Heart's Blood

Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

In medieval Ireland, eighteen-year-old Caitrin is an anomaly. Before he died, her scribe father not only taught her how to read and write, but allowed her to actively participate in his trade and supported her in the face of those who scorned the idea of a female intellectual. However, with his death, Caitrin is left at the mercy of her cruel and abusive aunt and cousin, whose treatment forces her to flee from her home with nothing but her scribing tools and the clothes on her back.

She manages to find employment with Anluan, the mysterious and solitary clan chieftan of Whistling Tor. She stays with him and his household, reading, translating, recopying, and categorizing the contents of his library, for which he promises to pay her both in silver and in the elusive plant heart's blood, used to produce a rare and priceless ink. However, things at Whistling Tor are not quite what they seem, and Caitrin's work brings her into contact with a fantastic history of the place that its ruler would prefer be kept silent.

I have read Marillier's work before, but unlike others who compare HEART'S BLOOD unfavorably to her SEVENWATERS books, I found myself much more caught up in Caitrin's story. Part of that has to do with her character; like most of Marillier's heroines, she's intelligent, plucky, and though she's dealing with her own personal demons, she has an infectiously dazzling strength of spirit.

And although the story is told from Caitrin's first-person point of view, Marillier manages to portray with equal depths the complexity of Anluan's hidden past. Although the plot does perhaps lag in the middle in the sense that there is little outward action taking place, I felt like every single scene was significant for character development even if it didn't immediately advance the plot.

By the end of the first chapter, I felt like this book had been written specifically for me. As a huge fan of the story of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, I saw HEART'S BLOOD as both an obvious and clever retelling that played fast and loose with some of the plot points of the original tale in order to convey the right feeling and allow the characters to gain more complexity of motivation. It's certainly nothing like the Disney version (well, except that there is a magic mirror), but I liked it better for that.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling historical fantasy with strong characterization and beautiful writing.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Recommended for those who love sci-fi fantasy books and a wonderful love story

This was an excellent book to read. Juliet Marillier wrote it fantastically. I borrowed it from my local library, at first read it seemed boring, unexcited, and as if it was never going to get good so then i brought it back and after a little while decided to borrow it again and try once more to read it b/c I was very curious to find out what happens to the two main characters in the story. I read it up to page on 100 before i returned it and when i got the second time i pushed my self to just keep reading on even though it seemed boring and as if nothing was going to happen. Then as you get passed the first 100 pages and get over it being boring it gets exciting and feels like the book is alive and i found myself not being able to put it down and then thought that the begging was boring and un lively because you had to get to know the characters and the story and all that usual boring stuff before it becomes alive and makes you feel like you are in it and that a book would not be complete without all the boring stuff. overall the book was amazing, i highly recommend it and i defiantly would reread it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

another win for Juliet Marillier

I have loved every book that Juliet Marillier has written and this book is no exception. The heroine was one who could relate to readers and the hero was not the typical knight in shining armor as found in many of the novels today. All characters experienced real feelings and dilemmas that were excellently portrayed through the use of fantasy. The unexpected plot twists kept the pages turning. As a lover of Gothic romances and stories, this novel reminded me of such favorites as Jane Eyre. After receiving this as a Christmas present, I have read it three times already. I only hope that a sequel will be forthcoming.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is filled with fantasy and mystery plus the characters are engaging.

AMAZING!!

Absolutely amazing! Couldn't put it down

Lovely

Although it is not as strong as her previous work, "Heart's Blood" is a wonderful story of inner strength, loyalty, and romance, all steeped in Marillier's signature folklore influence. I was drawn into the world of Whistling Tor immediately and found myself falling in love with the characters; their individual flaws and foibles making them all the more endearing. Occassionally, Marillier used modern turns of phrase that interrupted the flow of the story, but the twists and turns of mystery and the unfolding romance between Caitrin and Anluan readily made up for any such distractions. Thank you for this lovely book Juliet!

Wonderful book!

As usual, Ms. Marillier has written a thoroughly enjoyable book. It is a nice romance with a wonderful touch of the fantastic. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

Amazing

As a fan of Juliet Marillier I was a bit taken aback to find that his had a later setting and, at first, isn't as steeped in folk lore. Soon, I was proven wrong and sucked in by the characters and their struggles. This is a fantastic book, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down until I was finished!

Juliet Marillier rapidly becomes my favorite author with her delightful Celtic fantacies steeped in folklore

This book held my interest from beginning to end. It has strong characters, interesting twists that are well presented if you are paying attention, and an interesting resolution of the folklore based plot. A good read that I could not put down.

All her books are first class reads

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

just sucked me in....

I don't normally take the time to write a review but I just loved this book! It was exactly the kind of book I needed....everytime I picked it up I was transported into this world. I could just escape for a while and become involved with these wonderful characters in this interesting and unique story. If you're a fan of fantasy/historical you will probably enjoy this great read.

Amazing book!!

this is a book filled with adventure and romance. juiliet marillier wraps up an excelllent tale about magic and enchantment. Caitrin is a wonderful character.

celtic beauty and the beast

Juliet Marillier is one author I have come to know and love over the past year. Her writing is always lush and evocative and she never fails to take a story places that I truly never expected it to go. So as I settled into her latest, Heart's Blood, I was delighted to find myself in a suitably misty and atmospheric retelling of Beauty and the Beast that could only be described as vintage Marillier.

Running from an abusive situation, the young scribe Caitrin doesn't know where she is going, she just knows she has to go now. After traveling for days she stumbles upon the strange village of Whistling Tor whose occupants fill her head with strange tales of their young Lord Anluan - a cripple who never leaves his hilltop castle. But Caitrin is desperate and when Anluan's servant comes to the village looking for a scribe, Caitrin jumps at the chance, even though she is strongly warned against journeying to the castle with its strange and remote inhabitants. Upon her arrival Caitrin is confronted with a monumental task that will require all her wits and strength and a Lord who is struggling to simply keep his estate intact - who doesn't exactly even want her around.

Perhaps what makes Caitrin and Anluan's love story so poetic is how they both truly only want to make the other happy - through whatever means, even if it means letting go. It's not easy or even destiny for these two (more than one large obstacle stands between them and HEA) but they simply work together in a mature and selfless way that just makes them both better people in their own time. ::sigh::

It never fails to surprise me how good Juliet Marillier is at taking a very well known and beloved fairy tale (read: Beauty and the Beast or the Seven Swans) and subtly twisting or manipulating it until the story itself is something totally new and unique. Small and subtle details are left along the way (a magic mirror, a man deformed) to remind the reader that you are still in a particular tale; just not like you've ever heard it. Marillier has such a gift for making every single story her very own, which only makes everything she writes simply a pleasure to read.

Juliet does it again! Wow, I couldn't put it down!

Juliet writes books in an amazing way...from page one you're hooked and you just HAVE to know what happens next! Heart's Blood takes you on a fantastic journey of the strength you must have for yourself and the patience to love others. Emotions are high and sometimes volatile in this tale of secrets, deep pain, forgiveness, and acceptance. Your journey begins on the road to nowhere and ends in great wisdom...and along the way you are terrified of the unknown yet you MUST go forward.

This book teaches us all a little humility and gives us hope for tomorrow.

Magic and lore weave through a story of love, hope and the courage to defy fate.

Whistling Tor is cursed, it's cheiftain Anluan a useless twisted creature. So say the nearby villagers. Caitrin is a young woman on the run. A scribe by trade who hears that there is a library full of work at Whistling Tor. The house and it's inhabitants are indeed surrounded by a fearful darkness. It's leader held sway by a path not of his making. Can Caitrin, who is haunted herself bring hope to a place where it has been abandoned.
Juliet Marillier is a Master storyteller and Heart's blood is magical.

Juliet Marillier Does it Again

Juliet Marillier has again given us one of her classic fantasy story lines. In this tale, the characters have so much depth and mystery. Marillier brings together a wonderful tale that keeps you guessing until the end while drawing you into each characters plight. A truely marvelous book!

This is an engaging Gaelic fantasy romance

The man taking her for a fee from her abusive marriage dumps her in the middle of nowhere offering his bed as protection from the night; he implies something more dangerous than marauding Normans. Although frightened to be abandoned nowhere near a settlement, eighteen years old trained scribe Caitrin rejects the offer as she scrambles for Whistling Tor. Two monks meet her and suggest the daughter of Berach ask for Tomas the innkeeper.

Whistling Tor is ruled by the cursed chieftain Anluan, whose name is whispered in repulsive horror. He was crippled as a child and has no hope for himself, his family, or his fortress as doom is everyone's future.

That is until Caitrin arrives in his garden studying the HEART'S BLOOD. She is retained to archive the family library and other misplaced documents. Caitrin brings with her hope even for the ghosts who reside inside the fortress but especially Anluan. As the Normans invade, Caitrin knows she loves her employer and believes he reciprocates, but for their hearts to blend into one, she must find a way to lift the curse caused by ancient sorcery long forgotten.

This is an engaging Gaelic fantasy romance starring two fascinating reluctant souls. Whereas she was burned in marriage; he was burned by the ancestral curse. Obviously for fantasy romance fans, Juliet Marillier provides a wonderful tale of love with a wee touch of the paranormal.

Harriet Klausner

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