The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast and mysterious forest, one of the last refuges of the Tuatha De Danann, the Fair Folk of ancient story. Human and Otherworld dwellers have existed there side by side, separated by a thin veil between worlds and sharing a wary trust. Until the spring when Lady Aisling of Sevenwaters finds herself expecting another child, and everything changes. With her mother pregnant, Clodagh fears the worst as Aisling is well past the safe age for childbearing. Her father, Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, faces his own difficulties as warring factions threaten his borders.When Aisling gives birth to a son - a new heir to Sevenwaters - the responsibility of caring for the infant falls to Clodagh while her mother recovers. Then the family's joy turns to despair when the baby is taken from his room and something ...unnatural is left in his place. To reclaim her brother, Clodagh must enter the shadowy Otherworld and confront the powerful prince who rules there. Accompanied on her quest by a warrior who may prove to be more than he seems, Clodagh will have her courage tested to breaking point. The reward may be far greater than she ever dreamed ...

About the Author

Juliet Marillier holds advanced degrees in music and languages, and has had a lifelong passion for both Celtic music and Irish folklore. She resides with her family in Perth, Western Australia.

Reviews

Returning to the land of the Sevenwaters trilogy (Daughter of the Forest, etc.), Marillier deftly weaves a fey story of human interaction with the Fair Folk. Clodagh, the third daughter of the lord of Sevenwaters, is the practical one who keeps things running while her aging mother awaits the birth of a male heir. At her sister's wedding, she meets rude, closed-off Cathal, one of her cousin Johnny's personal guards. Shortly after, when the Fair Folk replace the newborn heir with a changeling creature, Clodagh and Cathal put their lives and sanity on the line to rescue the child. Marillier's gripping tale of adventure and enduring love bobbles slightly at the start, mostly due to Clodagh's modern attitude and cadence, but slides quickly and assuredly into a grand tale of ancient Erin. (Nov.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

As Chieftain of Sevenwaters, Lord Sean cares for one of the last havens of the ancient Fair Folk. When his wife, Lady Aisling, gives birth to a son and heir, their joy soon turns to grief when the child disappears and a grotesque changeling is left in his place. Daughter Clodagh, who had been the baby's caretaker during Aisling's recovery from a difficult labor, seeks to reclaim her brother by traveling deep into the Otherworld accompanied by a warrior who may hold the key to their success. The Australian author of the Celtic inspired "Sevenwaters Trilogy" and "Bridei Chronicles" brings to life a favorite theme of classic storytelling: the plight of the changeling child. Vividly detailed with strong characters and a firm grounding in Celtic myth, Marillier's latest saga of a young woman's quest belongs in most libraries. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.