Heart's Blood

It has been way too long since I've had time to post on my blog! I've had a crazy semester at college, 17 credits (which is a lot at my college)! Unfortunately this means that not only do I not have a lot of time to write, I don't have a lot of time to read. I did get a chance to read Juliet Marillier's book Heart's Blood (and you would to if you won it in a writing contest and it was signed by the lady herself!). The story follows a scribe, Caitrin as she flees her abusive family to a town with a hidden past.

The bad: This Marillier is more occultish than her others, which deal more with fairies and old beings. I guess I prefer the latter. On the back of the book it says that she was going for a more Gothic theme, which I can understand, and she certainly accomplished (with those drafty old halls and the compulsive looks of the shoulder *shudder*).

The good: This is an adaption of the classic Beauty and the Beast story line (it says so on the book itself), so we've got all those great themes of sacrifice and true love.

My view: I fell in love with Daughter of the Forest and I've devoured her books since. Lately I haven't really been getting into them. Wildwood Dancing, Cybele's Secret and Heir to Sevenwaters just didn't capture my attention. Heart's Blood is definitely a return to Marillier's earlier and better style. Though not up there with Daughter of the Forest and her other early ones, I certainly enjoyed this story. Heart's Blood is an elegant and atmospheric love story.

Daughter of the Forest, A Favorite!

In the forests of Ireland, a young girl lives a happy childhood with her six brothers. It would be hard to pinpoint the moment when her happy childhood stops and her life slowly becomes something she never expected. Was it when she nursed the young Briton? Was it when her closest brother began hiding things from her? Was it when she gained a stepmother? When ever it was, Sorcha finds herself confronted with a task of impossible proportions and heartbreaking consequences. Is the price worth the reward?

The good stuff: Family is the main focus of this story, the good and the bad. Sorcha's brothers do all they can to protect her, and she would do anything to get them back. They are like the seven streams that surround their home, eternally one and also incomprehensible to one another.

The not so hot stuff: The kinda point of this story is that you do what you must for love, but the effects of sacrifice will change you forever. And they do. Sorcha and her brothers encounter depths of human evil that change them forever, and we experience every moment of degradation and pain along with Sorcha. The evils she encounters are not for young readers. I read this book first when I was 13, and I would say (much as I hate to) that I was too young.

Why I like it: There is a depth of emotion and human nature in this book that is staggering. Sorcha's dedication to her task is mind blowing, and an causes me to question what I would do for the ones I love. This book is like poetry to read, with the depths of human evil and the heights of human love considered thoroughly.

Heir to Sevenwaters

Clodagh (which is pronounced better than it looks) is the willful daughter of Sean of Sevenwaters. Enjoying a visit from her cousin (and more specifically, one of his men), she is plagued by the presence of Cathal, who is rude and annoying. Before the end, though, they must embark on a journey were their non-existent bond will be cemented and tested. Of course.

Things get a little racy between Clodagh and Cathal, but nothing really. As usual, the fairy-folk are the gods in this book, but they're so imperfect...

Hmmm, true love, honesty, self sacrifce are all involved, but not to a great degree. Clodagh gives everything up for what is importent to her.

I like this book, it wasn't great, but it was fine. I wish her stuff would stop being so task based (except Daughter of Sevenwaters, that was amazing). I feel like I'm reading one of those impossible fairytales, which are good in their place, but you never relate to the characters. But the cover is beautiful...

Cybele's Secret

Paula and her father are travelling to Istanbul to investigate the existence of a ancient artifact, a statue of the goddess Cybele (hence the name of the book, which I keep forgetting and thinking it is the name of the main character... silly me). The mission becomes personal when Paula is visited by her sister, who lives in the otherworld.

Duarte is a pirate, as much as he likes to deny it. Cyblele's sect is kinda creepy actually (if I were Paula, I would have left it be!). As in all of Juliet Marillier's books, the otherworld is the accepted mystical force(s).

Paula seems to really respect her dad (I don't know why this is such a big deal for me, perhaps because I get along well with my mom, and yet everyone else seems to think parents are the worst). Her guard is also very dedicated to her well being, and genuinely cares about her. Also the bond beween sisters is really strong.

I thought this was an interesting read, but I didn't really like Paula that much, she just seemed to be too careless and unemotional. But it wasn't a bad book, just not as good as Juliet Marillier's other books.