The hidden way by Juliet Marillier

The  second in the Heartwood duology following The amber owl, The hidden way brings the travels of Stasya, Aleksis and Markus, the true heir to the throne, to a satisfying conclusion. After finding Markus in The Amber owl, the travellers must bring him back to the court, where he must convince the Grand Council of his identity. He must be kept a secret from the Ruler and her guards until the Grand Council convenes. The travellers divide into two groups, Stasya joining a travelling fair with her companions, while Aleksis moves through the kingdom, gathering support for the return of Markus. They are in dire danger as they are hunted by the guards, face shipwrecks and monsters, but their belief in their quest keeps them going, especially as they see the damage that the Ruler has wrought on the land and its people in her search for amber.

Marillier gives the reader a brief “Story so far” introduction, always very helpful to remind the reader what has happened previously. She then goes on to tell the story in the voices of Stasya, Aleksis, Markus and Leja, delving deeply into the feelings of the characters and their companions. Stasya’s strange little dog Flip plays a key role and her denouement at the end is a wonderful surprise. Stasya succeeds in reaching the monastery where Leja, Matiss’ wife and loyal supporter of Markus, is working as a lay sister. I loved the vivid descriptions of the work of the nuns and lay sisters and the way that Stasya’s storytelling could bring comfort to people in pain. Aleksis’ path is full of danger and the reader is kept wondering whether he would be successful in evading capture and gathering support for Markus.

The conclusion left me pondering about the nature of love and commitment to duty. Fans of Marillier would probably enjoy reading an interview by subscribing to the publisher’s website. I enjoyed her response to this question: Who would The Heartwood Duology be perfect for?: Adult readers who love historical fantasy, especially when its themes are relevant to our own times. Readers who care about the environment; readers who like a focus on the personal journeys of individual characters. Readers who like strong, complex female characters. The duology might appeal to fans of T Kingfisher or Sarah Beth Durst.

I can't wait for the next fantasy from Marillier, one of my favourite authors.

Themes: Fantasy, Storytelling, Quests, Women.

Pat Pledger