Yanshui
asked
Juliet Marillier:
How "historical" is the universe of the Seven Waters / Blackthorn & Grim / Warrior Bard series? On the surface, it seems like a timeless fantasy version of medieval Ireland, but digging deeper, there are plenty of historical references such as the coming of the Norsemen, that hint at specific historical period. I'm not familiar enough with Irish history to puzzle it out yet!
Juliet Marillier
Good question, Yanshui! All three series give a nod to real Irish history, but I didn't pay as much attention to getting the historical detail right as I should have in the first three Sevenwaters books, so while it is theoretically dated around 900CE, the British part of it feels like a much later period with its manor houses and its Norman-derived character names. All three series are set some time in between the first Norse arrivals in Ireland and the Anglo-Norman arrivals. But really, despite my getting better with my historical research in my later books, I've also embraced the fantasy side of the stories so your suggestion of 'timeless fantasy version of medieval Ireland' is entirely appropriate. That not only allows me to include magic, but also to tweak the geography if required and also make the relationships between characters a bit more relevant to the world we live in. (Geography-wise, a lot of it is pretty accurate - I've been to many of the locations.)
all the best, Juliet
all the best, Juliet
More Answered Questions
Siona Robertson
asked
Juliet Marillier:
Dear Juliet I've have just finished re-reading the Shadowfell Trilogy for the third time, and I have to confess to feeling a tad deflated with the ending, Would you be considering another series to follow on from this one? I found myself wondering what happened to some of the other characters at the end of the third book. Did Tali, perhaps, find love again and did she and Fingal regain their land of Ravensburn?
Mel (Epic Reading)
asked
Juliet Marillier:
When I first read your Sevenwaters Trilogy (at that time it was only 3) I loved the fairy tale inspiration used; whilst the novel still told it's own story in it's own way. There has recently been a surge of fairy tale 're-tellings' for Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, & others. I'm wondering if you were to pick another Grimm fairy tale to use for a basis of a story, like you did with Six Swans, what would it be?
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