While none of Marillier's books have ever quite compared to Daughter of the Forest or Son of the Shadows, for me, I feel like I always know what to expect when I pick up one of her books. She is a master of gorgeous writing, descriptive and atmospheric settings, and a slower pace. You'll find all of that in Den of Wolves, the last book in her Blackthorn and Grim series. This series was such a lovely reading experience for me. Despite their length and slower pace, I devoured all three in quick succession over the course of two weeks. It was a memorable journey! Marillier has created a rich fantasy world with stories that feel like fairy tales anchored by a heroine who is unconventional but so memorable. I So Enjoyed It.

It’s time to bid adieu to Blackthorn and Grim. What a journey it has been. I am glad to have read this series and to have read it mostly one book after another. Den Of Wolves by Juliet Marillier wraps up a trilogy that feels different from typical fantasy. After all, there isn’t immediate romance between the two main characters. Blackthorn is a bit older – she’s absolutely not in her early twenties. Grim does not come across as boisterous or in your face clever. Instead, he seems big and dull but as we come to know, that’s not the case.

Den Of Wolves is a trilogy that concludes with a story that involves a child stolen many years ago, a house that will confer blessings upon it’s owner and finally with justice that will be done. Blackthorn and Grim are separated for much of this book as Grim goes to work on building a house in Wolves Glen. Blackthorn is helping with Cara who is staying at Prince Oran’s household. Cara keeps wanting to go back to Wolves Glen, but for some reason her father does not want her there during the building of the house. It’s about to get real tense.

Now that I have finished up this trilogy, I do have to say I appreciate Marillier’s slow build. I liked how the morsels she doled out through the other two books culminated in answers in Den Of Wolves. These books need to be read in order and read together. And, ugh, how it all plays out is just so perfect and lovely. There were times when I felt like the pacing was slow, but eventually there was payoff there. The healing and growth experienced by both Blackthorn and Grim is inspiring. I really appreciate it and that these aren’t the typical normal fantasy characters – there’s not really any fighting or ass kicking scenes. It’s just thoughtfulness and collaboration and problem solving. Read these books if you are someone who goes in for character development.

Juliet Marillier is a marvel; she makes deep, complex, compelling stories read in an effortless fashion. And it doesn’t matter where in a series you pick up a book; they all read as if they are stand-alone novels, with the story being part of a larger world. I love that her characters have past histories and how those histories affect them – and how they either go on to be victims or manage to transcend what has happened to them to shape their own lives. Although I’d read Marillier’s early work, this was my first foray into the adventures of Blackthorn, wounded healer, and her friend Grim, her comrade during the darkest time of her life. Now, for the first time, she has the chance to bring the sadistic tyrant who tortured her and many others to justice. But her life has become entangled with others, including Cara, a lord’s daughter sent to court under mystifying circumstances. Together Grim and Blackthorn unfold Cara’s secret and learn her true identity. In the end, Blackthorn has to make a choice between old revenge and the new life she has created for herself. The two story lines are woven together seamlessly, with dramatic tension beautifully balanced with character development and the daily rhythms of a non-industrialized sort-of mythic Ireland. I enjoyed the sense of spaciousness within the tale; nothing seems hurried, even when the action is intense. There’s a great sense of a world beyond the pages, and even minor characters have their own lives, motives, and sorrows. If you have not yet had the pleasure of exploring Marillier’s worlds, come on in. Sit down, have a cup of brew and listen to a tale or two. You’ll want to stay for a long while.

Juliet Marillier can do no wrong - I've yet to read a book by her I haven't liked. What I love about this series is that the characters are older, more experienced and more flawed that those in some of her previous books.

I'm not sure where to begin with this book, the last in the trilogy about Grim and Blackthorn, two people who were given the short end of the stick and just wanted to move on and reclaim their lives after seeing justice done. It’s been a couple years, and several brushes with magic and tragedy, since the pair moved to Winterfall. Now with Prince Oran and his wife, the Lady Flidais, settled in marriage and parenthood a new threat to the happiness and security of everyone comes from an old foe, shaking the peace that Blackthorn thought to savor.

Marillier's books in general have always been a source of comfort and wonder to me. DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST remains one of my most beloved books and helped me such a dark time in my life I thought I’d not recover. Blackthorn has been at turns abrasive, rude, cruel and a shrew. She bristles when complimented and doesn’t look at anything on face value. Through the books her softer side has shown, but equally so new betrayals have hardened her. And Grim, considered a bit slow by folk because he doesn’t rush to judgement or explanation, has more than proven his worth.

This book tested them both to the limits of their breaking points. Separated for long periods, sworn to secrecy and desperate to find answers to their many puzzles, this book could have taken a much darker path than it did. At times it seemed to. Previous books dealt with ambition and envy, love and obsession, but this book was all those things in one. I don’t doubt that what was done was done from love. I also don’t doubt that it was done from envy.

This was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. I wish there would be more tales, but at the same time Blackthorn and Grim have struggled for the peace they have at the end of this. They deserve some time to relearn what it means to be free of the past and make a new future for themselves. Though as Blackthorn observes, neither of them are particularly good at the peaceful life are they?

The big twist I saw coming very early on. That didn't detract at all from the story though. Especially as I wasn't sure of the why or the how. We also finally get confirmation about why Conmael has been helping Blackthorn.

I loved the song/rhyme that's given in bits and pieces and then finally in full in the book. I usually skip over that sort of thing, but it really resonated and stuck in my head. I also liked the story of the Heartwood House, and how we got to see different versions of it, both good and bad.

I didn't care for Cara's father at all, he seemed way too cold and strict to have had a daughter as dreamy and connected to the forest as Cara was. I liked how the secrets were uncovered, and how they interlinked with each other, even when some didn't seem like they would fit.

A lot of things were tied up with this book, some major plot lines from the previous books, as well as the ones from this book. But there are enough loose threads that another book could easily fit in.

If you like a lot of mystery and twists with your fantasy, you should read this series.

Sorry I haven’t posted this. I actually only received two replies from contributors for the list, and was really hoping to get more. Three books (including mine) just didn’t feel like enough. I have been swamped, maybe if I had followed up more, I would have received more responses, but as it stands, it is what it is. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this up, and maybe we will still manage to get a post out there. I am going to send an email out to the group.