A retelling of the six swans fairy tale. Very well done. I cared about Sorcha so much I had trouble keeping on reading when I knew from my memory of the fairy tale something bad was coming.I'm glad she removed the bit about her having children that were killed. Sorry the brothers dwindled and went away or died - what happened to "Do not underestimate any of your brothers?" But I have some hope Finbar will return, in the sequels. ( )

Growing up wild in the forests of Ireland, Sorcha has a relatively happy childhood with her six older brothers, despite the fact that her mother died when she was born. But when her father marries again, she and her brothers quickly realize that there is something wrong with their new stepmother. Lady Oonagh may be beautiful, but she is also cruel – so cruel that she uses her dark magic to put a curse on Sorcha’s brothers, turning them all into swans. Sorcha must find a way to escape Oonagh and break the curse, but her path soon takes her in a strange direction: she encounters a group of Britons whose leader, Red, takes her back with him to England. Sorcha is grieved at leaving her beloved brothers and homeland, but she is also intrigued by the completely different way of life she now observes. As Sorcha struggles to break the curse, she must eventually choose between the old life she loves and the new life she desperately desires.

This book was completely absorbing; I spent all of yesterday devouring it. Fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and love stories will really enjoy this book. The plot is engrossing, especially the many obstacles Sorcha must face before she can break the curse and determine her true path in life. The romance is also very good, both strong and tender. The villains are a bit too villainous, which was surprising considering how great the characterization is in other areas…Sorcha has six brothers, and they each have a distinct personality! I also liked the way magic is described: none of the characters make a big deal of it, because it’s just there as a normal part of their lives. In short, this novel is very interesting and unique – in my opinion, definitely worth owning!

I have always enjoyed fantasy, and I absolutely adore historic fiction, so one would think that I would naturally gravitate towards Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest. However this book and I were several years in the making. I would go to the bookstore, be attracted by its cover, and then shy away from the idea of “another” Celtic fantasy. Not that I had ever really read any, but for some reason or another I held this strong opinion about the subject. Finally one day I broke down and bought it, and in many ways was surprised.

Summary: (Spoilers)

Sorcha is the youngest of seven, and if you asked her father she should have been the seventh son of a seventh son, but instead she had to mess things up and be, well, a girl. Her mother died in childbirth, another thing her father never could forgive her for so she was practically raised by her brothers. She and her brothers were all very close, but she was closest to Finbar. With him she shared a telepathic bond with which they could have whole conversations and share thoughts and feelings. Despite her father’s distance life seemed ideal for Sorcha and her six brothers. That is, until Lord Colum brings home the Lady Oonagh. Read More ( )

When her six brothers are transformed into swans, Sorcha must save them by completing a terrible task without ever uttering a sound.

If you think that sounds familiar, you're right. DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST is based on a fairy tale called "The Six Swans." Marillier has changed some things, of course, but the basic setup is the same.

This is one of those wonderful, immersive books that draws you in slowly but surely. It did take me a little while to really commit to it, but once I did... wow. I couldn't help but feel for Sorcha. She's in a really difficult place. Terrible things happen to her because she can't speak. I mean, terrible things. I won't tell you what they are because I don't want to spoil the book for you, but they are absolutely heartwrenching. I bawled my eyes out. From her brothers' transformation on, I had a tough time putting the book down. I got so wrapped up in it that I was almost afraid to speak, lest I ruin Sorcha's one chance to free her brothers. I love it when a book affects me that deeply.

I also appreciated how Marillier handled the romance. I'm a total sucker for a love story that rips my heart out and stomps on it, and this one certainly did so. Sorcha's love blossoms slowly and organically. There are no shooting stars and fireworks. She meets someone. Things are tense between them, but eventually she gets to know him. And then... and then...

God. I'm tearing up again just thinking about it.

And the stories! Stories form the backbone of Sorcha's world. She's a storyteller, through and through, and she uses stories to guide her through the dark times and to celebrate the good. It's beautifully done.

On the down side, the book does begin very slowly. Marillier spends a lot of time introducing us to the political climate and showing us what these seven people mean to one another. We also have a rather long segment that sets up another character's emotional arc. I hesitate to say that any of this is unnecessary, but I think the book might have been just as strong without it. It's Sorcha's situation that affected me here; it's her situation that kept me reading. I knew how she felt about her brothers and the love interest because of how she fought to save them, and that all went down in the latter half of the book. The beginning is interesting and immersive, but it was all supplementary. I'm not too sure how I feel about it.

But that quibble aside, this was wonderful. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in historical fantasy. It's a wonderful, engaging, tearjerker of a book that reminded me of both Jacqueline Carey and Robin Hobb. It does have a very definite ending, but there are several loose ends that I imagine will carry on through the next two books in the series.

(A slightly longer version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

“For a rather long book, I read it in a very short period (like 3 days). It is not demanding reading and the story is very entertaining. An evil witch, the unassuming heroine, the unexpected love interest, etc, the book has it all.
A very pleasing and well-rounded story.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Suggested With: Warm tea on a quiet night.” ( )