The Amber Owl

Heartwood #1

by Juliet Marillier

Stasya lives in an isolated farming village on the edge of the mysterious Heartwood Forest with her unusual dog for company. Thought odd by the locals, she is tolerated for her rare gift with animals. Engaging with her fellow humans is difficult, with one goatherd Lukas, who shares her love of storytelling.

The peace of Heartwood is shattered when a group of soldiers descends, under orders from the Ruler of the Northlands. Their to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. Under the grueling decree, Stasya’s village falls into chaos. The task is clearly impossible. The forest is alive with bears and wolves, and the old tales speak of evil spirits, monsters and uncanny beings. Nobody has ever gone deep into Heartwood Forest and returned safe and well.

When Stasya raises her voice in protest she is removed from her beloved home and transported to court – a different world. Word of her special skills has reached the Ruler’s ears, and Lady Elisabeta has a job for her. But Stasya will not break her vow to protect the forest, even under the most appalling threat. Help comes from an unlikely quarter.
Secrets abound; dangers lie everywhere; and it is hard to tell friend from foe. As Stasya and her band of unlikely allies embark on a perilous mission, it becomes apparent that uncanny forces may indeed be involved. Maybe the old tales of the Hermit are true.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Magic, Magical Realism

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

Juliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Juliet was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and Bachelor of Music (Hons). Her lifelong interest in history, folklore and mythology has had a major influence on her writing.

Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards.

Juliet lives in a 110 year old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs. She also has four adult children and eight grandchildren. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.)

Reviews

[✩ Yaz ✩]

NEW JULIET MARILLIER BOOK IN 2025😍😍‼️‼️
THIS IS NOT A DRILL ‼️‼️‼️‼️

[Cups and Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?! This was so incredible! Truly a beautifully crafted story from the heart. The pacing was perfect, the build-up and thoughtful development of the relationships between each character palpable, and the connection between nature + animals illustrated in Stasya woven into a fairytale-esque story was just stunning ✨

This is the kind of tale you never want to let go of, and I just know this is going to charm readers of all ages! The gentle prose against the lush forest backdrop (loosely based on the Baltic region) mixed with some magic and a fierce fight fought by a gentle girl between man and nature, you are not going to want to put this one down. I love the powerful message delivered in such a soft and enchanting manner and the important role that storytelling plays in our lives. The different POVs added so much layer and depth to the stories that I got attached to every one of them! You can absolutely tell that SO much heart and soul went into writing this book. The world-building and characters were done with so much care that you will be fully immersed with this heartachingly beautiful and emotional story of grief, friendship, and family 💫🤍

The first in a duology that has one of the best endings I’ve ever read. I simply cannot WAIT for the sequel! A new all-time favorite for sure! 🥹😭🫶🏼 I loved the book so much that I went out to get a signed final copy and bought another book by the author! I will definitely be reading more of her work 😍 Thank you New Dawn Pub for the ARC!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ — not my favorite Marillier unfortunately, but I’m hoping since it’s the first book in a new series, I might grow to enjoy it more.

Some notes whilst reading:
- I always forget how dark her writing can get
- One meandering trek through the forest after another with half dead companions seemingly always able to fight or do some crazy strength training activity
- There were a few lackluster parts to this that left me bored or just amounted to nothing gained
- The magical pet sidekick is super cool
- Ugh, not 💯 sold on this love story forming

Listen, I love this author. Please don’t come for me. I wanted SO badly to love this, but I’m afraid it’s just okay.

[Dr. Laurie]

Gah! I want to read this book, like, right now but Amazon is telling me it is not available for purchase in the US!! What?!?! Do not tell me that a new book is available and then not let me purchase it on my Kindle. C’mon, People!!! Juliet has not had a new book in a while and this is very exciting. It looks like classic Juliet and I am thrilled to read it! (When it is available, that is.) %:-(

[Charlotte Kersten]

Pls manifest an ARC for me I submitted the application but haven't heard back yet!!!!!!!

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet Marillier’s prose is as always uniquely beautiful and captivating. Though it did not grab my heart as „Daughter of the forest” it was still a very sad and emotional read.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Headlines:
Connected to the land
Animal senses
Protection

This first installment of Heartwood had a strong protagonist at the wheel in Stasya, a young woman with a voice that grew in confidence. She had skills and gifts that could be seen as witchcraft but that wasn't really at the heart of what she did. Her life was about connection to the land, protecting the land and connecting with animals. This made for an interesting premise and anyone who cares for their own stewardship of planet earth will relate to these themes.

I loved how we got to see animals through Stasya's eyes, understanding their psyches, fears and intentions. The quest Stasya found herself made her grow as a young woman and a character and it was through her advocacy that her confidence increased. Descriptions of flora, fauna and animals were superb.

There was a gentle love triangle in this book but any romantic vibes were super low key and that seemed right for Stasya's age and emotional maturity about these things.

Amber Owl felt like a long and sometimes pacey read. I am used to Marillier's works and writing style but this was not a favourite of hers because of the pacing. It took me about three weeks to read this. There were times where my concentration wandered. I didn't connect fully with Stasya which was sad because JM writes some of my favourite heroines.

I am invested for more of this series but I'm also wary of the pacing issues.

[lookmairead · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I can think is I hope is that no matter how I rate this, I still beg you to read JM’s Daughter of the Forest because it’s really a classic for reason. I remember finishing it at like 2 in the morning knowing it was ♾️/5 ⭐️.

So… was this JM’s best work? Nope. Not even close. (And it feels awful to admit this.) But did it still find ways to hug my heart? Yeah, if was an after school special in a cozy fantasy setting.

I say cozy, but I forget JM knows when to send a few bolts to surprise her readers. But looking back- the zings felt… sort of out of place? Maybe it’s how I was reading it in my head. I bet the audiobook would solve this.

Despite characters being in their 20’s this still felt YA. Maybe because FMC felt like she had a childlike mind at some points? Maybe because there is zero spice? Maybe because their pack was of main male characters were total sweeties. I don’t know, but JM feels like a safe read even with younger readers.

The truth of the matter is I’ll read whatever Marillier puts into this world because after reading 10 books in her catalog, she earned my nerdy loyalty. I am happily along for the otherworldly ride.

Special thanks to the international 3rd party who sold this book on Amazon- this book isn’t released yet in the US, but I couldn’t wait to track it down.

Sounds like this will be a duo- next book will be out in 2026. I’ll be curious what politics will ensue after that ending…. Hmmm.

[h o l l i s]

can't believe I forgot to add this to GR.

KLAXON SOUND

for those who didn't know, new Marillier in 2025!

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful tale from Juliet Marillier ❤️ only why does she need to make her heroines suffer so much? 😭

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard read for me. I wanted to love it. It's my first Juliet Marillier, and I've only ever heard good things about her work, but this really didn't work for me. A friend called it a cozy after-school special, and that's honestly the perfect description.

I'm not sure how this is being marketed as it hasn't been released in the US yet. The same friend just told me about a listing on Amazon by a 3rd party, and I jumped to try it out. I think if I had known this was going to feel so YA going into it, I might not have struggled so hard.

My biggest issue with this book is just some of the really weird simple things things that happened, which seemed at odds with... common sense? There are two soldier moments at different times. One, strains a leg muscle and can't ride a horse? The other is tired by climbing a hill, but the excuse is that he spent the day before walking? ...these men are supposed to be hardened soldiers, too. Those are the two I remember for having pointed them out in my buddy read, but there were other instances where things just felt... over simplified to almost a childish degree. I hate getting pulled out of a story, and I especially hate it when it's to the degree of me rolling my eyes and saying wtf...

On the other hand, I will say this is well written. It's mostly cute with a few whoa that got dark moments, which were also a little off-putting in the degree of damn... in an otherwise YA story. There were lots of lovely moments of bravery, friendship, and defying odds, and if I had enjoyed them the story more, there would have been lots of quotes to tab. Unfortunately, it steered too far into the after-school special part for me, and I kept thinking oh lord we we going again with the hand holding kumbaya to save the world.

Sorry, I was trying to say good things and got carried away again. Look, if I was at the YA stage still, I probably would have eaten this up. I almost want to call it the age before YA except for those dark moments. But as an adult reader? This just wasn't it for me.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Any new release from Juliet Marillier is an automatic read for me. I loved the Amber Owl. The characters that we were introduced to were flawed but engaging and left me wanting to read more about them.

Stasya is our main lead - who I would describe as being both soft yet strong. She has the backbone to stand up for what she believes to be right and wrong, but isn’t infallible to despair either.

We have a cast of characters who left me guessing to their true motives. Knowing romance is a key element of Marillier’s novels had me trying to guess who she would ultimately hint or pair Stasya with.

Loved the Amber Owl overall and it had many of the components of Marillier’s novels that I love - moments that tugged at my heartstrings, tales told within a tale, and strong character development. It gave me some flavours of her Sevenwaters series, as well as her Bridei Chronicles trilogy and Heart’s Blood.

My only qualm would be that this novel isn’t quite a standalone. It doesn’t have a complete cliffhanger but it definitely leaves you wanting to hear “what next!!” about our characters journeys - with many threads left open to explore.

Can’t wait for the next novel in this duology, coming out in 2026!

[Audrey Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately a disappointing read by one of my favourite authors. This book lacks the magic of Juliet Marilier's earlier works. Marilier's books are often slow-paced, atmospheric, and magical but I thought this story was long-winded and boring. There were lots of pointless and repetitive storytelling that doesn't further the plot. Moreover I didn't understand the characters' motives and therefore couldn't connect with them. There was potential but the story was sometimes too 'mystical' for me.

[Ensie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very boring. Nothing really happens until the last 30 pages. I liked the writing style but in some parts that also became tedious.

[Riri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

This was beautiful. While the pace is on the slower side, it’s full of intrigue and adventure. The description of the setting paints a stunning fantasy world, with a dense forest housing all sorts of animals, folks, and magic. Reading this filled me with nostalgia. It reminds me of the stories I read in my childhood, though it can get pretty dark at times. Especially during Stasya’s stay in Dragon’s Keep. There are plenty of moments that are downright heartbreaking, even more so because the characters are so well-written.

Storytelling and tales play a crucial part in the plot, and it’s delivered in such a gentle way throughout the book. The story feels so delicately woven and full of heart, and the characters have so much depth and connection to each other. My favorite part is that while a number of people want Stasya to fulfill certain roles, it is always up to her to make the decision. The last scene with Lukas was done so well, especially because their differences really came to light in the second half of the book.

Lovely, and now time to pick up more of Juliet Marillier’s works.

[Teagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book was ok. I've been a Juliet Marillier fan for a long time, and sometimes not all her novels do it for me. This was definitely one of those.

The first half of the story was really slow, and I found it difficult to like the naive Stasya. I understand this was meant to set the ground work for her character growth, but it was a little frustrating to read. The second half of the story really took off, when the adventure finally began. But again everything just felt so slow and drawn out, for a predictable ending. The fact everything just worked out perfectly - the lost prince was found and just immediately ready to go, there was a secret group of kind, magical people on the mountain who took them in and solved all their problems right at the last minute etc. I was even disappointed that the Commander faced his end so quick. He was a vile character I would have really liked to see them facing for longer.

I could see the author was trying to build a love triangle, but I felt zero chemistry between any of the characters so it was difficult to be interested in this.

It was still really lovely to see a new novel by this author, but I won't be looking out for any more in this series.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tough one to review! My reading of any Juliet Marillier, unfortunately, is tarnished by my 20+ year love of some of her other novels - obviously I have high expectations, and often can't help comparing one to the other.
The Amber Owl tells an intriguing (oftentimes quite dark) tale about community, bravery, and the importance of protecting the forest. The overall storyline definitely kept me interested, but I would have liked more details in terms of world building and even time spent within the world before all the upheaval started.
I struggled most with Stasya's voice and a difficulty with connecting to her as the MC. There were several times where her thought process and decisions seemed to be naïve or misguided, so while she had many instances of being strong and brave (and really started to come into her own as a character), I did find a lot of the novel difficult reading.
Still, I am certainly intrigued by this tale and very interested to uncover what happens next in the duology. (And it's a Marillier book, so obviously an auto-buy!)

[Emily Bruin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I count Juliet Marillier among my favourite authors, but this one fell a little flat for me. I felt like more time could have been spent with Stasya instead of jumping to different POVs. I didn't feel especially connected to the characters or the world, and I think spending a bit more time viewing the world from her eyes and learning her history early on in the book would have kept me more engaged. It was still good, but felt like it had more potential.

[Laurena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read with the importance of storytelling through generations at its heart. Cover art is stunning!

[Tahnaya (catsandpaperbacks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful book written by our local Perth author, Juliet Marillier. I have only recently discovered her work and in the few books I have read of her’s, I’ve come to the conclusion that Marillier is truly a masterful writer!

This book was full of magic and adventure which is something I have been ravenous for! The story follows our main character, Stasya, as she finds the harmony of Heartwood to be shattered by the uninvited company of solders sent by the ruler of the northlands, to destroy the forest and find the treasure hidden within. The village is falling apart, with the people of the village forced to uproot their lives to serve the needs of the ruler and her soldiers on an impossible mission. The forest is being destroyed and it’s up to Stasya to save it and all that dwells within… with the help of her unusual dog companion!

I found this book to be such an enjoyable read! It was almost nostalgic in that I felt like I was 6 years old again, completely absorbed by a new fairytale book that I would obsess over and reread again and again. I felt such a big connection with Marillier’s writing style and the fairytale books I grew up loving as a kid! I absolutely adored Stasya’s connection with the forest and animals, as I’m a vet nurse, I’m a huge animal advocate myself and this just made me adore Stasya more than I already did!

Quite like our storyteller Stasya, you can tell that Marillier pours her heart and soul into her books and this was an absolute treasure to read! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Stasya (and her future love interest???) in book two of this duology!!!

Thank you to New Dawn Publishing for sending me an arc to read and review!

[Tanya (aka ListObsessedReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Star Rating: 4 stars
Date: 6/17/25 – 6/24/25

A few years ago, I discovered Juliet Marillier on my local public library’s shelves and ended up reading so many of her books that I burnt myself out and had to take a break for a while. However, when I found out that she had a new book coming out this year, I decided it was time to pick her back up. The Amber Owl tells the story of Stasya, a young woman living in Heartwood, a village on the border of a mysterious, magical forest. Stasya has always lived on the outskirts of her village as she has abilities and beliefs that ostracize her from the wider population. One day, the Ruler sends a contingent of men to cut a path through the forest to the mountain at the center called the Hermit where it is said a great treasure is hidden. Stasya, desperate to protect the forest and her home, stands against them, and this leads to her going on a journey to discover her true place in the world and maybe also save both her realms in the process.

My favorite thing about this book and all Marillier’s books in general is her female characters as the way she writes them is very relatable to me. Marillier’s female characters ignore or don’t fit traditional gender roles for the period in which her books are placed, and as someone who doesn’t fit in modern day society beccause of neurodivergence, I find myself really drawn to her characters. That is especially true for Stasya as the way she reacts to certain situations in this book reads very similarly to my own experiences, and I loved following her arc. It is nice to read from the perspective of women who have more internalized challenges and still succeed despite them as that isn’t something you see very often, at least not in fantasy as they’re usually fighting against some external force, at least in my experience.

I also really like the fable, mythos, and fairy tale elements that Marillier adds into the narrative as she does it in a more traditional way like the way that classic fantasy authors do, which you know if you have been following my reviews is something that I really enjoy. To be honest, Marillier’s writing style is more classic-leaning overall with its slower pace, meandering storylines, and deep character studies. Her stories never rush breakneck to the finish line; they plod along. It is much more about the journey than the destination and the lessons we learn along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I like exciting plots too, but sometimes, I want to just exist in a world and go on a quiet journey.

Although I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to the next one, I do have to mention that this isn’t Marillier’s best work. The first half felt very disjointed from the second half, and I feel she should have started exploring character motivations, particularly Alekis’s earlier in the book, maybe, by bringing in flashbacks. I just found myself wondering what we were doing and why in the first part of the book, and I feel that flashbacks to Alekis, his movement and the reasoning behind it would have made that clearer or at least made me more intrigued in the plot overall. However, once those elements got pulled into the story, I started enjoying it more, and it made me excited to see what’s going to happen next.

All in all, this had all the elements that I have come to expect from Marillier, and even though I don’t think this is her strongest work, I still really enjoyed it. 4 stars!!!!!!!!!!!

[Penny Geard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say this was a lovely story, but there were also plenty of traumatic events that don't quite fit that description, so let me be more specific. The main character is lovely with an adorable shape-changing pet dog. Despite being thrown into an awful experience, the story continuously comes back to acts of kindness. There is also a lovely focus on the ability of stories to help with communication and with processing trauma.

I will note, this is very slow paced and the ending was somewhat unsatisfying. I think because it was setting up for the rest of the series.

[Vicky W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a bit conflicted about The Amber Owl. On one hand, I absolutely loved the originality of the plot. It felt refreshingly different from many of the current fantasy and romantic books out there—a unique premise with so much potential. But on the other hand, I found the story lacked the depth and development I was hoping for.

The magic system, for example, felt quite underexplained. Stasya’s ability to communicate with animals is central to the plot, yet we’re never really told where her powers come from, why she alone has them, or what the limitations are. Are her powers real? Are they misunderstood? There's mention of “forest people” rather than fairies, but even that isn’t explored in any meaningful way.

Then there’s Flip, her dog-bird companion. His shapeshifting is fascinating—but again, there’s no explanation. Where did he come from? Why can he shift between a bird and a dog? Their relationship is sweet, but it felt like it just *was*—without much foundation or exploration.

As someone who reads a lot of fantasy, I found these gaps frustrating. I don’t need everything spelled out, but I do want to understand the world I’m stepping into, especially when it’s rich with magic and lore.

The characters also felt a little flat. While we’re told how they feel, I didn’t get a strong sense of who they were beyond the surface. There wasn’t much in the way of backstory, flaws, or complexity—particularly with Stasya, who at times felt more like a figure moving through the story rather than a fully realised protagonist. Even Lady Elisabeta motivations felt vague—she’s searching for something at the Hermitage some treasure but we never really learn how she knows about it, why it matters, or what’s driving her.

I tossed up a few time to DNF this book but pushed through as was hoping some of the question and plot holes would be answered at the last few chapters but they never really were. It just left me more questions especially the touchdown but not really developed. Even the slight hinted at but not really developed love story between the Stasya, Alexis and her childhood sweetheart Lucas.

[Sarah Arabi-Katbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet Marillier is an auto read author for me. With this book she crafts a careful quiet tale, filled with intrigue. There's hurts and pains but it's all very soft. Stasya's character is so natural and true and the team assembled around her later is so strong and driven by their beliefs. Though they differ, by the end, it all comes together beautifully. I'm really glad this is only #1 in a series. Can't wait for more!

[Zsu]

a new Juliet Marillier book? how is this not getting more hype??!! I need this in my life right now 😮‍💨

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read Wolfskin more than twenty years ago, Juliet Marillier pole-vaulted into the top ranks of my favorite fantasy authors. She's written some of my favorite books in the genre: the aforementioned Wolfskin, the original Sevenwaters Trilogy, Heart's Blood (not to be confused with the Jane Yolen book of the same name), the Blackthorn and Grim Trilogy (especially the final volume, Den of Wolves), and the Warrior Bards series. I wasn't as keen on the Bridei Chronicles or the Sevenwaters sequel trilogy, but not every shot an author takes can hit me where I live. In any case, whenever I hear Marillier is releasing a new book, I come to attention.

So where does this book rank amongst the Marillier novels I've read? Well, I like it much better than Blade of Fortriu (probably my least favorite of all her work), and somewhat better than the Sevenwaters sequels, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of Heart's Blood, Wolfskin, or the first Sevenwaters series. I liked it, but didn't quite love it.

The positives:
1. Those who complain about writers making the mistake of thinking that making a heroine strong means giving her masculine-coded traits should honestly take more notice of Marillier. Few fantasy writers I've read do a better job of depicting a heroine with traits usually coded as feminine (e.g. nurturing, healing, hearth and forest magic) as stalwart, resourceful, intelligent, and especially creative. Marillier's best heroines have imagination to burn, and Stasya is no exception. I love that she defines herself as a storyteller, and that she uses her storytelling powers for Good in substantial ways throughout her journey.
2. The prose here is not quite as vivid and lyrical as Marillier at her best, but it's strong nonetheless.
3. The ending helped resolve some of the issues I'd been having. Mother Rowan appears at just the right time, and since this ending left me with the impression that this book will not be the stand-alone I initially thought but will eventually have sequels, I look forward to seeing her bond with Stasya develop. I also appreciate that while she rejects the path of the village wife and mother, Stasya never adopts a "not like other girls" attitude. She has no disdain for the wife/mother role; she simply recognizes that it isn't for her.

Disappointments:
1. Marillier does a good job in general of depicting bonds of friendship between male and female characters. She's far less comfortable, evidently, with depicting female friendships. Indeed, I'm at a loss to think of a single Marillier heroine I've read about who has a close female friend who isn't related to her. Despite Mother Rowan's timely appearance, Stasya spends a substantial majority of the story interacting solely with men.
2. Female authority figures don't usually come off very well in Marillier's work. Elisabeta, the "Lord Ruler," is the worst of them, but I haven't forgotten the nasty faery queen in the Warrior Bards series. Please, Ms. Marillier, show us a good female ruler, if for no other reason than to put that despicable misogynistic bishop in his place.

I would recommend this novel to those looking for a story with a fairy-tale feel and who enjoy reading about courageous but notably feminine heroines.

[Connie53 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik hou van Juliet Marillier's manier van schrijven. Het zijn altijd verhalen waar dingen in het begin niet zo goed gaan of zelfs ronduit slecht. En dat is ook hier het geval. Maar dan vinden de hoofdpersonen elkaar en gaan samen de strijd aan tegen het kwaad. Elkaar steunen en met respect behandelen en werken aan de oplossing van mogelijke problemen zijn daarbij belangrijk en komen in haar meeste boeken terug. Zo ook in dit boek. Het is het verhaal van een brute koningin die haar eigen zin doordrijft zonder rekening te houden met wat ze mensen daardoor aandoet. In dit geval zijn dat de inwoners van een klein dorpje. De commandant van het legertje dat ze daarnaar toe heeft gestuurd op zoek naar de oorsprong van een stuk amber dat door Stasya en Lucas, twee jongen vrienden uit het dorp, is gevonden. De koningin wil weten waar de amber is gevonden en daar zelf beter van worden. Een van de mannen, Aleksis, die met de commandant mee is gekomen in zijn hoedanigheid als adviseur en observeerder van de koningin, probeert Stasya en Lucas te beschermen en de enige mogelijkheid daarvoor is door ze mee te nemen en te zorgen dat ze uit handen van de commandant blijven.
Stasya is een jonge vrouw met een groot talent. Zij kan contact maken met dieren en hoort hun gedachten die er in de natuur rondgaan. Samen met Aleksis, Lucas en enkele van zijn mannen gaan ze op weg en die weg zit vol gevaar. Niet alleen worden ze achtervolgt door de mannen van de commandant, maar ook moeten ze reizen over gevaarlijk terrein en daarbij komt ook dat ze allemaal hun eigen verhaal en zorgen met zich meedragen.
Een verhaal vol hoop en steun en ook over de kracht van verhalen.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful - as are all of Juliet Marillier's books. It suddenly feels like it was a long wait since the master storyteller released a new book. This one completely transported me into this rich landscape and transformative story. I adored the diverse characters, their strong relationships and their overall development. The storyline moves along at a nice pace, I found the different points of view gave deeper insight into the action. This book has set up the various plot lines for the sequel (and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!!). Finally, Flip is flippin' adorable!! 🥰 🦉🐕

[Gail Vlaanderen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5