Customer Reviews

Heir to Sevenwaters

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

In the Sevenwaters and Glencarnagh that contain the forest where the Tuatha De Danann Fair Folks dwell, Chieftain Sean is excited and frightened as his wife Aisling carries what he prays is the HEIR TO SEVENWATERS and his beloved survivies as she is on the wrong side of age for childbearing. With his oldest daughter Muirrin the healer married to Evan the healer and his second offspring Deirdre about to marry Southern clan chieftain Illann, Sean depends on his third oldest daughter Deirdre's younger twin capable Clodagh to maintain the household and to to care for her mother.

Sean's twin sister, her chieftain husband and their son Johnny, the current heir to Sevenwaters, attend Dierdre's wedding. At the gala Clodagh meets Johnny's personal guardsand she takes a dislike for the uncouth Cathal. Soon after the vows are exchanged, Aisling gives birth to the new heir; but the Fair Folk abduct the newborn and replace him with a changeling. Clodagh and Cathal team up to try to save her brother by entering the insane to humans Otherworld where Prince Mac Dara has begun a dangerous ploy.

The fourth Sevenwaters romantic fantasy (see DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST, SON OF SHADOWS and CHILD OF PROPHECY) is a strong entry in a magnificent saga. Juliet Marillier once again shows her skill in writing an exciting "border" thriller that enable readers to believe in the Tuatha De Danann; mostly because of how the humans behave towards the Fair Folk. Sub-genre fans will want to accompany the heroic duo as they enter hostile territory on a quest that challenges their lives and minds as their senses cannot be trusted with a different perception than on their side of the thin separating veil.

Harriet Klausner

I've got to agree with the other negative reviewers here. If you read Son of Shadows, this is basically the exact same plot line, with different specific characters. We've got the homely domestic (but oh so brave) girl with a more brash and lovely sister, the unsuitable and rude/angst-filled suitor, a baby in the mix to add some cuteness, chieftans warring, a possible traitor in the midst, and a perilous journey for our heroine to find and save her unlikely, but true deep love, suitor. It's really, really a lot like Son of Shadows, but with writing that's not as good, characters that are both less believable and less likable, and a much more obvious sequel set up. I was pretty disappointed.

Clodagh's twin sister Deirdre is getting married, her mother is heavily pregnant with a child later in life than expected, and she herself must take charge of the house, try to comfort her worried father, and give up her marital prospects for the foreseeable future. At first, luckily, all this goes off without a hitch, except perhaps for the irritating warrior Cathal who has accompanied Clodagh's cousin Johnny to the wedding and seems determined to rain on Clodagh's parade every chance he gets. In the meanwhile, she meets again a man she likes very much and successfully gets through her sister's wedding with the household intact. Clodagh's mother Aisling even survives the delivery of a healthy baby boy, but then the unthinkable happens and Clodagh is the only one who can save her family from destruction.

I knew I loved the Sevenwaters trilogy, and I wasn't surprised at all when I loved this, too. Juliet Marillier's prose is astonishingly beautiful, weaving a fantasy world that exists side-by-side with a historical portrait of early Ireland. It's so easy to get swept away into this world and Marillier has lost none of its magic. I knew absolutely nothing about the book going into it - not even the main character's name - but I quickly realized that trouble was imminent. Once the main "trouble" occurred and I couldn't put it off any longer, I absolutely sped through the book, as I'm sure I was intended to. I had to know what happened and this book is only predictable in some respects. I figured I knew what the ending was, but I needed to know how they got there. I particularly adored the tension between Cathal and Clodagh. That part of the story was beautifully done.

Marillier is brilliant at character development and it's the people of her world that come alive so well. Clodagh is exceptionally well-rounded and it's fascinating to watch her strength progress from a position as mistress of the household to braving a foreign world and pitting her wits against those of an immortal fairy lord. One gets the sense that she does not seek such challenge, but has the strength to endure what she must for those she loves. She is so full of compassion and love that she willingly gives of herself without asking to make someone else's life easier. Similarly, Cathal's character is revealed very gradually, each aspect of his personality coming out by the end of the story to make him fully understandable and sympathetic. His actions, his past, everything comes to light and in the end it's impossible not to fall in love with these two.

I would recommend this book to everyone, unless you can't tolerate fantasy. Marillier has it all, with great characters, an entrancing world you'll never want to leave, a plot that is engrossing and keeps you up at night, and a beautiful style of writing. I loved this book - and the rest of the series - and I think you will too. In fact, I'm off to go acquire the rest of her books in some fashion, and see if they live up to this amazing series.

This book had me bawling for a good fifty pages or so towards the end, and usually it's hard even to get a couple of tears to squeeze out when I'm reading. I loved both the main characters, Clodagh and her love interest...they were so perfectly characterized and my identification with both so strong that I wanted to change absolutely nothing they said or did. On occasion when reading Marillier's books, I've skimmed because I was too impatient to find out what happened...with this one, I would occasionally leaf a few pages ahead just to see how something turns out but I always went back and read every line, it was just so beautifully written.

I don't agree with reviewers who think the book started off too slow. Everything was perfect!

I generally don't make the effort to review a book, but this one is the exception. I would say that Juliet Marillier is my favorite author and yet this is the first review I have done on her books. Why you ask? Mostly because there have been a few reviews, on this site especially, that have been negative. I know that I almost didn't buy this book because of them. I was worried that Marillier had lost her touch like they said. I am so thankful that I stuck with my gut and bought this book. It has become my favorite out of the whole series. Clodagh has now reached top ten level of favorite characters of all time, right up there with Jane Eyre, and Elizabeth from Pride and Predjudce. I know you probably think that Clodagh's keeping some pretty strange company in my mind, huh? :) The reason why is, unlike the rest of the sevenwaters books, Clodagh doesn't have some great destiny, or a fantastic magical power. It's true that she does have the gift of speaking mind to mind with her twin sister, but she is mostly unable to use it throughout the book. Now I'm not against a strong female lead who can kick butt and defy destiny using her magical gifts, and the love in her heart. I think that's why we all read Marillier in the first place. But there is something so incredibly endearing about Clodagh, who acomplished just as much as her Marillier predessesors, but did it without any gifts whatsoever. She defied fate using only love and determenation, one human girl against all the fae. There is something so inately admireable about that. I think that Clodagh is Marillier's most relatable character. I was "with" Clodagh on her journey. I felt her pain and her determination. There were times that I cried with her, and at the end I rejoiced with her. I practically feel like I know Clodagh. Heir to Sevenwaters is some damn good writing. Buy this book, end of story.

My thoughts on this book have changed quite a bit since I originally reviewed it more than two years ago, so I find myself rewriting this review entirely. Heir to Sevenwaters is a fun book, and on the first couple of reads I loved it and considered it just as good as the original Sevenwaters books, mostly because the romance is fantastic. But while this book has its strengths, compared to the original trilogy it's still a bit shallow (and things have only gotten worse with the latest installment, Seer of Sevenwaters).

Heir to Sevenwaters is much less dark than previous installments. The heroine goes on a quest to recover her missing baby brother, taking up the bulk of the book. Less is at stake than in the original books, and the villain is neither sadistic nor holding a murderous grudge against Sevenwaters (instead, he comes across as merely confused and megalomaniacal). Also, whereas previous heroines had to deal with most of their problems on their own and keep secrets from people they loved, Clodagh has help for most of the book and doesn't have one of the agonizing internal conflicts characteristic of the previous books. And the "quest" setup makes this one structurally different as well. Both the page count and the time period covered are much shorter than previous books.

I still think this is a decent book, with a fast-paced plot and endearing characters. Marillier's dialogue has gotten much crisper since the original trilogy, which is great, but I do feel that she's lost something with the shift in her writing style: it seems less lush, less poetic, the emotions more conventional and rather tired.

Honestly, at this point I'm not sure whether I would recommend this book. It's fun, and especially for younger readers it's probably worth the time (it's a quick read). But the more Sevenwaters-sequels I read, the more I doubt that the trilogy should have been continued. As for those who haven't tried Marillier's books before: while this book can be read as a standalone, Daughter of the Forest is still the ideal introduction to her work.

When it comes to Sevenwaters, Juliet Marillier always shines. In this fourth installment, which can be read as a stand alone (though way more fulfilling, methinks, if one has read the first three), Clodagh the domestic perfectionist finds herself in a bad position at an absolutely wrong time. Whilst watching over her new born baby brother, her attention is diverted by a sharp - tongued, perplexing individual who asks for love as he pushes her away. When she turns back to her brother, she finds something else that should not be there, something wrong, something not human in place where the baby should have been. What follows is a tense time where she gets blamed for the disappearance. She resolves to go on a quest to find the lost baby and finds way more than most domestic perfectionists are capable to deal with.

If you've read the other three novels in this series, I don't even know why you're reading this. Add to cart already. However, if this is your first forray into Juliet Marillier, all the Sevenwaters novels are stand alone and enjoyable in and of themselves. But this is the fourth and it may help to have read the previous ones. Quite frankly, Daughter of the Forest (the first) is one of those novels that lingers, that you read and re-read just because you miss the characters. It should not be missed. Also, it should be noted, her books are not typical fantasy; they may have old Irish myths as their basis, but the characters are fully realized. These are not necessarily fantasy novels, but fabulous novels with a touch of the fantastic that just happen to help move the story along.

As for details, Ms. Marillier doesn't disappoint. The writing has a sweet clarity to it with perfect pacing. (I read the whole thing in an afternoon.) One could understand why the main characters were attracted to each other and why they would work as couple. The only thing that I could find fault with (and it's not really even a fault, merely a preference of my own) was that I would have liked to have known a little bit more about a few of the back ground characters.

In short, a beautiful novel that I will definitely read and re -read again. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys solidly plotted, character driven books with a touch of romance. Perfect. Her books always leave me dizzy wanting more and wishing that I had selective amnesia so that I could always be reading her books for the first time.