Random Musings of an Uninspired Muse.

Book: Daughter of the Forest
Author: Juliet Marillier
Genre: Fantasy
Published in: 2000
Time to read: about 2 days

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I first picked up this book at the semi-annual library book sale about five months ago. To tell the truth, I almost didn't read it at all. I must have passed by it and its sequel, Son of the Shadows, about five times before I actually took the time to look at it and read the back cover, which goes something like this:

"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."

Okay, I thought to myself. Another fantasy book featuring your everyday Mary Sue, big deal. The rest of the back cover followed pretty much the same vein, however my interest was piqued, if only just so. But, the book and its sequel was only $.25. Who was I to complain? Suffice it to say, I bought it, and immediately loved it.

Daughter of the Forest is unlike any fantasy book I have ever read. The book, and the trilogy for that matter, is centered around the legend and folklore model that we are all familiar with; the repetition of the number 3 (as in 3 tasks, three people and so on), the repetition of the number 7 (same with the number 3. Both represent completion), a young hero or heroine, a evil stepmother or antagonist in general, the ultimate triumph over evil and the happily ever after. This is a book that seems at first to follow this exact model, but with a few exceptions.

Sorcha is a heroine unlike any other that I have encountered in any fantasy or science fiction book, much like the character Tally from the book Belarus by Lee Hogan. She is not so multi-faceted as Tally, but her character is just as strong, if not stronger. The book is written from her point of view, and rightly so. We see in Sorcha an unrivaled character progression, from her child-like innocence at the beginning of the book to the strong woman she becomes at the end. She is a character that you can empathize with and relate to, and her experiences aren't so far-fetched from real life in some cases.

The book over all is like a richly-woven tapestry made of only the finest material. It is a solid 544 pages long, but by no means a difficult or tedious read. It is written in such a way that engages the reader without confusing them. There are only a couple of slow points in the book that I noticed; it is by no means a fast-paced book with an abundance of action, but it is a book meant for you to think and consider, and in some cases to mull over. If you're anything like me, you will come to genuinely care about the good characters in this book, and thoroughly despise the bad ones, namely the Lady Oonagh and Lord Richard.

Overall, this book is a great read. Audience-wise, it is definately not for a younger crowd, it deals with a couple of rather adult issues. If you value extreme action and a fast-paced book in your fantasy novels, than this probably isn't the book for you. Its a story that takes some time to be told, but for obvious reasons. This is a wonderful book with a story and plot that one doesnt find in very much fantasy literature these days. I definately reccomend it.