The Amber Owl

 By: Juleitte Marillier  

Location: FIC MAR

Genre: Fantasy

Stasya lives in an isolated farming village on the edge of the mysterious Heartwood Forest with her unusual dog for company. Thought odd by the locals, she is tolerated for her rare gift with animals. Engaging with her fellow humans is difficult, with one goatherd Lukas, who shares her love of storytelling.

The peace of Heartwood is shattered when a group of soldiers descends, under orders from the Ruler of the Northlands. Their to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. Under the grueling decree, Stasya’s village falls into chaos. The task is clearly impossible. The forest is alive with bears and wolves, and the old tales speak of evil spirits, monsters and uncanny beings. Nobody has ever gone deep into Heartwood Forest and returned safe and well.

When Stasya raises her voice in protest she is removed from her beloved home and transported to court – a different world. Word of her special skills has reached the Ruler’s ears, and Lady Elisabeta has a job for her. But Stasya will not break her vow to protect the forest, even under the most appalling threat. Help comes from an unlikely quarter.
Secrets abound; dangers lie everywhere; and it is hard to tell friend from foe. As Stasya and her band of unlikely allies embark on a perilous mission, it becomes apparent that uncanny forces may indeed be involved. Maybe the old tales of the Hermit are true.

review by Riri

This was beautiful. While the pace is on the slower side, it’s full of intrigue and adventure. The description of the setting paints a stunning fantasy world, with a dense forest housing all sorts of animals, folks, and magic. Reading this filled me with nostalgia. It reminds me of the stories I read in my childhood, though it can get pretty dark at times. Especially during Stasya’s stay in Dragon’s Keep. There are plenty of moments that are downright heartbreaking, even more so because the characters are so well-written.

Storytelling and tales play a crucial part in the plot, and it’s delivered in such a gentle way throughout the book. The story feels so delicately woven and full of heart, and the characters have so much depth and connection to each other. My favorite part is that while a number of people want Stasya to fulfill certain roles, it is always up to her to make the decision. The last scene with Lukas was done so well, especially because their differences really came to light in the second half of the book.

Lovely, and now time to pick up more of Juliet Marillier’s works.