Synopses & Reviews
Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all...
Review
"I enjoyed it immensely...For an Irish resident, familiar with the mores and customs,
Daughter of the Forest has special meaning and relevance. Juliet Marillier is a fine new fantasy writer--and what trials does she put her characters through in the next book?"--Anne McCaffrey
"Ms. Marillier's ability to use so well such a known legend and make it both logical and exciting is an outstanding gift. I am now, of course, eager to see 'what happens next.'"--Andre Norton
Synopsis
Daughter of the Forest, the first book in Juliet Marillier's award-winning Sevenwaters Trilogy.
Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift--by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all...
About the Author
Juliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, a town with strong Scottish roots. She currently lives in a rural area of Western Australia, sharing her house with a cat and a dog. A university graduate in music and languages, she has had a varied career that includes working for government agencies, opera singing, and raising four children. Juliet now writes full time. Her lifelong interest in myth, legend, folklore and traditional music is a strong influence on both style and theme in her writing. A passion for early British history, reflecting her Celtic ancestry, is evident in her choice of settings.
Juliet Marillier achieved international recognition in 1999 with the publication of her award-winning novel Daughter of the Forest. This is the first book of the Sevenwaters Trilogy, a historical fantasy set in Ireland and Britain in the ninth century, and is loosely based on the traditional fairy tale, The Six Swans. The second book in the series, Son of the Shadows, won the 2000 Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel. Child of the Prophecy completes this trilogy.
Juliet Marillier's second series is based on the first Viking voyage from Norway to Orkney, and weaves history and folklore into a saga of adventure, romance and magic. The series is made up of two novels, Wolfskin and Foxmask. Juliet is currently working on a new trilogy set in the north of Britain in the time of the Picts.
Reading Group Guide
Questions for Discussion
1. The book begins with Sorcha as a child, naïve and innocent regarding the brutality of her fathers methods of safeguarding his realm. Not until the capture, and her subsequent nursing of the Briton called Simon, does she begin to see this harsh reality. How does this knowledge color her perceptions of her debt to Simon—and later, to Red—and how does it prepare her for the trials that await her?
2. The Lady Oonagh and the Lady of the Forest are likened to two sides of the same coin, just one of a number of dualities which are echoed throughout the book. Discuss some of the other examples and how they may reflect some of the authors objectives in both plot and message.
3. Discuss the role of Nature in the book, not only as a source of healing, sustenance, and protection for Sorchas people, but as a character that contributes to both plot and action. Is the author effective in bringing the natural world to life, and if so, what conscious decisions do you think she made to achieve this difficult goal?
4. Once Sorcha is in the keeping of Lord Hugh (Red), how do the rumors spread by the local townsfolk about her compare to the claims about the inhumanity of the Britons by her own people? What is the author saying about prejudice, ignorance, and fear?
5. Discuss the characters of Sorchas six brothers, and describe the role each takes in furthering the plot. Are they fully-realized characters?
6. The Fair Folk are portrayed as powerful supernatural forces, godlike in their enchantments, but petty, jealous, and vain. How does this behavior reflect the belief system of the Celtic people? How does it differ from the fledgling Christianity that is shadowed in the book?
7. Discuss the various roles of the supporting women in the book, especially Lady Oonagh, Lady Anne, and Elaine. What traits do they all share? How does the authors presentation of female characters compare to her portrayals of the main male characters?