Rating: 
Summary: Heartbreaking... A work of art
Review: Even at the tender age of thirteen, I'm always wary of the books on the shelves of the so-called 'fantasy section'. So many of them are dull and have no life of their own that I expect I've wasted more than one hundred dollars in the past. And so when I, a full-blooded Irish, picked up 'The Daughter of the Forest', I was skeptical. The plot seemed not too different than many that have come before, but I bought it, nonetheless. And I'm glad that I did.Firstly, the book's plot -makes sense-. This should be critical to any novel, but I've seen many fail. You can almost expect that it was real - that this chilling, heartbreaking tale is -true-. Not for a long time have I read a book that so pulled on my heart. The 'good' characters (all save for Red/Hugh, whom I thought was predictable, dull, and boring) were wonderfully drawn, and with the addition of the author's deft, lyrical writing, they truly came to life. I cried many times over this book, my tears staining the pages. Why? Not when Sorcha was raped, nor when she and Red were reunited, nor when she had to leave him behind. I cried for her, and her brothers. The agony that they all had to bear! And the ferocity and the loyalty that ran within them still... The painstaking process of weaving the shirts and the knowledge that they could be killed, hunted, chased as they spoke. The beauty, when Sorcha reunited with one of her brothers on English soil, and the fury that I felt when the Britons dragged her away. I'm a true sap, I know - but I cried angry tears when she broke her silence and called out to Red, and was so angry that because of this Finbar was not whole. He was worth more than Red many, many times over in my eyes. I was so disappointed in Sorcha, when she was miserably back in the wild moors and green hills of Sevenwaters, with her brothers. And so heartbroken when so many of her brothers left, so angry that they could not hold together. And of course, extremely disappointed when Red comes back, because Sorcha so 'needs' him. This was my only disappointment in the book. Well, that and the fact that she did not marry Simon instead. Please, can we ever create a damsel who doesn't fall in love, and who is miserable without that man of choice? -That- would have made this book nearly perfect... Leaving the Britons behind, with some regrets, but finding solace once more in those green hills of Sevenwaters.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful start to a great trilogy!
Review: A retelling of the old fairy tale, "The Seven Swans". Set in Ireland, at a point where Christianity and the Old Religion still coexist. Sorcha is the youngest of 7 motherless children. Their father, Lord of Sevenwaters, has been mostly indifferent to his daughter and six sons, and eventually, when Sorcha is 15 or so, he marries again. Too bad that his wife is an evil sorceress, who turns the six brothers into swans when they threaten her plans. Sorcha, who escapes, is advised by the Queen of the Fairies that there's a loophole - if she can weave six shirts of nettles, remaining silent the whole time, and throw them over the swans' heads, the enchantment will be lifted. So begins her ordeal, which sees her first grubbing in the wilderness alone, and later a prisoner/guest across the channel in England. (The English and the Irish are involved in some nasty territory battles, so Sorcha is not exactly well-liked over there.) Her warden is Lord Hugh of Harrowfield, who has good reason to believe Sorcha has information about his missing brother. While not everyone lives happily ever after (this is the first part of a trilogy, after all), most of the fairy tale remains intact. Each of the six brothers is a separate character, albeit some more fleshed out than others. I actually had more sympathy sometimes with Finbar or Conor than with Sorcha herself, who grows more and more removed from the world around and thus starts to become a little inaccessable to the reader, as well. Full of Celtic lore, with romance, magic, intrigue, danger, and sacrifice, this is a well written, beautiful story.
Rating: 
Summary: You know the drill...
Review: WARNING:: Major end spoiler OK, instead of repeating over and over what others have already perfectly described before me, I'll do it the other way round and tell you something that I found negative about this fairytale. Sorcha should have been with Simon. I dont care what anyone says or thinks, Red is bland compared to Simon. Doesn't anyone out there agree with me? Simon, although terribly neglected in my opinion by the author, was potentially a much more complex character, while we never get an insight into Red - he does not have the passion, the fire of life within him to make him interesting, and that is perhaps why I really dislike him. Apart from that minor nuance, this is amazingly enthralling story that will make you cry with the characters and live through all their pain and suffering. YOu will not laugh with them, however, as this story is no walk in the park, it is deep, heart-renching and cruel. It wonderfully displays human folly, and you read between the lines the message of the author. Highly recommended, as Marillier really cleverly connects the reader with Sorcha, and the first-person narrative become your second personality. A work of art. Tip: dim the lights, turn on a slow, sad, relaxing melody and make yourself comfortable as you step into the world of magic, myth and tale.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite fantasy novel
Review: My friend recommended me this novel. I had never heard of it before. But she was right, once I started, I couldn't put it down. I read from noon to 2 AM. Sorcha's pain was my pain, and her quest and the beautiful love in the novel were magnificent. A book for all time.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best books I've ever read
Review: I thought that this book was amazing - it had everything. I haven't read the story it was based on, but I read something like it along time ago. If I had any complaints, itwas the far-fetchedness of the end. And I also found that, by the end, I was still thinking of Sorcha as a child instead of a woman, which changed rather abruptly. It's really well written; I hated Lady Oonagh and the other bad guy as if I was really there and the descriptions were so clear. At first I found the excessive describing tiring but I got over it. Don't expect to get gripped by the first sentance, you don't get hooked for the first few pages. But, it's amazing, I would recommend it to almost anyone.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent novel
Review: When I picked this book up the first time, I was mildly frightened by the glossy pink on the cover. It made it look like some sappy romance novel, in which case I wasn't interested. Boy, would that have been a mistake! This book is a retelling of the story of the swan princes, told from the viewpoint of Sorcha, the daughter who has to break the spell. It's a masterful twist on the original story, making all of the characters much more believable and real. And if things don't work out to be "happily ever after" for all the people involved, well, I guess that's life. As others have said, this novel stands very well on its own. I was less impressed with the sequel, and haven't yet opened the third. But this first book remains at the top of my list of all-time favorites.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD!!!!!!
Review: I have read many books. But so far the best book I have come upon has been Daughter of the Forest. It introduced me to the Fantasy/Romance genre, but so far I have not found one book to even compare to it, except of course the next two books in the trilogy. The relationships that are formed and the bonds that are built are described with such an emotional flare that you cannot help but become part of the story and feel the things that they are feeling.
If you are looking for a book that will change your life for the better, read this one!!
Rating:
Summary: A Fairytale You'll never Forget
Review: The only and youngest daughter of seven childern of Lord Colum, Sorcha is an incrediblly strong young woman who proves her courage over and over again. She's loved by all in her family, but when her new evil-stepmother comes into her life, Sorcha's old life is gone. When her brothers are turned into swans by the her stepmother, Sorcha goes on a quest, trying to save her brothers with the help of the English noble, the lord of Harrowfield.
Based on the fairytale The Six Swans by Brothers Grim, this story is one of the best retelling fairytale books around. The chacters are warm and ones you'll love. A great book filled with suspense, love, and magic.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting Story
Review: This is the stuff that great stories are made of, the type we cannot get enough of when we're young and magic seems to be real and everywhere. The only difference is, this book is a bit lengthy for a child, and its tone would not be quite suitable for one to read, either. But I think that anyone who dreamed of fairy-tale worlds, or tried to jump off the roof and fly, or had an imagination that turned everything into an adventure, will find something to love about this book. Even if they've left such things far behind. Sorcha is the seventh child of the widowed Lord Colum, and being the only girl in a rather free-roaming bunch of children, is a bit wild and without the usual airs and ways of the ladies of her ranking. But her life is rich with the magic of the Fair Folk's forest, which lays just beyond her home. She's innocent, sweet, and a natural healer. Her world is good, mainly, until her father brings home his new bride whom soon has Sorcha's home full of unrest and unhappiness. In an attempt to cast their new stepmother out of their land, Sorcha's six brothers are turned into swans. It is only by some odd magic and mostly luck that Sorcha herself is not one among them. As it is, only she can break the spell cast on them, never once being able to speak until her task is complete. Through all of this, she must bear pain and soul-wrenching tortures, while the chance for a once-in-a-lifetime love slowly begins to slip through her fingers. -Embyr Bradson (10/18/03)
Rating: 
Summary: Don't be fooled
Review: As compared to other books in the business of re-telling fairy tales, this one is disappointing. It comes across more as a shoddy romance novel, the weak-kneed princess whose life is a disaster until along comes Big Strong He-Man. I also wonder why the title refers to "the forest" because there is very little about the forest in it. Moreover, the so-called Celtic elements are very limited, and what is there is the usual castles, swords-n-horses found in most fantasy novels.
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