Reviews with content warning for Murder - Daughter of the Forest

This book was truly heart-wrenching to read. If it's possible to both love and despise a book for the pain it puts you through, this is it. There was so much sadness that I really had a difficult time reading this... Can't say enjoyable but I also can't say that it wasn't a good book.

The writing is solid, and does a very good job of pulling you in and keeping you there. The characters are wonderfully written.

My biggest struggle with this book (and the reason I can't rate it) would be the abundance of pain and suffering. It almost seems like overkill?

There is a rather explicit rape scene (first person POV, MC).

Content Warnings

clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Questo libro è stata una piacevole sorpresa.

E’ un romanzo dall’impianto fiabesco, la cui struttura segue perfettamente nella sua tradizione. Padre rimasto vedovo con sette figli di cui una sola figlia, che poi si sposa eventualmente con una strega cattiva di cui è stregato.
Nel vano tentativo di ribellarsi, i sei fratelli saranno anch’essi vittima di un incantesimo. Solo Sorha, la protagonista, riesce a salvarsi grazie al sacrificio dei fratelli. Sarà lei infatti l’unica a poter spezzare l’incantesimo. A costo di grandi sacrifici, del suo silenzio e di duro lavoro, Sorha si imbarca quindi in questo viaggio per riavere i fratelli.
Fedele alla struttura fiabesca, la povera Sorha ne passerà di tutti i colori prima di raggiungere il suo obiettivo. Ma non temete, perché tra la tante peripezie, Sorha troverà l’amore. Un amore proibito, impossibile e di convenienza che salverà la vita ad entrambi, in più modi.

All’inizio ho avuto un po’ di difficoltà ad entrare nella storia per lo stile narrativo è molto asciutto e crea una distanza notevole con quanto narrato. Forse è il prodotto dei suoi tempi o del genere testuale al quale appartiene ma alla fine dei conti, mi sono trovata grata per questa scelta. Se fosse stata una narrazione ricca di pathos, sarebbe stata una lettura parecchio pesante da digerire.

Superato questo gradino però la lettura scorre veloce, coinvolti tra le disavventure di Sorha, risulta veramente difficile metter giù il libro. E’ così che mi sono trovata da metà alla fine praticamente in un solo pomeriggio.

Ho davvero apprezzato il rapporto che Sorha ha con i fratelli, mi ha davvero emozionato. Per non parlare dell’interesse amoroso che pur attraverso la freddezza dei toni della narrazione riesce a mostrare tutto il suo interesse e amore.

“non è importante che tu sia qui o altrove, perché la tua immagine è davanti ai miei occhi in ogni momento. Ti vedo nella luce sopra l'acqua, nei giovani alberi che oscillano alla brezza di primavera. Ti vedo nelle ombre delle grandi querce, e sento la tua voce di notte, nel chiurlo del gufo.
Sei il sangue che mi scorre nelle vene, e il battito del mio cuore.
Sei il mio primo pensiero del mattino, e il mio ultimo sospiro prima di prender sonno. Tu sei... tu sei fibra delle mie fibre, respiro del mio respiro.” (ho urlato)

La cosa che mi ha incuriosita subito di questo romanzo è stato l’impianto folkloristico irlandese dal quale l’autrice ha attinto per la creazione di questo mondo. Ambientato nell’Irlanda del X secolo, risulta veramente facile credere alle storia di Sorha, di maledizioni e del popolo fatato.

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aarynn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

kibbles15's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a well written emotional roller coaster of a fairy tale. I literally could not put down the book and read it in one day. The author did an amazing job of interpreting the Grimm Brother's Tale "The Six Swans" (or "the Wild Swans") in a way that makes you feel the literal pain that both the sister and the six brothers feel as they work to break a curse on their family. In the process they are all presented with very real set-backs and trials. Please note that this book contains references to torture and rape. While it is a fairy tale, I would not recommend this book to young readers.

Content Warnings

deathmetalpainter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

thosemedalingkids's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wish she wasn't only 16 by the end, but damn baby girl went through the ringer. British villain hero, our little Scottish heroine. So much plot and twists to her quest. So deliciously satisfying. Lots of TW though.

Content Warnings

lisannerietveld's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

First things first...

Content Warnings!
-Blood/Gore
-Torture discussed and described
-Raiding/sacking of villages discussed and described
-Death of a close friend
-Mother lost in childbirth
-Rape [scene lasts 2 pages]
-Murder of pet dog
-F slur used twice in connection with building a fire
-Burning by fire

Here is another example of a book, that was gifted to me, that I let sit unread on my shelf for entirely too long. This fantasy was PHENOMENAL, honestly, if it wasn’t for the small print I would have read this in one sitting. Between the thickness and it being a fantasy, which can be known to wreak havoc on your emotional state, I would pass by this book, a lot, to grab fluffier and shorter books.

Although this story follows a character from the age of twelve to sixteen I would not recommend it for younger readers as there are some very adult subjects that might be hard for some to understand or digest. This book is set in a time where children were forced to grow fast and most girls were married off at the age of fifteen.

Throughout this tale, which alone is amazing, we get to hear about different lore and tales the characters grew up hearing. The entire book is written so beautifully and yet still easy to follow along with. I quickly found myself deeply invested in the journey and wellbeing of our main character Sorcha.

The trials and tribulations that test Sorcha had me going through all the emotions with her. Quite a few times I had to have tissues near as I felt her pain, sadness, and heartbreak. I mean just imagine being twelve years old and finding out the fate of your six, older, siblings rest on your shoulders alone. Not only do you have to journey alone to save your family but you also aren’t allowed to make one sound, you are forbidden to speak, even if you are injured you can’t cry out in pain.

If you’re looking for a beautifully written story that follows a strong, fierce, and loyal protagonist who will do whatever it takes to save and restore her family…then look no further.

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