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43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Angieville: HEIR TO SEVENWATERS, November 5, 2008
This review is from: Heir to Sevenwaters (Hardcover)
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 (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1) was first published and six since Child of the Prophecy (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 3) 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 Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 3).
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.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous!, November 5, 2008
This review is from: Heir to Sevenwaters (Hardcover)
I love the Sevenwaters trilogy, and this is a wonderful addition. If you have not read the other three books- Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1), Son of the Shadows (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 2),and Child of the Prophecy (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 3), you can still enjoy this book. If however you are a fan of the trilogy, this is like a warm homecoming! I re-read the trilogy to remind myself of the story arc before I read Heir to Sevenwaters.
The plot has been summarized in the previous reviews, so I will not repeat it. However here are my thoughts. Most of this will make more sense if you have read the previous three books, because I use them as a frame of reference to compare this book.
Clodagh: What a wonderful heroine! She is ordinary with no special abilities(except to mind talk to her twin Diedre) unlike Liadin from Son of.. and Fainne from Child of... I think this makes her more endearing. She is my favorite heroine second only to Sorcha from Daughter.. What makes her special is that she is not brave or heroic but manages to overcome her fear to do what she must do to save her brother, her parents and her beloved.
The Love Story: Again this was my favorite romance second to Sorcha and Red from Daughter of... In fact I think is book is heavier on the romance than the previous two. Clodagh and her love interest are together for most of the book, and I loved their interactions. Fainne and Darragh from Child of.. and Liadin and Bran in Son of... had very fews scenes togther.
Tone: The book was much lighter in tone than Child of Prophecy, which was quite dark with a sense of doom. Perhaps because the romance was so heaviliy emphasized, it felt much lighter and more cheerful. I think this was a plus.
Selfless love: In the end I think all the Sevenwaters books stress the concept of selfless love for family and for your beloved. This book is no different and it is what lends such a warm and magical feel to the story.
Favorite chracters back again: Sean, Conner, Ciaran, Johnny are all back. Liadin is mentioned in passing. She was my least favorite heroine, so I did not miss her presence. I loved that the author brought Ciarin back. There is a shocker revelation about Johnny! Also their is a nice family tree in the front which is helpful.
New villian: With the Islands back with the Fair Folk through Fainne's sacrifice in Child of.., we need a new villian, and we get a great one: the Fey Lord Mac Dara. The ending leaves it open for more books to come because the conflict with him is not resolved. Hopefully we will get a new book, maybe with Eilis' story next!
If you love fantasy, romance and a heroine centered story you will love this book. If you are already a fan of the Sevenwaters series, this is a must buy.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great return, November 16, 2008
This review is from: Heir to Sevenwaters (Hardcover)
I first read the Sevenwaters trilogy about three years ago, and I loved them every step of the way. When I heard we were going to be able to return to that world through Heir I was thrilled, and Ms. Marillier did not disappoint.
The heroine Clodagh, third daughter of Sean of Sevenwaters, is a resourceful and smart girl with amazing skills at running a household and not so much for adventure. But all that changes when her new brother is stolen and a wooden changeling left in his place.
From here Ms. Marillier weaves a very compelling story by taking the reader into the otherworld, somewhere that hadn't been explored in any of the other books. It was amazing how familiar and foreign it seemed in the same breath. The new villain, Mac Dara, is crafty, creepy and intriguing at the same time.
I really liked revisiting all the familiar places and characters. My hopes for future books (if there are more to come) would be one told from Cirian's point of view. He seems to be one of the most complex characters in the books, whom we've had little interaction of real substance with.
If you enjoyed the first three Sevenwaters books, this one will be no exception. If you haven't read them before, Heir to Sevenwaters works as a standalone, although you may not catch all of the references to previous books. Either way, I would say this book is more than worth the money you'll spend on it.
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