Juniper

I remember being initially disappointed that the other book in this series wasn't a continuation of Wise Child's story, but a prequel about Juniper's childhood. However, I wasn't disappointed for long as it's such a wonderful story.
Princess Ninnoc of Cornwall is sent to apprentice with Euny, an old woman who seems to have the ear of Ninnoc's father, the Regulus, and also, mystifyingly, refers to Ninnoc as "Juniper". The spoiled princess is at first distressed by Euny's spare existence and uninvolved teaching style, but soon finds the experience valuable. Aunt Meroot, her father's older sister is covetous of power and schemes to seize it by setting her own son on the throne. Juniper must resist her aunt, save her cousin and possibly the show more entire kingdom. show less

A bit solemn and self-important, but Juniper's teacher Euny was a fabulous character--powerful, impatient, angry, yet ultimately good, for the story and for the main character.

Prequel to Wise Child. Juniper, whose real name is Ninnoc, is a princess in Cornwall who is sent to learn about magic and healing from her godmother, Euny. At first she is horrified by Euny's poverty but gradually she begins to appreciate the simpler life and understand the power Euny draws from it. Juniper's own growing powers are tested when a childhood friend is bewitched by a dangerous sorcerer.

It always confused me that the story in this book didn't match the tale Juniper tells in Wise Child, but that discrepancy at least can be explained away. Wise Child is young and in pain when Juniper tells her the story and could have misunderstood or misremembered it.

I love Juniper as a character, but this book is a little uneven. It's show more interesting to read about most of her training, the contrast between her life as a princess and her life with Euny, the differences between her two teachers, and the things she learned. But some things that are made out to be vital to the training or practice of their power in one book are not mentioned, glossed over, or changed in the other.

I do like this book, but it's not as good as Wise Child. show less

By 'atmospheric' the blurb writer means 'subtle.' Just as lovely as [b:Wise Child|540489|Wise Child|Monica Furlong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433377732l/540489._SX50_.jpg|871078]. Either could be read first, tbh. Perfect for young girls who are wondering about the Pagan religion, but not anti-Christian at all. Women have their own strengths, their own perspectives... and their own initiations and apprenticeships. Science and magic, struggles and joy, life and death are all necessary parts of the whole... and health means balance.

Not that Furlong actually said anything of that. She just tells a story.

I loved this book so much when I was younger that I once dressed up as the protagonist for Halloween. Nobody got it. (Nobody got my J. Alfred Prufrock costume either, sigh.) That's a pity, because this is one of the most vividly imagined children's fantasies I've ever read. Highly recommended.

Very nice book! Of course, it's a childrens fantasy book - a bit predictable, a bit black-and-white concerning good and evil. But it's well written, it captured me and it had a lot of elements I really liked (an owl as a pet :D).

I've somehow never heard about this small seriesby Monica Furlong; it deserves more readers. Juniper is the onlychild of the king. She begins to train with Euny, her godmother, arigid and unfeeling woman, and slowly, with Euny's help, learns aboutthe true nature of power and about the truly important things in theworld.