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Child of the Prophecy (Sevenwaters #3)

by Juliet Marillier (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 9,064 ratings · 423 reviews

Magic is fading... and the ways of Man are driving the Old Ones to the West, beyond the ken of humankind. The ancient groves are being destroyed, and if nothing is done, Ireland will lose its essential mystic core.

The prophecies of long ago have foretold a way to prevent this horror, and it is the Sevenwaters clan that the Spirits of Eire look to for salvation. They are a...more

Paperback, 596 pages

Published June 16th 2003 by Tor Books (first published 2000)

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Feb 29, 2012 Kay rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sufferers of growing pains

Recommended to Kay by: the other Sevenwaters books

Shelves: faerie-poop, fantasy, growing-pains, quite-the-romantic

Reading this book made me realize how perfect the protagonists of the previous Sevenwaters books were.

Sorcha and Liadan were model women in their community and among their peers. They were sure of their identities and the decisions they made. They had the uncanny ability to see beyond the actions of their decisions and fully realize the consequences even before they were faced with the choices. They were strong women who were able to grab fate in a chokehold, stare it down, and proceed to calml...more Reading this book made me realize how perfect the protagonists of the previous Sevenwaters books were.

Sorcha and Liadan were model women in their community and among their peers. They were sure of their identities and the decisions they made. They had the uncanny ability to see beyond the actions of their decisions and fully realize the consequences even before they were faced with the choices. They were strong women who were able to grab fate in a chokehold, stare it down, and proceed to calmly walk down the path of their own destiny.

In light of this, it must really suck to be unsure of one's own motives and to be conflicted with the concept of identity. In other words, to be a normal person.

Fainne is a different sort of woman from Sorcha and Liadan. Raised in solitude by her distant father, haunted by the death of her mother, and manipulated by her evil sorceress grandmother, no wonder Fainne is so unsure of herself. When she is sent to Sevenwaters, we constantly witness her struggle to balance her desire to become a member of a family and to carry out her grandmother’s ill will against Sevenwaters. The comparison between Fainne and characters like Liadan, Sean, and the near mythical Johnny is stark. Eventually, Fainne is able to carve out her own path and become a strong woman in her own right, but not without overcoming many difficulties.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, like all of Juliet Marillier’s works, this story has a sort of magic that whisks you away from reality and settles you comfortably in the refuge of Sevenwaters. But on the other hand, I found the perspective of Fainne to be uncomfortable. She’s a very mislead individual, but there were some things that she did that I strongly disliked.

(view spoiler)

It's not that I dislike flawed characters. But Fainne's flaws made me dislike aspects of her character. I don't doubt my reservations about Fainne’s character are largely personal issues, but they were severe enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book.

All in all, 3 stars. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for quality fiction that deals with themes of growing up and finding one’s identity. This rendition wasn’t my cup of tea, but I think that is largely a result of personal preference than anything else. I could definitely see other people loving this and five-starring it. But not for me.

3 stars and recommended(less)

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Dec 03, 2011 Clee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books

Ich hätte es nicht für möglich gehalten, doch im Vergleich zum zweiten Band hat das „Kind der Stürme“ nochmal eine Steigerung erfahren. Nach zwei heldenhaften Märtyrinnen als Protagonistinnen wird einem mit der Zauberin Fainne endlich einmal charakterliche Abwechslung geboten.
Fainne wird sich wohl nicht in das Herz jeden Lesers einschleichen können, da sie durch ihren zwielichtigen Charakter antagonistische Züge aufweist, doch bei mir hat sie damit voll ins Schwarze getroffen. Sie ist stark, oh...more Ich hätte es nicht für möglich gehalten, doch im Vergleich zum zweiten Band hat das „Kind der Stürme“ nochmal eine Steigerung erfahren. Nach zwei heldenhaften Märtyrinnen als Protagonistinnen wird einem mit der Zauberin Fainne endlich einmal charakterliche Abwechslung geboten.
Fainne wird sich wohl nicht in das Herz jeden Lesers einschleichen können, da sie durch ihren zwielichtigen Charakter antagonistische Züge aufweist, doch bei mir hat sie damit voll ins Schwarze getroffen. Sie ist stark, ohne sich für jeden und alles aufopfern zu wollen, was sie mir unglaublich sympathisch gemacht hat. Ich habe schon angefangen, Komplexe zu bekommen, weil ich mit Sicherheit nicht diesen selbstlosen Mut wie Sorcha oder Liadan aufbringen könnte …
Dennoch muss ich zugeben, dass ihre Dickköpfigkeit, sich von anderen nicht helfen zu lassen, doch an meinem Geduldsfaden gezerrt hat und ich sie manchmal gerne schütteln wollte, weil sie so lange gebraucht hat, wieder den rechten Weg zu finden.
Allerdings muss man es so sehen … wir sind Menschen und als solche machen wir Fehler, benehmen uns manchmal allzu verbissen oder irrational.

Auch ist mir positiv aufgefallen, dass hier mehr Fantastik mit reingebracht wurde, was durch Fainne als Jung-Zauberin unausweichlich ist. Dadurch wird dieser Band der Bezeichnung „historische Fantasy“ erstmals richtig gerecht.
Im Gegenzug wurde der Schwerpunkt ein wenig von der Liebesgeschichte genommen. Ich hatte nichts gegen den höheren Romantikanteil der ersten Sevenwaters-Bücher, aber war ebenso begeistert davon, von der Liebe weg und mehr zur Magie geführt worden zu sein. Und obwohl es oft heißt „Alt bewährt sich“, so finde ich den Ausbruch aus Marilliers normalem Plot- und Protagonistenschema großartig!
Besonders die Idee, wie die Autorin die Thematik behandelt hat, dass diese alte Hexe von Stiefmutter aus dem ersten Band hier sehr eng mit Fainne in Kontakt steht, hat gezeigt, dass Marilliers Reihe eine runde Sache ist. Oft wenn der Leser auf alte Bekannte stößt, erlebt er einen dieser „Aha“-Momente und fühlt sich vollkommen in die Welt und das Handlungsgeflecht integriert.

Zu viel möchte ich über den Inhalt jedoch nicht verraten, denn ich denke – Fans dieser Reihe werden es sowieso lesen wollen (zumindest würde ich es ihnen raten, sollten sie oben genannten Faktoren nicht abgeneigt sein) und Neueinsteiger sollten nicht durch Spoiler ernüchtert werden.
Trotzdem kann ich sagen, dass das Ende dieses Buches durch Spannung, ergreifende Momente und die eine oder andere Überraschung besticht.

Ebenfalls die Tatsache, dass unser „böser“ Gegenspieler eine Heldentat vollbringt und sich dadurch selbst in ein ganz neues Licht stellt, hat mich begeistert. Was gibt es besseres als Gegenspieler, die man verstehen und denen man auch Mitleid gegenüber empfinden kann, sodass man selbst in einen inneren Konflikt gerät?
Eine gewisse Großmutter allerdings … mei oh mei, die kann froh sein, dass ich ihr mal nicht schnell einen Besuch habe abstatten können.

Mit Sicherheit kann man aus meinen Worten heraushören, dass auch dieses Buch mich wieder überzeugt und glücklich gemacht hat. Zu sagen bleibt … Ha! Band 4 liegt schon neben mir und kann sofort gelesen werden – der Tag ist gerettet!
Nur eine Frage hätte ich noch … wieso hat man dieses Buch „Das Kind der Stürme“ genannt und nicht, wie es z.B. im Englischen heißt, „Das Kind der Prophezeiung“? Diesen Titel hätte ich als viel logischer empfunden, da es hier kaum um Stürme geht. Doch natürlich passt sich die Bezeichnung gut den ersten beiden Reihentiteln an.
(less)

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Nov 21, 2008 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, irish, medievalism, paganism, historical-fiction

I think this book was at least as good as Daughter of the Forest, although in a somewhat different way. DotF was, as I've noted in that review, a tale of the strength of love for family, of good overcoming evil even when it is at great cost, and of love found along the way. Child of the Prophecy is, I think, a book about learning to love oneself, that it doesn't matter how many people might love you because it is all lost if you don't have that inner core of strength and self-love.

CotP is most d...more I think this book was at least as good as Daughter of the Forest, although in a somewhat different way. DotF was, as I've noted in that review, a tale of the strength of love for family, of good overcoming evil even when it is at great cost, and of love found along the way. Child of the Prophecy is, I think, a book about learning to love oneself, that it doesn't matter how many people might love you because it is all lost if you don't have that inner core of strength and self-love.

CotP is most definitely a tale of a girl's struggle to find her identity, to figure out what she stands for, and her sacrifice to do what she knows is right despite the horrific cost to herself. Fainne is, in my opinion, probably the most believable of the characters in the three books. She is conflicted and scared, manipulated and manipulating, by turns overly innocent and surprisingly wise. She has otherworldly abilities like many of the other characters who have gone before her, but unlike them, she seems entirely earthly. I think her own doubt about her nature gives her that groundedness, because her insecurities make her feel inadequate and as a result, she doesn't trust those very otherworldly abilities that were almost taken for granted by Sorcha and Liadan. Those women were both completely aware of who they were and what they thought their roles in life were. They had no crises of identity like Fainne, so we never really had the same experience of seeing them decide who they were, as we do with Fainne.

This is also a tale of personal accountability. Throughout, Fainne is coerced to do some terrible things, and she does her best to make amends, to right the wrongs that she caused. She pays a huge price and does so willingly in atonement.

Darragh is, aside from Conor and Finbar, my favorite male character. I don't really get his somewhat slavish devotion to Fainne considering all she put him through, but he is an admirable character and any woman would be lucky to have a man like him. He is clever, well rounded, and brave. He can be a fighter when needed, but his preference is to be gentle and loving with all things.

As always, Marillier delivered another exceptional novel and I'd highly recommend this, along with the other 2 previous books, to anyone who enjoys fantasy, Irish myth, paganism/Druidis, and rich, complex characters. (less)

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Feb 17, 2008 Meredith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: re-read

This conclusion of the Sevenwaters trilogy is a bit different from the other two. It's still narrated by a young woman, Fainne, who is a member of the family of Sevenwaters. However, it's a bit different in that Fainne's rather scandalous parentage (scandalous even by today's standards), her rather withdrawn personality, and her very powerful magical talents make her an outsider and an object of mistrust to many of the characters we know and trust from the first two novels. This sets up a suitab...more

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Jul 01, 2008 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy fans

Shelves: fantasy, fairytale, historical-fiction, mythology, romance

Third book in the Sevenwaters trilogy.

Unlike the heroines in the first two books, Sorcha and Liadan, Fianne is not perfect and completely self-sacrificing. While some other reviewers thought this detracted from the story, I found her a more interesting and complex character. Fianne is the daughter of Ciaran and Niamh, with a heritage that includes the strength and goodness of the Sevenwaters clan as well as the darkness of Lady Oonagh. She was raised in solitude by her father after her mother's...more

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May 08, 2013 L.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fantasy, historical-fiction, favorites

So…I’ll be the first to confess that I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this book throughout the entirety of the time I’ve been in love with the Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier (which is at least a decade). Because I’m rereading through the series so that I can end it with the newly released Flame of Sevenwaters, I really wanted to get through Child of the Prophecy (Book #3) again. Previously, I had been a little disappointed in this (once-thought) ending of the trilogy (which has now...more So…I’ll be the first to confess that I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this book throughout the entirety of the time I’ve been in love with the Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier (which is at least a decade). Because I’m rereading through the series so that I can end it with the newly released Flame of Sevenwaters, I really wanted to get through Child of the Prophecy (Book #3) again. Previously, I had been a little disappointed in this (once-thought) ending of the trilogy (which has now turned into a 6 book series). However, this time–the third time around–I am IN LOVE. I don’t know what changed between the previous two times I read this book and my most recent time, but the fact remains the same that I ADORE CotP and cannot give it anything less than 5 shining stars!

This time around, I paid much more attention to the actual words of the story. I mean the literal words on the page. This is a masterpiece, folks. Marillier’s prose is GORGEOUS. I mean…her sentences were just dripping awesome in this book. As well, Fainne is a much more complex and troubled heroine, which I (like many others) agree makes her an extremely interesting character. The love story here is subtle and underscored by the overwhelming and near-tragic plot and I think this is a pleasant change. Don’t get me wrong, though. My favorite Marillier book is Daughter of the Forest followed closely by Son of the Shadows. Still, I think I misjudged Child of the Prophecy in my previous reads. I think I went in expecting Fainne to be more like Sorcha or Liadan. I was hoping for a sweeping love story that would leave me breathless, but Fainne and her man have a less obvious story and one that I can relate more easily to.

If you have previously read this book and come away feeling less than satisfied, my advice is definitely to REREAD it!! Seriously this is my third time reading and it is only now that I feel I can fully appreciate Fainne’s struggle, her love story, and the broad-sweeping consequences of her actions. I respect Marillier for writing this book and for breaking out of her mold a bit to produce something of such immense value and uniqueness.

If you’re looking for any of Marillier’s Sevenwaters books, here they all are! Check ‘em out!!! You won’t regret it and you’ll likely find your favorite book series of ALL time.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Maria rated it 1 of 5 stars

I did not know it was possible to get as annoyed with characters I once loved as I did in this book.

I really, really wanted to like it at least as much as the second, although I figured there was no way I'd love it as much as the first...and I was right.

The protagonist seems to have been created for the soul purpose of giving the author someone to punish and torment. I absolutely hate that. "Hey, look at how much I can make this person suffer! Isn't her life tragic? Don't you want to read abou...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Alisi rated it 1 of 5 stars

I haven't read past this book in the Sevenwaters series or trilogy or whatever (so only apply what I say to the original three.)

These books seem to take place every generation. This book's MC is Fianne, Niamh's daughter. If you haven't read book two, Niamh is sent away in an effort to keep her away from her love because (view spoiler) Her new husband is...more I haven't read past this book in the Sevenwaters series or trilogy or whatever (so only apply what I say to the original three.)

These books seem to take place every generation. This book's MC is Fianne, Niamh's daughter. If you haven't read book two, Niamh is sent away in an effort to keep her away from her love because (view spoiler) Her new husband is terribly abusive to her and Niamh's sister helps her escape.

I've always felt it was incredibly stupid for the family not to tell the kids about their half uncle. That would've solved that mess. I hate it when authors rely on plot devises that suddenly go away if said MC's knew the secret. Any author who has to depend on a MC not asking the why questions and/or having people not tell the MC is rather lazy.

Regardless, Fianne practically raises herself after her mother dies. She studies magic with her father (and sometimes her grandma) and goes about her business. Eventually, she finds her way back to seven waters and her extended family. And, while her grandma tries to get her to spy or do harm, she manages to find a way out.

I like Fianne. I really did. She was tragic in her own way. Almost to the degree of Sorcha. The reason I gave this book one star was because I thought it was... well, rather disgusting how the extended family treated her.

The open hostility was horrible. Hell, Liadan even threatened to kill her. While part of me understood, I couldn't figure out why the family would want to kill her (her grandma being the Lady who turned the brothers into swans.) She wasn't doing anything harmful that her grandma wanted her to.

No one offered to help her. It was just throw Fianne under the bus, even though her situation was more or less a direct cause of the families earlier deceit.

And, of course, when the prophecy rolled around (something like "the raven marked would save the old magic or whatever") (view spoiler)

This book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Bleh.(less)

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Jun 28, 2012 Sierra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved reviewing Juliet Marillier’s first two fantastic books. But this last installment of the Sevenwaters trilogy I like best of all. Marillier has added a slightly darker edge to Child of the Prophecy, stretching her writing wings a bit. She has done an excellent job of keeping me enthralled and others must agree with me: Daughter of the Forest won the American Library Association's Alex Award and Son of the Shadows 2000 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

The Irish clan of Sevenwaters ha...more

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May 31, 2012 Eowyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

It took me a little while to get into this book because the main character was hard to connect with for me. She was too much of her Grandmother's puppet. It was when she finally decided to do what was right and go against her Grandmother that the book started getting good.

As far as the rest of the characters go, I liked Darragh. He was kind and loyal beyond common sense. I really liked all of her little cousins. They were cute and brought some humor to the story at times. And of course, I LOVE F...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Caro rated it 4 of 5 stars

I definitely liked this book the best out of the Sevenwaters trilogy.
it was probably the romance (or lack of it) that i liked the most, but it was still good. In the previous two novels, Sorcha and Liadan are so perfect, strong, good women. You know they deserve that they have and their men, and i loved reading their stories. But i don't know. Fainne definitely felt much more real. She was conflicted over good and bad, tried to protect the ones she loved, and actually made some decisions.

Unlike...more

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Jan 26, 2012 DeEtte rated it 2 of 5 stars

Wow, this was even more longwinded and tedious than the second book in the series. Ms. Marillier is heading steadily downhill, and it was such a promising beginning.

I don't even know where to start--the main character is completely unlikeable, she spends 80% of the book locked in internal debate about whether she's destined to be evil or not. NOTHING of import happens until the last 100 pages of the book. The "love story" is nonexistent: we're supposed to believe that these two people have this...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Vd rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book (along with the previous two of the Sevenwaters trilogy) really has taken me places. It has been a strange, beautiful, romantic, and moving journey.
In 'Child of the Prophecy', we see the world of Sevenwaters through the eyes of Fianne. She's not as morally unshakable as Sorcha or Liadan. Because she is not only a daughter of the forest but also the grandchild of the evil Oonagh. Her uncertainties can get annoying or depressing, to an extent. But that is what makes Fianne so interesting...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Ashley Garrett rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the third installment of the Sevenwaters series. This book follows Fianne who is the daughter of a sorcerer and the grand daughter of Sorcha. Fianne lives a very sheltered life with her father on the edge of Kerry near cliffs. She spends the majority of her days in solitude or learning the craft from her father. Through several events she is sent to live with her Uncle Sean and his family at Sevenwaters. This book is all about self discovery, courage, good vs. evil and love.

Although I l...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, historical-fantasy, ireland, fantasy, awesome-fantasy-written-by-women, 10-best-books-2008-and-earlier

I admit to not being entirely rational about the Sevenwaters Trilogy. I first read these books as a teenager and they resonated with me such that I read them all many times. While I'm not sure I would give this book five stars if I came to it with fresh eyes today, I do so anyway because a) an author who can inspire these kinds of feelings in me is doing something very well and b) this book is certainly on par with the first two in the trilogy and does not deserve its lower Goodreads rating.

Whi...more I admit to not being entirely rational about the Sevenwaters Trilogy. I first read these books as a teenager and they resonated with me such that I read them all many times. While I'm not sure I would give this book five stars if I came to it with fresh eyes today, I do so anyway because a) an author who can inspire these kinds of feelings in me is doing something very well and b) this book is certainly on par with the first two in the trilogy and does not deserve its lower Goodreads rating.

While it's helpful to read the other two books first, Child of the Prophecy can work as a standalone: a generation passes in between and there's a new heroine, a young sorceress named Fainne (pronounced Fawn-ya). She's the daughter of Ciaran and Niamh from the previous book, making her the granddaughter of Oonagh, the sorceress out to destroy the Sevenwaters family. The plot of the book revolves around Oonagh's blackmailing and manipulating Fainne in an attempt to destroy her family.

Many fans of the previous books seem to dislike this one for reasons that aren't flaws in my eyes: it's rather bleak in tone, the heroine is far from perfect and the ending is bittersweet. In other words, if you're just looking for a light romantic read, this isn't your book (in fact, the romance is a much more minor element here than in the previous two). Fainne is a difficult character--she does some terrible things, and with her isolated childhood and present secrets, she has a hard time bonding with people. But to me this makes her interesting: she has serious inner conflicts, and sometimes she makes the wrong choices. It's also fascinating to see characters and settings we came to love in previous books from a different perspective: many of the "good" characters dislike or mistrust Fainne, and she feels the same way about their beloved forest.

The book has a gripping (although not fast-paced) plot, engaging characters and a lyrical prose style. Inner turmoil and growth, which are prominent, are well-done and balanced out with dialogue and a bit of action. Magical elements, while obviously strong given the heroine's abilities, are well-done, fitting into the setting and retaining a sense of wonder. It's not perfect--in particular, I'd note that the heroine is often far too perceptive for someone who has spent very little time around people in her life, and that there's perhaps too much talk at the climax. But I can't imagine a better conclusion for this trilogy: thematically and in terms of plot and character, Child of the Prophecy works excellently. (less)

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Dec 29, 2009 Reshma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And another great book! Again I warmed up to the narrator, another strong female character, Fainne. The storyline is charming. The ending is fascinating. Great!

I found that when I got to the end of the book, I didn't want it to end. After three novels, I had become so enthralled with these characters that I had a need to know what was ahead of them. It was hard to let go. The imagery created in these book still enter my dreams.

It was inspiring to read a set of novels with strong female character...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Fainne is a different sort of child living a different kind of life for Kerry folk. For three seasons of the year her only companion is her father and the steady roar of the waves crashing on the coast. Cooped up inside their home, they study together and keep to themselves. In the summer, however, Fainne is allowed a little freedom and awaits her only friend Darragh when the traveling caravans pass through. Together they explore the rocky coves and enjoy both talkative and silent exchanges. But...more Fainne is a different sort of child living a different kind of life for Kerry folk. For three seasons of the year her only companion is her father and the steady roar of the waves crashing on the coast. Cooped up inside their home, they study together and keep to themselves. In the summer, however, Fainne is allowed a little freedom and awaits her only friend Darragh when the traveling caravans pass through. Together they explore the rocky coves and enjoy both talkative and silent exchanges. But sooner than Fainne is ready, her freedom is curtailed when she's forced to dedicate all of her free time to studying the druidic lore and magical arts. And when her grandmother the Lady Oonagh arrives things only get worse. With her father ill and Fainne coming of marriageable age, Oonagh sets her on a journey to Sevenwaters with a task to do whatever she can to stop the fulfillment of the prophecy. As Fainne comes to know and love her Sevenwaters family she realizes that she needs them just as much as her Kerry family. But if she betrays the Sevenwaters alliance and the sacred islands are not reclaimed by Erin, everything else that Fainne holds dear will be forfeit. How can she possibly prevent both the loss of the Islands and the loss of her loved ones?

Many say the series falters a little in this concluding installment and I agree. Fainne is a much grayer heroine than Sorcha and Liadan and as a result is harder to like. I questioned the level of accountability shown for some of her shadier actions and understood but was still bothered by her un-abating pleas for Darragh to go away and stay out of her life. She really treated him badly sometimes and he did not deserve her harsh words. It's hard not to be in her shoes and think she could have acted differently, she could have found some way to avoid acting the way she did under the nonetheless extreme circumstances. That said, I still relished my time spent in Sevenwaters with new and old characters of Erin and Briton. The scenes with favorites Liadan and Bran and Conor and Finbar really sparkled. I also really liked Johnny, Sibeal and some of the other new characters. The nuanced, layered meanings of Marillier's book titles also continue to impress. The role and identity of the child of the prophecy, as in Son of the Shadows isn't obvious or clear cut until the end and even then is still up to personal interpretation. Fainne grew on me and it can be argued that she fairly earned her happily ever after. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the fourth book, Heir to Sevenwaters and I'm elated that there's a fifth book currently in the works. (less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Nita rated it 2 of 5 stars

{Spoilers}

Bah, this book was just irritating. I skimmed through all the nonsense and repetition, which was basically the whole book and i kept waiting for something or anything unexpected and interesting to happen. I was disappointed.

The ending scenes were badly written. I wanted more magic since the story was based on Fainne's powers but instead, the final 'battle' was a fight of words.

Seriously? These are 3 powerful sorcerer's and thats the best we get?

It was just not well done and it had s...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Raafia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, favourites, magic, fantasy-and-adventure, kick-ass-girls

3.5 stars

Juliet Marillier is an amazing author. This book had all the good things Marillier's other books had. The same beautiful, poetic prose. The wonderful setting. The slow, complex romance. The high involvement of religion and family. And the unbelievably real characters.

Fainne is quite different from Liadan and Sorcha. She's not as selfless or brave or good. Rather she's awkward, shy and some of her actions are simply evil. Though I guess we can't blame her as she was under Lady Oonagh's...more

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May 23, 2012 Alaa rated it 3 of 5 stars

i liked the struggle in Fianne of what she is and what she felt is right , she's torn between the two until the very end when she finally decide. she is like the untamed power that only needed a small firefly to light it's path , even though she has made mistakes and bad choices i think mistakes in the path of learning should be forgiven , at some points i hated how weak she was when it came to her grandmother's wishes but i think it wast fear that bound her to act against it but rather the igno...more

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May 19, 2013 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it

This is the third book in this series. Often you will hear people speak of these first three books as a trilogy, but you may be confused as there are indeed six books in the series. I think the series was intended to end with this book, but the author found her characters still had more to say. This is not a series that you can start in the middle of. There is probably enough information that you could figure it out, but these first three books span three generations. Each book is a story in its...more

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Jul 09, 2009 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Irish history and Sevenwaters fans

Shelves: fantasy, 2009

This third book in the amazing Sevenwater's series (truly, you should read them now) continues with the story of the family's three-generation long struggle to safeguard the forests and the fae folk who dwell there which surrounds their home Sevenwaters. Raised by the outcast druid Ciaran and her grandmother, the evil sorceress Lady Oonagh, Fianne has been trained since birth to master the magic that would be able to destroy the Sevenwaters family. Believing this her only choice, Fainne is sent...more This third book in the amazing Sevenwater's series (truly, you should read them now) continues with the story of the family's three-generation long struggle to safeguard the forests and the fae folk who dwell there which surrounds their home Sevenwaters. Raised by the outcast druid Ciaran and her grandmother, the evil sorceress Lady Oonagh, Fianne has been trained since birth to master the magic that would be able to destroy the Sevenwaters family. Believing this her only choice, Fainne is sent to Sevenwaters with explicit instructions from her grandmother to do her bidding or those she loves will suffer. Fainne finds herself being lulled into the companionable atmosphere at Sevenwaters even though she knows what she must accomplish will hurt those that she grows to love.

Fainne's story seems more to delve into how people see themselves - as good or evil - and the lengths they will go to either change or keep that perception. Fainne has had one idea drilled into her head for so long that despite the many times her family tells her otherwise, she struggles to believe it. That said, I did have a little trouble relating to Fainne. With Sorcha and Laidan in the previous two books, I felt an immediate connection that even though I enjoyed this story it made me feel as if something was missing. Fainne is a wonderful character with strength and courage but I found it hard to connect with her choices and sorrows. Even though she is forced, she still has to do some horrible things that fill her with long lasting self-loathing and guilt. Like others, I've found in Marillier's books, her characters always face extreme hardships and suffering before they can achieve happiness - this is pretty standard. But I felt Fainne's reward for her struggles didn't adequately compensate for the hardships she had faced up to that point. I guess it had me feeling a little down after finishing. But it was still a lovely book full loyalty and trust and beautiful Irish stories inherent in any of Marillier's wonderful books.(less)

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Jun 23, 2010 Knucklefish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

The beauty of this book comes from the change in perspective. Fainne was raised away from Sevenwaters, giving her a fresh voice when she joins the rest of the family. Having read the previous books, the reader often knows more than the narrator does about the situations and characters. This book is similar to the first in the focus on the narrator's impossible task rather than the love story. At times I could hardly bare to read about her trials, but that powers marks good writing.

But that Julie...more

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Oct 14, 2009 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great conclusion to the Sevenwaters trilogy. Marillier builds tension not only within the book, but across a three-book arc. The woman is a master of her craft. I use the word "craft" specifically, because her writing reminds me less of a splashy Jackson Pollack painting and more of a Hudson River landscape. A sort of back to basics, solid foundation feeling. These books are not necessarily part of the contemporary literary tradition. Marillier ponders the value and purpose of storytelling in...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although the second one of this trilogy remains my favorite of the three, this wasn't bad either. It was quite a departure, character-wise, from the first two--yes, it's still a very strong central female character with powers, but it's much more conventionally magical than the first two. Also, there's a sense of being outside the normal continuum, not part of the rhythm--the character bases much on being the "outcast."
This is also the volume where Marillier really starts to pull out her politi...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Chocholic21 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

she's done it again ! another stunning book. unlike its predecessors' it is more of a story of strength to do what is right than it is of love ( romance) , many times during the book I was left mentally screaming at the main character Fainne, my problem was i had grown to accustomed to the main character being completely uncorruptible ( previous 2 books)whereas in this book the character is lead to believe that evil is in her blood and nothing she does will change that and so at points she just...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Tara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OK now this book wasn't great. The first chapter started off with me confused with whose point of view I was reading in. Since each chapter is almost 50 pages long I spent the first chapter trying to figure out who father was and how this child fit in with the main characters. Maybe I missed something or just slow at figuring this out but that was my first impression of the book.

The next few chapter talked alot of sorcery and at one point I considered putting it down since I really hate reading...more

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Oct 24, 2010 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars

The thing I like best Juliet Marillier's writing is that she doesn't let the reader know what's really going on until the end when everything unfolds. It makes the last chapters more interesting instead of just reading them for the sake of finishing the book.

With this last installment (that's actually not) of The Sevenwaters Trilogy, we see a new kind of narrator. Faine, a child conceived through a coupling cursed by blood, is raised in solitude by her sorcerer father. When it is her time to joi...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Shauna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Kristin Cashore

Shelves: 2010, historical-fiction, the-other-crowd, bought-secondhand, i-own-a-copy, juliet-marillier

Child of the Prophecy is the third book in the Sevenwaters series, and it was amazing to read. Beautifully written, it tells the story of Fainne, a fifteen year old girl with a mysterious family background. Her life is great, with her father Ciaran and her best friend Darragh arriving every Summer with his travelling family. Then her grandmother Oonagh puts in an appearance.

From there, Fainne's life starts unraveling, and the lives of everyone she loves are put in harm's way. Fainne needs to fin...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Emily Jameson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book concludes the Sevenwaters trilogy. (Well, actually, there are three more books, but this is the original trilogy.) Child of the Prophecy ties all the loose ends together, as the people of Erin prepare for an epic battle with the Britons for control of the mystical (and strategic) islands that are important to both people.

Central to the novel is Fianne, who is the grandaughter of Sorcha from Daughter of the Forest. She is a very conflicted heroine compared to Sorcha and her daughter Li...more

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About Juliet Marillier

Juliet Marillier was born July 27, 1948 in Dunedin, New Zealand and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Marillier was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and a B Mus (Hons). She has said in an interview that this academic training strengt...more

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Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters, #1)

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Quotes from Child of the Prophecy

“Good and bad; shade and sunlight, there's but a hair's breath between them. It's all one in the end.” — 15 people liked it

“My daughter," I said blankly. "I see. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought
it took a man, as well as a woman, to make a child. Is this infant's father to
be a crab, or a seagull maybe? Or were you planning to shipwreck some likely
sailor on my doorstep, so I can make convenient use of him?” — 11 people liked it

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Child of the Prophecy (Sevenwaters #3)

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