Reviews tagging 'War'

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

20 reviews

theavidbookworm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Death, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail

clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Medical trauma

aarynn's review

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

Moderate: Animal death, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Grief, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Blood, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, War, Grief, Incest, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Death of parent, and Violence

kibbles15's review against another edition

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

Graphic: Abandonment, Rape, and Torture

Moderate: Murder, Vomit, Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

e_claire's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Rape, and Violence

deathmetalpainter's review

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

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Confinement, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent

katiemcgregor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

Wow. I just realized that this one has been sitting on my TBR for 7 years.

Daughter of the Forest is filled with atmosphere and slow building. This book takes it's time in everything it does and finds a beautiful rhythm within itself. While the Six Swansfairytale, is not original to this book, Marillier tells it in a way that makes it feel new, yet faithful to the source material. If you're to read any retelling of the story, this one is a great place to start.

Marillier's ability to craft her characters had me feeling their every pain (which there is a lot of) and basking in every joy. She does an incredible job of cultivating palpable relationships between the characters, which I imagine to be especially tricky since our main character, Sorcha, is mute for the majority of the book.

The other thing I'm especially impressed with is how the main villain of this book was portrayed. In some ways he was a bit of a caricature, but I honestly can't complain because Marillier made him so easy to hate.

Daughter of the Forest is a must read for lovers of slow burn and folklore. The Celtic setting is completely immersive and the storytelling is timeless.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Animal death, Confinement, and Vomit

Minor: War

liandra_bell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Animal death, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: War, Torture, and Violence

matchai's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Confinement

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, War, and Vomit

coincidental's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

By turn delightful and devastating both. I don't have the energy for lengthy review, but safe to say this retelling of the story of the girl whose brothers were turned into swans is a beautiful one, full of the majesty and magic of Ireland, and all the fierce power of love and strength of will against unimaginable odds. I loved it.

Important trigger warnings to be aware of: SpoilerRape, emotional manipulation and abuse, physical abuse, starvation and disordered eating, self-harm by means of work/stings from a plant, animal abuse/murder, death of a parent, general violence.
For those sensitive to animals done harm: SpoilerThe dog does die - one at least. There is harm done to animals and whilst it is not discussed in excessive detail, the protagonist's narration of it does not gloss over.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Moderate: War, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Self harm, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse