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Dreamer's Pool
(Blackthorn & Grim #1)
by
Award-winning author Juliet Marillier "weaves magic, mythology, and folklore into every sentence on the page" (The Book Smugglers). Now she begins an all-new and enchanting series that will transport readers to a magical vision of ancient Ireland...
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside ...more
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside ...more
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Hardcover, 434 pages
Published
November 4th 2014
by Roc
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Raquel
According to the editor (Planeta), it will be in 2015; still no official release date yet: http://www.planeta.pt/autor/juliet-ma....
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Start your review of Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn & Grim, #1)

3/21/18 - ON SALE for $2.99:

http://amzn.to/2fArrPi
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I know I mentioned that I'm a longtime fan of Juliet Marillier in the not too distant past. How I kept reading Shadowfell despite it's lackluster beginning, and how Raven Flight renewed my faith in her abilities.
There are many reasons for that faith, but the simplest way to explain it is that in fantasy there is a not-quite-stock character that I'm going to call the Storyteller (original, I know). This characte ...more


http://amzn.to/2fArrPi
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I know I mentioned that I'm a longtime fan of Juliet Marillier in the not too distant past. How I kept reading Shadowfell despite it's lackluster beginning, and how Raven Flight renewed my faith in her abilities.
There are many reasons for that faith, but the simplest way to explain it is that in fantasy there is a not-quite-stock character that I'm going to call the Storyteller (original, I know). This characte ...more


Let me put it bluntly, okay? Sometimes we must face the facts, as unpleasant as they are : Nothing in Dreamer's Pool brought me enjoyment. Nothing. That's why, no matter how skilled Juliet Marillier might be with her words, I cannot rate this book anything else than 1 star.

Yet it all started so promisingly. Indeed the first two chapters (out of 41) awoke my interest : Blackthorn and Grim, prisoners and driven with vengeance, touched me with their hopelessness and I couldn't wait to know what ...more

I happily enjoyed this book!

I love this author too!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

I love this author too!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

I've been trying to write a review for Dreamer's Pool for a long time now, but it's so hard because I never know exactly how to express my love for JM's stories and characters. Let it be known that she's my favorite author of all time, and she can do no wrong.
That said, Dreamer's Pool is one of those freakishly unputdownable books, you know, when you can only make yourself stop reading when you desperately need food, a bathroom break, or when, sadly, it's so late that your eyes just give out. Th ...more
That said, Dreamer's Pool is one of those freakishly unputdownable books, you know, when you can only make yourself stop reading when you desperately need food, a bathroom break, or when, sadly, it's so late that your eyes just give out. Th ...more

Dreamer's Pool, the first in the Blackthorn & Grim series by talented author Juliet Marillier, is a solid medieval magical fantasy/mystery. It was also, truthfully, a little too slow-paced for me; I got bored and did a fair amount of skimming in the last half. In fact, I was bored enough that I wrote half of this review two years ago, set it aside and never finished it. But I'm trying to remedy that now.
A woman who (a little later) calls herself Blackthorn has been in the local despotic lord's d ...more
A woman who (a little later) calls herself Blackthorn has been in the local despotic lord's d ...more

Dec 25, 2015
✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
br-2016,
tbr-shelf-says-thank-you,
boredom-fest,
cure-for-insomnia,
2016,
fantasy,
dnf-graveyard
►► BR with my MacHalo Freaks starting January 1, 2016.

☠ DNF at 41% ☠
My first DNF of the year!!! Get the maracas out of storage, people, this calls for a celebration!!!

I'm sure this is the first of many, many DNFs to come, I'm so excited right now! And Ange picked this book for us, which means I get to choose a penance read to punish her for putting me through this, too! Oh, I think 2016 is going to be a great year!

Okay. Let's do this quickly, shall we? Things to do, places to go, potential DNF ...more

☠ DNF at 41% ☠
My first DNF of the year!!! Get the maracas out of storage, people, this calls for a celebration!!!

I'm sure this is the first of many, many DNFs to come, I'm so excited right now! And Ange picked this book for us, which means I get to choose a penance read to punish her for putting me through this, too! Oh, I think 2016 is going to be a great year!

Okay. Let's do this quickly, shall we? Things to do, places to go, potential DNF ...more

I had my eyes on this book since forever, so when i saw that one of my friends is doing a BR, I joined.
this book has three plot-lines. While Blackthorn and Grim's has been woven together from the start of the book, Oran met them somewhere just before the halfway. Blackthorn is a healer and has been given a chance to live a quite life in exchange of giving up her vengeance mission. She accepts and was freed from the prison. Her fellow prisoner, Grim, joins her. She decides to stay in the forest ...more
this book has three plot-lines. While Blackthorn and Grim's has been woven together from the start of the book, Oran met them somewhere just before the halfway. Blackthorn is a healer and has been given a chance to live a quite life in exchange of giving up her vengeance mission. She accepts and was freed from the prison. Her fellow prisoner, Grim, joins her. She decides to stay in the forest ...more

5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/10/27/b...
“Spellbinding” is the only word to describe Dreamer’s Pool. Reading it was like walking into a gorgeous, living fairy tale. I just loved this book, it’s probably one of the best I’ve read all year…and I’ve read A LOT of books this year.
This is the first in an adult series by Juliet Marillier, called Blackthorn and Grim. Blackthorn is a woman we meet at the beginning of the novel, imprisoned for speaking out against a wicke ...more
“Spellbinding” is the only word to describe Dreamer’s Pool. Reading it was like walking into a gorgeous, living fairy tale. I just loved this book, it’s probably one of the best I’ve read all year…and I’ve read A LOT of books this year.
This is the first in an adult series by Juliet Marillier, called Blackthorn and Grim. Blackthorn is a woman we meet at the beginning of the novel, imprisoned for speaking out against a wicke ...more

This was a gentle Fantasy with all the traditional, read archetypal, side-characters, but it's real strength is in being a great character-driven novel.
I consider Orlan and Flidais to be side characters in this story, with Blackthorn and Grim being the true gift from the author. With Blackthorn and Grim, this shouldn't be much of a stretch to see, despite Orlan's PoV time, because that guy was just too idealistic and good-natured and romantic a prince to make it as anything other than the subjec ...more
I consider Orlan and Flidais to be side characters in this story, with Blackthorn and Grim being the true gift from the author. With Blackthorn and Grim, this shouldn't be much of a stretch to see, despite Orlan's PoV time, because that guy was just too idealistic and good-natured and romantic a prince to make it as anything other than the subjec ...more

About a year ago I read Juliet Marillier’s debut novel Daughter of the Forest and fell in love. The beauty of her writing, the complexity of the characters, the slow-burn romance and the atmosphere created was incredible and I knew immediately that I wanted to read other books by her. There is something unique about Marillier’s style, she has a very distinctive storyteller voice and the way she uses fairy tales, myths and lore in her stories is wonderful to read. She makes you feel like you’re s
...more

Her name is ‘Blackthorn’, a skilled magical healer falsely imprisoned and chained to a wall. Nearby in another dank filthy dungeon is Grim, who watches her intently fearing she may soon be taken away and hung. Having barely survived the year, Blackthorn is ready to give testimony to the counsel in the morning which she believes will finally set her free. As the evening falls, one of the guards appears and taunts her with his knowledge that she will never face the counsel, but only a quick blade
...more

What if you were slated to die but someone gave you a chance to live? The bargain…give up your quest vengeance/justice for seven years and help people. Do this and they will save you now from death tomorrow. Help anyone who asks, go to a different land and set up a life as a healer. Do this and you live, break your word and you are right back in prison and one step closer to death.
“The day before you died was the longest, slowest day ever. It gave you more time than you could possibly want to...more

Fantasy Review Barn
Once upon a time Juliet Marillier wrote a fairy tale and it was wonderful. She didn’t revamp an old classic with a new twist. She didn’t write something like a fairy tale that twists all the tropes around. She didn’t even write a fantasy book with a fairy tale feel to it. She wrote an honest to goodness fairy tale; slightly dark, slightly magical, and completely wonderful.
It starts with a bargain. Blackthorn, who had another name in another time under different circumstances, ...more
Once upon a time Juliet Marillier wrote a fairy tale and it was wonderful. She didn’t revamp an old classic with a new twist. She didn’t write something like a fairy tale that twists all the tropes around. She didn’t even write a fantasy book with a fairy tale feel to it. She wrote an honest to goodness fairy tale; slightly dark, slightly magical, and completely wonderful.
It starts with a bargain. Blackthorn, who had another name in another time under different circumstances, ...more

After being unfairly imprisoned by a cruel lord, the healer/wise woman Blackthorn is freed by an enigmatic fey and charged with his rule: for seven years she may not seek revenge for the wrongs done to her and hers; instead she must take up residence in the kingdom of Dalriada and must provide aid to anyone who asks her for help.
Although reluctant, Blackthorn does as she is bid, and sets out for Dalriada, accompanied by her former fellow prisoner, Grim, a giant of a man whose feelings for Blackt ...more
Although reluctant, Blackthorn does as she is bid, and sets out for Dalriada, accompanied by her former fellow prisoner, Grim, a giant of a man whose feelings for Blackt ...more

Oct 30, 2015
Dino-Jess ✮ The Book Eating Dinosaur ✮
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Dino-Jess ✮ The Book Eating Dinosaur ✮ by:
Angela
WHAT A WAY TO START OFF MY 2016 READING YEAR
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
Firstly, lets just get this out of the way. Everybody back the hell away from Grim. I want to marry him and have his babies. He's the new leading man in my life. Sorry Terrible . Grim has stolen my heart. LOVE HIM.
This was a wonderful story. Yes, I knew where it was going 100 pages in. Yes Blackthorn lives up to her name, being prickly at times, she's quick to anger, slow to trust and sometimes is downright unlikeable. But she l ...more
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
Firstly, lets just get this out of the way. Everybody back the hell away from Grim. I want to marry him and have his babies. He's the new leading man in my life. Sorry Terrible . Grim has stolen my heart. LOVE HIM.
This was a wonderful story. Yes, I knew where it was going 100 pages in. Yes Blackthorn lives up to her name, being prickly at times, she's quick to anger, slow to trust and sometimes is downright unlikeable. But she l ...more

Morrigan’s britches! This is quite a tale. And I’m still not sure how to classify it.
Dark, dreamy and magical story that is part fairytale part mystery solving/investigation. Two unlikely partners pushed to work together by ever-meddling fey to unravel mysteries that seemed to have stepped straight from the myths. There is a prince looking for one true love, strange personality changes, a misbehaving dog, an ancient wood and a pool of dark magic, disappeared village girl and mysterious death.
W ...more
Dark, dreamy and magical story that is part fairytale part mystery solving/investigation. Two unlikely partners pushed to work together by ever-meddling fey to unravel mysteries that seemed to have stepped straight from the myths. There is a prince looking for one true love, strange personality changes, a misbehaving dog, an ancient wood and a pool of dark magic, disappeared village girl and mysterious death.
W ...more

4.5 Stars
First off I want to comment on the absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover! OMG I ADORE THIS COVER! Even though I have no idea who it is meant to depict, as the main character in this series has bright red hair, I DON’T CARE! It’s bloody gorgeous!
This story follows Blackthorn and Grim, they escape an awful prison and with some magical help, they find their way to a kingdom run by crown Prince Oran, who is having some lady troubles. Blackthorn soon becomes the town healer and Oran calls upon her for ...more
First off I want to comment on the absolutely BEAUTIFUL cover! OMG I ADORE THIS COVER! Even though I have no idea who it is meant to depict, as the main character in this series has bright red hair, I DON’T CARE! It’s bloody gorgeous!
This story follows Blackthorn and Grim, they escape an awful prison and with some magical help, they find their way to a kingdom run by crown Prince Oran, who is having some lady troubles. Blackthorn soon becomes the town healer and Oran calls upon her for ...more

“It’s hard, sometimes, not to make things your business.”
What is the key to writing a successful novel? That is an easy question. A great main protagonist. And the best characters are those built on a conflict where opposites attract and merge. Like, a firefighter non-stop playing with fire (both figuratively, e.g. having an affair, and in reality, e.g. all the time fiddling with his old-school gasoline lighter). Like a mercenary with a charitable heart and a penchant for embroidery. Like a cran ...more
What is the key to writing a successful novel? That is an easy question. A great main protagonist. And the best characters are those built on a conflict where opposites attract and merge. Like, a firefighter non-stop playing with fire (both figuratively, e.g. having an affair, and in reality, e.g. all the time fiddling with his old-school gasoline lighter). Like a mercenary with a charitable heart and a penchant for embroidery. Like a cran ...more

*** 4.25 ***
A buddy read with my friends at MacHalo group, where fantasy is our life!
Dreamer's Pool is a fairy-tale fantasy of the kind that seems familiar, but is new, and haunting, and beautifully written... It draws you in, cocoons you with comfort and mystery, and keeps you there with the debt of characters and promises of a feast at the end of the road.
This is the first Juliet Marillier book I have ever read and am here to declare that it is not going to be the last!!! She writes in a qui ...more
A buddy read with my friends at MacHalo group, where fantasy is our life!
Dreamer's Pool is a fairy-tale fantasy of the kind that seems familiar, but is new, and haunting, and beautifully written... It draws you in, cocoons you with comfort and mystery, and keeps you there with the debt of characters and promises of a feast at the end of the road.
This is the first Juliet Marillier book I have ever read and am here to declare that it is not going to be the last!!! She writes in a qui ...more

Sep 20, 2015
Stacey is Sassy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arc,
para-fantasy-series
From prison to wise woman…with a little help from Grim.
I read Dreamer’s Pool in book form…as in paper. I haven’t read a book with paper in years and I admit, I tapped a few times before I remembered to turn the page. I also kept looking to the top of the page to check the time. Who’d have thought that the act of turning pages in a book would become unfamiliar? By halfway I’d stopped tapping luckily and was fully engrossed in this wonderful tale full of adventure, mystery, magic and romance.
When ...more
I read Dreamer’s Pool in book form…as in paper. I haven’t read a book with paper in years and I admit, I tapped a few times before I remembered to turn the page. I also kept looking to the top of the page to check the time. Who’d have thought that the act of turning pages in a book would become unfamiliar? By halfway I’d stopped tapping luckily and was fully engrossed in this wonderful tale full of adventure, mystery, magic and romance.
When ...more

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier
Book One of the Blackthorn and Grim series
Publisher: ROC Hardcover
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mat ...more
Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier
Book One of the Blackthorn and Grim series
Publisher: ROC Hardcover
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mat ...more

26 April 2020: $1.99 on Kindle
The first Juliet Marillier book I read was Shadowfell, and I adored it. I adored that whole series. I've been anxious, ever since, to pick up another book/series by her for a long time.
Finally, I was able to squeeze this start to a new fantasy series in. Dreamer's Pool is the first book in the Blackthorn and Grim series. And the two title characters, I absolutely adore.
We first meet them both in a prison. Blackthorn thinks tomorrow is to be her "day in court," so to ...more
The first Juliet Marillier book I read was Shadowfell, and I adored it. I adored that whole series. I've been anxious, ever since, to pick up another book/series by her for a long time.
Finally, I was able to squeeze this start to a new fantasy series in. Dreamer's Pool is the first book in the Blackthorn and Grim series. And the two title characters, I absolutely adore.
We first meet them both in a prison. Blackthorn thinks tomorrow is to be her "day in court," so to ...more

November 3-5, 2015
So I was just going to read the first part of this book to remember the characters and such, but the story just drew me in and I found myself reading it again and enjoying it very much!
November 4-8, 2014
I am so glad I splurged and bought this book the day it was released. It was truly a great book, and it ranks right up there with my two other favorite Marilliers - Heart's Blood and Daughter of the Forest. Blackthorn and Grim are some of the most flawed yet perfect characters I ...more
So I was just going to read the first part of this book to remember the characters and such, but the story just drew me in and I found myself reading it again and enjoying it very much!
November 4-8, 2014
I am so glad I splurged and bought this book the day it was released. It was truly a great book, and it ranks right up there with my two other favorite Marilliers - Heart's Blood and Daughter of the Forest. Blackthorn and Grim are some of the most flawed yet perfect characters I ...more

Overall:
Sigh. Big Sigh. I am disappointed in this book for the strangely harsh treatment of female sexuality. However, I must also say, that I love the Blackthorn and Grim characters and would love to read more of their emergence into this strange new life to which they have committed themselves. I also have such a longstanding respect for Ms. Marillier that I will chalk this one up to an unfortunate derailment.
Elements I like:
Friendship as a central theme: I love how Ms. Marillier introduces t ...more
Sigh. Big Sigh. I am disappointed in this book for the strangely harsh treatment of female sexuality. However, I must also say, that I love the Blackthorn and Grim characters and would love to read more of their emergence into this strange new life to which they have committed themselves. I also have such a longstanding respect for Ms. Marillier that I will chalk this one up to an unfortunate derailment.
Elements I like:
Friendship as a central theme: I love how Ms. Marillier introduces t ...more

“Part of me has turned wild, and another part’s turned dark as endless night, and I’m not going to change back just because someone says I must.”
Spoilers follow, as well as a discussion of sexual violence.
So What's It About?
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, ...more
Spoilers follow, as well as a discussion of sexual violence.
So What's It About?
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, ...more

May 11, 2016
Chelsea ❤Peril Please❤
marked it as to-read
Recommended to Chelsea ❤Peril Please❤ by:
Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁
Shelves:
buddy-read
To steal the words from my lovely Anna: Buddy Read with the Snake to my Badger....

EEPSSS!!! I CANNOT WAIT....COME OOOOOOONNNN NEW BBF!!!! GRIM! ♥
Oh and yes...there WILL be fangirling. Much much fangirling...but you are all used to that...right?! :P
Anna used the original art from Emma Ehrling to create her pic (AND SHE ROCKS HEHE). ...more

4.5 stars. My first Juliet Marillier and I picked a good one! I liked our world weary and flawed main characters Blackthorn and Grim. Loved the dreamy fairy tale quality to the story, it seemed timeless and magical. I will definitely read the next in this series.
I am still not sure if the rest of Juliet Marillier's books will be for me, despite how much I loved this one. I often see the word 'romantic' used to describe her work and I'm quite picky about what romance I can tolerate! So if anyone ...more
I am still not sure if the rest of Juliet Marillier's books will be for me, despite how much I loved this one. I often see the word 'romantic' used to describe her work and I'm quite picky about what romance I can tolerate! So if anyone ...more

DNF at 40%. I fell asleep trying to read this. At 9:45. When I usually stay up until 11 or 12. I'm indifferent to this book. I don't care what happens next. Moving on.
...more

I'm sad to say this didn't work for me. You'd think it would have been made for me! Juliet's dreamy writing! Celtic folklore! A murder mystery! Unfortunately, it was incredibly straight forward, reiterated a hundred times and lacked the subtle magic that impregnated the other two series of hers I've read. Also, it was the rapity-rapiest book that ever talked about rape.
CONTENT WARNING (no actual spoilers, just a list of topics) (view spoiler) ...more
CONTENT WARNING (no actual spoilers, just a list of topics) (view spoiler) ...more

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...
Dreamer’s Pool is a truly captivating fairy tale, but keep in mind, many fairy tales are really quite dark. One of the first things to surprise me is how incredibly dark the beginning of this book is. I see the pretty cover, start reading and was just really quite taken by the grimness. But this is because two of our three POVs start this story together in a really, really dark place. As they move past that place, the story be ...more
Dreamer’s Pool is a truly captivating fairy tale, but keep in mind, many fairy tales are really quite dark. One of the first things to surprise me is how incredibly dark the beginning of this book is. I see the pretty cover, start reading and was just really quite taken by the grimness. But this is because two of our three POVs start this story together in a really, really dark place. As they move past that place, the story be ...more
Juliet Marillier was born 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. Juliet was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and Bachelor of Music (Hons). Her lifelong interest in history, folklore and mythology has had a majo
...more
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