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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Juliet Marillier book yet, June 6, 2007
Juliet Marillier's The Well of Shades combines poetic writing with strong character development in this third installment of the Bridei Chronicles. The two main characters, Faolan and Eile, are among the most realistic characters Juliet has ever portrayed. Both of these characters share tragic pasts, but with the help of each other, work to overcome them. Juliet Marillier did an excellent job at interweaving multiple storylines in this novel without neglecting any characters or plots. As always, the historic setting of Marillier's work draws readers in to a new world, filled with love, war, earthly spirits, magic and transformation- in both body and soul. Readers of the previous two books will be amazed at the heart warming development of Faolan and Broichan. This is by far Juliet Marillier's best book yet (And all of her books are worth 5 stars), but new readers should be advised to at least read Blade of Fortriu first.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping page-turner in the continuing Bridei Chronicles, September 27, 2007
Juliet Marillier's written another winner in her third installment of the Bridei Chronicles. "The Well of Shades" takes place almost immediately after the second book ("Blade of Fortriu") ends. A heartbroken Faolan returns to his homeland to complete an intelligence mission for Bridei, while also confronting the ghosts of his past. A side quest to inform Deord's family of his death brings Deord's daughter, Eile, into his life. Already open to his emotions (a result of his friendship with Ana from Book Two), his relationship with Eile helps him learn to heal and to love. Book Three continues to focus on Faolan's road to rediscovery and learning how to feel again. Providing a fascinating backdrop is Bridei's leading Fortriu in a tenuous peace shortly after a great war (Book Two) and in the face of a rapidly changing political climate. A smaller side plot involves Broichan coming to terms with his past and a devious schemer from the Light Isles. Overshadowing all the events is Bridei's concern that he has offended the Nameless God by not continuing the human sacrifice ceremony at the Well of Shades. But the Well and the ritual itself are just a reflection of the characters' need to come to terms with their past. While the first two books focus more on the actions of the characters, Book Three really delves into the underlying motivations of the people of Fortriu. We learn more about the characters as their carefully constructed worlds fall apart and they learn to deal with that. Gripping and emotionally intense, this book (and series) is highly recommended.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best book in the series, January 6, 2009
I am surprised at how much The Well of Shades moved me. It is an emotional, intimate portrait of two people connecting despite of, and perhaps because of, their tragic pasts. Faolan and Eile feel like authentic and honest characters, complete with flaws, and their journey, both inward and outward, is the highlight of the novel. Everything else--the historical elements, magic, political intrigue, spiritual conflict--are incidental to their story. In my opinion, a good novel illustrates how characters grow as events unfold. In The Well of Shades, Marillier presents two characters who undergo life-altering changes. Faolan and Eile are well-developed and emotionally complex. In particular, Eile feels like a real person who has suffered horror. Marillier does not sugar-coat her feelings. At times, Eile displays shame, guilt, confusion, and distrust over what happened to her. This whirlwind of emotions always feels natural. As in The Dark Mirror, Marillier makes us care for her primary characters, but in this novel the effect is even greater because Faolan's and Eile's conflicts are more personal. Although I quite liked The Dark Mirror, I question if it is the appropriate beginning to this saga. The series is called The Bridei Chronicles, but I think that Faolan is the human soul of the trilogy. His character has the longest and hardest journey, both physically and emotionally. On one hand, I wonder how the series would have felt if he had been the main character in the first volume, not Bridei. On the other hand, there is a correlation between Bridei's and Faolan's tales. Without Bridei's example in the first volume, Faolan would never conquer his past in the subsequent volumes. As I noted in the other volumes, I think that Marillier's weakness is creating believable antagonists. Her villains never seem to have justifiable reasons for their heinous actions. I believe that this novel does not require a villain. The relationship between Faolan and Eile provides enough drama. The Well of Shades is the best book in the series.
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