"Absolutely wonderful fantasy!"
Clodagh is the third daughter of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters
and a twin. Her older sister is married and lives away
from home. Her twin is getting married shortly.
Unfortunately, Clodagh's mother is pregnant again—not a
good thing at her age. So it's up to Clodagh to run the
household for the time being. But Sevenwaters is not a
normal keep—those in control of Sevenwaters are also
guardians of a forest—one of the last strongholds of the
Tuatha De Danann. One day, while leaving an offering on
the tree in her mother's stead, Clodagh sees someone in a
hooded cloak. At least she thinks she saw someone. So she
runs back home, only to run into Aidan—one of her cousin
Johnny's warriors from Inis Eala. She met Aidan while
Johnny was at Sevenwaters the year before and they got
along well. However, Aidan is not alone. There is another
man with him, Cathal, who is unbelievably rude to Clodagh.
Even though Johnny is her father's heir, he lives on the
isle of Inis Eala and trains warriors. The health of Clodagh's mother continues to deteriorate
until finally, she gives birth. At least the wedding is
over now and the household is almost back to normal. All
the guests have gone home, except for Johnny and his
personal guards. One day, while Clodagh is taking her turn
at sitting with her baby brother—her mother is still too
ill to care for him—Cathal knocks on the door. With Finbar
sleeping, Clodagh decides to step out into the hall,
leaving the door open. Turns out, Cathal has decided to
leave Sevenwaters. He tells Clodagh it isn't safe for
anyone at Sevenwaters as long as he is there. The biggest
shock is when he kisses Clodagh, and what a kiss. Clodagh
has never been affected by a kiss like this one. When
Clodagh decides to check on Finbar, she realizes he is
gone! There is no way anyone could have entered the room
without her knowing about it. In Finbar's place is a
changeling made of sticks and twigs and leaves. Now her
father no longer trusts Clodagh. Of course, no one else
can see that the changeling is a real baby and not just a
manikin. So Clodagh decides she must travel to the
Otherworld and try to get Finbar back. Not surprisingly,
she runs into Cathal, who decides to go with her. Will Clodagh be able to get Finbar back? Will Clodagh and
Cathal survive until they reach the Lord of the Oak? Why
did the Tuatha De Danann take Finbar in the first place?
After all, this will create ill will with Lord Sean. What
of the relationship between Clodagh and Cathal? Will
Clodagh be able to get past Cathal's hard shell to find the
man beneath? Will Cathal tell Clodagh anything of his past? HEIR TO SEVENWATERS is a wonderful fantasy tale full of the
Tuatha De Danann and druids and ordinary people. Juliet
Marillier weaves a wonderful adventure full of mystery and
danger as Cathal and Clodagh try to get Finbar back. We
have Clodagh, who only sees the good in people, caring for
the little changeling and becoming close to him. Then we
have prickly Cathal, who will do his best to protect
Clodagh and the changeling. We also get to meet the Old
Ones during Clodagh's and Cathal's perilous journey to
regain Finbar. Both Clodagh and Cathal are challenged to
the utmost during their journey through the Otherworld. A
very enjoyable read, complete with the heartfelt sigh at
the end. I highly recommend HEIR TO SEVENWATERS.
Reviewed by Chere Gruver
Posted June 17, 2009
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The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast forest, one of the last refuges of the Tuatha De Danann, the Fair Folk of ancient story. Human and Otherworld dwellers have existed there side by side, separated by a thin veil between worlds and sharing a wary trust. Until the spring when Lady Aisling of Sevenwaters finds herself expecting another child, and everything changes. With her mother pregnant, Clodagh fears the worst since Aisling is well past the safe age for childbearing. Clodagh's father, Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, faces his own difficulties as warring factions threaten his borders. When the baby is born the unthinkable happens, and Clodagh's world is turned upside down. To set things to rights for her family and for all the people of Sevenwaters, Clodagh must enter the shadowy Otherworld and confront the powerful prince who now rules there. Accompanied on her quest by a warrior of uncertain allegiance, she will have her courage tested to breaking point. The reward may be far greater than she ever dreamed. Genre: Fantasy
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