Helpful Score: 5
She's back! I have been a huge fan of Juliet Marillier since the first time I picked up Daughter of the Forest. I loved Daughter as well as Son of the Shadows. I was disappointed in Child of the Prophecy, and although I was excited in the extreme when I heard that a new Sevenwaters book was being released (Heir to Sevenwaters) and I was also sadly disappointed in it.
BUT... Heart's Blood has reminded me just exactly why Juliet Marillier has been probably my absolute favorite author for almost a decade. This book utterly swept me away. It kept me guessing and turning the pages as fast as I possibly could. I *had* to know what happened next. I fell in love with Caitrin and Anluan, Magnus and all the rest of the odd but lovable characters in this book. This book is unique in so many ways, and trust me, I have read a LOT and tend to get bored rather easily lately.
If you are a fan of Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series, this book is a definite must have. It is a breath of fresh air from the first page and I admit that I was teary eyed when I read the last page and closed the covers. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time, if not forever, and that made me want to just carry it around with me, almost as though by doing so would make the book not end. I know it may sound silly, but for those of you out there who have read a book that you cannot even begin to describe how much you loved, you probably know what I mean.
I cannot recommend Heart's Blood highly enough! If you find a copy of it, pick it up! You will NOT be disappointed!
BUT... Heart's Blood has reminded me just exactly why Juliet Marillier has been probably my absolute favorite author for almost a decade. This book utterly swept me away. It kept me guessing and turning the pages as fast as I possibly could. I *had* to know what happened next. I fell in love with Caitrin and Anluan, Magnus and all the rest of the odd but lovable characters in this book. This book is unique in so many ways, and trust me, I have read a LOT and tend to get bored rather easily lately.
If you are a fan of Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series, this book is a definite must have. It is a breath of fresh air from the first page and I admit that I was teary eyed when I read the last page and closed the covers. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time, if not forever, and that made me want to just carry it around with me, almost as though by doing so would make the book not end. I know it may sound silly, but for those of you out there who have read a book that you cannot even begin to describe how much you loved, you probably know what I mean.
I cannot recommend Heart's Blood highly enough! If you find a copy of it, pick it up! You will NOT be disappointed!
Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com
In medieval Ireland, eighteen-year-old Caitrin is an anomaly. Before he died, her scribe father not only taught her how to read and write, but allowed her to actively participate in his trade and supported her in the face of those who scorned the idea of a female intellectual. However, with his death, Caitrin is left at the mercy of her cruel and abusive aunt and cousin, whose treatment forces her to flee from her home with nothing but her scribing tools and the clothes on her back.
She manages to find employment with Anluan, the mysterious and solitary clan chieftan of Whistling Tor. She stays with him and his household, reading, translating, recopying, and categorizing the contents of his library, for which he promises to pay her both in silver and in the elusive plant heart's blood, used to produce a rare and priceless ink. However, things at Whistling Tor are not quite what they seem, and Caitrin's work brings her into contact with a fantastic history of the place that its ruler would prefer be kept silent.
I have read Marillier's work before, but unlike others who compare HEART'S BLOOD unfavorably to her SEVENWATERS books, I found myself much more caught up in Caitrin's story. Part of that has to do with her character; like most of Marillier's heroines, she's intelligent, plucky, and though she's dealing with her own personal demons, she has an infectiously dazzling strength of spirit.
And although the story is told from Caitrin's first-person point of view, Marillier manages to portray with equal depths the complexity of Anluan's hidden past. Although the plot does perhaps lag in the middle in the sense that there is little outward action taking place, I felt like every single scene was significant for character development even if it didn't immediately advance the plot.
By the end of the first chapter, I felt like this book had been written specifically for me. As a huge fan of the story of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, I saw HEART'S BLOOD as both an obvious and clever retelling that played fast and loose with some of the plot points of the original tale in order to convey the right feeling and allow the characters to gain more complexity of motivation. It's certainly nothing like the Disney version (well, except that there is a magic mirror), but I liked it better for that.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling historical fantasy with strong characterization and beautiful writing.
In medieval Ireland, eighteen-year-old Caitrin is an anomaly. Before he died, her scribe father not only taught her how to read and write, but allowed her to actively participate in his trade and supported her in the face of those who scorned the idea of a female intellectual. However, with his death, Caitrin is left at the mercy of her cruel and abusive aunt and cousin, whose treatment forces her to flee from her home with nothing but her scribing tools and the clothes on her back.
She manages to find employment with Anluan, the mysterious and solitary clan chieftan of Whistling Tor. She stays with him and his household, reading, translating, recopying, and categorizing the contents of his library, for which he promises to pay her both in silver and in the elusive plant heart's blood, used to produce a rare and priceless ink. However, things at Whistling Tor are not quite what they seem, and Caitrin's work brings her into contact with a fantastic history of the place that its ruler would prefer be kept silent.
I have read Marillier's work before, but unlike others who compare HEART'S BLOOD unfavorably to her SEVENWATERS books, I found myself much more caught up in Caitrin's story. Part of that has to do with her character; like most of Marillier's heroines, she's intelligent, plucky, and though she's dealing with her own personal demons, she has an infectiously dazzling strength of spirit.
And although the story is told from Caitrin's first-person point of view, Marillier manages to portray with equal depths the complexity of Anluan's hidden past. Although the plot does perhaps lag in the middle in the sense that there is little outward action taking place, I felt like every single scene was significant for character development even if it didn't immediately advance the plot.
By the end of the first chapter, I felt like this book had been written specifically for me. As a huge fan of the story of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, I saw HEART'S BLOOD as both an obvious and clever retelling that played fast and loose with some of the plot points of the original tale in order to convey the right feeling and allow the characters to gain more complexity of motivation. It's certainly nothing like the Disney version (well, except that there is a magic mirror), but I liked it better for that.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling historical fantasy with strong characterization and beautiful writing.
I had never read any of Juliet Marillier's novels before and was happily surprised by the depth and dimension found in Heart's Blood. Very well written. I love a novel in which both the primary and secondary characters come alive on the pages. By the end of this book, I didn't want to say goodbye to my new-found friends.
Everyone had a small but oh so important part to play in the unfolding of this tale, and Ms. Marillier made it all mesh together seamlessly. This story has mystery, intrigue, sorrow, joy, horror, romance, humor--it's all there.
The only thing preventing me from keeping this book and adding it to my collection of favorites is the 'chamber of horrors' midway through the story and the dark magic at the end. Even though it was 'needed' to make everything turn out right, it smacked too much of the occult for me. That was the only thing holding this story back from becoming a much-read-over-and-over-again favorite.
Still, if referrences to the occult and descriptions of dark magic don't bother you, this is a very well written novel worth reading. Enjoy!
Everyone had a small but oh so important part to play in the unfolding of this tale, and Ms. Marillier made it all mesh together seamlessly. This story has mystery, intrigue, sorrow, joy, horror, romance, humor--it's all there.
The only thing preventing me from keeping this book and adding it to my collection of favorites is the 'chamber of horrors' midway through the story and the dark magic at the end. Even though it was 'needed' to make everything turn out right, it smacked too much of the occult for me. That was the only thing holding this story back from becoming a much-read-over-and-over-again favorite.
Still, if referrences to the occult and descriptions of dark magic don't bother you, this is a very well written novel worth reading. Enjoy!
This fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast sets the tale in Ireland. Beauty is Caitrin, a scribe running away from an abusive situation. The Beast is Anluan, a crippled Irish chieftan suffering under a 100 year curse on his family. Caitrin takes up a summer job as scribe for Anluan in spite of the locals' warnings of the mysterious Host on the hill.
Overall, this is a well-written, creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Additionally, it was nice to see a healthy, realistic romantic relationship presented to YA readers. That said, I read this hoping to stretch myself into fantasy gently, but I still found myself bored and having to force myself to continue reading. I guess fantasy is just not for me.
Check out my full review.
Overall, this is a well-written, creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Additionally, it was nice to see a healthy, realistic romantic relationship presented to YA readers. That said, I read this hoping to stretch myself into fantasy gently, but I still found myself bored and having to force myself to continue reading. I guess fantasy is just not for me.
Check out my full review.
