Heart's Blood (edition 2009)

I'm not sure Heart's Blood actually stands with my other five star books in terms of how much I loved it, but it's the first of Juliet Marillier's books I've read (the other two being Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret) that I felt genuinely excited about and eager to read, once I'd started. I ended up loving it quite a lot, with 'just a few more pages' syndrome and, near the end, excited little eeps and sighs. I'd hoped to enjoy Marillier's work more than I did, so it was lovely to thoroughly enjoy this, and that's probably inflated my rating an extra star.

I do have reservations about it -- the narrator, the main character, was not very well differentiated from Marillier's other narrators. There was the same tone, the same inclinations... There were differences in the characters, and they're certainly not carbon copies, but it didn't come through in her tone.

I was also a little put out by how quickly I realised the true identity of a certain character, and how long it took the main character to realise the same.

But, yes, for the most part, I loved it. It's an inventive retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it has a disabled protagonist, the issues of abuse which hover around it like a cloud from the very first pages are well-handled... I could believe in the situation, whole-heartedly: I enjoyed the setting, and the supporting characters, and believed in how they related to each other. For the first half of it, I couldn't predict what was going to happen, and I couldn't predict the way Marillier was going to reinterpret the story.

If there's to be a series, as I've seen suggested, then I'll definitely buy any subsequent books. But it does stand alone, too: it has a proper resolution, and the end is hopeful and suggesting the future without requiring follow-up, as such. ( )

This historical fantasy was a bit of a disappointment for me. It's the first book I've read by Juliet Marillier, although I've thought about starting one of her series several times (they always have fabulous covers!). The setting is medieval Ireland, and the tale combines elements of Beauty and the Beast with Celtic folklore. The book is dense and it took me a long time to finish. There are lots of details and scenes of everyday life. At the center of the book is a really interesting plot and likable romantic leads, but for me, all of that got lost within dull surroundings. I guess I like my fantasy a little more action-oriented. The romance, too, builds very slowly. At times Heart's Blood reminded me of a Patricia McKillip novel, with its Celtic mythology and romantic storytelling, but where McKillip seems to choose each word carefully for the utmost lyrical impact, Marillier uses twenty words where five would do. If you like your fantasy dreamy and long-winded, this one's for you. Personally, I don't know if I would read another book by this author or not. Two and a half stars. ( )

I originally reviewed this book on my blog - The Cosy Dragon. For more recent reviews by me, please hop over there.

Caitrin is running from the past, yet the future she is running into is even worse. Beset by ghosts and demons both real and imagined, can Caitrin do something useful with her life, and end up with the man she loves?

From the first couple of words, Marillier suckers the reader in. I found myself wanting to read on just to find out what Caitrin was fleeing from - whether I would be told that or not I waited breathlessly to find out.

The text seems a little stilted in the first couple of pages, but I was positive that it would improve. It's something after reading the three books of the Sevenwaters trilogy I was sort of expecting to find. It didn't bother me significantly though, because Caitrin had already pulled me in! I think it was a slightly easier read than those three books, but no less enjoyable

There are some early beautiful descriptions of the garden. Marillier has done a great job of landscaping the area for her reader while also striking a balance with history and the characters. I can imagine that a lot of research into Irish history went into this book, and it's been utterly worth it.

There are two hooks in the reader - the material Caitrin is researching (and that she is interested in) and also what is happening in the present. It's wonderful to see the character development of all the living characters, and also of some of the Host. Marillier deals nicely with rape, murder and torture - the reader isn't overwhelmed. The reader can face fears with Caitrin as she blossoms back into the independant woman she should be.

The use of mirrors providing further insight into the past is fascinating. The change in perspective from Caitrin to Nechtan really works well, and after an initial stumble, I found myself accepting the mirror premise. It hasn't been overused in the text, and that's what I think makes it work.

I read parts of the book aloud, and found that a couple of sentences in the passages I was reading were too long! I also struggled with the legitimate Irish names, which defied my attempts at pronunciation. However, my audience of 1 didn't care, and the text flowed smoothly and had a lovely rhythm about it.

This is a brilliant novel, just what I was hoping to read after the poor quality of 'Wit'ch Fire'. It had me reading past my bedtime because I had already spent the whole day reading it! I'd recommend this book for teenagers and adults. There is some very brief sexual content, but it's not enough to make the book unsuitable for younger readers. ( )

Caitrin is on the run, and anywhere will do. Overcome by grief after her father’s death, she was taken advantage of and mistreated by her distant cousins after her sister married and moved away. When she finally fled, it was her precious writing box she took, for both she and her father were scribes.

During her flight she arrives at Whistling Tor, a fiercely guarded Irish town. She learns that the chieftan is a recluse and the villagers are afraid of what goes on on the hilltop where he lives. Hearing that he is in need of a scribe Caitran travels up the hill and meets some unlikely companions on the way. Caitrin learns how the chieftan, Anluan, is bound to the hilltop by the actions of his ancestor, for to leave would cause his unusual army to run amok and bring death and destruction on the area. As Caitlin and Anluan's relationship develops she realises that only through her love and determination can break the curse can be broken and set Anluan and his people free. A great read. ( )

As I've mentioned on an occasion or seventy, I am a BIG fan of Juliet Marillier and count her Daughter of the Forest not only as my favorite fairy tale retelling, but among my favorite books, period.  Because of this, I am always just about equal parts excitement and trepidation when I start a new book by her.  A part of me knows it's never going to measure up to the pedestal I keep Daughter of the Forest on, and part of me doesn't care because I know it's going to be so frakking good anyway.  So I went into Heart's Blood, which had been on my wishlist for eons, knowing I was going to be let down and that I was still going to love it.  It's such a strange way to read a book...

Heart's Blood is a very full and complete story - as her tales always are - easily standing on its own two feet outside of its Beauty and the Beast bones. In fact, many readers may not even recognize it outright as a B&B tale, it's so well-developed beyond that.  Marillier is at the top of my list of authors to recommend both to people looking for a fairy tale retelling and people who think they'd never like or want to read a fairy tale retelling.  The elements are there for those who love the tales, but her stories are so much more than a simple fairy tale, always.  Her world-building is thoughtful and skillful, and beyond her gorgeous writing, her handling of a story is sure to please so many different types of readers, looking for so many different things.  Her stories are atmospheric and lush, very vividly detailed and lovingly rendered - the types of stories to escape into, to sigh over, and to push rabidly on every reader to cross your path.

In addition to her world-building, Marillier shows a real mastery of character-building.  As with her other works, Heart's Blood demonstrates great character growth for so many of the characters, right down to the minor ones.  Marillier can really make you grow to love someone in such a short time-frame, she is just so very good at building a character.  They can be introduced in the end of the book and still you root/fear/feel for them. But  beyond letting you love them, she gives each of them, right down to the most minor, the chance to become a round character and have their moment to shine.  Marillier doesn't deal in cardboard characters, and hallelujah, if that is not every reader's dream...  So you can only imagine that if her minor characters are full and realized, her main characters are practically touchable.  Caitrin and Anluan are no exception, and I really feel as if, were I to climb some random Irish hill with a castle at the top, I'd find Anluan pacing unevenly yet stormily about the courtyard...

That said, I felt there were some... missing links.  Missed connections, I guess... I felt like Caitrin and Anluan should have loved each other, that they were absolutely meant to love each other, but I couldn't quite see how they did.  It was like, there's something there and they're made for each other, but within the actual text of the story, it was never really put out there, not fully. It wasn't given enough of a foundation, beyond the reader's expectation.  It was close, so close, but there was just something a little off, some teensy but key moments where the romance buds and blooms, and I don't know, maybe they happened offstage, but I needed them (because I'm living vicariously, dammit!). I'm sure I'm being hard on Marillier because I know just how goddamned well she can build a romance and make me believe every palpable, heart-rending, fluttery moment of it. But still...

But this is really a tiny drawback, because even Marillier slightly off her game is leagues beyond what you'll get from many authors out there.  Something I came to realize as I finished this book was that I trust Marillier implicitly.  I'll go wherever she wants to take me, because I know she's going to make it worthwhile.  Heart's Blood is fantastic as a Beauty/Beast retelling, of course, but so much more than that.  It adult moments, but it's not gratuitous; it can be dark, but it's never without hope. Marillier understands balance and she understands longing, and it's a very honest story.  Marillier is always honest and doesn't toy with her readers, and I've come to respect and trust her immensely because of that.  Her writing is very authentic and real-feeling, always.  Even when that may be uncomfortable.  And above all, her stories fulfill something deep inside of the reader, and I love her for that. ( )