“Don’t you long for something different to happen, something so exciting and new it carries you along with it like a great tide, something that lets your life blaze and burn so the whole world can see it?”

Son of the Shadows, is the sequel to Daughter of the Forest (my review here), and undoubtedly up there as one of my all-time favourite books. It has the same effortless weaving together of fantasy and mythology, in the beloved Sevenwaters universe.

This book follows Sorcha’s second daughter, the pensive and talented Liadan. There is so much of Sorcha mirrored in this daughter of Sevenwaters. She has never been certain of the life that has been laid out before her. But, Liadan takes a misadventure on the road and ends up with the Fianna, a band of mercenaries. Led by The Painted Man, her life gets overturned. Her journey will lead her to question everything she had planned for herself and her life, as she fights for those she comes to hold dear.

“I wish- I wish I could dry these tears, I wish I could make this better for you. But I don’t know how.”

It is no secret that this book is my favourite of the series. One of those reasons is because of Liadan. She is fierce, intelligent and will stop at nothing for those she loves. The way she untangles the dangers she finds her and her lover in, is captivating to read (and re-read).

Like in many of Marillier’s books, the author so perfectly captures the setting of the historical period, interwoven with mythology and folklore. I simply adore Marillier’s style and that’s what makes her one of my all-time favourite authors.

“Come, dear heart. Lean on me and let us walk this path together.”

I often feel contemplative when I finish one of the Sevenwaters series and on this re-read, I could really see how I’d changed as a reader and that’s a bit of what I love about reading, that my experience of reading is a snapshot of myself in time and how I relate to the characters and setting. On this re-read, I felt very appreciative of the character Liadan is, as I could see how her fire and tenacity helped shaped me in my more formative years.

Can’t wait to continue my re-reading of this beloved series, with the next instalment, Child of the Prophecy!