Child of the Prophecy (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 3) Mass Market Paperback – June 16, 2003

I loved the first two Sevenwaters novels, but while 'Child of the Prophecy' was written with skill. it was a more tedious read. I found the long length of the book really showed itself here. There were times when I almost abandoned it. Some editing was definitely in order. Besides that, I found the main character, Fainne, was difficult to relate to. However, the story itself held my attention and I was eager to find out what would happen next. Juliet Marillier's novel's tend to wander around in directions you don't expect and can't predict. They are different than other novels and have a unique voice. At times this works so beautifully and other times wanders aimlessly. I do love the way these tales weave magic, action, adventure and passion together in a wonderful way that captures the imagination. Some passages are so detailed and well described that you feel as though you are there. There was a long way to go to get to the conclusion of this trilogy and it ended in a mostly satisfying way.

This is the third book in this series. Often you will hear people speak of these first three books as a trilogy, but you may be confused as there are indeed six books in the series. I think the series was intended to end with this book, but the author found her characters still had more to say. This is not a series that you can start in the middle of. There is probably enough information that you could figure it out, but these first three books span three generations. Each book is a story in itself and yet they build upon each other so that you must start at the beginning.This book was not my favorite in the series. I absolutely loved the first book, Daughter of the Forest. It was amazing and the first book I had read of Juliet Marillier. This book was needed to close this chapter in the story of the prophecy and Sevenwaters. However, the main character, Fainne, is not easy to like. The summary is thus: Fainne is the only daughter of Ciaran (and Niamh) and raised to be a sorcerer. She lives far away from any other family and is very shy. She has a deformed foot that she is very self conscious about and hides from the few people who are about. She does have one friend growing up, Darragh. The story starts when Fainne is a small girl and we read brief passages that help to define her until she is fourteen. The story then takes place over the next two years. Fainne's grandmother is the evil Lady Oonagh. Grandmother has come at last to train Fainne is the last things she will know before travelling to Sevenwaters. Grandmother also manipulates and punishes Fainne into agreeing to do her bidding which is essentially to bring down the house of Sevenwaters. The story then follows Fainne through this time as she struggles with wanting to do good but feeling like she has evil in her blood and thus has no choice. It is indeed an epic tale that spans a long time with many perils.It is an odd feeling to not like the main character much, and yet really enjoy the story. Darragh plays a role throughout the entire story and Fainne tries to push him away countless times. Sometimes it was for his own good and sometimes it just felt cruel. But we did see Fainne grow. She had to make hard choices and while she didn't always make the right choice, it wasn't entirely her choice to make as she is controlled for much of the story. I didn't like her family not understanding that while she made some bad choices that she wasn't able to thwart those decisions at the time. They doubted her (with good reason), but as the reader, one feels those emotions projected back on themselves.I plan to begin reading right away the next book in the series. Here is the reading order:Daughter of the ForestSon of the ShadowsChild of the ProphecyHeir to SevenwatersSeer to SevenwatersFlame to SevenwatersFavorite Quote: (this is Fainne speaking about Darragh to her cousin Johnny):"And he's not my young man.""No?" queried Johnny. "Well, one thing's certain. It's not the prospect of lessons in swordsmanship that drives him thus."To read my reviews for the first two books in this series, go to the fantasy page on my blog at [...]

The last book in the trilogy is stronger than the second one, but neither lives up to the emotional depth of the first. Sorcha by far is the most memorable heroine of the three. The love story between Sorcha and Hugh was by far the best, as well. Fainne is at least a more interesting, deeper character than the perfect Liadan. She makes some devastating mistakes, some of which can never be undone, or perhaps even forgiven. She doesn't always make the best choices, and she has to live with the ones she does make.I did not like the love interest in this story at all. The way he followed her around like a puppy, he seemed less than a man to me. He hardly even had his own personality. I won't spoil anything, but I felt his actions at the very end of the book were extremely out of character.Nonetheless, in spite of these flaws, I still enjoyed the read very much, as I have all three of Marillier's books I've read.

I couldn't put it down. A thrilling tail with villains and heros and magic. Great fantasy weaved so close to what is known to be possible and reasonsble that it carries you along just beyond what you have known to a place you can believe in.

CHILD OF PROPHECY is the third book in the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Told from the point of view of Fainne, daughter of Niamh and Ciaran, it tells of a sad tale of a young girl whose love for her father is used as a weapon against her.Fainne is a sorceress-in-training, taught by her father. But when she reaches her fourteenth year, he decides that she needs a woman to be there for her. As her mother is dead, he invites her grandmother to stay. Unfortunately, that grandmother is the Lady Oonagh, whom we first met in the first Sevenwaters Chronicle, the one who cast the spell turning the six brothers into swans.Juliet Marillier is a gifted author who not only writes gorgeous prose but also can create well-thought-out plot-lines and tough, believable characters. In Fainne, we have a lonely young girl who is trying to do the right thing against enormous odds. Five stars.

I do like this Author and her style of writing. It certainly keeps one interested and can't help but to turn page after page.I enjoy being in a world of the past and also escaping reality and problem. It is like Meditation for me.I do recommend reading especially this series. Very entertaining!

This is another beautiful installment of the Sevenwaters series. I didn’t like it as much as the first two, I had a hard time connecting with the story, but it was still very good. I appreciate the way the author tells these stories about each new generation of the women of Sevenwaters.

A tough choice between 4/5*. If I had to choose I would select Son of Shadows as the stronger narrative but the pace of the two novels is very different. This one is much slower with much of the dramatic action taking place after Fainne reaches Sevenwaters, but in the end I felt this was a strength. Although each of Marillier's novels follow a romance pattern, there is enough alternative action and world to distract from the HEA, and make you wonder if and how the characters will find a resolution. Darragh is deliberately as different to Bran as Fainne is to Liadan. Marillier once again uses tales to great effect and I enjoyed Laiden's machinations unlike some readers-without it Fainne would have been a very simple, naïve character. JM is consistently good at painting character and place, making this series an enjoyable read even once you suspect developments. Revisiting Bran, Liaden and Finbar was also fun.

Another stunner from Julies. The book flows on from book 2 but follows another member of the Sevenwaters family. It took me a few pages to get my head around the 15 or so years gap but it works really well, concentrating from characters ostracised in book 1. The book keeps you wanting to read more. If you like fantasy, intrigue, likeable characters, a gripping underlying plot and to be drawn into Ireland during its earliest days when faeries, myths, magic and druids took the stage these books are for you. I'm hooked now and I'm not a youngster ☺

Juliet Marillier is my favourite writer nowadays. She has a way of building up the story around strong female characters towards the climax that just keeps you glued to the pages of her books. I absolutely love all her books, this one included.

I have only just started reading the 3rd novel in this trilogy and although I am enjoying it to some extent it isn't the best fantasy novel that I have read. As a fan of Robin Hobb I would say that she is streets ahead of this author. So an acceptable read rather than an exciting edge of your seat, gripping experience.

Love this series! So glad to have discovered Juliet Marillier