4.
I'll be eagerly seeking the further installments, though this first volume is complete in itself.
Rating:
Summary: My Worn and Tattered pages
Review: This story would have to be the best that I have ever read.
I laughed, cried, and felt my heart almost break with the sorrow that is so perfectly brought forth in the main character,Sorcha, a strong girl with a relentless task to fulfill. There are many other characters that would touch the heart of anyone that would sit down and read this wonderful story. My friends and I have read this book so many times that it is tattered and worn and has had more than a few tears on it. So if you read this book you will feel you have to buy the next until the story is complete in you mind.
Rating: 
Summary: good fantasy
Review: "Daugter..." is the story of an Irish girl, Sorcha, and her six brothers. The brothers are turned into swans by their evil stepmother and Sorcha must painfully weave six shirts to turn them back. To make her task harder, she must not speak for the duration. Her journey takes her from Ireland to Britain and back home again. Somewhere in there, she falls in love. While completing her task, she is subjected to many *horrible* things, but she will do anything to get her brothers back. I absolutely love this book. Marillier weaves a magic spell into the book and the effect is haunting. The writing is lyrical and gripping. The book is long, but completely worth it.
Rating:
Summary: good fantasy
Review: I absolutely love this book. It drags (it's so long and the pages are so big and the pront is fairly small) and you're eventually like "Just get ON with it" but it's tolerable. Didn't end like I wnated it to but it was still a good ending. Romantic, adventurous sort of.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: I absolutely love this book. It is rich with fantasy, romance, and adventure. It didn't end the way I wanted it to, but, even so, it was a truly wonderful ending. It's about Sorcha, a daughter of Sevenwaters. Her brothers are turned into swans by their evil (incredibly evil) stepmother. Sorcha has to remain silent while she weaves 6 shirts from a harsh material. It's amust-read for any fantasy/romance lover.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely
Review: This book is a reworking of a Celtic fairy tale. The youngest of seven children and only girl is the protagonist; she, unfortunately, acquires a wicked stepmother who turns all her brothers into swans. The fairy tale tells how she reverses the spell and finds love in the process. This story has been a personal favorite of mine for a long time, and I was delighted to find this. Juliet Marillier has expanded it considerably. Instead of just a plot sketch taking place over the course of maybe a year, this is a rich story, full of detail and description, which needs four years to complete itself. All of the characters come to life; the brothers are, for the first time, identified seperately, each with a different background and future path. Ireland of centuries ago made itself present in my bedroom; I felt a strong fondness for its people and hated its invaders with a passion. The one drawback to this book (and it isn't much of a one) is that, rather in the manner of The Mists of Avalon, it is very long and intense with no comic relief. I had to take a break of a week or so and read some fluff. However, it is well worth anything and everything you might concievably have to do in order to obtain it. It is a marvelous piece of work, and I look forward to more of the Sevenwaters books.
Rating:
Summary: Be Swept Away
Review: Be prepared to be swept away with the warmth and passion of this trilogy. I launched my way through all 3 in a week because I just HAD to know what was going to unfold. It is not often you get to find yourself so wrapped up that your shead tears un-noticed. I loved these so very much. Some words of warning. If you don't like a bit of romance then these probably aren't for you. In each unfolding book one character ends up swept away or thrown in unexpected love. Personally I loved it but it might not be your cup of tea.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Book...
Review: The first time I read this book, it was an experience, to say the least. I've just finished my third re-read and am trying to get my hands on a paperback of Son of Shadows(the sequel out of three). I started Daughter of the Forest one morning and was done in the wee hours of the next. I couldn't put it down. It is truly a wonderful story. I knew I'd heard the story somewhere, but couldn't clearly remember it, so that made it even more exciting for me. The story is narrated by Sorcha, seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters in old Ireland, forest stronghold of the old ways. Sorcha's six brothers are great characters and I find myself caring for each and every one of them as a result of Ms. Marillier's deft characterizations, though my favorites are Conor, Finbar and Diarmid. One day, Lord Colum brings home an intended bride and all the trouble begins. (...). The characterizations are wonderfully believable and heartwrenching. (...)although you can sort of tell what the end will be, that doesn't really matter. It's the telling of the story that matters and this story is told very well. I was so near crying toward the end (...)! I sincerely hope we will be seeing many more Juliet Marillier books on the shelves in the future. I suggest that anyone who loves fantasy and fairy tales, as I do, read this book. Just be prepared for some strong emotions.
Rating:
Summary: I actually cried
Review: I read books all the time. So much, that I was afraid that I had become emotionally detached from them. That is, until I read Daughter of the Forest. I became so engrossed in the story, I cared so much for Red and Sorcha... I cried at the end, not only when they parted, but when they found each other as well. I have not cried for a character in a book like that since I read Where the Red Fern Grows when I was 8. The story was that moving. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about reading it. Do read it, for it is the best book I have read in ten years. See if you don't cry, too...
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