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“Real life is not quite as it is in stories. In the old tales, bad things happen, and when the tale has unfolded and come to its triumphant conclusion, it is as if the bad things had never been. Life is not as simple as that, not quite.��

The above quote, hands down, sums up “Daughter of the Forest�� for me. Yes, this is a fairy tale, but it also speaks truth about life: about how once you go forward, you cannot go back to the beginning…because things are never the same again. This holds true for the heroine, Sorcha, as well as for the other characters in the story. No matter what she accomplishes, in the end, her life and that of all the characters is permanently changed--and sometimes that change comes in the form of wounds that will never truly heal. But underneath it all is a powerful message of hope, to press on and not give up, and everything will be worth it in the end.

“Daughter of the Forest�� is a retelling of “The Six Swans�� by the Brothers Grimm. Most fairy tale retellings I have read involve the tales being twisted or transposed in some way. Juliet Marillier, instead, expanded the tale by retaining its literal structure and all its fantastic details, while also focusing her attention on the human story within the magical frame. Despite the strong plot elements, this is principally a character-driven book. True, that the events in the story are beyond the characters�� control, but their reactions to these events, and the choices they make in response, truly shape the narrative. For me, these intelligent, convincing characterizations are the book's greatest strength, and my major motivation to see the story through despite the heartache it was causing me.

The book tells about the lengths that one young girl will take to save her brothers. There are really no adequate words to describe the heroine of this story. Stating that Sorcha's path was simply filled with hardships would be a huge understatement. Stating that Sorcha was simply a strong girl would not do her justice. What she had to endure was beyond comprehension and yet very believable. What she faces is heart wrenching and difficult to read at times, but she does not waver on her path. And amidst agonizing trials , she finds help and guidance in the form of a beguiling fairy queen, an unlikely savior turned protector, and in her brothers who are willing to give up their well-being to save hers. These pockets of goodness weave throughout the story, creating a beautiful tale.

Even though the romance does not take center stage, it still brought the house down! Let this quote explain it all:

“It matters not if you are here or there, for I see you before me every moment. I see you in the light of the water, in the swaying of the young trees in the spring wind. I see you in the shadows of the great oaks, I hear your voice in the cry of the owl at night. You are the blood in my veins, and the beating of my heart. You are my first waking thought, and my last sigh before sleeping. You are - you are bone of my bone, and breath of my breath.��

A beautiful slow building romance is embedded in this story. It is the kind of love story that sneaks up on the characters. It is quiet and confusing and lovely to watch. Although Sorcha is the storyteller, the two tales that her hero tells are by far my favorites. Pay attention to them!

Overall, this was a sensational read, and I am glad that I picked it up. This is one of those books that you wouldn't want to end, though you know it must. And when you've read those final words on that last page, there's that sense of loss --and the feeling that you don't want to forget these characters, the things they endured, and the places they inhabited. This is one of those books that kept me on the edge of my seat with several wet handkerchiefs in my wake, and all that goes back to Marillier's writing. It is descriptive , lovely, and evocative. You could lose yourself in her words! The pace is on the slower side, but it just gives you a chance to truly appreciate the author's talent. This book is meant to be savored, to be cherished, and to be read again and again.