I feel like I should start by saying that Daughter of the Forest was better than any reading experience I had last year, or the beginning of this one for that matter. I have read fantastic books, but nothing as absorbing as this. I couldn't put it down. Couldn't stop thinking about it - imagining the vivid scenes and creating theories. You could probably name any component of a story and I'd say it's fantastic, but here are some of my favorite aspects: fleshed out and realistic character development, fascinating world with historical atmosphere, surprising plot points at perfect intervals, influence of local folklore and heart wrenching romance.

The fantasy element isn’t very strong and I liked it that way. It was the same with Dreamer’s Pool, which I read in January. Both Dreamer's Pool and Daughter of the Forest are also very slow paced and the focus is on the character development. And dogs are important. They seem to be Marillier’s obsession, in real life and in her stories. But I’m fine with that too.

I don't want to tell too much about the actual plot so I’ll share just the simple premise. Daughter of the Forest is set in medieval Ireland and we follow a girl called Sorcha. She learns the craft of healing while living deeply connected to the nature that surrounds Sevenwaters, her home. But as is often the case in these kinds of stories, a certain curse changes everything.

I know that sounds generic, but trust me, it isn't. Daughter of the Forest is the first installment in a series of six books each following a different character from a different generation. And there's no doubt that I'll be continuing as soon as I get my hands on the sequels!