This is soooooooooooo exciting. I actually ordered my copy of this direct from Australia from the excellent Australian Online Bookshop. So, unlike the newly released American and Canadian versions which were released earlier this month in hardcover, my copy is a beautiful paperback. I'm going to start reading this ASAP (as soon as I finish what I'm reading now which should be a few days). I'm going to offer this up as a bookring to other Marillier fans. She is a brilliant writer and I can't wait to share her and her story with others!!!!

Here's what amazon.com had to say:

Bridei is only four when he is sent to live with Broichan, one of Fortriu's most powerful druids. Broichan is reserved, but Bridei feels welcome, and the druid's household quickly becomes his entire world. His lessons are engaging, and time passes uneventfully until he discovers a tiny fairy child--a gift, he thinks, from the Shining One herself. Smitten, he names her Tuala. Broichan, however, sees her as a threat and wants to send her away. Intuitively knowing that old magic is at work, Bridei insists Tuala stay. Broichan remains distrustful but reluctantly agrees, and the two children grow up together. When Bridei reaches majority, he is certain that he is to be king in perilous and turbulent times and that, to succeed, Tuala must be his queen. Dark and formidable forces disagree. In this captivating tale based on the elusive history of the Picts, Marillier excels at breathing life into the past. Possessing the charm and sweetness of the very young, Bridei and Tuala keep their golden glow to the last page.

I'm a few hours from finishing this but I plan on releasing it Friday. Below is the list of participants in mailing order! *Indicates current location.

Goddess-Of-Fire - Missouri
RainDrop162004 - Connecticut
Ceili - New York
RayneQueen - New Hampshire*
CheriePie - Massachusetts
ZlatkoGR - Greece
Xana - Belgium
gypsyrose - Australia

Nov. 07, 2005 UPDATE! - WOW This is moving right along! Exciting news! I just ordered "Blade of Fortriu" last week. Should be ready for a bookring just before Christmas or early Jan. Most of you will read it before the scheduled international release dates. WOOHOO! :)

Jan. 27, 2006 UPDATE! - Book 2 has arrived, been read and is now ready for a bookring! All of you will have received PM's from me but if not, please fell free to PM me and let me know if you're interested in the Blade of Fortriu bookring! :)

Marillier did not disappoint. The story itself is ever moving and interesting while being peppered with some of the history and mythology of the time.

Marillier has a nack for pulling at the heart strings with her characters and Bridei and Tuala are no exception. As with The Sevenwaters Trilogy, there were moments of heart pounding action and tenderness.

Brilliantly written, intense and utterly beautiful. I'm already salivating for book two.

I mailed this on Friday to the first member of the bookring! ENJOY! :)

Woo hoo! I got this today in the mail! I am SO excited! I started reading it immediatly and I'm on about page 100, and so far it's awesome!

This was a great book! I really enjoyed it. The characters are all unique and entertaining, and the setting is wonderful. I think this is quite possibly my favorite of Juliet Marillier's books, and I can't wait to see what the second one holds! :)
I'll probably put this in the mail to Raindrop162004 tomorrow or Saturday.

Mailed this off to Raindrop162004 today. Enjoy!

Just received this in the mail today. Looking forward to reading it. I will start it right after my current bookring book. I didn't realize it was this long! Yipes!

The book and author were new to me, and it took me a while to get into it. Time was limited because of many things going on here, with the move and all; but I made time eventually and sat down for hours at a time trying to read this book.

It took me a while to get into it, like new fantasy stories always are for me, but it was worth the read. The characters are great, and although it was a little confusing at times, the read was genuinely great!

Thanks for letting me be in this ring!

RELEASE NOTES:

sending to the next participant!

Received today. I have one and a half bookrings ahead of this so I will get to it soon.

Update January 6: This book is on it's way to RayneQueen today. Enjoy!

I received this today, can't wait to start reading it!

This wasn't my favorite Marillier book, but I loved it anyway. I'm very interested to find out what happens next.

I'll send this on within the next few days.

Arrived today. Wow, what a thick book! Anyway, I've got one other bookring book ahead of this (after the book I'm currently reading) so I should be able to start on it within the next couple weeks. Thanks for starting this ring, themarina. I'm looking forward to this, my first read by this author, whom I've heard good things about. :)

An excellent read! I was a bit daunted at first, picking up a 720 page book by an author I'd never read before... I mean, if I want to check out a new (to me) author, I'd usually start off with something smaller. But this book did not disappoint. And I hear Marillier's Sevenwaters Trilogy is even better? Wow! I'm going to have to add all those to my wish list now too. :)

The relationship between Bridei and Tuala was bittersweet. I was hoping that Marillier wouldn't leave us hanging with regards to this, waiting for the next book, and fortunately she didn't. However, that's not to say that both Bridei and Tuala don't have their work cut out for them going forward. I'm already eagerly anticipating the next book in this series, Blade of Fortriu, which themarina has already offered up as another ring. You rock chickie!! :D

I've PMed ZlatkoGR for an address and will get this in the mail shortly and update this entry when I do.

ZlatkoGR asked to be skipped because she's got too much in her TBR at the moment, so this is on it's way to Xana in Belgium on 06-Feb-2006 via International Economy. (Air was more than double the cost of surface since the book is so thick.)

It has crossed the Atlantic safely :) I'll start it right away.

It was a great surprise to see that this book was released to celebrate the first Portuguese Heritage month in Vancouver, Canada. Was it you themarina? I'm Portuguese too, although living in Brussels at the moment.

For such a big book, it's a surprising fast read, but that's Juliet Marillier for you.

I found it not as good as "Daughter of the Forest", but better than the 2 other from Sevenwaters.

Sometimes it gets to me just how perfect Bridei is. As Jane Austen would say "pictures of perfection make me sick and weary" and I found myself struggling to still like his as I liked for instance Arthur in the Mists of Avalon (did anyone noticed the similarities between both books?).

I'm very curious about Faolan! Loved him :)

Is there any ring for the next one? If yes, I want in, please!

no wonder i couldnt find this on my bookshelf. i hadnt journalled it. naughty gypsy!! anyways its now heading back to the beginning. going out on saturday

This came home on Thursday of last week. Thanks to everyone who participated for taking such great care of my book! It's now going on another adventure! :)

RELEASE NOTES:

This is being released at the Vancouver Meetup!

When: Tuesday, Jul. 11, 2006 7PM
Where: Our Town Cafe, 245 E. Broadway (Broadway and Kingsway)

I got this book at a BC-meeting the same day I arrived to Vancouver! Thanks!

On my Job before I left Sweden.