Heir Of Sevenwaters
Ailene Goldhirsh
Set mainly in ancient Ireland, the series covers four generations in the family of Sevenwaters, which enjoys a special relationship with the people of the Otherworld. As well as battles between the Irish Celts and the Britons, internal conflicts between neighbouring landholders are integral to the plots. However, all six books carry a strong romance element. All the books are narrated in the first person by young women of the family.
Daughter of the Forest is based loosely on "The Six Swans" (a story that has many versions, one of which is recounted by Hans Christian Andersen). A 13-year-old girl, Sorcha, (pronounced Sor-ka or sometimes Ser-ha) must sew six shirts from a painful nettle plant in order to save her brothers from a witch's enchantment. They have been turned into swans and can only be returned to their true forms if she creates a shirt for each brother with her own hands - and she must remain completely mute until the task is finished. Living in hiding, Sorcha must avoid discovery, survive off the land, and toil night and day to complete her task without the benefit of any tools of the trade, using only what the forest around her can provide--all while keeping silent and bearing unfathomable loneliness. Terrible events hinder her progress and eventually take her further and further away from her home. As months and even years pass by, Sorcha's lonely existence is only brightened by her hope of breaking the spell on her brothers....and a foreign man nicknamed 'Red'.
Son of the Shadows is the story of Sorcha's younger daughter, Liadan (Lee-a-dan). Liadan is an exceptionally talented healer who is also supernaturally gifted; receiving sporadic visions of the present and future, able to hear and see beings of the Otherworld, and she has also inherited her mother's ability to communicate silently, mind-to-mind, with her twin brother Sean. While traveling through a small village, Liadan is taken by a pair of men belonging to a notorious band of outlaws. Despite a fearsome reputation, these strange warriors aren't abusive or even rude to her--all they want is for her to heal their friend, a wounded blacksmith. The outlaws respect her greatly--except for one, their Chief, the notorious "Painted Man". The fierce, tattooed leader is a mystery Liadan must unravel--who he is, where he comes from, why he cannot abide darkness, and why he despises women so much that he can't stand being in her presence. Guided by the Otherworld people known as Fair Folk, Liadan walks a long and twisted path that leads her all over the land of Erin, discovering shocking things about her family, her friends...and the Painted Man. She must separate truth from lies, and decide whether to follow the path the Fair Folk set for her, or make her own way, though her own path may lead to extreme danger, broken alliances and friendships, and a broken heart.
Child of the Prophecy is the story of Fainne (Faun-ya), the daughter of Niamh (Nee-av). She is raised on the coast in Kerry by her single father, a powerful sorcerer. Fainne has little time for normal childhood things, prevented by her father's lengthy lessons of practicing the craft; sorcery. What precious little time she does have, she spends with her only friend, Darragh (Darr-ah), a boy belonging to a family of travelers. As Fainne grows into a young woman, her heavy workload increases, leaving no time for anything but the practice of the craft. Her father has taught her well, but her education is not yet complete. Her grandmother, a renowned sorceress capable of awesome powers and terrifying cruelty, comes to finish her training--and to tell her the reason behind all these years of preparation. Fainne is to complete a task for her grandmother--go to her mother's home, to meet her family for the first time...and to kill her own cousin, destroying the family's chances of winning an impending battle and fulfilling an ancient prophecy. She can't refuse, or her evil grandmother will punish her by hurting those she loves--her father, her young cousins, and her most precious treasure of all; her childhood friend, Darragh.Fainne must walk a fine line between good and evil, and face an impossible choice: dance to the witch's tune in order to protect her loved ones, or defy her sorceress grandmother for the greater good of her family, the people of Sevenwaters, and ultimately all of Erin.
Seer of Sevenwaters follows Sibeal's (pronounced Shi-bail) last summer on Inis Eala before she makes her final vows to become a druid and live in the forest of Sevenwaters in quiet meditation and solitude. What was meant to be a peaceful visit is quickly transformed as a shipwreck on a nearby reef sends three survivors to the island, including a mysterious amnesiac who Sibeal finds herself caring for. Their lives change when, together, they must embark upon a journey of self-discovery that will lead them far away and closer to each other.
A short story about Lady Oonagh's other son, Conri. For assisting in the rescue of Ciaran, he is turned into a raven until a woman of Sevenwaters agrees to marry him. After decades as Ciaran's familiar, his story wins the sympathy of Padriac's daughter, the fierce Aisha who is visiting for the first time from norseland Xixn. Ciaran performs the wedding, the curse is broken, and Conri returns to human form.
Flame follows Maeve, one of Lord Sean's daughters, on her return to Sevenwaters after ten years away at Harrowfield. Burned in a horrible accident as a child, Maeve is reluctant to return to the place of so many difficult memories and expectations. Yet upon her return, she finds herself in the middle of a strange struggle, the heart of which lies in the Otherworld. And only Maeve and her little brother Finbar have the ability to save their family, their clan, and perhaps all of Erin.
Why did I read this book: I nearly died of a happy heart attack when I received this novel in the mail from the publisher. I absolutely loved Daughter of the Forest (Book 1 of the original Sevenwaters trilogy), and was salivating over this new book.
The family of Sevenwaters has held a pact with the Fair Folk that live in its forests for many, many years. The humans at Sevenwaters vow to protect the forest from disbelievers and outsiders that would push the Fair Folk from their homes, and in turn the Fair Folk provide their own protection and aid for the family.
I ordered myself to be calm. I would be ready, no matter what. I would do this even if years and years had passed. I had the green glass ring, I had the necklace, I had the egg stone and I had Fiacha. And I had a plan, a plan that frightened me half out of my wits, but then the very notion of confronting Mac Dara would be enough to make most young women turn tail and flee, I thought. Perhaps, to survive in a place like this, a person had to be half mad; as mad as a man who would sacrifice his future to save a friend; as mad as a woman who could love a child made of sticks and stones.
Thea James is one half of the maniacal duo behind The Book Smugglers. She is Filipina-American, but grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Japan. A full-time book nerd who works in publishing for her day job, Thea currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her partner and rambunctious cat. COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS & DRAGONS (available August 31, 2021) is her first cookbook.
I can recommend Heir To Sevenwaters, it is a fantastic read, like all of Juliet Marrilers books. I have no hesitation in also recommending all of her books. They are such great stories to read, the characters are so believable and the story lines so very exciting. Happy reading Kiwi
Great review. I think all Juliet's books are great to read. The logical step would be for you to read the "Light Isles Saga" next ("Wolfskin" and "Foxmask") because it were the books she wrote after the Sevenwaters trilogy. Then you should move to the Bridei Chronicles and, afterwards, her books for young adults "Wildwood Dancing" & "Cybele's Secret".
In my opinion, "Wolfskin" is really a breathtaking story and it has the greater villain and one of the best characters Juliet has ever created ?
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JM: HEIR TO SEVENWATERS has a theme of identity and alienation. There are several strands dealing with the relationship between parent and child. It also includes something quite dear to my heart, the power of storytelling to help people solve real life problems. A storyteller named Willow tells three tales near the beginning, but the characters listening are slow to pick up the fact that this is more than after-supper entertainment.
Thank you, Sara. Clodagh does demonstrate that being a good housewife and dutiful daughter / sister has given her the skills and strength to achieve some truly remarkable things. One need not be a warrior woman to handle a quest or be a hero.
Yes, I did leave this open for a sequel or two, even though Cathal expresses a wish at the end of the book not to be involved! There could be a major struggle between the Sevenwaters clan and the powerful Mac Dara.
I really look forward to reading your new novel and eagerly await its arrival down here in little old Tasmania, Australia. From the other comments posted, it sounds like Heir to Sevenwaters will prove as successful as your previous books.
I am sad that Heir to Sevenwaters is so short! PLEASE tell you editor that this is NOT the way to go, whether its with your young adult novels or regular adult fantasy. Your books have always been just right, but with the newest ones, I believe they would have been even better with a bit more pages in between. Your stories are always beautiful no matter what, but truly your new American editor should not force you to make your stories shorter. That is discouraging news to us readers who enjoy a lengthy, more fleshed out story and not just a quick read. Young adults and adults alike deserve more than that. You of course do a wonderful job despite the limitations of the editor, and Heir is definitely not a shallow read. You always do such a good job of keeping the reader engrossed with major and minor characters, as well as major and minor storylines within your novels. The themes are truthful and real, and that is what makes your works stand out among the same old wizards and dragons fantasy out there.
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