Heart's Blood

How is it that I am only just now discovering the fairytale weaving magic that is Juliet Marillier’s? I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Not only is the setting and world building utterly set apart from what is typical for the fantasy genre, but for once the reader is granted a nuanced hero and heroine, rather then the carbon copy imitation of authenticity foisted so often upon a hungry readership. You will not regret adding this story to your personal library.

A young woman is running away from the demons in her past. She has come to the edge of the world, to the middle of nowhere. To a place darkened by fear and cast in shadows. She has come to Whistling Tor. Caitrin has made her way west, as far as her funds could take her from her old life in Market Cross, to the settlement of Whistling Tor. Now she finds herself alone, her funds all gone. But she does have her box of materials and the means to support herself, if only there was work for a scribe in the small settlement. Not many folk come to Whistling Tor because of the curse. Evil presences and manifestations surround the hill and fortress of Whistling Tor, and all who venture there take their lives into their own hands. Even the chieftain of Whistling Tor has not escaped the curse, all warped and twisted. Caitrin is sure these are just stories, exaggerations, tales told by the fireside to entertain and thrill. And when a position is found available for a scribe at the fortress, Caitrin does not hesitate to take it. However once on the Tor and in the Home of Lord Anluan, Caitrin comes to find truth in these tales. In the library Caitrin uncovers the sad and cursed history of Whistling Tor, but can she also uncover the key to saving the Tor and its people? There are more then just presences on the hill, there is an evil that will stop at nothing to hold its secrets, and Caitrin is getting to close to the truth. But if she can not face her own demons who sent her running scared from her home in Market Cross, how can she face the evil on the Tor to save those she loves? Based on the fairytale Beauty And The Beast, Heart's Blood, with its stunning imagery and passionate storytelling, will capture both the heart and imagination. There are thrilling moments filled with danger and suspense, and charming characters that will enter your heart. This is a lovely story of hope and love, where one heart can stand against a frenzy, and a wager can win you a prize more precious then gold; Heart's Blood.

Heart's Blood is a gripping tale which captivated my attention from page 1. There is so much about this novel that will please any reader. This enchanting tale is full of magic, romance, and mystery. Based on the legends of Beauty and the Beast, the tale follows Caitrin, a female scribe, as she attempts to find her place in the world away from all the sorrow and demons from her past. And what she stumbles into is something purely out of a fairy tale. To say that I loved this novel is probably an understatement. It had everything that I was looking for, and more. Marillier has this way about her writing that just absorbs the reader into the tale. The world that she has created is magnificently described. I felt like I knew every rock and trail that Caitrin had followed. In addition, the characters are so 3 dimensional and complex that you cannot help but to care about these people and what happens to them. I really felt like these people were my friends too. But what I think I loved the most was the pacing of the novel. Marillier took her time to piece every bit of this enchanting novel together. The reader is not rushed, nor bored, due to the way the novel unfolds. The reader gets time to really absorb and reflex on all the complexities that Marillier has provided. All in all, Heart's Blood is a heartwarming tale that highlights the enduring and healing powers of love. While this is my first Marillier read, but I can guarantee you that it will not be my last. I am anxiously awaiting more of this series, and cannot wait to see what Marillier has in store for her readers next.

If your a fan of her other books, you'll love this one, putting it up there near the top with the sevenwaters trilogy. although I must say that this one is much darker than any of her previous books, the plot being entirely unexpected as it unfolds almost until the last few pages. I really enjoyed this one, it pulls you in almost instantly and you won't want to stop until it's finished. I highly recommend picking this one up.

Sometimes a book comes along just when you need it. _Heart's Blood_ was like that for me. Between Juliet Marillier's compelling tale-spinning and an underlying message about love and courage that I really needed to hear, it's pretty safe to say I was moved deeply by this novel. At its core, _Heart's Blood_ is a Beauty and the Beast story. Marillier mixes the classic fairy tale with some of the conventions of Gothic romance, sets it all in the medieval-Ireland setting she's so good at portraying, and the result is the kind of book that's perfect for curling up on a cool night with a cup of hot cider. (And a box of Kleenex, but I'll get to that part later.) On the run from a domineering aunt and an abusive fiancé, Caitrin stumbles across the village of Whistling Tor and its mysterious, haunted fortress. Caitrin, unusually for a woman of her time, has been trained in the arts of a scribe, and her skills land her a position working for Whistling Tor's reclusive chieftain. Caitrin and the chieftain, Anluan, find themselves drawn to each other despite their baggage. But an ancestral curse, and Caitrin's and Anluan's own fears, threaten to tear them apart and destroy Whistling Tor. Caitrin wants to inspire Anluan to become the leader she knows he can be. Can she accomplish this, though, when she's afraid to face her own "ghosts"? Not everyone is going to love _Heart's Blood_ quite as much as I do. The story unfolds at a slow, contemplative pace, creeping in like fog rather than exploding like fireworks. This is necessary, because the romance between Anluan and Caitrin wouldn't work if it didn't have time to build, but not everyone will like it. There's also a certain predictability to the plot, which is one of the side effects of retelling fairy tales, and possibly one of the side effects of writing Gothic romance. Though the two books are very different, my experience with Heart's Blood was much like my experience with Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. Don't read this one for shocking plot twists. Marillier isn't reinventing the wheel; she's polishing up an old wheel until it shines. (How's that for mangling a metaphor?) But for readers willing to fall under a familiar but timeless spell, _Heart's Blood_ is rewarding. I'm reminded of the beginning of The Princess Bride: "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." Caitrin and Anluan's journey is moving and sometimes agonizing, and yes, I made use of a lot of Kleenex toward the end. (Hey, Ms. Marillier, stop making me cry! It's hard to read when your vision gets all swimmy. Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1) did the same thing to me.) I strongly recommend _Heart's Blood_ to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast, Gothic romance, romantic fantasy, and heroines who are strong without being combat monsters. (She's a medieval businesswoman -- how awesome is that?)

I absolutely LOVED this book...from the very beginning, I was hooked. I thought I couldn't like anything she wrote more than the Sevenwaters books (all four) but after finishing this book, it moved into the position as my favorite book by her. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast (to an extent) the book is fresh, original, and a page turner - I couldn't put it down! I just finished it and I'm about to start reading it again...if you read one book by her this year (how could you read just one???) read this one. It's simply beautiful and poignant.