Entertaining the Alien

13. Daughter of the Forest, Juliet Marillier

I got this book way back when I first joined the Science Fiction Book Club, as one of my initial selections. Then I promptly stuck it on my bookshelf and forgot about it. Then, Friday, desperate for something new to read, I pulled it off the shelf and started reading. Wow, am I glad I did. Marillier does a fantastic job of retelling the old Celtic story of the brothers who are bewitched, cursed to remain swans until the spell can be lifted. She managed to do precisely what I always want to do with my mythic retellings, but never quite manage to do, which is, tell the story from a slightly new angle, introducing new elements to a familiar story. The main character, Sorcha, sister to the brothers, is strong and heartbreaking and well delineated. There are no real plot surprises, but then, you don't read myth to be surprised. I found out this afternoon that this is book one of a trilogy, and promptly ordered the next two books. I can't wait to get my hands on them.