Rating: 
Summary: Decent Book
Review: A note to those who haven't read this book: Numerous reviews on this forum contain outrageous spoilers that may...well...spoil your enjoyment of this book.I enjoyed this book, author kept me wondering what would happen next. She also skillfully conveyed a sense of wonder about the lands of her tale, without really offering much descriptive detail or background. Deft writing, in this sense. On the other hand, I didn't enjoy this in the 5-star manner observed in other reviews. I didn't find it tremendously moving or surprising. There were numerous elements to the story that prevented me from being very engaged or involved. First, this book lacked the gritty realism I would expect from medieval Britain, the believable brutality and filth one glimpses in Mists of Avalon or Bernard Cornwell's novels. Instead, this book was in so many ways typical of fantasy novels: the familiar utopian monarchies full of childlike, grinning peasants and their ever-helpful parenting nobles, magical herbcraft, castles. This is fine for some, but I can't get swept away in it as I did when I was very young. Also, the characters are simple, fantastical, interact in unsubtle ways, and in some cases are very familiar. The bad guy is such a stereotype you can practically see him twisting his mustache and laughing "bwaaa ha ha ha ha!". He even decides to tell the heroine every bit of his plot because she is doomed anyway. The heroic siblings are impossibly sugar-coated, constantly hugging and kissing their sister, drying her tears, etc. The romance interest, "bonnie" Lord Hughe, caps it all, masculine perfection from head to toe (and it's made abundantly clear that everything in between is perfect, too, EVERYTHING). He is even gentle, sensitive, a good listener, and willing to sacrifice it all for her. I imagine this as the sort of fellow populating the interior of those check-out stand romance novels. Character's feelings are often described theatrically, tears if sad, trembling if fearful, they even chew food "thoughtfully", and everyone arches an eyebrow or two to show interest. Many of these things might be acceptable to many readers because after all this is a fantasy and a re-telling of a fairy tale. Not me, for fairy-tale like stories, I prefer the style of Patricia MckPhillip, or see C.J. Cherryh's trilogy set in old Russia, beginning with Rusalka. But again, I enjoyed this book, and I can't say that about most fantasy novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Lyrical, beautiful first fantasy
Review: In "Daughter of the Forest," Juliet Marillier retells the classic fairy tale, "The Six Swans", setting it in druidic Britain. Ms. Marillier does an excellent job of rendering the characters: of the six brothers, the father, Colum; the sorceress, Oonagh, and most of all, of Sorcha, the youngest sister. Ms. Marillier presents some interesting modifications to the plot, without making it unrecognizable. Sorcha's suffering is incredible, poignant, and grimly realistic. Especially gratifying is the way suffering transforms the characters, for good or for ill, and Ms. Marillier's refusal to adhere to traditional stereotypes. I look forward to the second volume.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic Book
Review: I started reading this book and immediately I knew I would have trouble putting it down. Set in the Celtic twilight of ancient Ireland, when myth's were law and magic a force of nature, it is a tale of Sorcha, a small girl growing up without her mother but with six protective brother's to guard her, but when a woman, Lady Oonagh, a sorceress marries their father, things change the Lady Oonagh, binds the brother's together with a spell that only Sorcha can lift, but if she fails, they will die. A enchanting story that simply will leave you waiting for more. This book is the start of a trilogy I just hope the next one comes out soon, I look forward to reading it!
Rating:
Summary: My Fantasy
Review: The Daughter of the Forest is a wonderous fantasy novel. Through reading the book I found myself addicted to the adventure filled plot, and heart warming characters. The story, I am told, is based upon a Irish legend. In which a young girl is forced to flee into the mystic forest of her home land. With a goal to restore her beloved six brothers to there home. They had a horrid spell but apon them by their stepmother, an evil sorsoress. With the help of the fair folk, the Bright One and the Lady of the Forest, the beings of the forest and of the other realm. She soon finds her self under the protection of a foreign man and a great enemy of her own for centuries. Not only was this story full of danger, intrige, magic, love and adventure, this novel provided the strongest and heart warming characters, as well as the most viel and evil. Allowing the reader to be intensly drawn into the lives of the charcters. I found myself pounding the floor with anger, filled with love, and crying along with the characters. It seems I was drawn right into the mystical story of the greatest lost and greatest love there could be.
Rating: 
Summary: one for the romatics at heart
Review: Wonderful novel that plays on the imagination and draws you into the characters. Reminds us what true love is and what it is to follow your heart. I cant wait to see what else Juliet Mirillier can bring to us.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful remake of an old celtic tale!
Review: Daugter of the Forest is a beautiful retelling of an old Irish myth, the Swans. I absoloutly loved this book because of the charactor strength. I read it over four days and the first day i wanted to finish it because i was dying to know what happened at the end, but when i did finish it, i almost cried. the one flaw that i really noticed was that the ending didn't really come to a close. I know that it will be part of a triligy, but it didn't really come to any kind of closure.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It almost made me cry, and I never cry for books or movies. This was an awsome book! The ending was really well written.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent mix of fairy tale, romance and Celtic storytelling
Review: I bought this book because of my interest in things druidic and Celtic and because of the recommendation by Anne McCaffrey and was definitly not dissapointed! The story held me enthralled from beginning to end and the main character is so strong!
Rating:
Summary: Wow - couldn't put it down
Review: I really loved this book and read it straight through. While I was sometimes a little frustrated at Sorcha's "victim" mentality, I realise that she was under a huge burden. I thought that Red was a wonderful character and the development between Sorcha and Red was wonderful. I can't believe that the next book isn't coming out until next year! A great book from a new Australian author.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Serene
Review: It was interesting how enthralling this book was. Many times as I was reading, I lost my reality and felt that I too could not speak, as Sorcha could not in the story. I look forward to more books! Thank you Ms. Marillier!
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