Seer of Sevenwaters

October 18, 2010
Sibeal of Sevenwaters, the teen fifth daughter of the Lord of Sevenwaters, has always known she wants to be a druid. In this romantic follow-up to 2008's Heir of Sevenwaters, Sibeal's uncle Ciaran, her mentor, orders her to spend a summer on the sheltered island of Inis Eala, away from her training, to determine whether the contemplative life is truly for her. At first, Sibeal thinks that Ciaran is punishing her. Then a sudden storm brings a shipwreck and several mysteries that challenge Sibeal's resolve and vocation. Why does the Norseman Knut seem to be holding something back from the islanders, and if Svala is Knut's wife, why is she so terrified of him? And who is the handsome, amnesiac man Sibeal has found washed up on shore? Readers will thrill to this strong, heartfelt tale of the Sevenwaters family and their magical exploits.

December 1, 2010

Sibeal, a druid in training, visits the warrior's island of Inis Eala preparatory to her final pledge. When her Sight leads her to the survivor of a shipwreck, a Norse scholar named Felix, the two form a bond despite Felix's amnesia. Soon Sibeal and Felix embark on a perilous journey that brings the young druid into conflict with her beliefs and her growing feelings for the man whose life she saved. This stand-alone novel set in the world of Marillier's "Sevenwaters" series (Daughter of the Forest; Son of the Shadows; Child of the Prophecy) combines adventure with quasihistorical detail in a Celtic-based story of love and sacrifice. VERDICT This well-written tale by a top-notch storyteller will appeal to the author's fans.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2010
The reader is thrown headlong into this story with the prologue, a first-person description of a shipwreck. The tale is set in the time of the druids, when Christianity has not yet driven the old ways out of northern Europe. A tale as intricate as a Celtic knot is woven between the two main characters, Sibeal and the shipwreck survivor. Sibeal is a young woman, determined to be a druid. She has all but completed her training when she finds the nearly drowned man, who has lost his memory. No details are too small, and altogether, they constitute a clear picture for the reader. As Sibeal struggles to bring the sailor up the beach, the reader will find themselves wishing they, too, could assist. When it becomes clear to the reader and also to other characters in the book that Sibeal has fallen in love, the confusion she feels is very familiar. This romance is sure to hold the attention of any reader fascinated by mythology, Celtic folklore, and druidism.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)