The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast forest, said by some to be one of the last refuges of the Tuatha De Danann, the Fair Folk of ancient story. Whatever the truth, Human and Otherworld dwellers have existed side by side in peace, sharing a wary trust. Until the spring when Lady Aisling of Sevenwaters finds herself expecting another child, and everything changes.

With her mother pregnant, Clodagh fears for her health, as Aisling is well past the safe age for childbearing. Her father, Lord Sean of Sevenwaters, son of the famous Sorcha who performed her miraculous sacrifice all those years ago, faces his own difficulties, as warring factions threaten his borders. When Aisling gives birth, the responsibility of caring for the infant falls to Clodagh while her mother recovers.

Then the family's joy turns to despair when an unspeakable horror falls upon Sevenwaters. Clodagh must finally confront the shadowy mystery of the silent forest and descend to the Otherworld, to find out why the trust between the two realms has been broken so tragically.

Accompanied on her quest by a warrior of uncertain allegiance, Clodagh will have her courage tested to breaking point. The reward may be far greater than she ever dreamed...

Reviews

"As Chieftain of Sevenwaters, Lord Sean cares for one of the last havens of the ancient Fair Folk. When his wife, Lady Aisling, gives birth to a son and heir, their joy soon turns to grief when the child disappears and a grotesque changeling is left in his place. Daughter Clodagh, who had been the baby's caretaker during Aisling's recovery from a difficult labor, seeks to reclaim her brother by traveling deep into the Otherworld accompanied by a warrior who may hold the key to their success. The Australian author of the Celtic inspired "Sevenwaters Trilogy" and "Bridei Chronicles" brings to life a favorite theme of classic storytelling: the plight of the changeling child. Vividly detailed with strong characters and a firm grounding in Celtic myth, Marillier's latest saga of a young woman's quest belongs in most libraries." Library Journal

"Returning to the land of the Sevenwaters trilogy (Daughter of the Forest, etc.), Marillier deftly weaves a fey story of human interaction with the Fair Folk. Clodagh, the third daughter of the lord of Sevenwaters, is the practical one who keeps things running while her aging mother awaits the birth of a male heir. At her sister's wedding, she meets rude, closed-off Cathal, one of her cousin Johnny's personal guards. Shortly after, when the Fair Folk replace the newborn heir with a changeling creature, Clodagh and Cathal put their lives and sanity on the line to rescue the child. Marillier's gripping tale of adventure and enduring love bobbles slightly at the start, mostly due to Clodagh's modern attitude and cadence, but slides quickly and assuredly into a grand tale of ancient Erin." Publishers Weekly