Realms Review: 'Daughter of the Forest'

Today there are plenty of retold fairytales abounding in bookstores. They are popular because they are tales that contain core elements everyone already loves. That said, we wanted to review a retold fairytale that came out in 1999. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier is a retelling of the popular tale of The Six Swans. In Daughter of the Forest, the protagonist is a teenage girl named Sorcha. When her father remarries an evil sorceress, their new stepmother turns Sorcha's brothers into swans. Sorcha escapes, and is offered a chance to save her brothers through the help of the fairy queen, who says Sorcha must weave them shirts out of spindleweed, a spiky substance that is painful to the touch, but throughout the process, she must remain silent. If she speaks at all before she completes the shirts, she will lose her brothers forever.
          Marillier's writing is phenomenal, fully illustrating the time period and immersing her readers in clan-ruled Ireland and an early warring England. Sorcha's character is crafted so beautifully that the reader roots for her from the start. She is well-rounded, exhibiting strength and love, but suffering from her many challenges. Many of the other prominent characters show depth, too, that reflect their personality and the time period. And, of course, the plot is similar to the well-known fairytale, and is already foolproof. The finer details and changes are what make it excellent, believable, and intense. Filled with danger, magic, and even romance, Daughter of the Forest is a book you cannot stop reading.
          We give this book five out of five stars. This is the kind of fantasy story that feels so real, you can almost believe it was part of history. You will be shocked, anxious, and cry, both sad and happy tears at times. There is some graphic content in this story, to the point where some would question this as a young adult novel, but there is no question that Sorcha's experiences and challenges relate to young adults. If you love retold fairytales, this book comes highly recommended.

Realms Review