Heart's Blood
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4.6 • 69 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
From the acclaimed author of Shadowfell and the Sevenwaters series
"Marillier, with her graceful storytelling and talent as a folklorist, crafts a love story with magical underpinnings" Library Journal
Caitrin, daughter of Berach, flees her home in Market Cross, running from her grief and mistreatment at the hands of her kinsfolk. Bruised and alone she arrives at Whistling Tor - a formidable fortification presided over by the local chieftain, Anluan. The villagers scorn and curse him for being a weak and unsupportive leader, unresponsive to their pleas for him to rid the surrounding forest of the ghostly and eerie manifestations that have plagued it for generations.
But desperate for work and shelter, Caitrin ignores their warnings, thinking them nothing more than fanciful tales and seeks refuge at the Tor. Here she encounters giant hounds, malevolent whispering in the night and the rare and precious herb, Heart's Blood; not to mention the moody and cursed Anluan.
As Caitrin slowly begins to regain control of her life, she discovers that not everything is as it seems in this mysterious place. What does Anluan's skewed features and anger hide? Who are the men and women of the Host? What might the ancient manuscripts and family documents in the library reveal? And why does Caitrin get the distinct impression that there is a dark and powerful force on the hill that doesn't want her to find the truth?
"Juliet Marillier is a fine fantasy writer." Anne McCaffrey
Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Isobelle Carmody and Robin Hobb will love Juliet Marillier.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wearing her influences openly and simply, Marillier (Heir to Sevenwaters) incorporates familiar elements of mystery, fantasy and Irish history into a strong tale of very human romance. Trained by her father as a scribe, 18-year-old Caitrin yearns to practice her craft, but she must first escape a forced marriage to a brutal man. Her flight takes her to Whistling Tor, where the crippled, cursed chieftain Anluan rules over a wasteland of horrors. Against the odds, Caitrin makes a place for herself in a household of ghosts and in Anluan's heart, but when the Norman conquerors arrive, violence once again threatens to destroy everything she holds dear. Not innovative but eminently readable, Caitrin and Anluan's love story is bittersweetly realistic, best suited to romance readers who like a bit of fantasy rather than fantasy readers who like a bit of romance.
Customer Reviews
A joy of a read
This wonderfully spun fantasy delves deep into the desires of the darkest human heart in a family of cursed men whose lives and loves have mysteriously been destroyed through the legacy of their ancestor. This novel had me hooked from page one. Marillier manages to weave the most heartfelt romance in an enticing and refreshing plot every time. I commend the author on her masterful skills in creating a story both touching and thrilling. You won't regret reading this!
Great
Part fantasy, part romance, part ghost story. Beautifully written.