April 2011: Daughter of the Forest / Finished Reading - how did you like it? **SPOILERS**

[Sandra]

For those who have finished, post your comments here.

[Maggie]

I liked this book a LOT! I did not think the rape was gratuitous..I felt it had to be part of the plot to get her moving to different locations.

I did question the romance though....I thought she was falling for Simon and predicted there would be a reunion there, but I did not see her really falling for Red. Growing in respect yes. Maybe it was just that I assumed she would reunite with Simon, but..
and then when she does see Simon, he has been pining after her this whole time...I guess i was surprised she didnt have more feeling about it.
Otherwise I really was swept into this story. I feel the writing really transported me to Sevenwaters, picturing the place in my mind

[Lina]

Maggie I finished!!
I honestly teared up 3 times!!! 3 times is alot for one novel I think!
It just really dug deep with me, and now I totally understand what you meant about "the love that comes only once"
ok first time I teared up was when she meets her brothers for the first time since they became swans. I just got goosebumps all over and I was soo happy for her. Then I teared up yet again, not when she got raped, but afterwards when her brothers came into the cave and she was broken.
Everything about this novel took me by surprise, I was mortified at first when Red took her across the water, I was thinking how is she gonna see her brothers?? And when Red asked to marry her I was shocked but happy shocked, I always felt that he had feelings for her, regardless of what the fair folk made him promise (which later turned out to be totally false). It was the way the people in Harrowfield described his actions, the way Ben and John also had a soft spot for her, treated her like the girl that Red loves, you know what I mean? And I could tell she liked him, loved him in fact, because the Simon thing she was a child, still a little girl, where as with Red it was different, after the rape thing, and realizing that she was a young woman, feelings start to develop regardless, maybe the fact that he was Simons brother made it all the more alluring, but she didn't know that what she felt was love.

That did take me by surprise though, when the wedding was called off, and Elaine left, I was happy for Sorcha and I was thinking finally something good happens to her, how wrong could I be?

That was the biggest shock, that damn Richard, what a prick, what a horrible evil man, I thought Lady OOnagh was evil, this guy is evil with milk gone really bad on top.

And the last shirt, one sleeve only, that did it for me, and when Finbar came late as usual, I understand why now "the love that comes only once"

I loved this novel, I loved how it made me feel, especially the part when the brothers were swans, and Conor would call out to her, in italics!!! Sorcha. Sorcha.....

Oh, I know what you mean by swept, it definitely had me in so deep. There were 6 brothers, and Juliet Marillier managed to really create 6 personalities that swept me away, especially Finbar at the end, my god where is he????!!!

Did you continue the series? I've already prepared the Son of the Shadows by my bedside table, I have to know.

[Maggie]

I didn't read it yet, but I have it as TBR, I have heard the 2nd one is the best.

Liam lost his love, and so did Finbar and Simon...I think they were all glad when Sorcha was so happy at the end though.

[Maggie]

I wanted to comment that the scene where she and read are in a cave and see the Bright one and the Lady was well done. It gave a solid reason why Red didn't press her about Simon

[Lina]

Yes I see what you mean, I also wondered when he was going to ask her about Simon, and then it hit me when later in the novel he asks her about the cave encounter with the fair folk, and whether or not it was a dream.

Also, I don't think I mentioned this before, but I liked how the dialogue was handled. For me it was page turning dialogue.

I started the 2nd in the series btw, I couldn't help myself. I also realized that alot of people mentioned that it was the best in the series.
I can't help that I miss Sorcha and Reds time together. It's about her children now, and I like them a lot, but I do miss the sadness in the first novel.

[Sandra]

I really liked the book. In fact, gave it 5 stars, which I'm sparing with.

The writing is lyrical and the tale is inventive, rich, and beautifully told. I've found few authors able to build on the old tales without cheapening them. I also teared up, Lina, and after the rape scene felt heartsick, truly.

I also couldn't put it down. Finished this AM at 4! Bleary eyed. A thoroughly enjoyable book.

I really appreciate that this story is complete within itself. I just gave up on a series that kept you hanging at the end of each book, and I finally decided the hero was never going to stop being a dunderhead and said 'phooey.' Life is too short.

[Lina]

Sandra how did you feel when they branded the dog in Harrowfield? I don't remember her name, Simon's dog..
I was angry!

And yes the rape scene, so heartbreaking in general, and the fact that she couldn't scream or shout, made it so much worse...
I said it earlier but I have to say it again, isn't it enough that Sorcha didn't speak for half the novel, and Marillier still kept us hooked!

[Ben]

Three chapters in.

When I picked up this book all the reviews seemed to focus on its being based on a fairy tale. Currently I'm just really enjoying the setting and the characters and have almost completely forgotten this fairy tale basis.

Having finished the book

Things I liked:

The setting: psudo-historical setting made me happy and sad thinking of a magical past world that is now gone (and in the context of the story must inevitably come to an end).

The first person perspective: I liked the narrator and enjoyed seeing her find her way in the world.

Things I thought could be improved:

I thought that when actual magic was employed (turning people into swans and spontaneous torrential downpours) the descriptions were a bit clumsy and didn't provide me with a credible mind-picture of how these transitions occurred. They advanced the books plot, but drew me out of the story which was unfortunate.

[Sandra]

@Lina - I was almost more sad about Linn than about the rape and also was horrified at the way they frightened poor little Alys. I'm a big animal person and dogs in particular.

Oh, and yes, Sorcha not speaking gave the book a lot of tension, I thought. But of course she spoke to us.

[Sandra]

The only thing that struck me as 'off' a little in the book was when Simon asked her "Why didn't you wait for me?" I was like 'Huh?' When did he indicate any romantic interest in Sorcha? I also thought there could've been more time spent on him at the end. After all the time spent when Sorcha was healing him, it would've been nice if we could've seen some resolution of his horrific envy of his big brother who gave him nothing but love.

[Ben]

I agree it would have been great to see more interaction between Red and Simon. Although I'm not 100% convinced that Red was all good and Simon was just an ungrateful sop (Red definately had a stubbon streak IMHO).

I think it would have been great to see the strengths/weaknesses of both brothers revealed, maybe to have Sorcha act as a mirror/intermediary to both of them.

[Sandra]

Yes, it would!

[Jasmine M]

am i suppose to answer the question "did you like it?" or should i write a full review...i think i'll do both

yes i did like it...i liked it very much.. i couldn't leave it for long and when i did leave it i'd be thinking about it.

it had a bit of slow start, only the fact that it was a retelling of "The Wild Swans" story by Hans Christian Anderson what kept me going, so after i made my peace with the read, i started to really enjoy it, the world buliding was amazing..i could almost breath the air and feel the chill of the wind, the charecters had such depth in them i could recognize thier voices... While Marillier took her time telling the story it came clear to me that she was trying to give her legend a touch of reality, because when we hear about fairy tales, the heroes usually go on in their missions and through thier tests single mindedly and determination, that we forget that they are also humans, while they going through quests.. fighting battles .. they have their inner battles .. uncertainties, and struggles.

i liked how Marillier shaped her characters and told the story, it was beautiful

[Jea0126]

Lina wrote: "Maggie I finished!!
I honestly teared up 3 times!!! 3 times is alot for one novel I think!
It just really dug deep with me, and now I totally understand what you meant about "the love that comes o..."

The next two are almost as good as the first one was. : )

[Jasmine M]

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "The only thing that struck me as 'off' a little in the book was when Simon asked her "Why didn't you wait for me?" I was like 'Huh?' When did he indicate any romantic interest in Sorcha? I also ..."

i kind of agree, actually i was hoping that she'd be reunited with Simon.. after they went their separate ways... when she met Red i knew she'd fall in love with him and i was disappointed, so when Simon came back and asked her why she didn't wait for him..i was like " Yeah .. why didn't you wait for him?" i felt really sorry for him, because while she was just a child when she took care of him, i could see that he cared so much about her, Right now i'm feeling sorry for Elaine!

[Maggie]

I wish there had been more interaction between Simon and Red as well...

[Jasmine M]

Maggie wrote: "I wish there had been more interaction between Simon and Red as well..."

well.. the whole thing at the end ..after the fire and the return of the brothers seemed really rushed to me...i saw no interaction between anybody!!!

[Mare]

Maggie wrote: "I wish there had been more interaction between Simon and Red as well..."

I must agree some parts were shalow... not explained well and without any emotion. I'm still missing a lot about Lady Ann (I'm not sure why)

But book is great =) i loved it. Some parts are better than other and I'm thinking whether to read other sequals or to start another books. I was determined to read just this one but ending left blanks- what happened to Finbar, and will they find Oonagh (of course they will, but what about their brother? I think he will be evil =) )

[Maggie]

I have not read the next book yet, but I hear those story lines are taken care of, Mare

[Mare]

Maggie wrote: "I have not read the next book yet, but I hear those story lines are taken care of, Mare"

I think that too... but I will be hooked if I start reading second book and my "to read" bookshelf is exploding. I'll probably read next book this summer. Just hoping that it's at least as good as Daughter of the forest

[Lina]

I'm on the third one now, I'm the type that HAS to finish the whole series if I enjoyed the first. Just makes my tbr pile higher and higher lol.

The 2nd was really nice, but I liked the first one more, and now that I'm reading the third, it's definitely picking up again. I like the whole 'IDEA' of the third book, it starts off really fast paced compared to the first two, and if you're into evil characters then the third is a must, Lady OOnagh makes an appearance, it says in the synopsis so I'm not spoiling anything for anyone I promise!!

Tbh while I was reading the 2nd I wanted her to come back, now that I'm reading the third I am very happy to say that the series as a whole is so well done, questions you may have are answered and characters once loved come back, things are explained.

I agree with everyone here that there shouldve been more of Simon and Red together as brothers, since Simon was considered a main character for so many, including me, but when Red appeared I forgot all about Simon lol. I wondered where he was, but I was more interested in what would happen with Sorcha and Red. I too was shocked when he asked why didn't you wait for me.
Like You Sandra, I was like, you never asked her! Or did he..... ?

[Sandra]

Lina wrote: "I'm on the third one now, I'm the type that HAS to finish the whole series if I enjoyed the first. Just makes my tbr pile higher and higher lol.

The 2nd was really nice, but I liked the first one ..."

No, he didn't! I promise he didn't!

I usually have to read whole series, too, but didn't feel compelled with this one. I haven't been able to find anything really interesting to read, though, so maybe I should! Have so many books tho in my tbr pile already I promised myself I'd read some of them.

[Jamie]

It's been a long time since I "had" to stay up to finish a book. I loved it. I had a day away in a fairytale.

If the other two in the series are just as compelling, I'll have to wait a few weeks to read them....I can't be staying up half the night every night.

[Jasmine M]

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Lina wrote: "I'm on the third one now, I'm the type that HAS to finish the whole series if I enjoyed the first. Just makes my tbr pile higher and higher lol."

Yeah ..i know what you mean, but the problem with staying up reading is that you go to work next day moving like a zombie... it happened with this book by the way

[Elly]

I read this book years ago, in junior high, and it has been one of my favorite books ever since. I actually joined this group partly because I saw that there was a discussion going on about it, and since very few of my friends have read it I thought it would be fun to talk about. This is my favorite of the series, though whole trilogy is fantastic, in my opinion. The ones afterwards are not quite as good, but I still like them. This book really helped me grow as a person and I love the characters and her love for her brothers really struck me since I am very close to my brothers as well.

[Lmk]

Hi - just joined this group because of the discussion on this book. I read this a few years back and I have to say it's still one of my all time favorites. It wasn't recommended, I just happened to see it on a shelf and thought ooh this should be good! I wonder if that's part of its special-ness is that I hand picked this treasure all on my own? I seem to be in agreement with most comments here. I made a personal connection with Sorcha right away, loved her character. And I think that made it a little difficult to identify with the main characters in the next two books. They were fantastic books, all of them, but Sorcha and I... well, I just wasn't ready to put her aside and hear someone else's story in this series. Also, maybe, if the author would've added about five more chapters, I think I could have been more satisfied with Simon and Red's characters.

[Maggie]

Lmk wrote: "Hi - just joined this group because of the discussion on this book. I read this a few years back and I have to say it's still one of my all time favorites. It wasn't recommended, I just happened to..."

I agree! A couple more chapters would have added so much, and gave room for further exploration of those two

[Asia]

Jasmine wrote:
yes i did like it...i liked it very much.. i couldn't leave it for long and when i did..."

The story was often on my mind as well. I was so immersed in the magical world that I re-lived some parts and imagined numbers of potential continuations. I really identified with Sorcha and felt her love for her brothers, even though I have no siblings. This best explains how great this book is. And the parts when she was spinning and weaving were so well described that I almost felt pain in my own hands. I plan to read the rest of the books in the series but not straight away because I think that if I did I’d miss Sorcha and Red terribly:)