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erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Sexual assault
daniparvu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Racism and Rape
Minor: Violence, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, and Sexual violence
crispycritter's review against another edition
4.25
I first read this book in either 2001 or 2002, as a pre-teen/young teen. I picked it up at my local library, where I used to spend everyday after school. I went on to read the rest of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and loved these books so very much. I credit them with getting me into the fantasy genre. I spent a long time away from fiction, not feeling like I had the time to read fiction because who has time to read for fun as a grown up? I'm happy to say I finally found the time to re-read this after a long time away. These are my thoughts re-reading this book after TWENTY (yikes) years:
Juliet Marillier is still a brilliant writer and gifted storyteller. Beautiful, moving prose. Characters you will love with your whole heart and characters you with hate with every fiber for your being.
But I have found that I was not nearly as comfortable with some of the plot points as I was when I first read this book, as a kid. I don't know if this is because some of these things went over my head, if I just forgot the impact they made on me at the time, or if my sensitivity has changed after so much time and life has happened. In any event, here are some major content warnings you should be aware of, that I will put behind a spoiler tag:
These books will always be so special to me. However, they are in the same vein as A Song of Ice and Fire, where very bad things happen to good people with little respite. And that's no longer my idea of a good time. Read with care.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence
maises's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Overall, I think this retelling was an interesting exercise that reflected on suffering for a loved one. Needless suffering is huge in classics like this, since old fairy tales specifically reward suffering like penance. But every hardship Sorcha endured never really had any rhyme or reason to it, and I think that just made the payoff from her pain actually feel like a relief has been lifted from my own shoulders, just as a reader. I don’t recall feeling so enthralled at a climax I knew the exact outcome of before! Also the villain(s) were pretty villainous. I appreciate when fiction has bad guys so bad that I want to dive into the pages and choke out somebody.
So I do not really think I am all that interested in the rest of the Sevenwaters books, firstly because I think this is already a strong standalone Six Swans retelling (and I think the only retelling in this series?), and secondly because I am not the biggest fan of second generation main characters… However, I do have Son of the Shadows so if it comes to that…! In any case, I may be browsing Marillier’s backlog soon to try out something else.
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
bukheeta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape
prunechips's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Rape
effyapples's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
comityoferrors's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked the story well enough, but the narration and characters were not what I hoped. The writing isn't bad, but IMO it's just "good" and the author writes in a way that feels like it should be great. There were some vivid and impactful scenes that I really loved, but others fell short or even detracted from the overall story due to baffling differences in characterization. In particular, Conor didn't seem to have a consistent characterization in the final acts --
Unfortunately, Sorcha also felt weirdly characterized to me. She was simultaneously precocious, careful, brilliantly learned in lore and mythology...and too stupid to recognize anything about people and mythological structures, except for the times where she was uncannily tuned in to those exact topics. She was whatever the plot needed to move forward at the time. It also bugged me that so much of her later characterization was that: 1) she suffered for men, willingly and unwillingly, and that's a really noble womanly trait :) and 2) btw she was SUPER hot the whole time! Like, every other minor character commented on how wildly beautiful and shapely she was. I think there were a small handful of times that characters praised her intelligence or resilience or compassion, and that was usually in addition to praising her obedience and physical attractiveness
Despite all that, I did mostly enjoy this book lol. I like most anything set in Ireland, especially ancient Ireland, and it's obvious Marillier did her homework with the setting. I appreciated the message of harmony and humanity from the main conflict in the story. I actually did like the romance, or at least I liked
I think I was ultimately let down by my high hopes for what this could have been, but that doesn't mean the end result isn't worth reading -- just be sure to go in with the right expectations.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse
jmitchell20's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Rape
inflammatory's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Rape