Read for the Once Upon a Time VIII Reading Challenge.
I really can’t say enough about these books (the Sevenwaters Trilogy), which till the story of a family in Ireland trying to keep to the old ways as the Druids are dying out, and the English and Norse are starting to invade.
This third book is the story of Fainne, the daughter of Niamh and Ciaran of Sevenwaters, lost to the family because of her parent’s forbidden union (covered in the book before this). Ciaran and Fianne are both sorcerers, as Ciaran is the son of the Lady Oonagh, who tried to turn the sons of Sevenwaters to swans so her son (their younger half brother) could inherit (covered in the first book).
Ciaran is sick, and has decided to send Fainne back to Sevenwaters to meet her relatives. Fainne finds out that his illness is the work of Oonagh, who wants Fainne to deliver her final vengeance against the Sevenwaters family. Naturally, Fainne loves her new found relatives, and must find a way to thwart Oonagh’s plans, and save her father’s life.
I really can’t put into words how good these stories are. Each has a compelling center character, but the rest of the family is also real, and vivid. The peril in these stories is real, and the magic they live amongst is fantastic. I’m very happy that the author decided to continue these stories beyond the original trilogy.
I think I read the last two hundred pages of this book straight through! Such a wonderful, deeply engaging read.
I read it almost entirely straight through in one day. I had to put it down with about a chapter to go, and it was so hard to do!