Juliet Marillier is a marvel; she makes deep, complex,
compelling stories read in an effortless fashion. And it doesn’t matter where
in a series you pick up a book; they all read as if they are stand-alone
novels, with the story being part of a larger world. I love that her characters
have past histories and how those histories affect them – and how they either
go on to be victims or manage to transcend what has happened to them to shape
their own lives.
Although I’d read Marillier’s early work, Den of Wolves was my first
foray into the adventures of Blackthorn, wounded healer, and her friend Grim,
her comrade during the darkest time of her life. Now, for the first time, she
has the chance to bring the sadistic tyrant who tortured her and many others to
justice. But her life has become entangled with others, including Cara, a lord’s
daughter sent to court under mystifying circumstances. Together Grim and
Blackthorn unfold Cara’s secret and learn her true identity. In the end,
Blackthorn has to make a choice between old revenge and the new life she has
created for herself. The two story lines are woven together seamlessly, with dramatic
tension beautifully balanced with character development and the daily rhythms
of a non-industrialized sort-of mythic Ireland. I enjoyed the sense of
spaciousness within the tale; nothing seems hurried, even when the action is
intense. There’s a great sense of a world beyond the pages, and even minor
characters have their own lives, motives, and sorrows. If you have not yet had
the pleasure of exploring Marillier’s worlds, come on in. Sit down, have a cup
of brew and listen to a tale or two. You’ll want to stay for a long while.
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