by Juliet Marillier
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| List Price: | $27.95 |
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| Lowest New Price: | $17.30 |
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Product Description
Juliet Marillier continues the epic fantasy begun with The Dark Mirror, which Interzone called: "A fascinating evocation of life in Pictish England and an emotional roller coaster of a story." King Bridei is a man with a mission. His wish to unite his kingdom seems almost within his grasp but there are forces working to undo his dream. He sends Faolan, his most trusted advisor (who is also a master assassin and spymaster) out into the world to ferret out the truth of who is friend and who is foe. Along the way Faolan will uncover many truths. Some may hold the key to Bridei's future. But more important, they may unlock the secrets that Faolan has held deep within his soul for decades. And offer him the chance of redemption.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 The best book in the series, 2009-01-06
I am surprised at how much The Well of Shades moved me. It is an emotional, intimate portrait of two people connecting despite of, and perhaps because of, their tragic pasts. Faolan and Eile feel like authentic and honest characters, complete with flaws, and their journey, both inward and outward, is the highlight of the novel. Everything else--the historical elements, magic, political intrigue, spiritual conflict--are incidental to their story.
In my opinion, a good novel illustrates how characters grow as events unfold. In The Well of Shades, Marillier presents two characters who undergo life-altering changes. Faolan and Eile are well-developed and emotionally complex. In particular, Eile feels like a real person who has suffered horror. Marillier does not sugar-coat her feelings. At times, Eile displays shame, guilt, confusion, and distrust over what happened to her. This whirlwind of emotions always feels natural.
As in The Dark Mirror, Marillier makes us care for her primary characters, but in this novel the effect is even greater because Faolan's and Eile's conflicts are more personal. Although I quite liked The Dark Mirror, I question if it is the appropriate beginning to this saga. The series is called The Bridei Chronicles, but I think that Faolan is the human soul of the trilogy. His character has the longest and hardest journey, both physically and emotionally. On one hand, I wonder how the series would have felt if he had been the main character in the first volume, not Bridei. On the other hand, there is a correlation between Bridei's and Faolan's tales. Without Bridei's example in the first volume, Faolan would never conquer his past in the subsequent volumes.
As I noted in the other volumes, I think that Marillier's weakness is creating believable antagonists. Her villains never seem to have justifiable reasons for their heinous actions. I believe that this novel does not require a villain. The relationship between Faolan and Eile provides enough drama.
The Well of Shades is the best book in the series.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Faolan gets his second choice, but a true life, 2008-12-05
Juliet Marillier is an excellent writer. She also has a knack for throwing you off as to who the love interests will be. As she is the author, she can do what she likes. For the readers, some of her "switches" break our hearts. If you read the first book of Bridei Chronicles, you realize how Faolan suffers (in many ways). In "The Well of Shades," Faolan gets the girl, but his second choice. The end is meant to reward him for his loyal service. However, it has left readers pining for a different ending - from the previous book in the series.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Amazing service, book in great condition as promised., 2008-05-18
Recieved order promptly. Book was in great condition. Smooth ordering process. Would def. recommend. A+
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Gripping page-turner in the continuing Bridei Chronicles, 2007-09-27
Juliet Marillier's written another winner in her third installment of the Bridei Chronicles.
"The Well of Shades" takes place almost immediately after the second book ("Blade of Fortriu") ends. A heartbroken Faolan returns to his homeland to complete an intelligence mission for Bridei, while also confronting the ghosts of his past. A side quest to inform Deord's family of his death brings Deord's daughter, Eile, into his life. Already open to his emotions (a result of his friendship with Ana from Book Two), his relationship with Eile helps him learn to heal and to love.
Book Three continues to focus on Faolan's road to rediscovery and learning how to feel again. Providing a fascinating backdrop is Bridei's leading Fortriu in a tenuous peace shortly after a great war (Book Two) and in the face of a rapidly changing political climate. A smaller side plot involves Broichan coming to terms with his past and a devious schemer from the Light Isles.
Overshadowing all the events is Bridei's concern that he has offended the Nameless God by not continuing the human sacrifice ceremony at the Well of Shades. But the Well and the ritual itself are just a reflection of the characters' need to come to terms with their past.
While the first two books focus more on the actions of the characters, Book Three really delves into the underlying motivations of the people of Fortriu. We learn more about the characters as their carefully constructed worlds fall apart and they learn to deal with that. Gripping and emotionally intense, this book (and series) is highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Weaves Her Old Magic, 2007-07-23
Marillier is back on track with her Chronicles here. She brings in new characters, develops changes in old ones, twines them together, sprikles on some passion dust, and viola! Who would not be enchanted once again? It's like I've always said about her, she tells this story, and for myself, I feel like an adult version of the child Saraid in this novel, I want that over and over. I find this story and the setting deeply satisfying. I will say the time she portrays to me always feels historically somewhat later than what she is writing about, but I do not care, she does what she does better than almost anyone writing this sort of fantasy. I'm thinking she's got enough started here with the next generation to be able to arc this story through more time yet, and I certainly hope she does just that.
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