Heir to Sevenwaters (Sevenwaters, #4)

May 22, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, irish, medievalism, paganism, 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. EDIT: I just reread this and enjoyed it much more than I apparently did the first time. I say apparently because, oddly, I have absolutely no recollection of reading this book previously. That almost never happens to me. Once I read a story, I tend to remember them. Anyway, I definitely liked this a great deal. I am also stoked about reading the next book in the Sevenwaters series as well as the new book Marillier has coming out this fall!

**Old review**
As far as Juliet Marillier's books go, this...more EDIT: I just reread this and enjoyed it much more than I apparently did the first time. I say apparently because, oddly, I have absolutely no recollection of reading this book previously. That almost never happens to me. Once I read a story, I tend to remember them. Anyway, I definitely liked this a great deal. I am also stoked about reading the next book in the Sevenwaters series as well as the new book Marillier has coming out this fall!

**Old review**
As far as Juliet Marillier's books go, this was fairly sub-standard. While the previous three Sevenwaters books had a similar trait--the sheltered young woman leaves home for various reasons and falls in love with a young man who would otherwise be completely unacceptable were it not for his honor/loyalty/save something at the last minute--this one was too formulaic. I think Marillier can do much better. That said, this was still a wonderful book and Marillier is a better writer than many out there.

I did like that this one was more "Otherworldly" than the others. The others all had elements of the Otherworld, this one was largely set in the land of Faerie. It was a much darker book than many of Marillier's usual, which I really liked, actually. Yes, the lovers still end up married happily, but there is a shadow hanging over them. There is ample room for another Sevenwaters book, and I do hope that it Marillier's intent. I still enjoy her writing immensely, even when I think she could do better, as here.

Anyway, I also liked that Clodagh was not a typical heroine. In fact, she was nothing more than a girl who was more than capable of running a large household, not much more, as was noted more than once throughout the book. But she overcomes her fears and self doubt to save her lover at great personal risk. In that regard, she is typical of the female hero. But she didn't have the same sense of confidence that the three previous women had. Even Fainne, in Child of the Prophecy had a bit more confidence. Clodagh knew what she had to do and didn't hesitate to do it, but she had fears the whole time. In that regard, she was probably more realistic than any of the others, including Fainne.

At the end of the day, this was a book about selfless love, many, many different kinds. It would be good book for younger readers as well as adults. It can stand alone from the other Sevenwaters books, which is nice. Everything that is mentioned from the other books is easily explained in a way that's not annoying for those who've read the previous books but is sufficient for those who haven't to understand what's happening.

Overall, this is still a very good book, and I would recommend it to fantasy fans. (less)

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Nov 04, 2008 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: belovedbookshelf, girls-who-do-things

I couldn't believe it when I heard that Juliet Marillier was writing another Sevenwaters book. It's been eight years since Daughter of the Forest was first published and six since Child of the Prophecy and I honestly thought that ship had sailed. I had accustomed myself to the notion that all I would ever have would be the original trilogy to keep me warm on those cold nights when only the Sevenwaters magic will do. And then the unbelievable happened and she announced a fourth volume. And ins...more I couldn't believe it when I heard that Juliet Marillier was writing another Sevenwaters book. It's been eight years since Daughter of the Forest was first published and six since Child of the Prophecy and I honestly thought that ship had sailed. I had accustomed myself to the notion that all I would ever have would be the original trilogy to keep me warm on those cold nights when only the Sevenwaters magic will do. And then the unbelievable happened and she announced a fourth volume. And instead of following its predecessors and taking place a generation after the previous book, Heir to Sevenwaters would be set just three years after the events of Child of the Prophecy.

The story follows Clodagh, the third of Sean and Aisling's six daughters, and the one the entire household looks to in times of strain and dissension. Known for her exceptional domestic skills and attention to detail, Clodagh is forced to take the reins as her mother approaches the delivery of her final child--the long-awaited son and possible heir. At the same time her father is preparing to host a council of warring chieftains and dealing with the possibility that his son-in-law is plotting against the alliance. When her new baby brother is stolen from his nursery while in Clodagh's care, everything changes, and Clodagh finds herself completely outside her realm of experience, on a journey to reclaim her kidnapped brother from the realm of the Fair Folk and prove not only her own innocence, but that of the unusual young warrior Cathal who is also under suspicion. Together, Clodagh and Cathal risk everything as they face the Lord of the Oak and bargain for their lives.

I don't know what it is about the world of Sevenwaters, but it has some kind of hold over me. And it was so good to be back. Clodagh is a different kind of heroine from her aunt Liadan and her grandmother Sorcha. Though, like those two women, she finds her life drifting radically from the path she was sure it would follow. She also displays a large quantity of courage when called for.

The book stands out to me because of the beautiful, even writing and because of the likability of its two main characters. Clodagh is an ordinary young woman who, when thrust into extraordinary circumstances, finds resources she didn't realize she had. The courage to risk her life for her brother, but also the courage to try to be friends with a lonely young man who is not interested in being her friend, who goes out of his way to be prickly and unpleasant, who fights himself at every turn, and who no one believes in. Including himself. I loved this story. I loved its glimpses of old friends and its hints of future possibilities. As only the best ones do, it surprised and delighted me and made me long for more.(less)

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Jul 20, 2010 Chachic rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: actual-books-owned, favorites, would-love-to-reread

Orinally posted here.

Another excellent installment in what has become one of my favorite series: the Sevenwaters books by Juliet Marillier. I'm so happy that Ms. Marillier decided to write more books in this series! Like I said, I had a pretty lukewarm reaction to Child of the Prophecy but that's okay because I knew that I could look forward to more adventures in the Sevenwaters world with this one and Seer of Sevenwaters, due out later this year. This one is different from the rest because it o...more Orinally posted here.

Another excellent installment in what has become one of my favorite series: the Sevenwaters books by Juliet Marillier. I'm so happy that Ms. Marillier decided to write more books in this series! Like I said, I had a pretty lukewarm reaction to Child of the Prophecy but that's okay because I knew that I could look forward to more adventures in the Sevenwaters world with this one and Seer of Sevenwaters, due out later this year. This one is different from the rest because it occurs only a couple of years after Child of the Prophecy, unlike the other Sevenwaters books which occur one generation after the one before it.

As always, the main character of this book is a daughter of Sevenwaters, Clodagh. What I like about Clodagh is she doesn't have special powers like the other Sevenwaters heroines. She's not the healer nor the seer in her generation. At the start of the book, it is even emphasized that Clodagh's main skills lie in managing the household and she'll become a nice little wife some day. However, Clodagh shows an exceptional capacity to love, which I think comes from her upbringing. The Sevenwaters clan is a close-knit one and the children of this remarkable family all exhibit their warmth and inner strength each in their own way. I love that even though Clodagh was terrified to journey to the Otherworld, she knows she must do it to get her brother back.

I know that the main characters in the Sevenwaters books are females but since all of them have their respective romantic interests, I thought I'd take a moment to praise Ms. Marillier's heroes because they are just as amazing as their female counterparts. Red, Bran, Cathal. Very strong men and convinced of what they want in life until they meet our heroines and they become conflicted because they know that nothing will ever be the same. *sigh* I love these men! I love that they're all so different too. In Cathal's case, he was rude and arrogant because he wanted to push Clodagh away. He believed that she'll be in danger if she comes near him but at the same time, he's drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

As always, beautiful writing in a lush and vivid world that's a blend of historical fiction and fantasy involving the fey. However, the Lady of the Forest and her flame-haired lord, those who personally watched over generations of the Sevenwaters family have moved on and a different breed took their place in the forest. Mac Dara and his kind are the fey that are common in the books that I've seen around - they're tricksters and do not understand human emotions such as love so they're bound to be cruel. These characters present a different kind of problem from the previous books because the prophecy has already been fulfilled. I like that there's something unique in this book to keep things lively. I keep saying this but if you guys haven't realized, I highly recommend this series and I look forward to more of Ms. Marillier's work. :)(less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, epic-series, fantasy, favorite-series, favorites, historical, read-more-than-once, romance

I just re-read this entire series again so just rewriting my review. Once again we visit the amazing beautiful world of Sevenwaters in a time when people believed in the Fair Folk - because they were real. Sevenwaters is one of the last places the Tuatha De Dannan still exist and the humans who dwell there willingly share their domain with them. The veil here between the human world and the Otherworld is very thin and this is accepted by all those live here.

Surprisingly and of great concern is t...more I just re-read this entire series again so just rewriting my review. Once again we visit the amazing beautiful world of Sevenwaters in a time when people believed in the Fair Folk - because they were real. Sevenwaters is one of the last places the Tuatha De Dannan still exist and the humans who dwell there willingly share their domain with them. The veil here between the human world and the Otherworld is very thin and this is accepted by all those live here.

Surprisingly and of great concern is that Lady Aisling and Lord Sean are expecting another child. Lady Aisling is past the age of safe childbearing. This story is the story of their daughter, Clodagh, whose responsibility it is to care for her baby brother while her mother recovers. Clodagh is being in a subtle way courted by Aidan who is one of Johnny's men from the island. She is shocked when another of the band from the island, Cathal, warns her away from Aidan. Shortly after, the worst thing possible happens - the baby disappears out of his crib as Clodagh is speaking to Cathal right outside the door. He is telling her that he is leaving and they are seen in an embrace which was only a farewell but much more is made of it. Cathal comes under suspicion and the entire family is frantic. Then Clodagh discovers a baby made of sticks and leaves in her baby brother's bed. To everyone else it is a pile of sticks but Clodagh sees a living child even though it is made of nothing human. She rescues this strange infant and hides him. She discovers she can feed him honey but he can not take milk.

The story of Clodagh caring for this unreal baby is beautifully written (as all of Juliet Marillier's tales are), but when Clodagh decides that she must go to the Otherworld and trade this changling for her brother she is stepping into great danger. To her amazement Cathal follows her and together they enter a strange and mysterious realm. I will not do spoilers but many twists and turns take place as they struggle to understand what they are to do and who to trust. Clodagh feels there is a great deal she does not know about Cathal, but should she trust him? Can she? When the truth about him is revealed she is faced with an enormous decision....and I just don't want to give away more of this story. It is, as so often Juliet's stories are, a beautiful story of great love and sacrifice. There are both fey and the Old Ones in this story just as in so many of the other Sevenwaters books, but this one takes us farther into the Otherworld than any other. I loved it. I first read it in April 2010 and went on to read every book this author has written.(less)

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Oct 30, 2008 Autumn Doughton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Finding this book at Books-A-Million two weeks before the US release date was one of the more thrilling moments in my life (sad, I know)!
Marillier is one of my favorite authors and specifically the Sevenwaters trilogy is one of her best. This fourth novel in the series recaptured the magic of the family that I felt was lost in book 3. I also liked that it followed only 4 years after book 3 instead of an entire generation later, which is the precedent set in the other books. Another departure fro...more

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Nov 10, 2008 Sabine rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was so excited to get this book and it was not a let down! For those familiar with the books, this one is about Sean's daughter and one of Johnny's warriors. The characters are great, the word is amazing. This one goes deeper into the world of the Fair Folk. There is only one thing she did that bugged me, a brief mentioning of something that I felt was out of place for the time (although I am no scholar so I could be wrong), but it was not enough to stop me from reading late into the night to...more

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Jan 26, 2009 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars

AHHHHHH......another sevenwaters book.....I don't think many things in life have made me so happy. If I could I'd give the whole series 6 stars. Anyway, the only thing that was weird was that Johnny turned out to be gay, but it does tie up loose ends rather neatly with the whole heir thing and I was very glad the whole gay thing was just a passing comment and not in any way part of the story. Once again, I loved the characters....old and new. I'm not sure how she has managed so many different lo...more

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Dec 10, 2012 StrangeBedfellows rated it 5 of 5 stars

After the third "Sevenwaters" trilogy, I didn't think new installments in this series could continue to hold my interest. After all, let's face it -- the first two books are beyond exceptional, and book 3 just couldn't measure up. Still, I love Marillier's writing, and I optimistically and nostalgically gave this latest story a go. And I'm very happy that I did.

No, this isn't as good as "Daughter of the Forest" or "Son of the Shadows" -- two very difficult acts to follow. This is, however, a ver...more

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Jan 04, 2009 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, own

Upon a reread of the Sevenwaters trilogy two years ago, I wrote to the author, asking if there would ever be a sort of prequel or sequel... basically, will there ever be another Sevenwaters book? She wrote back, which thrilled me to no end, saying that a lot of people ask for that, who knows what the future might bring, etc. She was very nice. Fast forward to this past autumn, and out comes this book.

Clodagh is Sorcha's granddaughter, and throughout the book, there are little mentions of previou...more

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Dec 11, 2008 Carey rated it 5 of 5 stars

"It was best to keep on the good side of the Fair Folk, whatever one's opinion of them. The forest of Sevenwaters was as much their home as it was ours. Long ago, our family had been entrusted with the task of keeping the place safe for them. This was one of the last refuges of the ancient races anywhere in Erin, for the great forests were being felled for grazing and the Christian religion had spread widely, displacing druids and wise women. The old faith was practiced only in the most protecte...more "It was best to keep on the good side of the Fair Folk, whatever one's opinion of them. The forest of Sevenwaters was as much their home as it was ours. Long ago, our family had been entrusted with the task of keeping the place safe for them. This was one of the last refuges of the ancient races anywhere in Erin, for the great forests were being felled for grazing and the Christian religion had spread widely, displacing druids and wise women. The old faith was practiced only in the most protected and secret pockets of the land. Sevenwaters was one of those."

In ancient Ireland there came a time when the fairy folk, the Old Ones, could no longer inhabit the land. Clodagh's family have protected the forest of Sevenwaters for generations, it is one of the last refuges for the Fair Folk and there has always been an fragile peace. Clodagh is one of six daughters and at long, long last the baby boy that has been so hoped for is born to her parents.

Baby Finbar is only a few days old when he disappears and a doll made of twigs is left in his place. To Clodagh's dismay, she can see that the twig-baby is alive. She can see it breathe and move and hear its hungry cries. No one else can see this, only Clodagh, and she cannot bear to see the little stick baby die. It seems to her that the Fair Folk must want an exchange. While her father and his men search for a missing man that they suspect in the kidnapping, she packs a bag and the twig-baby and sets out to find her tiny brother.

Before long Clodagh meets the fugitive that her farther is looking for, Cathal, in the forest. He claims not to know anything about the baby's disappearance and Clodagh desperately wants to trust him. He becomes her companion in a quest that will require every ounce of their strength and courage if they are going to venture into the fairy realm and return home once again.

Juliet Marillier is one of my favorite authors. She takes ancient folklore tales from Ireland and Britain and breathes life into them. Her books are full of complex and interesting characters who always have a quest or task to complete or a mission to fulfill. The old landscapes and fairy realms are vividly described. This one is no exception. I'm always anxiously awaiting her latest book and have never been disappointed, they are wonderful.

This is the fourth book she has written about Sevenwaters but it is not necessary to have read the others before reading this one. Earlier characters do occur, but only peripherally, and this story stands easily on its own. If you like historical fiction with a little bit of magic thrown in, give these a try!
(less)

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Jun 11, 2013 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

This could possibly be read independently of the first three, but there would be spoilers for the earlier books, and sorting out the family members and their various backgrounds and context could be confusing without knowing the first three books.

The heroine of this story is Clodagh, one of the daughters of the Chieftain of Sevenwaters (and if you lose track of the family tree by this point in the series–I did–there are helpful guides at the beginning of the book). Clodagh considers herself a ra...more This could possibly be read independently of the first three, but there would be spoilers for the earlier books, and sorting out the family members and their various backgrounds and context could be confusing without knowing the first three books.

The heroine of this story is Clodagh, one of the daughters of the Chieftain of Sevenwaters (and if you lose track of the family tree by this point in the series–I did–there are helpful guides at the beginning of the book). Clodagh considers herself a rather dull, domestic type, unlikely to do anything of any great excitement or depth. When her newborn baby brother is kidnapped, however, she must set off on a quest to rescue him from magical forces. And meanwhile there’s the question of Cathal, a young man who plainly has some connection to the recent turmoil, but whether for good or ill is much harder to say.

This is Book Four, placing us beyond the original Sevenwaters Trilogy which all tied more closely together. It felt slightly removed from the first three, in tone and focus. Certainly it’s still part of the series, still in the same world, but it feels a little bit lighter and a little bit more focused. Of course, when I say “lighter,” that doesn’t mean there isn’t still dark magic and grim adventures! But it deals less with sweeping forces that will decide the fate of entire countries, and the magic has taken a less mysterious turn.

The magic in the previous books was certainly present, but there was a strong Otherworldly mystique to it. We saw the magic folk mostly as very cerebral, very distant figures who drift on the edges of human affairs. This book had more of a straight fairy tale or folklore feel to it, with some elements reminiscent of the ballad of Tam Lynn, and the magical creatures more resembling fairies or leprechauns of folklore. I love fairy tales, so I enjoyed this brand of magic.

There are some clever plot twists in here that I don’t want to give away, and some very clever use of stories-within-a-story. The novel is immensely engaging throughout, and I found it very difficult to put down during the last 150 pages or so (a common feature of Marillier’s writing, by the way).(less)

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Jan 04, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I read the original Sevenwaters Trilogy (#1 Daughter of the Forest, #2 Son of the Shadows, #3 Child of the Prophecy) when I was around fourteen, and I remember loving all of the books - especially the first two, and number two was my absolute favourite. I then proceeded to read and love everything Ms. Marillier has ever written (WIldwood Dancing, especially, took a place in my heart). And then I found out, end of last year, she'd written more.

Naturally, I went out and bought Heir and Seer as wel...more I read the original Sevenwaters Trilogy (#1 Daughter of the Forest, #2 Son of the Shadows, #3 Child of the Prophecy) when I was around fourteen, and I remember loving all of the books - especially the first two, and number two was my absolute favourite. I then proceeded to read and love everything Ms. Marillier has ever written (WIldwood Dancing, especially, took a place in my heart). And then I found out, end of last year, she'd written more.

Naturally, I went out and bought Heir and Seer as well. I read this 4th book in the trilogy in two days, catching a few pages here and there whenever I had a moment of free time, and staying up at night because I couldn't put it down. The story is about Clodagh, one of the daughters of Sean, Lord of Sevenwaters (whom readers of the original trilogy will remember as Liadan's brother). She is one of six sisters, and when her mother finally gives birth to a son, an heir, he gets taken by the faery realm and replaced with a changeling - one whom only Clodagh can see.

She takes it upon herself to care for him, travel to the Other World and change the two babies back, with the most unlikely of companions; Cathal, the incredibly uncanny warrior come to Sevenwaters with her nephew, whom she can sense has so much more hiding beneath the surface which he won't show. He both unnerves her and frustrates her, annoys her and gives her courage. They're an unlikely couple - but then aren't we all. ;)

I loved the story to a crazy extent - I think it's taking up third place in my mental ranking of the Sevenwaters books, after Daughter and Son, but before Child. Clodagh is a remarkable heroine, with no great skills other than her knack for compassion and understanding - but perhaps that's just what is needed the most on a quest such as hers. Cathal grabbed hold of me from the get-go, and I was rooting for the two of them all along - let me just say Ms. Marillier does not disappoint on that front. All in all, this is an extremely worthy addition to the series. (less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Katie Mcsweeney rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, disappointing

Not anywhere near as good as the other three Sevenwaters books...

I was very disappointed by Clodagh's character she wasn't the sort of heroine that I was expecting. She said that she was only suited to housework but then she outdid herself and succeeded on her quest... perfect start for a heroine!

...But then she found a boy she fancied and became 100% self-sacrificing for her love... she went so far as to suggest that she could have come up with a way to get out of the Otherworld but that she...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Sarahm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Beware, readers, for spoilers lie ahead. I give this book 3 stars simply because I can't bring myself to give it a lower score. (Sort of like a reverse Will Smith on the Men in Black ride; rather than "I give you an F just because I can't give you a G," it's "I give you a C just because I can't give you a D.") And, for what it's worth, it managed to not only hold my attention, but keep me on the edge of my seat until the bitter end. Which, I suppose, it the basic thing an author wants for a read...more Beware, readers, for spoilers lie ahead. I give this book 3 stars simply because I can't bring myself to give it a lower score. (Sort of like a reverse Will Smith on the Men in Black ride; rather than "I give you an F just because I can't give you a G," it's "I give you a C just because I can't give you a D.") And, for what it's worth, it managed to not only hold my attention, but keep me on the edge of my seat until the bitter end. Which, I suppose, it the basic thing an author wants for a reader. But I do emphasize the word bitter. For me, this book showed all the promise in the world at the beginning, then lost its steam, and in the end fell flat. I have a number of issues with it, which I shall list here:

  It became The Cathal Show in the middle of the book, and The Clodagh Show never quite resumed.

This is really the main sticking point for me. I was under the belief that this book was about Clodagh. Instead, I got half of a novel about her, and half of a novel about her fawning over Cathal. After reading the adventures of her grandmother, aunt, and cousin, Clodagh just seems rather….disappointing. Maybe that's the point, since even she claims that she's not suited to more than managing a household, but it just still doesn't sit right with me. Sorcha saved her brothers from the curse of a wicked sorceress, despite the toll it took on her; Liadan had the courage (although balls might be a better word) to make her own path in life and break the pattern set by the Fair Folk, and essentially was the reason Child of the Prophecy took place; and Fainne both initially aided her wicked grandmother and helped destroy her-- she found the strength to right the wrongs of both her ancestor and herself. And Clodagh……well, she did help to save her brother, which is worth noting, but after that her role in the book is questionable, because Cathal takes the reins completely. Even in Son of the Shadows, where Bran suddenly inhabits Liadan's every thought (which irked me as much as Clodagh's fawning over Cathal, believe me), the story was still about Liadan. Liadan still accomplished things, and it didn't feel like she was just Bran's satellite. After a while, it sort of seemed like that with Clodagh. In my opinion, the whole thing being a game of Mac Dara's to get back his only son almost undermined the remainder of the story-- Sorcha, Liadan, and Fainne were players in the game, but Clodagh was just a pawn. A pawn who led its own player to checkmate, but a pawn nonetheless.

  Cathal lost his personality midway through.

The above rant makes it sound like I hate Cathal. In actuality, I don't. As a matter of fact, for a while he was in the running for my favorite of the main characters' love interests in the entire series. Besides perhaps Darraugh, Cathal was the only one who I could easily imagine to be an actual person. And his rapier wit and reliance on sarcasm set him apart from virtually every other male in the series (even if his archetype is common in YA books)-- men who seem to be made of stone, men who are either angsting and fretting all the time or confessing their love for a woman. Or, in the case of Eamonn and Mac Dara, maliciously scheming to get whatever they want. Cathal was very different in a way I admire: he wasn't a guy with an agenda, he was just a young guy trying to find his way. He's probably the only boy in the series over the age of 12 who acted his age. Mind, the other characters generally had reasons-- Sean became a chieftain at 16, Eamonn had a similar lot, Bran was abused as a child, and the list goes on and on. But the fact that Marillier finally incorporated a character who didn't see life through such serious lenses was refreshing. This awesome characterization held through for about half the book…..but then he became the caricature of the men who came before him: angsting and romancing, with nothing else there. That bothered the crap out of me. Marillier only kept the characterization long enough to bring about sexual tension, then dropped it completely. All of a sudden he went from sardonic antihero to crusading potential hero of the Otherworld, a sudden departure that seemed so….off. Yes, more time had passed in the Otherworld than in the mortal world between Clodagh's visits, but it seems Cathal didn't only leave years behind in the Otherworld-- he also left anything that truly distinguished him from his, I'll use the word 'predecessors.' Hopefully he gets his personality back in the other books.

  The whole 'love at first meeting' schtick.

I'm starting to realize that if I have a problem with this (which I really do), I should probably stop reading Marillier's books. But this irks me a lot. I do not believe in love at first sight. I believe in being attracted to someone when you first meet them, I believe in having an admiration for someone you first meet them-- and maybe after that, it develops into something more. I find that extremely plausible. But this whole utter devotion after knowing each other for a few minutes is a load of crap. Which is what every love interest in this series claims. I suppose I could chalk it up to the men trying to woo their respective woman (because no woman is going to swoon over a guy saying "Hey ~~I just met you and this is crazy~~ baby, I thought you were smoking hot when I met you, and my drive to sleep with you made me pay more attention to you"), but honestly at this point it's like reading the same dialogue over and over again. And Cathal, at least, seemed to be the blatantly honest type; it seemed he'd at least own up to maybe not thinking too much of her initially, or….something. But this whole "I knew I loved you before I met you" a la Savage Garden thing just seemed horribly off. I would've had an easier time believing that Cathal was intrigued, but was a jackass/tried to get in the way just because of Aidan. He didn't want Clodagh because he didn't want to hurt Aiden, but he didn't want Aiden to have her either. He wasn't as great a friend as he could've been, but oh well. But then, I guess that would slightly alienate readers, not to mention Clodagh. But that actually brings me to another point….

  Aiden's death.

What kind of BS was that, anyway? I mean, I guess that's better than him accepting their union when they come back from the Otherworld, saying it's 'meant to be' or some idyllic, unrealistic crap like that, but I still feel that killing him off was a bit excessive. This coming from a person who was never his biggest fan anyway. I just thought that Marillier was above creating a character just for the sake of a love triangle. But it seems I was wrong. He helped introduce Cathal and created friction, giving Cathal a reason to be aloof around Clodagh. But once this was established, his role was fulfilled, and there was no need to have him in the story anymore. So, he was killed off by Mac Dara. I really hate saying this, but I can think of no other purpose behind Aiden's death than that Marillier ran out of things to do with him. Cathal really didn't need another reason to hate his father, that had been established long ago. Sure, Mac Dara seemed to get his kicks from making his son miserable, but again, the whole business just seems…..excessive. And notice that Cathal has no trouble putting the moves on Clodagh once Aidan was out of the picture. Damn it, at least have some feeling of guilt that lasts more than 10 seconds(!). It pretty much went from "GTFO, Clodagh!" to "I love you, Clodagh! DTF?"

  "I have a son!!"

It was all way too Henry VIII for me. I mean, I'm not a man, so I will never know that sort of pride in having a son, and I get that this was a very male-centric time period. But at times it just made the females in the story seem like chopped liver. Sibeal's comment I think really sums it up quite well:

"I know she might die….And the baby, too....Or the baby might be a girl. Another disappointment, like me and Eilis. Like all of us, I suppose, except Muirrin, because the first one must be special."

Despite Clodagh's insistence that that isn't true, that Aisling and Sean love all of their children equally, the whole book seems to cater to that mindset: it's all about the boys, and the girls, while not entirely worthless, are simply not as good. That drives me crazy. It seemed to me to undermine the very premise of these books-- that in a world dominated by men, women can make a difference and stand out too. In a way I understand partially, since Mac Dara easily seems like the sexist, misogynistic type, but the whole damn story didn't have to be about the value of sons. It's not as if the world at that time was unaware of it. On that note, I also find it hard to believe, statistically, that Mac Dara never had another son. Seriously? Ruler of the fey who's been around probably since humanity got its start and who apparently slept around with any woman he laid eyes on? Only one Y-chromosome made it? I call BS on that one, even if Juliet Marillier does count as Word of God in this case.

So….yeah.

There's my spiel/rant. Honestly, right now, I'm almost afraid to pick up Seer of Sevenwaters, just because I don't want to have to plow through these problems again. Plus, I really like Sibeal, and I don't want the next book to ruin that. The summary and its focus on how that shipwrecked guy (whose name currently escapes me) might be her soulmate (which, I'm sorry, is a word that should never be used in a non-Harlequin novel; it's far too cheesy and it prevents me from taking the book seriously). I really hope that, unlike in this book, the heroine does something more in the vein of Sorcha, Liadan, or Fainne-- something great that doesn't leave a bitter taste in my mouth. As a matter of fact, if Fainne shows up at all, that'll make the book that much better-- Fainne's my favorite heroine in these books, and if Heir to Sevenwaters is any indicator, that certainly won't be changing anytime soon. (less)

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May 08, 2012 Mousuke rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: diehard Marillier fans

Marillier disappointed me with this one.

I’ve been a fan of her works for a long time. Daughter of the Forest remains one of my favorite books ever, the remaining Sevenwaters Trilogy was fun to read, and the Bridei Chronicles fully engaged me. I am so used to loving Marillier’s books that, when Heir to Sevenwaters fell flat for me, I felt robbed.

The story had a promising start. Clodagh felt somewhat recycled from the previous Sevenwaters heroines, but at least she wasn’t an herbalist. (My biggest...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bertrand, 2009, fantasia

Depois de ter estado esgotado durante alguns meses, lá consegui há uns dias comprar um exemplar de O Herdeiro de Sevenwaters, livro que há muito queria ler. Juliet Marillier sempre nos habituou a histórias de grande qualidade e a deliciosos momentos de leitura, apesar de ultimamente ter optado por uma estilo mais leve dedicado a um público algo mais jovem. O leitor mais conhecedor da obra de Marillier denota facilmente, nesta nova narrativa, traços desta sua mais recente opção de escrita mas mes...more Depois de ter estado esgotado durante alguns meses, lá consegui há uns dias comprar um exemplar de O Herdeiro de Sevenwaters, livro que há muito queria ler. Juliet Marillier sempre nos habituou a histórias de grande qualidade e a deliciosos momentos de leitura, apesar de ultimamente ter optado por uma estilo mais leve dedicado a um público algo mais jovem. O leitor mais conhecedor da obra de Marillier denota facilmente, nesta nova narrativa, traços desta sua mais recente opção de escrita mas mesmo assim o livro não perde muito.
Quando escreve sobre Sevenwaters, Juliet escreve com mais alma, as descrições são mais vividas, os Seres Encantados ganham uma vida e uma presença muito mais acentuadas que nas demais narrativas, até as cores com que imaginamos os cenários enquanto a história desfila perante os nossos olhos ganham um brilho diferente. É precisamente isto que torna este livro especial, o retorno a Sevenwaters. Embora alguns dos personagens já nossos conhecidos não passem aqui de meras referências e até o Outro Mundo esteja agora povoado de criaturas que não conhecemos de todo devido a uma mudança na cena "política" que deixa Mac Dara na liderança, voltar a estes cenários que tão bem conhecemos e que são tão queridos dos fãs desta autora é sempre um ponto positivo.
Gostei bastante do enredo desta narrativa que se passa no mundo dos humanos e no das criaturas encantadas em partes quase iguais, dando-nos assim uma perspectiva da realidade no Outro Mundo um pouco distinta daquela que nos é passada na Trilogia de Sevenwaters. Os seres encantados continuam a gostar de brincar com os destinos humanos mas aqui torna-se claro que nem todos são iguais, que há divergências e problemas de índole por vezes quase política entre eles. Ainda assim, não achei que os personagens humanos fossem tão fortes como os das narrativas anteriores (é difícil competir com Sorcha e os irmãos), são personagens bem construidos e cuja evolução se denota ao longo da narrativa mas não consegui sentir uma grande empatia com um jovem guerreiro revoltado (embora reconheça que até certa altura está fortemente envolto numa capa de mistério que nos aguça a curiosidade) e um rapariguinha com problemas de auto-estima. O personagem que mais interesse me despertou, embora não saiba explicá-lo muito bem, foi Becan. Não percebi muito bem este meu encanto dado que Becan é um bebé que, como tal, nem sequer fala. è muito por sua causa que a história se desenrola e começa a ganhar novos contornos e talvez seja por isso que me agrada.
O final deixa antever um desejo da autora em voltar a pegar no destino destes personagens, talvez através dos filhos deles ou até quem sabe dos próprios. Espero sinceramente que tal seja possível, ler Marillier é sempre uma experiência mágica.
Devo fazer uma referência final para a tradução que, desta vez, achei deveras melhor que as anteriores, não tendo encontrado eu falhas dignas de nota. Como já foi dito noutros blogs, parece que finalmente a Bertrand se dignou a dar a Marillier a atenção que a autora merece no que respeita a tradução e revisão.
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Dec 03, 2011 Clee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books

Normalerweise bin ich immer skeptisch bei Reihen, von denen man keinen weiteren Band erwartet hat und dann plötzlich doch etwas nachkommt – bei Marillier jedoch war ich von dieser Aussicht begeistert und das sogar noch, nachdem ich das Buch beendet hatte!
Ich kann es nicht anders ausdrücken: Ich liebe die „Sevenwaters“-Reihe.

In „Die Erben von „Sevenwaters“ hat sich die Autorin die Protagonistin mal nicht aus der nachfolgenden Generation gepickt, sondern eine der Töchter der dritten Generation, ge...more Normalerweise bin ich immer skeptisch bei Reihen, von denen man keinen weiteren Band erwartet hat und dann plötzlich doch etwas nachkommt – bei Marillier jedoch war ich von dieser Aussicht begeistert und das sogar noch, nachdem ich das Buch beendet hatte!
Ich kann es nicht anders ausdrücken: Ich liebe die „Sevenwaters“-Reihe.

In „Die Erben von „Sevenwaters“ hat sich die Autorin die Protagonistin mal nicht aus der nachfolgenden Generation gepickt, sondern eine der Töchter der dritten Generation, genauso wie es beim dritten Teil „Das Kind der Stürme“ der Fall war, und die Handlung nur wenige Jahre nach diesem angesiedelt.
Ebenso hat Marillier es ihren Leser ermöglicht, endlich einen Blick in die sagenumwobene Anderswelt zu werfen – ja, sogar einen Fuß nach dort zu setzten und alles ganz genau zu erforschen.

Zum Glück hat sie dabei auf das gängige Klischee der kunterbunten „Friedefreudeeierkuchen-Märchenwelt“ verzichtet und das Feenreich zu einem gefährlichen Ort gemacht, dessen Schönheit verlockend ist, aber dadurch nur von der dort herrschenden Grausam- und Zwielichtigkeit ablenkt.
Vor allem dessen Bewohner sind ein hinterhältiger Haufen, den man lieber meiden sollte. Dass genau das für unsere beiden Helden Clodagh und Cathal zu einem Akt der Unmöglichkeit wird, liegt daran, dass der Feenprinz ein Auge auf sie geworfen und seine ganz eigenen Pläne für sie gemacht hat. Sie hatten nicht wenige Probleme damit, Gut und Böse zu unterscheiden oder die Wahrheit von der Lüge unterscheiden zu können und dem Leser damit einiges Kopfzerbrechen und den einen oder anderen Herzinfarkt verursacht.

Clodagh ist wieder mehr der etwas selbstloseren Frauenliga Marilliers zuzuordnen, wie Sorcha und Liadan, auch wenn sie darauf verzichtet, den Märtyrer zu spielen. Hingegen füllen Cathals Füße die Schuhe des undurchsichtigen, schwer einschätzbaren und eigensinnigen „Fremden“ aus. Seine unbekannte Herkunft verleiht ihm zudem auch den geheimnisumwobenen Touch, den viele an den von Autoren gerne gewählten, männlichen Protagonisten mögen – mich mit eingeschlossen.
Zwar habe ich schon geahnt, was es damit auf sich hat, doch das hat der Spannung keinen Abbruch getan.

Die einzigen „negativen“ Kritikpunkt fand ich in dem ein wenig langatmigeren Anfang, der sich durch die genaue politische und familiäre Situationsbeschreibung der vorkommenden Personen zog, doch wurde im Verlaufe des Buches deutlich, dass keines der erwähnten Details zu viel war. Ebenso wie in der Übersetzung, die dieses Mal von einer anderen Übersetzerin vorgenommen wurde. Den Unterschied merkt man durchaus, da dieses Buch eine Spur weniger gefühlsintensiv und eindringlich in seinen Beschreibungen erscheint. Allerdings ist das nicht so auffällig, dass es über die Maßen gestört hätte.

Nicht einmal die offen gebliebenen Fragen am Ende des Buches konnten mein Lesevergnügen mindern, da ich den fünften Band bereits neben mir liegen habe, um gleich wieder weiter zu schmökern.
Was nun aber wirklich als tragisch zu bezeichnen ist, ist die Tatsache, dass die Reihe ab dem vierten Teil in Deutschland nicht mehr von Knaur weitergeführt wird. Offenbar fand sie nicht die nötige Leserschaft, was ich ja gar nicht nachvollziehen kann bei so wunderschönen Romanen, aber gut – so ist es nun einmal. Deswegen werde ich von jetzt an auf Englisch lesen, was kein Problem darstellen dürfte, da ich – bei einem ersten Blick ins Buch – feststellen konnte, dass Marilliers Schreibstil erstaunlich gut verständlich ist.
Eines steht für mich auf jeden Fall fest – ich werde nicht ruhen, ehe ich nicht alle ihre Werke in meinem Regal haben werde. Und die Autorin sollte lieber ein langes Leben genießen, da ich noch viele, viele mehr erwarte!
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Jul 26, 2011 Vd rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this series and 'Heir to Sevenwaters' lives up to my expectations. Clodagh's task is reminiscent of that of Sorcha. And Cathal is very attractive as the hero, perhaps my favorite till now. He reminds me of Bran but whereas Bran has a kind of feral intensity, Cathal is more of a tragic, brooding character, with much more to conceal. His choices are directed or compelled by larger forces. In that way, he resembles Ciaran. Cathal's introduction is a little jarring but he grows on the reader,...more

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May 17, 2011 Dorri rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!!!! After the majesty and grace of the previous books in the Sevenwaters cycle, I hold Juliet Marillier to a much higher culpability than any other author I have ever read. I expect her to produce the same perfection in her latest books as she has in books past--the perfection that puts lesser writers who rant about "dark pasts" and "brooding boys" all the rage these days to shame.

This book was the first time I have ever felt that Marillier didn't live up to my expectations....more I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!!!! After the majesty and grace of the previous books in the Sevenwaters cycle, I hold Juliet Marillier to a much higher culpability than any other author I have ever read. I expect her to produce the same perfection in her latest books as she has in books past--the perfection that puts lesser writers who rant about "dark pasts" and "brooding boys" all the rage these days to shame.

This book was the first time I have ever felt that Marillier didn't live up to my expectations. At all.

Instead, she copied the "brooding boy" archetype of Edward Cullen and pasted him into a castle. WHY???? And her female lead? Petty. SO petty. She gives a guy a the cold shoulder (not even a convincing cold shoulder, it was so wussy) because his father betrothed him to someone else years before this guy ever met her.

Listen, Skank, you don't even know him. He visited once last summer and you already have eyes for someone else. Get over it! If you love him so much, why is it that when you find out he's dead, you're already kissing all over a new man? Shut up!

Relationships are discarded and then trampled in the most disgusting way, all on the perception of events that turn out in the end to be completely false. None of them are true.

Why did I waste time reading this whole thing just to be lied to?

I shouldn't have bought this book. I never liked Aisling, after all (she is Eamon's sister, lest we forget); what made me think I would like her daughter? Not to mention the fact that Aisling saw a LOT of screen time for being this old bag way past her expiration date yet still popping out children (insert Michelle Duggar here), for criticizing her daughter despite the fact that Clodagh ran herself ragged to do everything Aisling asked, for refusing to so much as look at Clodagh after Finbar was kidnapped even though it was OBVIOUSLY not Clodagh's fault. I mean, how many teen girls can make a baby vanish in mid-air and then carve a new one out of wood in under five seconds? There goes Aisling being annoying again, this time suspending her duty to mother her own daughter until Clodagh returns with the baby and practically bartered her life to do it.

Listen, don't buy this book. I hate that I did. Use the money to buy and ship Juliet Marillier some of her previous work to remind her of the great writing she used to do.

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Apr 06, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, historical-fantasy, ireland, fantasy

My thoughts on this book have changed quite a bit since I first read it more than two years ago. Heir to Sevenwaters is a fun book, and on the first couple of reads I loved it and considered it just as good as the original Sevenwaters books, mostly because the romance is fantastic. But while this book has its strengths, compared to the original trilogy it's still a bit shallow (and things have only gotten worse with the latest installment, Seer of Sevenwaters).

Heir to Sevenwaters is much less d...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's probably redundant to call a fantasy novel magical, but Heir to Sevenwaters feels more magical than most. I wish I hadn't read it yet, so that the pleasure of discovering it was still to come.

In this book, Sevenwaters middle daughter Clodagh loses her place in the family as the trusted, dependable one when the Chieftain's baby son--and heir--disappears from his crib when she is on watch. The disappearance of her brother thrusts Clodagh into a trip to the Otherworld to regain him. It turns o...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Jarrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: changelings, faeries, author-julietmarillier, country-ireland, genre-adultspeculativefiction, genre-historicalfantasy, historical-earlybritain, series-sevenwaters, setting-secretworld

Historical fantasy. Sequel to the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Clodagh is the practical sister at Sevenwaters. She's not the seer or the adventurer or the vibrant young bride, she's the dependable daughter who can take care of the household during her mother's dangerous late-life pregnancy. Then a horrifying event rocks the household at Sevenwaters, and somehow only Clodagh can see it for what it truly is. She must travel into the Otherworld with a man she's not sure she trusts, to make a bargain she's...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Adriana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

The Heir of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier is the fourth book in the Sevenwater’s trilogy, taking place not too long after the 3rd book ends. It tells the story of Sorcha’s granddaughter Clodagh, daughter of Sean, the lord of Sevenwaters. At the opening of the book, Clodagh is helping with preparations of her twin sister’s marriage as well as running the household now that her mother is with child late in life. Along with the wedding arrives Clodagh’s warrior cousin, Johnny, and his band of gua...more The Heir of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier is the fourth book in the Sevenwater’s trilogy, taking place not too long after the 3rd book ends. It tells the story of Sorcha’s granddaughter Clodagh, daughter of Sean, the lord of Sevenwaters. At the opening of the book, Clodagh is helping with preparations of her twin sister’s marriage as well as running the household now that her mother is with child late in life. Along with the wedding arrives Clodagh’s warrior cousin, Johnny, and his band of guards, among which are the handsome musician Aidan and the rude and secretive Cathal. While Clodagh juggles her family obligations with her new attention-seeking male companions, the future of Sevenwaters begins to seen less stable as a series of unfortunate and possibly otherworldly events transpire. Clodagh must brace an adventure that she never dreamt possible. The outcome may prove to be as rapturous as it is perilous.

It’s been at least 4 years since I read the 3rd book of the Sevenwaters trilogy. I had no idea that there was another book (obviously since it came out in 2008). So when I saw it at the library, my interest was piqued. The Seven waters trilogy was my first real attempt at getting into fantasy. I had mixed feeling about the books. The first one seemed the most original and yet it had some annoying parts. The second was incredibly boring with the more uninteresting romantic couple I have ever read. The third book had an unusual heroine, the inbred daughter of Niamh and Cierran, who was both magical and ostracized.

In the fourth book, Clodagh’s character is relatively unremarkable and could have suffered the same fate as Liaden from the second book. However, she seemed less mature and less stoic, so maybe that is why she appealed to me more. Her story is ultimately a journey, though it gets a late start in the book. A more careful reader may find the hints to the plot more obvious, this making the book less enjoyable to read. However, there were elements that I found less certain than others and the uncertainty kept me from getting bored. The biggest disappointment for me was that there wasn’t any sex in a cave, but Marillier’s books aren’t strictly romance, so it was probably pointless to hope for it in the first place. While the ending is happy, it definitely seems like this series will be continued one way or another. It’s just a matter of which family member will pick up the story next.
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Jul 22, 2010 Oracleofdoom rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to stumble across this book. I had thought I'd seen the last of the Sevenwaters books, which I consider favorites and recommend to friends at every possible opportunity. This did not disappoint.

I felt like I'd returned home to all my old friends the instant I began this. I was immediately drawn in, which is not something I can say for every book. I found Clodagh very easy to like, and like the other reviewers, I found it refreshing to have a heroine who had no special powers. Sh...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Elfdart rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book we return to the world Marillier created with her Sevenwaters Trilogy, an ancient Celtic world where we see heroines undergo some sort of quest involving supernatural beings, otherwise known as faeries. The heroines come from within the same family and in the actual trilogy itself a generation separates each story. Heir to Sevenwaters takes place within the same generation as the last book in the trilogy and the heroine of this novel is the cousin of the heroine in the last book. I...more In this book we return to the world Marillier created with her Sevenwaters Trilogy, an ancient Celtic world where we see heroines undergo some sort of quest involving supernatural beings, otherwise known as faeries. The heroines come from within the same family and in the actual trilogy itself a generation separates each story. Heir to Sevenwaters takes place within the same generation as the last book in the trilogy and the heroine of this novel is the cousin of the heroine in the last book. I really enjoyed the trilogy, and while I do not think this book is as good as the first book, it still brings forth the author’s talented story telling.
Clodagh is the third of six daughters born to Sean and Aisling, the current residents of a household buried deep within the forests of Ireland. She has a twin who she can communicate with telepathically (as all twins could in the original trilogy). Clodagh is the practical sister, the ‘boring’ sister. Of all of her sisters, Clodagh would be the most likely to stay at home and look after household affairs, and she does exactly this when her elderly mother becomes pregnant with a seventh child. This child is very important to the family because he will become the heir to Sevenwaters, a boy who will be able to take his father’s place and inherit the land. The child is finally born and many people come to celebrate the birth. Characters from previous novels, such as Conner and Johnny make an appearance at this time, along with some new characters like Cathal, one of Johnny’s men. All seems to be going smoothly until one night when the baby is stolen away in the night, when Clodagh is with him of course, and in its place dirt, leaves and twigs are left. The pile acts just as a human baby would, it cries and eats, but only Clodagh can hear it and see it move. She feels guilt for being there when her brother was taken, and her family seems to be blaming her for it. Also, her twin sister is getting married to a foreigner and is cutting herself off from Clodagh, leaving her feeling more alone than she’s ever been. Clodagh believes that the child is a changeling and her brother was taken away by the good people. Fearing that her own family will kill the faery baby and fearing that her brother is already far beyond her reach, Clodagh takes the changeling child and takes it upon herself to find her brother’s kidnappers and bring him back on her own.
Clodagh, like all of heroines in this series, is reserved and practical. She’s surrounded by whimsy and fantasy but she herself is always firmly planted on the ground. Despite this she shows courage and bravery and undergoes her quest with perseverance. Well written, as one will come to expect with this author, and a fast paced plot.(less)

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Feb 21, 2010 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anybody that like fantasy,and fantasy based on cletic myth

Recommended to Cindy by: the first 3 in the series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Heir to Sevenwaters Julliet Marillier

This installment in the Sevenwaters saga, takes place a generation after Son of the Shadows. It follows the children of Lord Sean, the current protector lord of Sevenwaters, and the forest surrounding them, for the Tautha De Danann the fey of the Otherworld.

Clodagh's world is about to be turned upside down, when her mother takes a turn for the worse during a late in life pregnancy. Her mother insisted on daring despite her age, to give Lord Sean the male heir...more Heir to Sevenwaters Julliet Marillier

This installment in the Sevenwaters saga, takes place a generation after Son of the Shadows. It follows the children of Lord Sean, the current protector lord of Sevenwaters, and the forest surrounding them, for the Tautha De Danann the fey of the Otherworld.

Clodagh's world is about to be turned upside down, when her mother takes a turn for the worse during a late in life pregnancy. Her mother insisted on daring despite her age, to give Lord Sean the male heir to Sevenwaters. Although, Clodagh has her doubts to her mother's decision and chances of both her and the son she is sure she is bearing, surviving the risky birth. Also, her twin sister is preparing to be married and moving away, leaving Clodagh the burden of running the day to day life at Sevenwaters.

Also, her love interest comes to her sister's wedding, the handsome and talented Aidan. Aidan, the second son of a Chieftain may be a suitable suitor, but he has flaws that his less desirable friend has no problem pointing out. This mysterious and contentious character, repulses and intrigues Clodagh. When her baby brother is kidnapped and changeling (that only she can see) is left in his place and Cathal disappears, suspicion is on Cathal. Clodagh, knows that this isn't so, she knows it has more to do with the Fair Folk that they protect the land for. That she must protect and return the changeling, in exchange for her baby brother. While running away from home to find the portal to the otherworld she runs in to Cathal, and they are nearly caught and returned.

In order to save her brother, family and lover, Clodagh must break the spell of the Fairy King Mac Dara. Mac Dara, being a not so friendly member of the Fair Folk, one responsible for a rash of incidents that are creating divisions between the Fey and Humans. On her great quest she realizes she loves not Aidan, but Cathal, and she dooms him to stay in the Otherworld, she realizes she will not be happy, nor will her family be safe unless she is able to save him.

Out of the four books this one is by far the best in the series, and I think it is because the characters are more well written. They are more relatable, and not so distant, as the characters in the other books. Plus there is tons of action and adventure, that will have you at the edge of your seat. I am looking forward the next book in this series, as the ending is set up to lead to another.(less)

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Nov 14, 2009 Jill Myles rated it 5 of 5 stars

I went in to this one a little wary - Marillier has broken my heart before, especially in Book 3 of the Sevenwaters trilogy. But, I should have trusted her! HEIR TO SEVENWATERS is a beautiful, gorgeous, romantic return to the Sevenwaters setting and I devoured the book in one sitting.

Clodagh is the boring twin, left behind at home to care for her splintering family while turmoil attacks the Sevenwaters lands. Also at home are two soldiers - Aidan and Cathal. One charming, and one rude and booris...more

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Aug 23, 2009 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-scifi

This book features Clodagh, cousin of Fainne (Child of the Prophecy The Sevenwaters Trilogy Book 3), niece of Liadan (Son of the Shadows The Sevenwaters Trilogy Book 2), granddaughter of Sorcha (Daughter of the Forest Sevenwaters Trilogy Book 1). (One of my favorite things about Juliet Marillier's books is the names.) Clodagh's father is the chieftain of Sevenwaters and trying to maintain the tenuous peace among the neighboring clans, but the important politics in this book are Otherworldly, not...more

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Aug 04, 2009 Larissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Many things are about to change at Sevenwaters. For years now Lord Sean, chieftain of Sevenwaters has held the peace between the tribes to the north and south of his lands. There has been a strong bond of friendship between the family of Sevenwaters and the Fair Folk that dwell within the protected forests of Sevenwaters. But all this peace is about to be undone, and Clodagh, daughter of Lord Sean, is to see her life turned upside down.

When a series of events brings tragedy after tragedy down up...more Many things are about to change at Sevenwaters. For years now Lord Sean, chieftain of Sevenwaters has held the peace between the tribes to the north and south of his lands. There has been a strong bond of friendship between the family of Sevenwaters and the Fair Folk that dwell within the protected forests of Sevenwaters. But all this peace is about to be undone, and Clodagh, daughter of Lord Sean, is to see her life turned upside down.

When a series of events brings tragedy after tragedy down upon Clodagh's family no one is above suspicion, setting sister against sister, father against daughter, uncle against nephew, and ultimately father against son. As the dust begins to settle all fingers point to a warrior, once welcomed into the home of Sevenwaters now finding himself on the run. But there are other forces at work set to tear Clodagh's family apart.

Is Clodagh losing her wits as her father would have her believe, and the unrest in her home is all the work of the strange and questionable warrior? Or is she the only one at Sevenwaters able to see the truth in what has happened, and that the answer to all their troubles lies with the Fair Folk? Despite their goodwill in the past, Clodagh cannot be dissuaded from her belief of the Fair Folk's involvement, but can not think of what has changed to set them against her family?

All of a sudden Clodagh finds herself a stranger in her own home, someone with whom her family can no longer trust, and like it or not her only ally is the warrior who she neither trusts nor likes. Against her family, but also out of a sense of duty and love to them, Clodagh travels to the Otherworld to seek the truth that her family refuse to see. But what starts out as a quest of duty to her family develops into a fight for life and survival. Her only weapons, her great capacity for compassion, a talisman, some unlikely friends, and a selfless act of love.

A story that draws you in from the first and holds you captive till its very end. Its history, detail and characters are all vividly and beautifully brought to life in this tale of adventure, danger and love. I have spent the past few days wrapped up in this book and I have loved every minute of it. A must read for any lover of fantasy and fiction.(less)

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Jul 12, 2009 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sevenwaters groupies

Shelves: 2009, fantasy

Picking up this last (or most recent) book in Juliet Marillier's fantastic Sevenwaters series, I was totally geared up for a much desired in-depth look at Laiden and Bran's son (from Son of the Shadows), Johnny. As I started reading and found out, no this is his cousin's Clodagh story, I sorta scratched my head and felt a little cheated. Boy howdy, was I ever wrong about being disappointed. (Of course) Clodagh's story was sublime, beautiful and probably my favorite so far. I should simply be gra...more Picking up this last (or most recent) book in Juliet Marillier's fantastic Sevenwaters series, I was totally geared up for a much desired in-depth look at Laiden and Bran's son (from Son of the Shadows), Johnny. As I started reading and found out, no this is his cousin's Clodagh story, I sorta scratched my head and felt a little cheated. Boy howdy, was I ever wrong about being disappointed. (Of course) Clodagh's story was sublime, beautiful and probably my favorite so far. I should simply be grateful for any story Marillier tells and stop having expectations becuase frankly, any story she writes comes out magic.

In the midst of her six sisters, Clodagh is happy to be known as the 'domestic' one, usually to be found helping her mother organize and run the Sevenwaters household. So it's natural that she fills this role as her mother becomes ill with an unexpected pregnancy late in life. Her mother, Aisling, is convinced she carries the long awaited male heir she has previously failed to deliver. Clodagh and her family are anxious for their mother's health but when the baby is born and is taken suddenly from their home while Clodagh was keeping watch, suspicion and hurt abound as everyone is devastated by his disappearance. Clodagh alone is convinced that the baby was not stolen by a rival clansmen for political gain but by the Fair Folk and so she sets off on a perilous journey to bring him back. Not alone, Clodagh is accompanied by the prickly Cathal, one of Johnny's painted men, who she is stumped as to why he would 1) not only believe her tale but 2) be willing to help her accomplish her goal as he has been nothing but rude to her. Cathal has his own secrets (more than your average painted man's) and it quickly becomes apparent to Clodagh that she can't succeed without his help.

Clodagh and Cathal's story was exactly what I wanted even though I wasn't expecting it. Clodagh is resourceful, stubbornly loyal, and so compassionate I couldn't help but love her as she faced impossible challenges. At one point even her own family distrusts her and she never stops loving or trusting them even though their coldness has devastated her. After reading this unexpected book I find myself hoping Marillier has plans to revisit Sevenwaters again. In the near future, that is. Please hurry.(less)

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title link	preview: Heir to Sevenwaters
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2917816-heir-to-sevenwaters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347712616l/2917816.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2917816-heir-to-sevenwaters?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier[/url]

Heir to Sevenwaters (Sevenwaters #4)

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