What do you think?
Rate this book
Sevenwaters #4
Heir to Sevenwaters
The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast and mysterious forest, one of the last refuges of the Tuatha De Danann, the Fair Folk of ancient story. Human and Otherworld dwellers have existed there side by side - until the spring when everything changes.
395 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2008
About the author
Juliet Marillier
80 books11.6k followersJuliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Juliet was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and Bachelor of Music (Hons). Her lifelong interest in history, folklore and mythology has had a major influence on her writing.
Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards.
Juliet lives in a 110 year old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs. She also has four adult children and eight grandchildren. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.)
Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards.
Juliet lives in a 110 year old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs. She also has four adult children and eight grandchildren. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 841 reviews
July 10, 2013
One of my English teachers once told my class that instead of telling her daughter the fairy tales of Disney legend, the classic Snow White and Sleeping Beauty that had the gallant princes arriving to save the day, she'd always change the ending so that the princess saved herself or, better yet, saved the prince too. When her daughter, only a mere seven years old, got cancer, we all visited her - and still do visit her - in the hospital and would help tell stories; stories of women strong enough to fend for themselves and fight back all that life threw at them. Although, after a point, it would be difficult to come up with new tales, I know the story I'm going to tell her when I see her next. The story of Heir to Sevenwaters.
Heir to Sevenwaters is a new leaf from the original Sevenwaters trilogy. Whereas the first three books in this series were full of constant strife and issues such as rape, abuse, and sexual harassment to name a few, the problems Marillier tackles in this installment are far lighter. As always, these books are about the women of Sevenwaters; about the courageous journey these young girls take and the obstacles they manage to overcome, time and time again, despite their plain status. In that regard, this novel is no different. Yet, the oppressive and terrifying presence of the Lady Oonagh is finally lifted and, truly, Sevenwaters seems all the lighter for it. Now, Lord Sean's daughters are growing and the house is a circle of joy for Lady Aisling is expecting again and this time, she is certain that her child is the long awaited son and heir to Sevenwaters.
During this time, Clodagh's twin sister, Deirdre, is set to be married and though the family is concerned for Aisling's old age, health, and the future of her baby, they struggle to maintain a facade of happiness for Deirdre's marriage brings a needed alliance. For the wedding, Johnny has arrived with his men, among them Aidan and Cathal. Aidan and Clodagh met the summer before and, once again, the two are drawn to each other. Cathal, the rude friend of Aidan, however, warns Clodagh away from the handsome man. As Cathal and Aidan continue to stay at Sevenwaters, Clodagh cannot help but notice how strange and distant Calath is. When her younger brother, Finbar, is finally born safely into the world, she becomes the sole keeper of her sibling, helping to care for him while her mother recuperates. All is not well at Sevenwaters, though. Hidden enemies seek to undermine the family and the Fair Folk of the forests have moved on, leaving behind the tricksters. Thus, when Finbar is exchanged with a changeling, Clodagh knows she has no choice but to go into the Otherworld and bring back the true heir. Along the way, however, she will uncover more not only about her companion, Cathal, but also about, surprisingly, herself.
Unlike its predecessors, Heir to Sevenwaters takes awhile to really reach its true plot thread, the journey to the Otherworld, but the novel never lags because of it. Instead, I appreciate that the beginning of this novel is focused on Clodagh and her life in Sevenwaters. Although she is known as the daughter whose sole skill lies in her household duties, as Sevenwaters sinks into chaos, both of a political and emotional nature, Clodagh manages to hold her own and stay strong for her family, remaining a constant rock of support for them. As such, when her journey in the Otherworld proves to be full of challenges, it is not much of a surprise to see Clodagh tackle them. We see her growth both during times of magic, but also during times of difficulty in everyday life. Furthermore, Clodagh is a heroine whose strengths lie in her realistic portrayal. Unlike Liadan, who seems forever strong, Clodagh isn't ashamed to cry or show her fear. Instead, it is her perseverance despite the burdens placed before her that make her such an engaging heroine. While she lacks physical prowess, the burning strength of her heart and her courage more than make up for any shortcomings she may have, making her one of my - if not the most favorite - Sevenwaters women.
And yet, Heir to Sevenwaters would be nothing without its leading man, Cathal. From the beginning itself, Cathal is a slightly shady character. We see his sarcastic tongue emerge and his ominous warnings about his own friend cause us to doubt his character. Nevertheless, as the story progresses, we begin to peel back the layers Cathal so carefully hides under and discover the heart of the man underneath. A man who is tortured and broken, forced to grow up with the belief that he is unloved and constantly hunted by the fey. A man who is powerful and strong, one whose capacity for love is tremendous and whose sacrifices are oft unnoticed. While Clodagh and Cathal slowly, tortuously, fall in love, the perfection of their union is made all the more obvious. While Clodagh sees herself as others see her, as nothing more than the perfect housewife, Cathal is able to see beyond her plain exterior to the incredible woman she is inside. Similarly, Clodagh is willing enough to look beyond the facade that Cathal puts up and see that he is, in every way, her equal. Together, Clodagh and Cathal are able to weather the worst of storms, including the deadly new villain this book introduces. One who is, thankfully, no Disney character like Lady Oonagh but clever and cunning, a true force to be reckoned with. As Clodagh and Cathal race to rescue the baby Finbar, though, their love story unfolds beautifully, one that made my heart beat erratically and swoon more than I can count. In all honesty, I could discuss these two and their never-ending depth for ages, but I hope you will discover it yourselves. Next to Sorcha and Red, these two are the most fleshed-out, well-deserving, and beautiful couple in this series. And I hope this won't be the last I see of them because I am so in love with their love.
Heir to Sevenwaters is the perfect introduction to a new era of Sevenwaters. While far less dark than its predecessors, this series still contains its tell-tale signs of struggle, of pushing its protagonists to their limits and forcing them to discover new, hidden, and stronger parts of themselves. Additionally, old characters are still very much present and it was a pleasant surprise to see Ciaran play such a vital role, both in this book and hopefully in the rest of this new trilogy. Ultimately, Heir to Sevenwaters is the type of fairytale I'd have wanted to hear as a young child; one where a mere Cinderella-esque housewife transforms into a woman who can fend for herself, save the future of her family, and rescue her own prince too.
Heir to Sevenwaters is a new leaf from the original Sevenwaters trilogy. Whereas the first three books in this series were full of constant strife and issues such as rape, abuse, and sexual harassment to name a few, the problems Marillier tackles in this installment are far lighter. As always, these books are about the women of Sevenwaters; about the courageous journey these young girls take and the obstacles they manage to overcome, time and time again, despite their plain status. In that regard, this novel is no different. Yet, the oppressive and terrifying presence of the Lady Oonagh is finally lifted and, truly, Sevenwaters seems all the lighter for it. Now, Lord Sean's daughters are growing and the house is a circle of joy for Lady Aisling is expecting again and this time, she is certain that her child is the long awaited son and heir to Sevenwaters.
During this time, Clodagh's twin sister, Deirdre, is set to be married and though the family is concerned for Aisling's old age, health, and the future of her baby, they struggle to maintain a facade of happiness for Deirdre's marriage brings a needed alliance. For the wedding, Johnny has arrived with his men, among them Aidan and Cathal. Aidan and Clodagh met the summer before and, once again, the two are drawn to each other. Cathal, the rude friend of Aidan, however, warns Clodagh away from the handsome man. As Cathal and Aidan continue to stay at Sevenwaters, Clodagh cannot help but notice how strange and distant Calath is. When her younger brother, Finbar, is finally born safely into the world, she becomes the sole keeper of her sibling, helping to care for him while her mother recuperates. All is not well at Sevenwaters, though. Hidden enemies seek to undermine the family and the Fair Folk of the forests have moved on, leaving behind the tricksters. Thus, when Finbar is exchanged with a changeling, Clodagh knows she has no choice but to go into the Otherworld and bring back the true heir. Along the way, however, she will uncover more not only about her companion, Cathal, but also about, surprisingly, herself.
Unlike its predecessors, Heir to Sevenwaters takes awhile to really reach its true plot thread, the journey to the Otherworld, but the novel never lags because of it. Instead, I appreciate that the beginning of this novel is focused on Clodagh and her life in Sevenwaters. Although she is known as the daughter whose sole skill lies in her household duties, as Sevenwaters sinks into chaos, both of a political and emotional nature, Clodagh manages to hold her own and stay strong for her family, remaining a constant rock of support for them. As such, when her journey in the Otherworld proves to be full of challenges, it is not much of a surprise to see Clodagh tackle them. We see her growth both during times of magic, but also during times of difficulty in everyday life. Furthermore, Clodagh is a heroine whose strengths lie in her realistic portrayal. Unlike Liadan, who seems forever strong, Clodagh isn't ashamed to cry or show her fear. Instead, it is her perseverance despite the burdens placed before her that make her such an engaging heroine. While she lacks physical prowess, the burning strength of her heart and her courage more than make up for any shortcomings she may have, making her one of my - if not the most favorite - Sevenwaters women.
And yet, Heir to Sevenwaters would be nothing without its leading man, Cathal. From the beginning itself, Cathal is a slightly shady character. We see his sarcastic tongue emerge and his ominous warnings about his own friend cause us to doubt his character. Nevertheless, as the story progresses, we begin to peel back the layers Cathal so carefully hides under and discover the heart of the man underneath. A man who is tortured and broken, forced to grow up with the belief that he is unloved and constantly hunted by the fey. A man who is powerful and strong, one whose capacity for love is tremendous and whose sacrifices are oft unnoticed. While Clodagh and Cathal slowly, tortuously, fall in love, the perfection of their union is made all the more obvious. While Clodagh sees herself as others see her, as nothing more than the perfect housewife, Cathal is able to see beyond her plain exterior to the incredible woman she is inside. Similarly, Clodagh is willing enough to look beyond the facade that Cathal puts up and see that he is, in every way, her equal. Together, Clodagh and Cathal are able to weather the worst of storms, including the deadly new villain this book introduces. One who is, thankfully, no Disney character like Lady Oonagh but clever and cunning, a true force to be reckoned with. As Clodagh and Cathal race to rescue the baby Finbar, though, their love story unfolds beautifully, one that made my heart beat erratically and swoon more than I can count. In all honesty, I could discuss these two and their never-ending depth for ages, but I hope you will discover it yourselves. Next to Sorcha and Red, these two are the most fleshed-out, well-deserving, and beautiful couple in this series. And I hope this won't be the last I see of them because I am so in love with their love.
Heir to Sevenwaters is the perfect introduction to a new era of Sevenwaters. While far less dark than its predecessors, this series still contains its tell-tale signs of struggle, of pushing its protagonists to their limits and forcing them to discover new, hidden, and stronger parts of themselves. Additionally, old characters are still very much present and it was a pleasant surprise to see Ciaran play such a vital role, both in this book and hopefully in the rest of this new trilogy. Ultimately, Heir to Sevenwaters is the type of fairytale I'd have wanted to hear as a young child; one where a mere Cinderella-esque housewife transforms into a woman who can fend for herself, save the future of her family, and rescue her own prince too.
April 9, 2024
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wanted to lie down there beside him. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I imagined his hands touching me with tenderness and passion, and mine responding in the same way.
Heir to Sevenwaters starts a new chapter in the beloved Sevenwaters series after the conclusion of the trilogy, and it as engrossing and enchanting as its three predecessors... however our lead heroine is not one with remarkable gifts of her own, but as long as the blood of Sevenwaters runs through her she is in for an adventure for certain.
Clodagh, the third daughter (younger twin) of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, was a breath of fresh air who prefers everything to remain neat and put-together. She's a perfectionist and very capable of running an entire household especially with her mother facing a risky pregnancy after six children (not including the twin boys who passed away at birth).
Like most twins in the family, Clodagh can communicate via mindspeaking with her twin Deirdre, who is about to be wed and move to her husband's household to begin a new life. Clodagh is content and finds purpose in supporting her family and fulfilling domestic roles... until she meets one of her cousin's warriors, the eccentric Cathal.
Cathal's presence is a thorn in Clodagh's side and brings out a fiesty side of her, but even as he taunts and teases her she recognizes the lonely soul underneath the wicked exterior.
Deirdre's quiet life unsettles when her newborn brother is replaced by a changeling made of wood and moss. Grief and discord strikes the Sevenwaters family and as suspicions surround Deirdre and Cathal, she knows the Fair Folk set her on a quest to find her brother and return the changeling and so she must set foot in the realm of the Fair Folk—the otherworld.
Unlike the three previous books, the plot is more focused on a quest and I love that we see more of the Fair Folk and their world. The lore expands and we learn more of their history and connections to the land of Erin, and we even see more different creatures.
The romance is central and less of a subplot on this installment, I love Clodagh and Cathal's dynamic which went from dislike to companionship to love. Their romance is splendidly done and even as they face harsh trials but nothing is as powerful as true love.
This truly reads as a dark fairytale but what even makes it more magical is Marillier's poetic prose and lush imagery.
Content warnings: this book features adult and dark themes including kidnapping, mention of death, and violence.
I wanted to lie down there beside him. I wanted to feel his body against mine. I imagined his hands touching me with tenderness and passion, and mine responding in the same way.
Heir to Sevenwaters starts a new chapter in the beloved Sevenwaters series after the conclusion of the trilogy, and it as engrossing and enchanting as its three predecessors... however our lead heroine is not one with remarkable gifts of her own, but as long as the blood of Sevenwaters runs through her she is in for an adventure for certain.
Clodagh, the third daughter (younger twin) of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, was a breath of fresh air who prefers everything to remain neat and put-together. She's a perfectionist and very capable of running an entire household especially with her mother facing a risky pregnancy after six children (not including the twin boys who passed away at birth).
Like most twins in the family, Clodagh can communicate via mindspeaking with her twin Deirdre, who is about to be wed and move to her husband's household to begin a new life. Clodagh is content and finds purpose in supporting her family and fulfilling domestic roles... until she meets one of her cousin's warriors, the eccentric Cathal.
Cathal's presence is a thorn in Clodagh's side and brings out a fiesty side of her, but even as he taunts and teases her she recognizes the lonely soul underneath the wicked exterior.
Deirdre's quiet life unsettles when her newborn brother is replaced by a changeling made of wood and moss. Grief and discord strikes the Sevenwaters family and as suspicions surround Deirdre and Cathal, she knows the Fair Folk set her on a quest to find her brother and return the changeling and so she must set foot in the realm of the Fair Folk—the otherworld.
Unlike the three previous books, the plot is more focused on a quest and I love that we see more of the Fair Folk and their world. The lore expands and we learn more of their history and connections to the land of Erin, and we even see more different creatures.
The romance is central and less of a subplot on this installment, I love Clodagh and Cathal's dynamic which went from dislike to companionship to love. Their romance is splendidly done and even as they face harsh trials but nothing is as powerful as true love.
This truly reads as a dark fairytale but what even makes it more magical is Marillier's poetic prose and lush imagery.
Content warnings: this book features adult and dark themes including kidnapping, mention of death, and violence.
November 5, 2008
I couldn't believe it when I heard that Juliet Marillier was writing another Sevenwaters book. It's been eight years since Daughter of the Forest was first published and six since Child of the Prophecy and I honestly thought that ship had sailed. I had accustomed myself to the notion that all I would ever have would be the original trilogy to keep me warm on those cold nights when only the Sevenwaters magic will do. And then the unbelievable happened and she announced a fourth volume. And instead of following its predecessors and taking place a generation after the previous book, Heir to Sevenwaters would be set just three years after the events of Child of the Prophecy.
The story follows Clodagh, the third of Sean and Aisling's six daughters, and the one the entire household looks to in times of strain and dissension. Known for her exceptional domestic skills and attention to detail, Clodagh is forced to take the reins as her mother approaches the delivery of her final child--the long-awaited son and possible heir. At the same time her father is preparing to host a council of warring chieftains and dealing with the possibility that his son-in-law is plotting against the alliance. When her new baby brother is stolen from his nursery while in Clodagh's care, everything changes, and Clodagh finds herself completely outside her realm of experience, on a journey to reclaim her kidnapped brother from the realm of the Fair Folk and prove not only her own innocence, but that of the unusual young warrior Cathal who is also under suspicion. Together, Clodagh and Cathal risk everything as they face the Lord of the Oak and bargain for their lives.
I don't know what it is about the world of Sevenwaters, but it has some kind of hold over me. And it was so good to be back. Clodagh is a different kind of heroine from her aunt Liadan and her grandmother Sorcha. Though, like those two women, she finds her life drifting radically from the path she was sure it would follow. She also displays a large quantity of courage when called for.
The book stands out to me because of the beautiful, even writing and because of the likability of its two main characters. Clodagh is an ordinary young woman who, when thrust into extraordinary circumstances, finds resources she didn't realize she had. The courage to risk her life for her brother, but also the courage to try to be friends with a lonely young man who is not interested in being her friend, who goes out of his way to be prickly and unpleasant, who fights himself at every turn, and who no one believes in. Including himself. I loved this story. I loved its glimpses of old friends and its hints of future possibilities. As only the best ones do, it surprised and delighted me and made me long for more.
The story follows Clodagh, the third of Sean and Aisling's six daughters, and the one the entire household looks to in times of strain and dissension. Known for her exceptional domestic skills and attention to detail, Clodagh is forced to take the reins as her mother approaches the delivery of her final child--the long-awaited son and possible heir. At the same time her father is preparing to host a council of warring chieftains and dealing with the possibility that his son-in-law is plotting against the alliance. When her new baby brother is stolen from his nursery while in Clodagh's care, everything changes, and Clodagh finds herself completely outside her realm of experience, on a journey to reclaim her kidnapped brother from the realm of the Fair Folk and prove not only her own innocence, but that of the unusual young warrior Cathal who is also under suspicion. Together, Clodagh and Cathal risk everything as they face the Lord of the Oak and bargain for their lives.
I don't know what it is about the world of Sevenwaters, but it has some kind of hold over me. And it was so good to be back. Clodagh is a different kind of heroine from her aunt Liadan and her grandmother Sorcha. Though, like those two women, she finds her life drifting radically from the path she was sure it would follow. She also displays a large quantity of courage when called for.
The book stands out to me because of the beautiful, even writing and because of the likability of its two main characters. Clodagh is an ordinary young woman who, when thrust into extraordinary circumstances, finds resources she didn't realize she had. The courage to risk her life for her brother, but also the courage to try to be friends with a lonely young man who is not interested in being her friend, who goes out of his way to be prickly and unpleasant, who fights himself at every turn, and who no one believes in. Including himself. I loved this story. I loved its glimpses of old friends and its hints of future possibilities. As only the best ones do, it surprised and delighted me and made me long for more.
April 4, 2018
“Cross the river left then right
Mortal world fades out of sight
Step into the field of time
Fall so far you cannot climb
Sorrow’s pathway tread in tears
Paved with sadness, doubts and fears
At the gate of thorn entwined
Say farewell to humankind
Set your foot inside the door
You’ll be mine forever more…”
If you made it that far in the Sevenwaters series, surely you what you are after: a family saga rich with Irish folklore and romance-heavy plot. If you stumbled here by accident, you need to be aware that this is the fourth instalment in a series that originally was supposed to be a trilogy, but grew into something much longer. While you can read the story independently, you might feel overburdened with references and innuendoes to events that had occurred previously and are not always explained at length.
It is essential to remember that Ms Marillier takes time before she warms up. The events heralded by the plot essence summarised in the blurb don’t start until you are halfway through the book. Yes, that long. There is a variety of preliminary narrative incursions, very typical for old-school writing. When things finally get rolling, I imagine some readers might be tapping their foot with impatience.
I cannot say anything substantially new about Ms Marillier’s prose I have not written before; she has developed her own distinctive way of writing and sticks to it. It has advantages, surely, as she is impossible to be mistaken with another author. But it also has disadvantages: all her books are so very similar that at times I had a feeling one could copy-paste whole paragraphs and nothing would be amiss. Maybe this is the reason why at first Clodagh looks like a copy of Liadan from the Son of the Shadows; on the surface happy to stay at home and lead the quiet life but really jealous of her sister, sad to be left on the margins of family life and oozing with this mixture.
Heir to Sevenwaters is another example of an absolute lack of sisterhood vibes, which is strange because Ms Marillier’s protagonists are exclusively female and very often she writes about sisters. I have already ranted my problems with regard to Liadan and Niamh. The relation between Clodagh and Deirdre follows a very similar pattern. It is all the more strange when one contrasts the impaired sisterhoods with how expertly the Author mastered the brotherhood right from the start and was able to write the complexity of feelings as well as the strong, unwavering bonds between the six brothers in the first instalment of the series. All the subsequent siblings were sorely lacking in comparison. But this only the prelude to the the main issue I have with this series, that of the family:
Clodagh is your quintessential paragon. Always an embodiment of selfless service, always dutiful, reliable and responsible. But the moment she is marred by suspicions not even backed by solid form of evidence, all this vanishes like a morning mist. The way Clodagh is treated is again a repetition of how Niamh was handled by her loved ones (the only person who supported her, did so not because they wanted, but because they have been “shown” to). There is no proof that the girl did something wrong, and her whole life is above reproach but her family is too pent-up to question the whole situation or give the girl the benefit of the doubt. Once the accusations are made, they are treated as sound and solid as if they were supported by the evidence.
Families don’t turn on each other like that. Families stick together against the external dangers, against the ills, against the troubles. Families support each other and most certainly do not sacrifice their own members or let them suffer and perish. Not good families, anyway, those strong clans about which the sagas are told. Not the families you’d like to be a member of. Now, if you asked me if I fancied joining the Sevenwaters clan, I’d say: no, thanks! I don’t want to be a part of the family that will stab me in the back when I stumble or when things go dark. I want to have a family that will have my back no matter what.
It is sad that Ms Marillier wandered so far away from the brilliant opening of the Sevenwaters series where she had shown family bonds so beautifully. Admittedly, she was constrained by the frame of the fairytale back then. If left to her own devices she would probably make the brothers to turn against Sorcha - because if the girl wasn’t transformed into a swan that is a sure sign that she must have been in league with the Lady Oonagh, no? This is the line of thinking Ms Marillier pursued ever since thereby killing her own stories. The unnecessary drama is something that tires me in her books, and this one is not an exception.
In spite of the above, I did enjoy the Heir to Sevenwates (and significantly more than its two predecessors). Clodagh is a strong heroine with pronounced individual traits that set her apart from the healers with supernatural abilities we have had before. Romance is great, sparkling, intense and even though it starts as a triangle, it isn’t vexatious. Cathal is one to sigh for (and wantonly!), both when hiding behind his barriers of cynicism, cutting wit and silence, and then later, when he fights for what he loves (even if his secret was rather obvious and could be seen from far away).
There is also a Fey fiesta - as Clodagh wanders through the Otherworld and visits the court of a Fey prince. As usual you’ll get your dosage of Irish tales and fables, but this time Ms Marillier crafted them expertly and so the whole design feels like a matryoshka: there is a tale within a tale within a tale and each needs to be decoded before the main plot can move on. For me, the most enthralling one, at the very heart of the story, is not the one concerning Clodagh’s quest but the one about Cathal’s mother.
For romantasy fans Heir to Sevenwaters is a definite ‘yes’. I’d also recommend it for readers in love with the Fey courts and Irish mythos.
-----
Other Sevenwaters books:
1. Daughter of the Forest
2. Son of the Shadows
3. Child of the Prophecy
5. Seer of Sevewaters
6. Flame of Sevenwaters
Mortal world fades out of sight
Step into the field of time
Fall so far you cannot climb
Sorrow’s pathway tread in tears
Paved with sadness, doubts and fears
At the gate of thorn entwined
Say farewell to humankind
Set your foot inside the door
You’ll be mine forever more…”
If you made it that far in the Sevenwaters series, surely you what you are after: a family saga rich with Irish folklore and romance-heavy plot. If you stumbled here by accident, you need to be aware that this is the fourth instalment in a series that originally was supposed to be a trilogy, but grew into something much longer. While you can read the story independently, you might feel overburdened with references and innuendoes to events that had occurred previously and are not always explained at length.
It is essential to remember that Ms Marillier takes time before she warms up. The events heralded by the plot essence summarised in the blurb don’t start until you are halfway through the book. Yes, that long. There is a variety of preliminary narrative incursions, very typical for old-school writing. When things finally get rolling, I imagine some readers might be tapping their foot with impatience.
I cannot say anything substantially new about Ms Marillier’s prose I have not written before; she has developed her own distinctive way of writing and sticks to it. It has advantages, surely, as she is impossible to be mistaken with another author. But it also has disadvantages: all her books are so very similar that at times I had a feeling one could copy-paste whole paragraphs and nothing would be amiss. Maybe this is the reason why at first Clodagh looks like a copy of Liadan from the Son of the Shadows; on the surface happy to stay at home and lead the quiet life but really jealous of her sister, sad to be left on the margins of family life and oozing with this mixture.
Heir to Sevenwaters is another example of an absolute lack of sisterhood vibes, which is strange because Ms Marillier’s protagonists are exclusively female and very often she writes about sisters. I have already ranted my problems with regard to Liadan and Niamh. The relation between Clodagh and Deirdre follows a very similar pattern. It is all the more strange when one contrasts the impaired sisterhoods with how expertly the Author mastered the brotherhood right from the start and was able to write the complexity of feelings as well as the strong, unwavering bonds between the six brothers in the first instalment of the series. All the subsequent siblings were sorely lacking in comparison. But this only the prelude to the the main issue I have with this series, that of the family:
Clodagh is your quintessential paragon. Always an embodiment of selfless service, always dutiful, reliable and responsible. But the moment she is marred by suspicions not even backed by solid form of evidence, all this vanishes like a morning mist. The way Clodagh is treated is again a repetition of how Niamh was handled by her loved ones (the only person who supported her, did so not because they wanted, but because they have been “shown” to). There is no proof that the girl did something wrong, and her whole life is above reproach but her family is too pent-up to question the whole situation or give the girl the benefit of the doubt. Once the accusations are made, they are treated as sound and solid as if they were supported by the evidence.
Families don’t turn on each other like that. Families stick together against the external dangers, against the ills, against the troubles. Families support each other and most certainly do not sacrifice their own members or let them suffer and perish. Not good families, anyway, those strong clans about which the sagas are told. Not the families you’d like to be a member of. Now, if you asked me if I fancied joining the Sevenwaters clan, I’d say: no, thanks! I don’t want to be a part of the family that will stab me in the back when I stumble or when things go dark. I want to have a family that will have my back no matter what.
It is sad that Ms Marillier wandered so far away from the brilliant opening of the Sevenwaters series where she had shown family bonds so beautifully. Admittedly, she was constrained by the frame of the fairytale back then. If left to her own devices she would probably make the brothers to turn against Sorcha - because if the girl wasn’t transformed into a swan that is a sure sign that she must have been in league with the Lady Oonagh, no? This is the line of thinking Ms Marillier pursued ever since thereby killing her own stories. The unnecessary drama is something that tires me in her books, and this one is not an exception.
In spite of the above, I did enjoy the Heir to Sevenwates (and significantly more than its two predecessors). Clodagh is a strong heroine with pronounced individual traits that set her apart from the healers with supernatural abilities we have had before. Romance is great, sparkling, intense and even though it starts as a triangle, it isn’t vexatious. Cathal is one to sigh for (and wantonly!), both when hiding behind his barriers of cynicism, cutting wit and silence, and then later, when he fights for what he loves (even if his secret was rather obvious and could be seen from far away).
There is also a Fey fiesta - as Clodagh wanders through the Otherworld and visits the court of a Fey prince. As usual you’ll get your dosage of Irish tales and fables, but this time Ms Marillier crafted them expertly and so the whole design feels like a matryoshka: there is a tale within a tale within a tale and each needs to be decoded before the main plot can move on. For me, the most enthralling one, at the very heart of the story, is not the one concerning Clodagh’s quest but the one about Cathal’s mother.
For romantasy fans Heir to Sevenwaters is a definite ‘yes’. I’d also recommend it for readers in love with the Fey courts and Irish mythos.
-----
Other Sevenwaters books:
1. Daughter of the Forest
2. Son of the Shadows
3. Child of the Prophecy
5. Seer of Sevewaters
6. Flame of Sevenwaters
August 25, 2012
Beware, readers, for spoilers lie ahead. I give this book 3 stars simply because I can't bring myself to give it a lower score. (Sort of like a reverse Will Smith on the Men in Black ride; rather than "I give you an F just because I can't give you a G," it's "I give you a C just because I can't give you a D.") And, for what it's worth, it managed to not only hold my attention, but keep me on the edge of my seat until the bitter end. Which, I suppose, it the basic thing an author wants for a reader. But I do emphasize the word bitter. For me, this book showed all the promise in the world at the beginning, then lost its steam, and in the end fell flat. I have a number of issues with it, which I shall list here:
I just met you and this is crazy baby, I thought you were smoking hot when I met you, and my drive to sleep with you made me pay more attention to you"), but honestly at this point it's like reading the same dialogue over and over again. And Cathal, at least, seemed to be the blatantly honest type; it seemed he'd at least own up to maybe not thinking too much of her initially, or….something. But this whole "I knew I loved you before I met you" a la Savage Garden thing just seemed horribly off. I would've had an easier time believing that Cathal was intrigued, but was a jackass/tried to get in the way just because of Aidan. He didn't want Clodagh because he didn't want to hurt Aiden, but he didn't want Aiden to have her either. He wasn't as great a friend as he could've been, but oh well. But then, I guess that would slightly alienate readers, not to mention Clodagh. But that actually brings me to another point….
It became The Cathal Show in the middle of the book, and The Clodagh Show never quite resumed.This is really the main sticking point for me. I was under the belief that this book was about Clodagh. Instead, I got half of a novel about her, and half of a novel about her fawning over Cathal. After reading the adventures of her grandmother, aunt, and cousin, Clodagh just seems rather….disappointing. Maybe that's the point, since even she claims that she's not suited to more than managing a household, but it just still doesn't sit right with me. Sorcha saved her brothers from the curse of a wicked sorceress, despite the toll it took on her; Liadan had the courage (although balls might be a better word) to make her own path in life and break the pattern set by the Fair Folk, and essentially was the reason Child of the Prophecy took place; and Fainne both initially aided her wicked grandmother and helped destroy her-- she found the strength to right the wrongs of both her ancestor and herself. And Clodagh……well, she did help to save her brother, which is worth noting, but after that her role in the book is questionable, because Cathal takes the reins completely. Even in Son of the Shadows, where Bran suddenly inhabits Liadan's every thought (which irked me as much as Clodagh's fawning over Cathal, believe me), the story was still about Liadan. Liadan still accomplished things, and it didn't feel like she was just Bran's satellite. After a while, it sort of seemed like that with Clodagh. In my opinion, the whole thing being a game of Mac Dara's to get back his only son almost undermined the remainder of the story-- Sorcha, Liadan, and Fainne were players in the game, but Clodagh was just a pawn. A pawn who led its own player to checkmate, but a pawn nonetheless.
Cathal lost his personality midway through.The above rant makes it sound like I hate Cathal. In actuality, I don't. As a matter of fact, for a while he was in the running for my favorite of the main characters' love interests in the entire series. Besides perhaps Darraugh, Cathal was the only one who I could easily imagine to be an actual person. And his rapier wit and reliance on sarcasm set him apart from virtually every other male in the series (even if his archetype is common in YA books)-- men who seem to be made of stone, men who are either angsting and fretting all the time or confessing their love for a woman. Or, in the case of Eamonn and Mac Dara, maliciously scheming to get whatever they want. Cathal was very different in a way I admire: he wasn't a guy with an agenda, he was just a young guy trying to find his way. He's probably the only boy in the series over the age of 12 who acted his age. Mind, the other characters generally had reasons-- Sean became a chieftain at 16, Eamonn had a similar lot, Bran was abused as a child, and the list goes on and on. But the fact that Marillier finally incorporated a character who didn't see life through such serious lenses was refreshing. This awesome characterization held through for about half the book…..but then he became the caricature of the men who came before him: angsting and romancing, with nothing else there. That bothered the crap out of me. Marillier only kept the characterization long enough to bring about sexual tension, then dropped it completely. All of a sudden he went from sardonic antihero to crusading potential hero of the Otherworld, a sudden departure that seemed so….off. Yes, more time had passed in the Otherworld than in the mortal world between Clodagh's visits, but it seems Cathal didn't only leave years behind in the Otherworld-- he also left anything that truly distinguished him from his, I'll use the word 'predecessors.' Hopefully he gets his personality back in the other books.
The whole 'love at first meeting' schtick.I'm starting to realize that if I have a problem with this (which I really do), I should probably stop reading Marillier's books. But this irks me a lot. I do not believe in love at first sight. I believe in being attracted to someone when you first meet them, I believe in having an admiration for someone you first meet them-- and maybe after that, it develops into something more. I find that extremely plausible. But this whole utter devotion after knowing each other for a few minutes is a load of crap. Which is what every love interest in this series claims. I suppose I could chalk it up to the men trying to woo their respective woman (because no woman is going to swoon over a guy saying "Hey
Aiden's death.What kind of BS was that, anyway? I mean, I guess that's better than him accepting their union when they come back from the Otherworld, saying it's 'meant to be' or some idyllic, unrealistic crap like that, but I still feel that killing him off was a bit excessive. This coming from a person who was never his biggest fan anyway. I just thought that Marillier was above creating a character just for the sake of a love triangle. But it seems I was wrong. He helped introduce Cathal and created friction, giving Cathal a reason to be aloof around Clodagh. But once this was established, his role was fulfilled, and there was no need to have him in the story anymore. So, he was killed off by Mac Dara. I really hate saying this, but I can think of no other purpose behind Aiden's death than that Marillier ran out of things to do with him. Cathal really didn't need another reason to hate his father, that had been established long ago. Sure, Mac Dara seemed to get his kicks from making his son miserable, but again, the whole business just seems…..excessive. And notice that Cathal has no trouble putting the moves on Clodagh once Aidan was out of the picture. Damn it, at least have some feeling of guilt that lasts more than 10 seconds(!). It pretty much went from "GTFO, Clodagh!" to "I love you, Clodagh! DTF?"
"I have a son!!"It was all way too Henry VIII for me. I mean, I'm not a man, so I will never know that sort of pride in having a son, and I get that this was a very male-centric time period. But at times it just made the females in the story seem like chopped liver. Sibeal's comment I think really sums it up quite well:
"I know she might die….And the baby, too....Or the baby might be a girl. Another disappointment, like me and Eilis. Like all of us, I suppose, except Muirrin, because the first one must be special."Despite Clodagh's insistence that that isn't true, that Aisling and Sean love all of their children equally, the whole book seems to cater to that mindset: it's all about the boys, and the girls, while not entirely worthless, are simply not as good. That drives me crazy. It seemed to me to undermine the very premise of these books-- that in a world dominated by men, women can make a difference and stand out too. In a way I understand partially, since Mac Dara easily seems like the sexist, misogynistic type, but the whole damn story didn't have to be about the value of sons. It's not as if the world at that time was unaware of it. On that note, I also find it hard to believe, statistically, that Mac Dara never had another son. Seriously? Ruler of the fey who's been around probably since humanity got its start and who apparently slept around with any woman he laid eyes on? Only one Y-chromosome made it? I call BS on that one, even if Juliet Marillier does count as Word of God in this case.
So….yeah.There's my spiel/rant. Honestly, right now, I'm almost afraid to pick up Seer of Sevenwaters, just because I don't want to have to plow through these problems again. Plus, I really like Sibeal, and I don't want the next book to ruin that. The summary and its focus on how that shipwrecked guy (whose name currently escapes me) might be her soulmate (which, I'm sorry, is a word that should never be used in a non-Harlequin novel; it's far too cheesy and it prevents me from taking the book seriously). I really hope that, unlike in this book, the heroine does something more in the vein of Sorcha, Liadan, or Fainne-- something great that doesn't leave a bitter taste in my mouth. As a matter of fact, if Fainne shows up at all, that'll make the book that much better-- Fainne's my favorite heroine in these books, and if Heir to Sevenwaters is any indicator, that certainly won't be changing anytime soon.
July 18, 2019
3,5*
Si no hubiese leído ningún libro de Marillier seguramente le habría puesto 4*, la nota está basada en la comparación con otros libros de la misma saga.
En esta ocasión, acompañaremos a Clodagh en una aventura bastante distinta del resto de libros de la saga. Cuando su madre da a luz a un esperado hijo varón, éste es secuestrado y llevado al "reino de las Hadas/Fair Folk" y substituído por un "changelling" en su lugar. Sólo Clodagh puede ir en su busca y devolverlo con su família.
Lo que me ha "chafado" un poco la historia es el peso de la trama romántica, cada vez más prominente a medida que avanzaba la historia. Todos los libros de la saga Sieteaguas incluyen un romance, pero en esta ocasión aunque al principio me enganchó bastante la tensión entre los dos protagonistas principales, al final acabó cansándome un poquito. Son preferencias puramente personales y comparativas respecto a otras entregas de la saga.
Por otra parte me ha encantado la descripción del "Otherworld" o mundo donde viven las entidades mitológicas celtas, es el primer libro donde por fin una de las protagonistas se adentra en este reino, haciendo que esta historia fuera más de corte fantástico que el resto.
Si no hubiese leído ningún libro de Marillier seguramente le habría puesto 4*, la nota está basada en la comparación con otros libros de la misma saga.
En esta ocasión, acompañaremos a Clodagh en una aventura bastante distinta del resto de libros de la saga. Cuando su madre da a luz a un esperado hijo varón, éste es secuestrado y llevado al "reino de las Hadas/Fair Folk" y substituído por un "changelling" en su lugar. Sólo Clodagh puede ir en su busca y devolverlo con su família.
Lo que me ha "chafado" un poco la historia es el peso de la trama romántica, cada vez más prominente a medida que avanzaba la historia. Todos los libros de la saga Sieteaguas incluyen un romance, pero en esta ocasión aunque al principio me enganchó bastante la tensión entre los dos protagonistas principales, al final acabó cansándome un poquito. Son preferencias puramente personales y comparativas respecto a otras entregas de la saga.
Por otra parte me ha encantado la descripción del "Otherworld" o mundo donde viven las entidades mitológicas celtas, es el primer libro donde por fin una de las protagonistas se adentra en este reino, haciendo que esta historia fuera más de corte fantástico que el resto.
February 18, 2017
This was not quite as good as the books of the original trilogy, but that's such a high standard to meet. I still couldn't put it down. Sevenwaters is the same magical place, but this time a new foe appears, and another daughter of Sevenwaters rises to the challenge of defending her family and loves. I can't wait to see where the next one takes it all.
4.5 stars?
4.5 stars?
October 8, 2021
This rating might change as we continue on through the remaining two Sevenwaters instalments but. If you've made it this far, you know you are getting a very Marillier-experience which means heartbreak, love that conquers all, and stories. Stories that come with lessons, and clues, in how to survive what is to come and what is expected of our main character.
For Clodagh, she herself is a bit of a departure from our original trilogy heroines, particularly the first two. She's not adventurous, or a gifted healer, or seems to have any particular strength beyond the maintaining and running of a household. And it's really as far as her ambitions have pushed her. So when she is underestimated (by others and herself) when she initially finds herself on a particular quest that only she can take.. well, no one is surprised. But for this journey, it takes that kind of selfless love, from a person always putting others before herself, to triumph.
This particular instalment introduces us to a different kind of Fair Folk than we're used to seeing in this world. Not just meddlesome and cagey, trying to steer these to the tune they like, but this time outright devious, destructive, and dangerous. Nor have we seen the last of this particular character. That said, this may have been the most Otherworldly focused story so far and the character we met along the way, the atmosphere, the dangers.. it was all so vibrant, full of tension, and made for great storytelling.
While I don't think I loved this one, I liked so much of it. Again, my rating might change by the time we finish book six, and I can rank these companions back to back (to back), but.. it was still a lovely time. And I enjoyed my buddy read immensely with the Sevenwaters Squad (though our final day to discuss was foiled by the All Apps Are Down annoyance). Can't wait for book five and beyond.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
For Clodagh, she herself is a bit of a departure from our original trilogy heroines, particularly the first two. She's not adventurous, or a gifted healer, or seems to have any particular strength beyond the maintaining and running of a household. And it's really as far as her ambitions have pushed her. So when she is underestimated (by others and herself) when she initially finds herself on a particular quest that only she can take.. well, no one is surprised. But for this journey, it takes that kind of selfless love, from a person always putting others before herself, to triumph.
This particular instalment introduces us to a different kind of Fair Folk than we're used to seeing in this world. Not just meddlesome and cagey, trying to steer these to the tune they like, but this time outright devious, destructive, and dangerous. Nor have we seen the last of this particular character. That said, this may have been the most Otherworldly focused story so far and the character we met along the way, the atmosphere, the dangers.. it was all so vibrant, full of tension, and made for great storytelling.
While I don't think I loved this one, I liked so much of it. Again, my rating might change by the time we finish book six, and I can rank these companions back to back (to back), but.. it was still a lovely time. And I enjoyed my buddy read immensely with the Sevenwaters Squad (though our final day to discuss was foiled by the All Apps Are Down annoyance). Can't wait for book five and beyond.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 21, 2022
(review in English below)
Mais uma narrativa empolgante - a Juliet sabe mesmo manter-nos agarradas às histórias que tão bem imagina e escreve. Desde as descrições à história propriamente dita, tudo contribui para que os seus livros sejam viciantes.
Todos os pormenores da trama encaixam perfeitamente e não parece haver pontas soltas. Agrada-me também a inclusão, duma forma natural e não forçada, de várias pistas para a continuação da saga.
Não vou ler já o próximo volume, para apreciar devidamente as sensações que tive com a história de Clodagh.
Muito bom.
Yet another breathtaking narrative - Juliet really knows how to keep us clinging to the stories that she so skillfully imagines and writes. From the ambience descriptions to the story itself, it all adds to making her books truly addictive.
All the plot details fit perfectly and there seems to be no loose ends. I also like that she "casually" includes several hints to the continuation of the series.
I'm not reading the next volume just yet, so I can fully enjoy all the sensations I got from Clodagh's story.
Very good indeed.
Mais uma narrativa empolgante - a Juliet sabe mesmo manter-nos agarradas às histórias que tão bem imagina e escreve. Desde as descrições à história propriamente dita, tudo contribui para que os seus livros sejam viciantes.
Todos os pormenores da trama encaixam perfeitamente e não parece haver pontas soltas. Agrada-me também a inclusão, duma forma natural e não forçada, de várias pistas para a continuação da saga.
Não vou ler já o próximo volume, para apreciar devidamente as sensações que tive com a história de Clodagh.
Muito bom.
Yet another breathtaking narrative - Juliet really knows how to keep us clinging to the stories that she so skillfully imagines and writes. From the ambience descriptions to the story itself, it all adds to making her books truly addictive.
All the plot details fit perfectly and there seems to be no loose ends. I also like that she "casually" includes several hints to the continuation of the series.
I'm not reading the next volume just yet, so I can fully enjoy all the sensations I got from Clodagh's story.
Very good indeed.
July 14, 2017
4.5 stars
This was a nice change in for a heroine in the Sevenwaters series. Clodagh is not a healer, or a seer, touched by magic, or possessed of any special ability. She is exceptionally good at the ordinary skills expected of a woman of her status, and on top of that she is kind, loving, and a person of strong character.
I loved this story of a young woman who needs to call on all her strength to save her family and the man she loves, and never stops to think that she might not be good enough to do so.
This was a nice change in for a heroine in the Sevenwaters series. Clodagh is not a healer, or a seer, touched by magic, or possessed of any special ability. She is exceptionally good at the ordinary skills expected of a woman of her status, and on top of that she is kind, loving, and a person of strong character.
I loved this story of a young woman who needs to call on all her strength to save her family and the man she loves, and never stops to think that she might not be good enough to do so.
December 26, 2014
Marillier disappointed me with this one.
I’ve been a fan of her works for a long time. Daughter of the Forest remains one of my favorite books ever, the remaining Sevenwaters Trilogy was fun to read, and the Bridei Chronicles fully engaged me. I am so used to loving Marillier’s books that, when Heir to Sevenwaters fell flat for me, I felt robbed.
The story had a promising start. Clodagh felt somewhat recycled from the previous Sevenwaters heroines, but at least she wasn’t an herbalist. (My biggest complaint about Son of the Shadows was that Liaden felt like a carbon copy of Sorcha without adding anything fresh to the model.) I liked that Clodagh was a homemaker and I liked her devotion to and integration with her family. When Finbar was abducted and the household demonized Clodagh for her moment’s distraction with Cathal, I genuinely felt bad for her. I started out liking this book.
However, once Clodagh was removed from her home center she became bland. Ungrounded from her family, house, and talents, she lost everything that had made her interesting to me. Her devotion to Beacan seemed like an afterthought to her preoccupation with Cathal. Without her home center, Clodagh’s narrative voice sounded too similar to that of Liaden and Fainne.
Which brings me to my biggest complaint: Marillier’s first-person narratives are borderline identical, as are her heroines.
I loved Sorcha’s narration in Daughter of the Forest, I loved her introspection, her strength, her loyalty to her family. I found that all of these qualities were made more impressive by her silence and quiet suffering. When I think back on books I have loved, Sorcha sticks out at me as a memorable character.
But in the sequels, Sorcha’s narrative voice has become rehashed to the point that these heroines are all thinking with the same brain. This identical voice, coupled with the fact that all of these heroines are quiet, introspective, brave, and gentle, makes the subsequent heroines seem too rehashed from Sorcha. Liaden even looked just like Sorcha. Fainne, at least, started out on the “antagonist” side of the story and had an upbringing outside of Sevenwaters. But by the time I got to Clodagh, I recognized the trademark characteristics and the identical narrative voice.
The root of this problem might be that Marillier has a distinctive writing style. I love her lush descriptions that give more of an impression of what things look like rather than a concrete list. I love her diction, her rhythm, her fairytale tone. Her books that are told in third person are capable of bringing to life vivid characters; Faolin, from the Bridei Chronicles, is another memorable character I bonded with, but if the story was narrated by him, I don’t think he would be as memorable. In short, Marillier’s wonderful writing style is hindering her first-person narration. She either needs to learn how to develop a different voice for different characters, or revert to third-person.
I also noticed in Heir to Sevenwaters that Marillier has developed a very annoying habit in which Clodagh hears a character (usually Cathal) say something mysterious, and then immediately spends a few pages ruminating over every possible meaning of this mysterious quote. She’ll even revisit these ruminations later in a chapter. For instance, if Cathal said something cryptic about his father and seemed conflicted while saying it, Clodagh would think about all the possible reasons why Cathal might be conflicted, all the possible people his father could be, all the possible meanings of his cryptic speech, and all the possible ways it might involve her.
I found that this ruined the mysteries for me. Readers are smart. We can recognize that what a character says is cryptic and important without being told so. We can tuck that information away in our minds and ruminate on the possibilities ourselves. We enjoy figuring out the mystery ourselves, or that “aha!” moment where the book reveals the final puzzle piece. To be explicitly told that something was mysterious, and then to be explicitly outlined every possible outcome was annoying and detracted from my involvement with and enjoyment of the book.
There were things I did like about this book, even if their affects were clouded by my previous complaints. There is nothing not to like about the lush setting of Sevenwaters, and it is fun to read about Sorcha’s descendents to see what happens next in her family line.
As mentioned before, I liked that Clodagh was a homemaker instead of an herbalist and did not possess sorcery like Fainne did in Child of the Prophecy. I felt that this lack of specialized skills made it easier to put the reader in her shoes. It was also nice because the previous heroines were all among the “best” at something, but Clodagh’s skills involved planning menus and keeping track of her siblings. Unfortunately, Clodagh’s individuality fell to the wayside when she left home and became involved with Cathal.
I liked the setting of the fae world. In previous books we saw figures from the fae world cross into the human world, but here Clodagh and Cathal enter a world very different from their own. I loved the act of their crossing over and the detailed rules that could cause their downfall (ex. eating food from the fae world might trap them there forever.) I was excited to spend time in this setting. But (and, unfortunately with this book, there is always a “but”) this rich setting merely became a backdrop to Clodagh and Cathal’s developing relationship. Even Beacon, the changeling baby, became a background detail. After chapter upon chapter of Clodagh/Cathal conversations about love, life, and relationships, I began to forget that they were in another world, or that they were caring for an infant.
Clearly, I did not enjoy this book very much. I thought the writing style hindered the originality of the characters, and that the structure of the book failed to take advantage of the setting. I would recommend this to diehard fans of Sevenwaters, but I myself will not be reading it again.
I’ve been a fan of her works for a long time. Daughter of the Forest remains one of my favorite books ever, the remaining Sevenwaters Trilogy was fun to read, and the Bridei Chronicles fully engaged me. I am so used to loving Marillier’s books that, when Heir to Sevenwaters fell flat for me, I felt robbed.
The story had a promising start. Clodagh felt somewhat recycled from the previous Sevenwaters heroines, but at least she wasn’t an herbalist. (My biggest complaint about Son of the Shadows was that Liaden felt like a carbon copy of Sorcha without adding anything fresh to the model.) I liked that Clodagh was a homemaker and I liked her devotion to and integration with her family. When Finbar was abducted and the household demonized Clodagh for her moment’s distraction with Cathal, I genuinely felt bad for her. I started out liking this book.
However, once Clodagh was removed from her home center she became bland. Ungrounded from her family, house, and talents, she lost everything that had made her interesting to me. Her devotion to Beacan seemed like an afterthought to her preoccupation with Cathal. Without her home center, Clodagh’s narrative voice sounded too similar to that of Liaden and Fainne.
Which brings me to my biggest complaint: Marillier’s first-person narratives are borderline identical, as are her heroines.
I loved Sorcha’s narration in Daughter of the Forest, I loved her introspection, her strength, her loyalty to her family. I found that all of these qualities were made more impressive by her silence and quiet suffering. When I think back on books I have loved, Sorcha sticks out at me as a memorable character.
But in the sequels, Sorcha’s narrative voice has become rehashed to the point that these heroines are all thinking with the same brain. This identical voice, coupled with the fact that all of these heroines are quiet, introspective, brave, and gentle, makes the subsequent heroines seem too rehashed from Sorcha. Liaden even looked just like Sorcha. Fainne, at least, started out on the “antagonist” side of the story and had an upbringing outside of Sevenwaters. But by the time I got to Clodagh, I recognized the trademark characteristics and the identical narrative voice.
The root of this problem might be that Marillier has a distinctive writing style. I love her lush descriptions that give more of an impression of what things look like rather than a concrete list. I love her diction, her rhythm, her fairytale tone. Her books that are told in third person are capable of bringing to life vivid characters; Faolin, from the Bridei Chronicles, is another memorable character I bonded with, but if the story was narrated by him, I don’t think he would be as memorable. In short, Marillier’s wonderful writing style is hindering her first-person narration. She either needs to learn how to develop a different voice for different characters, or revert to third-person.
I also noticed in Heir to Sevenwaters that Marillier has developed a very annoying habit in which Clodagh hears a character (usually Cathal) say something mysterious, and then immediately spends a few pages ruminating over every possible meaning of this mysterious quote. She’ll even revisit these ruminations later in a chapter. For instance, if Cathal said something cryptic about his father and seemed conflicted while saying it, Clodagh would think about all the possible reasons why Cathal might be conflicted, all the possible people his father could be, all the possible meanings of his cryptic speech, and all the possible ways it might involve her.
I found that this ruined the mysteries for me. Readers are smart. We can recognize that what a character says is cryptic and important without being told so. We can tuck that information away in our minds and ruminate on the possibilities ourselves. We enjoy figuring out the mystery ourselves, or that “aha!” moment where the book reveals the final puzzle piece. To be explicitly told that something was mysterious, and then to be explicitly outlined every possible outcome was annoying and detracted from my involvement with and enjoyment of the book.
There were things I did like about this book, even if their affects were clouded by my previous complaints. There is nothing not to like about the lush setting of Sevenwaters, and it is fun to read about Sorcha’s descendents to see what happens next in her family line.
As mentioned before, I liked that Clodagh was a homemaker instead of an herbalist and did not possess sorcery like Fainne did in Child of the Prophecy. I felt that this lack of specialized skills made it easier to put the reader in her shoes. It was also nice because the previous heroines were all among the “best” at something, but Clodagh’s skills involved planning menus and keeping track of her siblings. Unfortunately, Clodagh’s individuality fell to the wayside when she left home and became involved with Cathal.
I liked the setting of the fae world. In previous books we saw figures from the fae world cross into the human world, but here Clodagh and Cathal enter a world very different from their own. I loved the act of their crossing over and the detailed rules that could cause their downfall (ex. eating food from the fae world might trap them there forever.) I was excited to spend time in this setting. But (and, unfortunately with this book, there is always a “but”) this rich setting merely became a backdrop to Clodagh and Cathal’s developing relationship. Even Beacon, the changeling baby, became a background detail. After chapter upon chapter of Clodagh/Cathal conversations about love, life, and relationships, I began to forget that they were in another world, or that they were caring for an infant.
Clearly, I did not enjoy this book very much. I thought the writing style hindered the originality of the characters, and that the structure of the book failed to take advantage of the setting. I would recommend this to diehard fans of Sevenwaters, but I myself will not be reading it again.
October 12, 2021
Headlines:
Otherworldly
Roller coaster-y on steroids
Nefarious side of magic
I couldn’t be happier that the Sevenwaters ‘dip’ was fleeting and is over (Child of the Prophecy). The struggles of book three are but a memory and the band of buddy readers gobbled Heir of Sevenwaters up.
In Clodagh we found a worthy heroine, made of true Sevenwaters heritage. She thought herself lacking in some worth, masterful with running the house and little else. BUT Clodagh was much more, she had a steely determination and she was caring to a fault.
We got some true Marillier hurt in this book, I wont say anything further but just remember the saying that no one is safe. That said, in this installment, she soothed and healed the reader too. We also got some real connection between Clodagh and Cathal. I believed their tether and that proved so vital in times apart.
I have to mention Becan without elaboration, but oh, my heart. That wee one stole my affection immediately and I adored him. His personality, who Clodagh became through him and all that came after. For me, the biggest moments in this book were focused on him.
The story really took us more into the Otherworld and it really was a scary place, not visually but in terms of a total lack of sense of safety for the characters. I was tense every moment of being in that place.
As ever, Marillier’s writing was complex in part but with enchanting prose (quite literally). She has caught me in her net with this series.
I met a young woman with hair like a flame,
She laid my heart open,
She banished my shame.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities.
Otherworldly
Roller coaster-y on steroids
Nefarious side of magic
I couldn’t be happier that the Sevenwaters ‘dip’ was fleeting and is over (Child of the Prophecy). The struggles of book three are but a memory and the band of buddy readers gobbled Heir of Sevenwaters up.
In Clodagh we found a worthy heroine, made of true Sevenwaters heritage. She thought herself lacking in some worth, masterful with running the house and little else. BUT Clodagh was much more, she had a steely determination and she was caring to a fault.
We got some true Marillier hurt in this book, I wont say anything further but just remember the saying that no one is safe. That said, in this installment, she soothed and healed the reader too. We also got some real connection between Clodagh and Cathal. I believed their tether and that proved so vital in times apart.
I have to mention Becan without elaboration, but oh, my heart. That wee one stole my affection immediately and I adored him. His personality, who Clodagh became through him and all that came after. For me, the biggest moments in this book were focused on him.
The story really took us more into the Otherworld and it really was a scary place, not visually but in terms of a total lack of sense of safety for the characters. I was tense every moment of being in that place.
As ever, Marillier’s writing was complex in part but with enchanting prose (quite literally). She has caught me in her net with this series.
I met a young woman with hair like a flame,
She laid my heart open,
She banished my shame.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities.
September 26, 2023
Every time I read one of Juliet's books I feel transported to Sevenwaters. I adored this one. Familiar family emphasis with a fresh spin on the fae and how that impacts the Sevenwaters family.
April 15, 2018
The fourth book of the series is the most Celtic and the darkest of all until now. Our new heroine is called upon to confront the most malicious supernatural forces, plunging us into the darkest side of Irish mythology. Of course, as in the previous books, the heroine is called upon to overcome her weaknesses and find the courage to be able to help the good to prevail and earn her own happiness next to her beloved. All this in an atmosphere full of romance created by the writer's particularly beautiful and emotional writing, which of course characterizes the whole series and makes us loving it.
Of course the logical part of ourselves will again find the story exaggerated and full of romantic clichés and will require that we consider this book insignificant, but we can also have an answer in this area. You see this dive in Irish mythology is done in such a good way that it reveals that it is a product of study rather than merely the result of a superficial approach to the subject. For example, through the story, it is clear that the gods as they perceived at that time were not necessarily human assistants, nor did they represent the way people functioned; instead, they were considered creatures outside human logic, so much higher than us that they could not perceive our psychology. The result is the adventure that our heroine engages in and confronts her with the will of the most hostile of those who, as I can understanding, his anger will also spread to the next books of the series.
So this fourth part has a didactic character, tells a fascinating story, interesting from the beginning to the end, leaving promises for the sequel while having the romance that I mentioned above and we especially cherish. There is not much more to ask for, although I expect something more and something tells me it is coming.
Το τέταρτο βιβλίο της σειράς είναι το πιο κέλτικο και το πιο σκοτεινό από όλα ως τώρα. Η νέα ηρωίδα μας καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει τις πιο κακόβουλες υπερφυσικές δυνάμεις βυθίζοντας μας έτσι στην πιο σκοτεινή πλευρά της ιρλανδικής μυθολογίας. Φυσικά, όπως και στα προηγούμενα βιβλία, η ηρωίδα καλείται να ξεπεράσει τις αδυναμίες της και να βρει το θάρρος για να μπορέσει να βοηθήσει στην επικράτηση του καλού και να κερδίσει η ίδια την ευτυχία δίπλα στον αγαπημένο της. Όλα αυτά σε μία ατμόσφαιρα γεμάτη ρομαντισμό που δημιουργεί η ιδιαίτερα όμορφη και συναισθηματική γραφή της συγγραφέως, που φυσικά χαρακτηρίζει όλη τη σειρά και μας κάνει να την αγαπάμε.
Βέβαια όταν συνερχόμαστε από την μαγεία το λογικό μέρος του εαυτού μας θα εντοπίσει πάλι υπερβολές και ρομαντικά κλισέ και θα απαιτήσει να θεωρήσουμε αυτό το βιβλίο ασήμαντο, μπορούμε, όμως, και σε αυτόν τον τομέα να έχουμε απάντηση. Βλέπετε αυτό το βύθισμα στην Ιρλανδική μυθολογία γίνεται με τόσο καλό τρόπο που φανερώνει ότι πρόκειται για προϊόν μελέτης και όχι απλά αποτέλεσμα μιας επιφανειακής προσέγγισης του θέματος. Για παράδειγμα μέσα από την ιστορία μας κάνει σαφές ότι οι θεοί όπως τους αντιλαμβάνονταν εκείνη την εποχή δεν ήταν απαραίτητα βοηθοί των ανθρώπων, ούτε αντιπροσώπευαν τον τρόπο που λειτουργούσαν οι άνθρωποι, αντιθέτως θεωρούνταν πλάσματα έξω από την ανθρώπινη λογική, τόσο ανώτεροι που δεν μπορούσαν να αντιληφθούν τη ψυχοσύνθεση μας. Αποτέλεσμα αυτού είναι η περιπέτεια στην οποία μπλέκει η ηρωίδα μας και τη φέρνει αντιμέτωπη με τη θέληση του πιο εχθρικού από αυτούς που από ότι κατάλαβα ο θυμός του θα εξαπλωθεί και στα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς.
Οπότε αυτό το τέταρτο μέρος έχει και έναν χαρακτήρα διδακτικό, αφηγείται μία συναρπαστική ιστορία, ενδιαφέρουσα από την αρχή ως το τέλος, που αφήνει υποσχέσεις για τη συνέχεια ενώ έχει τον ρομαντισμό που προανέφερα και αγαπάμε ιδιαίτερα. Δεν υπάρχουν και πάρα πολλά παραπάνω να ζητήσουμε, αν και εγώ αναμένω κάτι περισσότερο στη συνέχεια και κάτι μου λέει ότι έρχεται.
Of course the logical part of ourselves will again find the story exaggerated and full of romantic clichés and will require that we consider this book insignificant, but we can also have an answer in this area. You see this dive in Irish mythology is done in such a good way that it reveals that it is a product of study rather than merely the result of a superficial approach to the subject. For example, through the story, it is clear that the gods as they perceived at that time were not necessarily human assistants, nor did they represent the way people functioned; instead, they were considered creatures outside human logic, so much higher than us that they could not perceive our psychology. The result is the adventure that our heroine engages in and confronts her with the will of the most hostile of those who, as I can understanding, his anger will also spread to the next books of the series.
So this fourth part has a didactic character, tells a fascinating story, interesting from the beginning to the end, leaving promises for the sequel while having the romance that I mentioned above and we especially cherish. There is not much more to ask for, although I expect something more and something tells me it is coming.
Το τέταρτο βιβλίο της σειράς είναι το πιο κέλτικο και το πιο σκοτεινό από όλα ως τώρα. Η νέα ηρωίδα μας καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει τις πιο κακόβουλες υπερφυσικές δυνάμεις βυθίζοντας μας έτσι στην πιο σκοτεινή πλευρά της ιρλανδικής μυθολογίας. Φυσικά, όπως και στα προηγούμενα βιβλία, η ηρωίδα καλείται να ξεπεράσει τις αδυναμίες της και να βρει το θάρρος για να μπορέσει να βοηθήσει στην επικράτηση του καλού και να κερδίσει η ίδια την ευτυχία δίπλα στον αγαπημένο της. Όλα αυτά σε μία ατμόσφαιρα γεμάτη ρομαντισμό που δημιουργεί η ιδιαίτερα όμορφη και συναισθηματική γραφή της συγγραφέως, που φυσικά χαρακτηρίζει όλη τη σειρά και μας κάνει να την αγαπάμε.
Βέβαια όταν συνερχόμαστε από την μαγεία το λογικό μέρος του εαυτού μας θα εντοπίσει πάλι υπερβολές και ρομαντικά κλισέ και θα απαιτήσει να θεωρήσουμε αυτό το βιβλίο ασήμαντο, μπορούμε, όμως, και σε αυτόν τον τομέα να έχουμε απάντηση. Βλέπετε αυτό το βύθισμα στην Ιρλανδική μυθολογία γίνεται με τόσο καλό τρόπο που φανερώνει ότι πρόκειται για προϊόν μελέτης και όχι απλά αποτέλεσμα μιας επιφανειακής προσέγγισης του θέματος. Για παράδειγμα μέσα από την ιστορία μας κάνει σαφές ότι οι θεοί όπως τους αντιλαμβάνονταν εκείνη την εποχή δεν ήταν απαραίτητα βοηθοί των ανθρώπων, ούτε αντιπροσώπευαν τον τρόπο που λειτουργούσαν οι άνθρωποι, αντιθέτως θεωρούνταν πλάσματα έξω από την ανθρώπινη λογική, τόσο ανώτεροι που δεν μπορούσαν να αντιληφθούν τη ψυχοσύνθεση μας. Αποτέλεσμα αυτού είναι η περιπέτεια στην οποία μπλέκει η ηρωίδα μας και τη φέρνει αντιμέτωπη με τη θέληση του πιο εχθρικού από αυτούς που από ότι κατάλαβα ο θυμός του θα εξαπλωθεί και στα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς.
Οπότε αυτό το τέταρτο μέρος έχει και έναν χαρακτήρα διδακτικό, αφηγείται μία συναρπαστική ιστορία, ενδιαφέρουσα από την αρχή ως το τέλος, που αφήνει υποσχέσεις για τη συνέχεια ενώ έχει τον ρομαντισμό που προανέφερα και αγαπάμε ιδιαίτερα. Δεν υπάρχουν και πάρα πολλά παραπάνω να ζητήσουμε, αν και εγώ αναμένω κάτι περισσότερο στη συνέχεια και κάτι μου λέει ότι έρχεται.
May 4, 2016
I've said it before, but each time I re-read a book of Sevenwaters it feels just like coming home for me. Heir starts a new arc for this series and though I've never fallen as deeply in love with a novel as I did for Daughter of the Forest or Son of the Shadows, Heir to Sevenwaters is still beloved by me. I love it differently than the first 3 novels of this series, but I love it all the same. Clodagh is strong in a very different way than the daughters of Sevenwaters who came before her, but she is still fierce and brave when needed. I am enthralled every time I watch her love story unfold with Cathal. Marillier again manages to weave a story that makes you forget about everything going on around you while reading. I can't imagine another series ever rooting itself deeper into my soul.
May 15, 2015
Levei muito tempo para pegar neste livro...cerca de um ano aqui na estante à espera da sua vez e quando finalmente me decidi a ler pensei que me ia decepcionar. Nada mais errado, este livro foi uma autêntica surpresa, pois agarrou-me tanto quanto "A Filha das Floresta".
April 3, 2016
Que surpresa tão inesperada e tão grandiosa...Gostei tanto ou mais que "A Filha da Floresta" :)
Adorei o grande e intenso amor que desabrochou nesta bela história!!
5**
Adorei o grande e intenso amor que desabrochou nesta bela história!!
5**
May 17, 2017
I liked this one MUCH more than book 3. Cathal is a great hero, and I love the strong female main character and her quest. I also loved Becon.
May 20, 2018
Daughters of Sevenwaters
Sevenwaters Couples
I love this books so much that I really want them each to have a movie!
We read Sorcha's, Liadan's & Fainne's story and now in Heir to Sevenwaters we read about Clodagh, the daughter of Sean. This book is full of adventures and the true meaning of love and because of this I read this book in a few days.
Clodagh is the type of girl that is raised to become a perfect housewife. Because her mother is pregnant and her twin sister will marry soon, Clodagh finds herself in taking care of the house in stead of her mother. She is very practical and very responsible, two virtues that remind me so much of Jenica from Wildwood Dancing.
But when her mother gives birth to a baby boy and when that boy is kidnapped, Clodagh feeling guilty and being the only one who knows and seeing that the Fair Folk exchanged her little brother with a changeling , is determined to embark in a quest that will change her life.
Cathal is a warrior from Johnny's team and the childhood friend of Aidan. Aidan likes Clodagh and for the first 80 pages or so there is a love triangle between the two boys and Clodagh but I am happy that in the end it is finished at least till after Cathal kisses Clodagh goodbye.
Cathal is very mysterious for the better part of the story, I mean you never know his true feelings and why he did some things. At first you think that he is something fishy about him that when you find the true about him and all of the pieces fall in their right places you realize how can appearance can be so deceiving and I liked every page about him.
Also I liked how at the beginning of the quest Clodagh is overwhelmed of what is going on, she is not a warrior and she is honest about that, she is not fearless, she is afraid and she knows that but the fact that she loves so strongly she takes risks for the ones she loves and that is much better then a heroine that has skills of a warrior but does not know to love to the fullest.
"Love is a powerful weapon!"
The main couple was so beautiful developed. They start as strangers and might I say not liking each other at all but when they began to really knowing the other they feel deeply in love with each other. So deep that they will sacrifice anything for the well being of their beloved one.
The book made me cry especially when Mac Dara made Cathal walk in when Clodagh screamed. I thought that was the saddest scene ever. I felt sorry for Becan ( I really started to love that little guy) for Clodagh's anguish and for the sacrifice that Cathal did for his love.
Sevenwaters Couples
I love this books so much that I really want them each to have a movie!
We read Sorcha's, Liadan's & Fainne's story and now in Heir to Sevenwaters we read about Clodagh, the daughter of Sean. This book is full of adventures and the true meaning of love and because of this I read this book in a few days.
Clodagh is the type of girl that is raised to become a perfect housewife. Because her mother is pregnant and her twin sister will marry soon, Clodagh finds herself in taking care of the house in stead of her mother. She is very practical and very responsible, two virtues that remind me so much of Jenica from Wildwood Dancing.
But when her mother gives birth to a baby boy and when that boy is kidnapped, Clodagh feeling guilty and being the only one who knows and seeing that the Fair Folk exchanged her little brother with a changeling , is determined to embark in a quest that will change her life.
Cathal is a warrior from Johnny's team and the childhood friend of Aidan. Aidan likes Clodagh and for the first 80 pages or so there is a love triangle between the two boys and Clodagh but I am happy that in the end it is finished at least till after Cathal kisses Clodagh goodbye.
Cathal is very mysterious for the better part of the story, I mean you never know his true feelings and why he did some things. At first you think that he is something fishy about him that when you find the true about him and all of the pieces fall in their right places you realize how can appearance can be so deceiving and I liked every page about him.
Also I liked how at the beginning of the quest Clodagh is overwhelmed of what is going on, she is not a warrior and she is honest about that, she is not fearless, she is afraid and she knows that but the fact that she loves so strongly she takes risks for the ones she loves and that is much better then a heroine that has skills of a warrior but does not know to love to the fullest.
"Love is a powerful weapon!"
The main couple was so beautiful developed. They start as strangers and might I say not liking each other at all but when they began to really knowing the other they feel deeply in love with each other. So deep that they will sacrifice anything for the well being of their beloved one.
The book made me cry especially when Mac Dara made Cathal walk in when Clodagh screamed. I thought that was the saddest scene ever. I felt sorry for Becan ( I really started to love that little guy) for Clodagh's anguish and for the sacrifice that Cathal did for his love.
October 13, 2017
I love this series, so much and Heir to Sevenwaters is another excellent instalment.I was disappointed with the third in the series, Child of the Prophecy, but maybe that's because i loved Son of the Shadows so much. This novel shows Marillier back on top form and is an excellent addition to the life and legacy of the Sevenwaters family.
I love knowing a history of the characters and what motivates them from reading the previous books, but what impresses me the most is how unique and addictive Marillier makes each new story. I normally dislike family saga series' and ones where each book is about a different side character from the original but i adore this series. That's not to suggest the Sevenwaters series is the above, it's so much more. Sure, the storyline follows one family down the generations but it is also fantastical, magical and atmospherical. Knowing the family history and all the trials and tragedy it contains only adds to the story. There is no frustrating info-dump/overly descriptive catch up of what has happened in the past to bore longtime readers, just hints, clues and references that make fans happy.
It is also a testament to Marillier's writing that each story feels different from the others even when set in the same place with similar friends and foes. Each book feels entirely separate yet also part of a whole. I find them so emotional, and each time i feel something for one of them I'm reminded of just how realistic her characters are. My heart go out to them and I feel their pain, love and loss. Her descriptions of the relationships between the characters; lovers, friends, family and enemies alike, are just beautiful. The scenery is breathtaking, i can picture everything perfectly, without the use of overly flowery or poetic prose. It's just wonderful.
Lastly, although I could wax lyrical about this world forever sorry not sorry, as always i thoroughly enjoyed the fantasy element of this historical-esque fiction. The Tuatha De Danann are still equal parts otherworldly and terrifying. Mac Dara, the villain of this piece is a complex character and while does horrific things, has moments that leave you feeling sorry for him. Masterful. I adore the mythological aspect of these stories, and how Marillier weaves fairytale and drama together so expertly. I have, and will continue to, read some of her other novels, some i have loved (Heart's Blood in particular) and one not so much (waiting for the plot to start in Dreamer's Pool), but i think these will remain my favourite; and this one in particular. Son of the Shadows is my numero uno and up there with Catherynne M Valente's Deathless as one of my all time faves, and Daughter of the Forest was an excellent introduction to the world and characters, but Clodagh and Cathal's story in Heir to Sevenwaters was beautiful. I loved it. I hope you do too.
I love knowing a history of the characters and what motivates them from reading the previous books, but what impresses me the most is how unique and addictive Marillier makes each new story. I normally dislike family saga series' and ones where each book is about a different side character from the original but i adore this series. That's not to suggest the Sevenwaters series is the above, it's so much more. Sure, the storyline follows one family down the generations but it is also fantastical, magical and atmospherical. Knowing the family history and all the trials and tragedy it contains only adds to the story. There is no frustrating info-dump/overly descriptive catch up of what has happened in the past to bore longtime readers, just hints, clues and references that make fans happy.
It is also a testament to Marillier's writing that each story feels different from the others even when set in the same place with similar friends and foes. Each book feels entirely separate yet also part of a whole. I find them so emotional, and each time i feel something for one of them I'm reminded of just how realistic her characters are. My heart go out to them and I feel their pain, love and loss. Her descriptions of the relationships between the characters; lovers, friends, family and enemies alike, are just beautiful. The scenery is breathtaking, i can picture everything perfectly, without the use of overly flowery or poetic prose. It's just wonderful.
Lastly, although I could wax lyrical about this world forever sorry not sorry, as always i thoroughly enjoyed the fantasy element of this historical-esque fiction. The Tuatha De Danann are still equal parts otherworldly and terrifying. Mac Dara, the villain of this piece is a complex character and while does horrific things, has moments that leave you feeling sorry for him. Masterful. I adore the mythological aspect of these stories, and how Marillier weaves fairytale and drama together so expertly. I have, and will continue to, read some of her other novels, some i have loved (Heart's Blood in particular) and one not so much (waiting for the plot to start in Dreamer's Pool), but i think these will remain my favourite; and this one in particular. Son of the Shadows is my numero uno and up there with Catherynne M Valente's Deathless as one of my all time faves, and Daughter of the Forest was an excellent introduction to the world and characters, but Clodagh and Cathal's story in Heir to Sevenwaters was beautiful. I loved it. I hope you do too.
October 30, 2008
Finding this book at Books-A-Million two weeks before the US release date was one of the more thrilling moments in my life (sad, I know)!
Marillier is one of my favorite authors and specifically the Sevenwaters trilogy is one of her best. This fourth novel in the series recaptured the magic of the family that I felt was lost in book 3. I also liked that it followed only 4 years after book 3 instead of an entire generation later, which is the precedent set in the other books. Another departure from Marillier's formula in the Sevenwaters stories is that this book ended with a hundred question marks floating in the air. Usually she wraps up a story completely and the following book tackles new characters that are in some way related to the previous story. This book made me believe that Clodagh and Cathal will have to play a large role in the next book.
Overall, it was a beautiful story full of old Irish folklore, adventure and romance. I'm sure I'll be devouring it for a second time in the not so distant future.
Marillier is one of my favorite authors and specifically the Sevenwaters trilogy is one of her best. This fourth novel in the series recaptured the magic of the family that I felt was lost in book 3. I also liked that it followed only 4 years after book 3 instead of an entire generation later, which is the precedent set in the other books. Another departure from Marillier's formula in the Sevenwaters stories is that this book ended with a hundred question marks floating in the air. Usually she wraps up a story completely and the following book tackles new characters that are in some way related to the previous story. This book made me believe that Clodagh and Cathal will have to play a large role in the next book.
Overall, it was a beautiful story full of old Irish folklore, adventure and romance. I'm sure I'll be devouring it for a second time in the not so distant future.
July 5, 2017
3.5 stars
July 23, 2020
Junto con Daughter of the Forest es mi favorito de la saga Sevenwaters. Me encantaron los personajes y la nueva trama, se nota la madurez de la autora en t��rminos narrativos.
Que ganas de volver a releerlo! pasan tantas cosas que sería genial verlas desde esta nueva perspectiva, pero lo mejor en este momento es descansar un par de días para luego seguir con el quinto libro.
Que ganas de volver a releerlo! pasan tantas cosas que sería genial verlas desde esta nueva perspectiva, pero lo mejor en este momento es descansar un par de días para luego seguir con el quinto libro.
June 23, 2020
This is only further proof that I am absolute and utter trash for anything Juliet Marillier writes. Love the characters, love the added layers to the world, love the strange path the story is turning to, love the romance, love love love.
July 27, 2023
"Where have you wandered, my dear one, my own
Where have you wandered, my handsome young man?
I've run though the forest, I've climbed up the hill
I've fought with my dreams and surrendered my will
And I still cannot find my way home."(p.238)
Estoy casi segura de que esta maravillosa historia va a ser mi mejor lectura del año.
Otro libro de Juliet Marillier que se va directo a mis favoritos.
¿Cómo podría empezar siquiera a contarles lo increíble que fue poder volver a esta saga?
La historia que en esta ocasión se nos cuenta, es la de Clodagh, una de las seis hijas del Lord Sean de Sieteaguas. Una joven amable y tranquila, cuya vida cambia radicalmente cuando su hermano recién nacido, Finbar, desaparece, dejando en su lugar un bebé hecho de ramas y magia, que solo ella parece ser capaz de percibir.
Clodagh, aparentemente, es la única con la habilidad de ver y escuchar a ese extraño y mágico bebé que ha sido intercambiado por Finbar. De manera que, en lo más profundo de su alma y con casi la totalidad de los miembros de su familia en su contra, ella sabe que es la única capaz de encontrar el camino hacia la tierra de los Tuatha De. Para poder encontrar a su hermanito y salvar a su cada vez más dividida familia.
Sin embargo, nada es fácil en lo que respecta a la magia de los Tuatha De. Y mucho menos cuando un hombre huraño y tosco insiste en acompañar a Clodagh en su viaje a esta tierra mágica. ¿Es posible que Cathal sepa más de lo que su mirada comunica? ¿Hay algo en él más allá de sus groseras palabras y bruscas maneras?
¿Qué se esconde en su mirada cada vez más triste y atormentada?
La forma de narrar de esta autora es una de las mejores que he tenido el gusto de conocer, y uno de los aspectos que más disfruto de su escritura, es su forma tan hermosa de tratar la fortaleza femenina de formas tan distintas y variadas.
Es imposible no amar esta saga. Es perfecta en todo sentido y volver a ellos siempre se siente como regresar a casa.
Where have you wandered, my handsome young man?
I've run though the forest, I've climbed up the hill
I've fought with my dreams and surrendered my will
And I still cannot find my way home."(p.238)
Estoy casi segura de que esta maravillosa historia va a ser mi mejor lectura del año.
Otro libro de Juliet Marillier que se va directo a mis favoritos.
¿Cómo podría empezar siquiera a contarles lo increíble que fue poder volver a esta saga?
La historia que en esta ocasión se nos cuenta, es la de Clodagh, una de las seis hijas del Lord Sean de Sieteaguas. Una joven amable y tranquila, cuya vida cambia radicalmente cuando su hermano recién nacido, Finbar, desaparece, dejando en su lugar un bebé hecho de ramas y magia, que solo ella parece ser capaz de percibir.
Clodagh, aparentemente, es la única con la habilidad de ver y escuchar a ese extraño y mágico bebé que ha sido intercambiado por Finbar. De manera que, en lo más profundo de su alma y con casi la totalidad de los miembros de su familia en su contra, ella sabe que es la única capaz de encontrar el camino hacia la tierra de los Tuatha De. Para poder encontrar a su hermanito y salvar a su cada vez más dividida familia.
Sin embargo, nada es fácil en lo que respecta a la magia de los Tuatha De. Y mucho menos cuando un hombre huraño y tosco insiste en acompañar a Clodagh en su viaje a esta tierra mágica. ¿Es posible que Cathal sepa más de lo que su mirada comunica? ¿Hay algo en él más allá de sus groseras palabras y bruscas maneras?
¿Qué se esconde en su mirada cada vez más triste y atormentada?
La forma de narrar de esta autora es una de las mejores que he tenido el gusto de conocer, y uno de los aspectos que más disfruto de su escritura, es su forma tan hermosa de tratar la fortaleza femenina de formas tan distintas y variadas.
Es imposible no amar esta saga. Es perfecta en todo sentido y volver a ellos siempre se siente como regresar a casa.
May 9, 2017
Probablemente este sea el libro que menos me ha gustado de la saga de Sieteaguas, y a pesar de todo me ha encantado y simplemente no podía parar de leer.
Sieteaguas es un sitio mágico, lleno de mitos y una atmósfera increíble que en este libro Marillier se afana por explotar con éxito, esa ha sido mi parte preferida y realmente me encanta cómo escribe esta autora, pero reconozco que para mi se ha pasado bastante con el romance en este tomo... De todas maneras lo he disfrutado lo que no está escrito y estoy deseando leer los dos que me quedan de la saga ♥︎
Echaba de menos a Marillier....
Sieteaguas es un sitio mágico, lleno de mitos y una atmósfera increíble que en este libro Marillier se afana por explotar con éxito, esa ha sido mi parte preferida y realmente me encanta cómo escribe esta autora, pero reconozco que para mi se ha pasado bastante con el romance en este tomo... De todas maneras lo he disfrutado lo que no está escrito y estoy deseando leer los dos que me quedan de la saga ♥︎
Echaba de menos a Marillier....
July 30, 2015
July 20-24, 2015
4.5 stars
September 15-October 19, 2010.
This was an excellent book. The problems I had with it were very minor. It sort of dragged near the middle, but soon picked up. There was one unresolved question I had after I finished it. Perhaps it will be answered in the next book. It really deserves 4 1/2 stars.
4.5 stars
September 15-October 19, 2010.
This was an excellent book. The problems I had with it were very minor. It sort of dragged near the middle, but soon picked up. There was one unresolved question I had after I finished it. Perhaps it will be answered in the next book. It really deserves 4 1/2 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2015
4;5 stars!
December 31, 2019
Juliet Marillier did it again and I am all OK about that. A perfect way to end 2019.
June 30, 2019
É sempre encantador voltar a Sevenwaters! Um mundo repleto de lendas e de criaturas místicas. De novo Juliet Marillier supreende-me com as suas capacidades de contadora de histórias, transportado-nos para o Outro Mundo e nos apresentando o povo das fadas.
Nesta nova jornada é Clodagh a protagonista, filha de Sean e Asling, mostra-se uma filha obediente e disposta a toda para ajudar a sua família. Quando o seu irmão Finbar desaparece, ela arisca toda para traze-lo de volta. Na sua missão ela depara-se com a ajuda improvável de Cathal, o campainheiro de Aidan que demonstra esconder muitos mistérios.
Cathal acaba por revelar-se a personagem mais fascinante da história. Todo a sua origem, as suas capacidades de guerreiro e o elo que cria com a heroína. O facto de ser apenas metade humano e conseguir conjurar magia o torna ainda mais especial.
" O herdeiro de Sevenwaters" possibilitou entrar num mundo em que lendas são reais, em que o amor consegue destruir as trevas e nos demonstra que todo está conectado.
Nesta nova jornada é Clodagh a protagonista, filha de Sean e Asling, mostra-se uma filha obediente e disposta a toda para ajudar a sua família. Quando o seu irmão Finbar desaparece, ela arisca toda para traze-lo de volta. Na sua missão ela depara-se com a ajuda improvável de Cathal, o campainheiro de Aidan que demonstra esconder muitos mistérios.
Cathal acaba por revelar-se a personagem mais fascinante da história. Todo a sua origem, as suas capacidades de guerreiro e o elo que cria com a heroína. O facto de ser apenas metade humano e conseguir conjurar magia o torna ainda mais especial.
" O herdeiro de Sevenwaters" possibilitou entrar num mundo em que lendas são reais, em que o amor consegue destruir as trevas e nos demonstra que todo está conectado.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 841 reviews