Storytelling at its Best

This is simply a wonderful book, a real treat.

The way, how Terry Donnelly reads the story, lets you forget, where you are and you enter the magic country of Celtic Ireland. It is a long story, but you just don't get enough of this great voice and the deep emotion it evokes.

Juliet Marillier retells the fairy tale of the "Six Swans" (Brothers Grimm) and moves it to the medieval Celtic Ireland. Of course there are some clashes with historical facts, but this is not what fairy tales are about. Juliet Marillier added to the original story and changed it quite a bit, but the tale is retold with such tender touch and the changes are made with so much care that the new tale grew into something much bigger. It became a story of love and faith, loyalty and perseverance.

Sorcha, who lost her mother at birth, lives with her father and her six brothers at a lake in the midst of deep woods. While her father spends most of his time defending his home against Britains, Picts and Vikings, Sorcha grows up, protected by her brothers, in close touch with nature and the magic of the deep woods.

When her father remarries, the little paradise shatters and the vicious and malevolent stepmother turns Sorcha's six brothers into swans and she has to run for her life. Still a child, a heavy burden is placed on her shoulders, she has to free her brothers from the spell by fulfilling an extremely difficult task. During the pursuit of this task, she has to master great challenges and not only risk her young life, but also the new found love.

Yes, it is a fairy tale, but one with a magic touch.

2 Leute fanden das hilfreich

Nur 2 Sterne wegen der Sprecherin

Die Geschichte ist an sich nicht schlecht, aber seeeehr langsam erzählt.

Mich hat gestört, dass es sich eigentlich um ein Märchen handelt und trotzdem fast schon depressiv geschrieben ist. Leid, Leid und wieder Leid.
Mag sein, dass dieser Eindruck erst recht entsteht weil die Sprecherin so übertrieben weinerlich spricht. Womit ich bei meinem eigentlichen Problem mit diesem Buch bin:
bei der Vorleserin.
Sie hat (glaube ich) versucht "gewichtig" zu reden.Das ist ihr absolut nicht gelungen.


Ich konnte die gerade spechende Personen kaum unterscheiden. Und wenn die sie eine Person sprechen ließ war ihre Art zu lesen einfach nur übertrieben und nervig.


Es war fast schon eine Qual das Buch zu Ende zu hören.

Ich werde den 2. Teil der Trilogie gewiss nicht anhören.

1 Person fand das hilfreich

Beautiful story, not happy with ending.

I loved Terry Donnelly's voice and narration; partly I believe it's what made this book for me. There are reviews that state the opposite, so I guess this is mostly personal preference. The story taking place in former Ireland before and during the British invasion captured me right away, as did Sorcha's (the main character's) relationship with her brothers. The story might be a bit drawn out at points but I didn't mind.

There is a major violent scene and I was glad to have read about it previously so I could just skip ahead. I did not want to listen to it in all its gory details, because apparently it is very graphic. This might have warranted a trigger alert, and I also wonder whether it is actually necessary for the story to play out or for Sorcha's character development.

The ending left me entirely dissatisfied, especially after having been so invested in the story for 23+ hours.

let yourself be enchanted

My absolute favorite book <3 with a touching story! let yourself be enchanted. Full of gripping moments...

Enjoyed this old story told in a new way

The story is one of the favourites I had when I was a kid, and it is nicely done with details added. I did not get used to the story teller though and found it lengthy at times and at other times moving to quickly. Enjoyed it though nevertheless