Rating: 
Summary: Awesome books, awesome writer.
Review: A while back, after I had just finnished this book, I e-mailed Kate Forsyth, not really expecting anything in return. I thought to myself, those books are REALLY good. She'll never have time to read all her fanmail, much less write back.
Whoa was I surprised. The email I got was not a two word reply but two paragraphs about what I had asked! Not only are the books fantastic, but the Author was super- nice!Well, as nice as she was, the books she wrote were even better. From beginning to end, they are captivating. The hardships of war and peace, trust and denial, are all played out fully in these colorful works. Thank you Kate Forsyth for a fabulous read. It doesn't get much better than that!
Rating:
Summary: Great ending to a great series
Review: Book six, The Fathomless Caves, is a great ending to the Witches of Eileanan series. Though I can see points at which the author could branch off to write other books, there is definately a satifsying closure for the main characters and action. Leading up to the final trial, which is a no holds barred, battle to the death that stretches everyone to their limits, there is a test of the royal marriage, Iseult's return to the Spine of the World, a confrontation between Lachlan and Isabeau regarding his behavior toward her, Maya's capture by the Righ, and Isabeau's confronting of her personal demons and her feelings regarding Dide the Jugglar. The main focus of the action here is the war with the Fairgean, the sea people who are sworn enemies of the humans. Obviously, they are bad creatures, because they keep coming up onto the human's land and killing everyone, even children, raping women, taking slaves, all that bad war stuff. But Forsyth does the same thing in characterizing the Fairgean as a people that she does with her individual characters. She shows them as a product of their experiences, most specifically, their experiences with the humans over the last few hundred years. The humans come to be seen as less than virtuous, less than completely in the right, and the Fairgean become not quite the mindless villains they may have seemed. One wonders if, with hundreds of years of history of war and attempted genocide, these people could ever find a way to coexist. And whereas a few books ago we might not have been upset had the humans managed to wipe out the Fairgean completely, now that we have met a few and are seeing them as a people, that no longer seems a viable option for a good ending. Or is it? The struggle between these two peoples becomes something like a good romance novel. You know both sides have their flaws, and everything's against them, but you really want them to work it out, no matter how much it hurts. Well, you throw that in with all the individual conclusions, and the amazing action of the finale, and it makes for a great ending. I have enjoyed this series immensely. It's great to read strong female characters, especially when those characters are actually women, and not just more guys in drag with girlie names. The characterization is brilliant, with characters who continue to grow, from the first pages to the last, who make mistakes, who fall into peril, but who, while ever-changing, mangage to hold on to a sense of self that made you fall for them in the first place. The imagery is lovely, and varied, and the use of Celtic and Wiccan lore highly enjoyable. If you're coming to read this review not having read any other the other books, I would suggest you look up The Witches of Eileanan, because you deserve to enjoy this from the very beginning. It will be worth getting here the long way.
Rating:
Summary: Great ending to a great series
Review: Book six, The Fathomless Caves, is a great ending to the Witches of Eileanan series. Though I can see points at which the author could branch off to write other books, there is definately a satifsying closure for the main characters and action. Leading up to the final trial, which is a no holds barred, battle to the death that stretches everyone to their limits, there is a test of the royal marriage, Iseult's return to the Spine of the World, a confrontation between Lachlan and Isabeau regarding his behavior toward her, Maya's capture by the Righ, and Isabeau's confronting of her personal demons and her feelings regarding Dide the Jugglar. The main focus of the action here is the war with the Fairgean, the sea people who are sworn enemies of the humans. Obviously, they are bad creatures, because they keep coming up onto the human's land and killing everyone, even children, raping women, taking slaves, all that bad war stuff. But Forsyth does the same thing in characterizing the Fairgean as a people that she does with her individual characters. She shows them as a product of their experiences, most specifically, their experiences with the humans over the last few hundred years. The humans come to be seen as less than virtuous, less than completely in the right, and the Fairgean become not quite the mindless villains they may have seemed. One wonders if, with hundreds of years of history of war and attempted genocide, these people could ever find a way to coexist. And whereas a few books ago we might not have been upset had the humans managed to wipe out the Fairgean completely, now that we have met a few and are seeing them as a people, that no longer seems a viable option for a good ending. Or is it? The struggle between these two peoples becomes something like a good romance novel. You know both sides have their flaws, and everything's against them, but you really want them to work it out, no matter how much it hurts. Well, you throw that in with all the individual conclusions, and the amazing action of the finale, and it makes for a great ending. I have enjoyed this series immensely. It's great to read strong female characters, especially when those characters are actually women, and not just more guys in drag with girlie names. The characterization is brilliant, with characters who continue to grow, from the first pages to the last, who make mistakes, who fall into peril, but who, while ever-changing, mangage to hold on to a sense of self that made you fall for them in the first place. The imagery is lovely, and varied, and the use of Celtic and Wiccan lore highly enjoyable. If you're coming to read this review not having read any other the other books, I would suggest you look up The Witches of Eileanan, because you deserve to enjoy this from the very beginning. It will be worth getting here the long way.
Rating: 
Summary: A little disappointing
Review: I'm sorry to see this series ending. This last addition was a bit disappointing. Everything was closed off just a little too neatly. All potential love interest came together and all potential problems were solved. It just wasn't as interesting since it was completely predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Good ending
Review: If you've followed the series this far, like I have, you'll love the final book. Being in Australia, I've read this book a while ago, and the things I can remeber are all spoilers, and I hate it when ppl do that. So, I'll say this was a good ending and an absolutely fantastic series in general. One thing that particularly impressed me (and this is true for the other 5 books as well) is the amount of respect given to the different cultures/races. As Harriet has said above, the Fairgean are given legitimate reasons for wanting war. This is no goodies/baddies book; you feel for both sides.
Rating:
Summary: Solid Story and a Fun Read
Review: Kate Forsyth has constructed a great serise that i recommend to all fantasy lovers! Though it does not present new content to the many fantasy epics out there, she succeeds in drawing you into the land and characters. The best part of this story is the magic and magical creatures, dragons, witches, wizards, and the overall abundance of animals. If you like fantasy that is more then just the occasional act of magic, that is a full world of rich fantasy you will like this novel. I have read many fantasy and this remains a favorite in my eyes just because of the attachment you feel to everything happening. The books just keep moving into more action and history that you come to see as your characters and your home. I love every good character and hatte every bad one until i find more details to support their supposedly evil actions. Unfortunatly it is not a new type of enviroment, a kind of sterotype fantasy world that is more common knowledge then anything breath-takingly new. In light of this i still think it is an superb serise and a great conclusion that everyone should read. True, i liked it so much i bought the whole serise from Austrailia, so go get it!!
Rating:
Summary: okay conclusion to a good series
Review: The conclusion of the Witches of Eileanan is good, maybe not as good as some of the earlier books in the series, but good. Iseult travels away to get the support of her mountain people, leaving Lachlan feeling very forlorn. In addition, the war against the sea creatures is not going so well. Meanwhile, Isabeau is struggling to finish her training as quickly as possible while a certain wandering musician struggles to catch her eye. The end of this series was a little anticlimactic to me, but still very interesting and definitely worth reading if you've made it this far in the series. The whole series gets the thumbs up.
Rating:
Summary: the end of the series
Review: The last book had a different ending to what I expected. Isabeau had finally accepted her hand and what had happened. She is falling for the black eyed jougleur very fast. Iseult is hurt and confused by Lachlan and vice versa. She wants to stay on the Spine of the World but knows that it isnt what her heart truly wants. With help from Iseult's and Isabeau's father's people and all the laird's the humans attack the Fairgain. The war is long and devestating but in the end Isabeau uses her power to stop the Priestess of Jor and save Fand. The humans and sea-faires make a treaty and for once all is in peace.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely fantastic.
Review: The war with Tirsoilleir is over and its leader has sworn fealty to Lachlan Macquinn, the ruler of Eilenan. On May First on Beltane, the inhabitants are celebrating the pact of peace, a document ensuring that all of mankind and fairy abide by the terms of the treaty. During the merry making, the one race who didn't sign the pact infiltrates the castle and causes a bloodbath. Lachlan swears vengeance on the sea-faery creatures, who need land and sea to live. The whole nation plans for war. Lachlan's wife Iseult travels to her father's people in the north to enlist their support for the upcoming battle and her twin sister the sorceress Isabeau councils Lachlan and gathers the forces of magic to use as a weapon against the enemy. When the battle finally takes place it's resolution takes place in the hearts of two men who see the folly of perpetrating a long held grievance. Book Six of the Witches of Eileanan saga is every bit as good as it's predecessors. Readers will enjoy the harmonious relationships between human and fae as they work toward a common goal just as they will admire Isabeau who bears up to her many responsibilities admirably. The Fairgean, who are the antagonists of THE FATHOMLESS CAVES, are portrayed as a race who have legitimate reasons and grievance for going to war and come across as sympathetic figures. Kate Forsyth has written another rich and textured fantasy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: rich and textured fantasy
Review: The war with Tirsoilleir is over and its leader has sworn fealty to Lachlan Macquinn, the ruler of Eilenan. On May First on Beltane, the inhabitants are celebrating the pact of peace, a document ensuring that all of mankind and fairy abide by the terms of the treaty. During the merry making, the one race who didn't sign the pact infiltrates the castle and causes a bloodbath. Lachlan swears vengeance on the sea-faery creatures, who need land and sea to live. The whole nation plans for war. Lachlan's wife Iseult travels to her father's people in the north to enlist their support for the upcoming battle and her twin sister the sorceress Isabeau councils Lachlan and gathers the forces of magic to use as a weapon against the enemy. When the battle finally takes place it's resolution takes place in the hearts of two men who see the folly of perpetrating a long held grievance. Book Six of the Witches of Eileanan saga is every bit as good as it's predecessors. Readers will enjoy the harmonious relationships between human and fae as they work toward a common goal just as they will admire Isabeau who bears up to her many responsibilities admirably. The Fairgean, who are the antagonists of THE FATHOMLESS CAVES, are portrayed as a race who have legitimate reasons and grievance for going to war and come across as sympathetic figures. Kate Forsyth has written another rich and textured fantasy. Harriet Klausner
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