Heart's Blood: Reviewer's Comments

“Wearing her influences simply and openly, Marillier incorporates familiar elements of mystery, fantasy and Irish history into a strong tale of very human romance. . . . eminently readable, Caitrin and Anluan’s love story is bittersweetly realistic.”

–Publishers Weekly

 

“Heartbreaking and brilliant … Juliet Marillier is in rare form in Heart's Blood. The plot moves along at a quick clip, events unfolding gradually to reveal all facets of the story, but the story itself never seems rushed. Marillier's poetic prose and her inimitable grace in bringing this world and its people to vivid life was achingly poignant.
I especially enjoyed how she spread out the story, unveiling bits of it one thread at a time, just enough so that the reader has a sense of what is happening but not so that the game is up before she chose to reveal the truth in the end. All the characters were magnificently drawn -- I fell in love with them all and although the ending is bittersweet … it was fitting and lovely.”

–nightowlromance.com    4.75 out of 5

 

“An engaging Gaelic fantasy romance starring two fascinating reluctant souls.”
–Alternative Worlds

 

“Juliet Marillier, who first charmed all hearts with her incredibly popular Daughter of the Forest in 1999, has continued to delight readers ever since with an array of historical fantasy books containing enough variety and interest to attract a wide range of readers. She has come up with another winner in Heart’s Blood…

Marillier, as usual, paints all these characters and more with clear, bright brush strokes ... If I have had one slight concern about Marillier’s work in the past, it has been her tendency to make her heroines strong women who “save” weak men, but this time we have a pair of equally damaged people who save themselves and in the process, find they are capable of a love that accepts the partner “as is”. Both grow through the experience and find reserves of strength that will stand them in good stead through all manner of troubles.”

–thespecusphere.com

 

“Whistling Tor is very much shrouded: in secrets and mist, in pain and hope… I felt like I was there, walking beside Caitrin into the library, or in the kitchen with Magnus. I felt the chill of early morning, heard the spectral voices whispering between the trees, and felt the flames of fire. And then, of course, there is the mystery of Whistling Tor’s curse, a quest of sorts for freedom, and a story of love shared without condition. It had all the right ingredients, mixed in the best possible way.”

–persephonereads.wordpress.com