Do I wish it could have moved at a faster pace? Well, maybe not. I thank Marillier for her excellent research and logical inferences for a fantastic story. I love medieval history and conjecture about the Picts and the Celts and the movements that took place before Anglo-Saxon England, so to find a fiction story that incorporates that lore intelligently thrilled me. Marillier takes great care in her world-building and spends time on the details she doesn’t want her readers to miss. I will admit that it took a long time in the telling. The story goes on from there, but I’m not sure that I want to give away more plot details. This doesn’t set well with Broichan, who sees the “princess” as a threat to the grand plans he and his council of five have for the little lad. He names the fey-girl that he finds Tuala, meaning “princess,” and vows to take care of her. Marillier lets Bridei-and thus the reader-learn some of his destiny while withholding other tidbits, as the young boy finds an orphaned child on Broichan’s doorstep one cold mid-winters night. Marillier reveals little pieces of the puzzle as Bridei takes lessons in magic, in history, in battle, in strategy, etc.
We get to wonder if this little child will be able to handle all that Broichan has planned for him. When Bridei arrives at Pitnochie as a four-year-old, Juliet Marillier lets the reader see the unsure thoughts of the druid Broichan who will mentor and educate him.
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