Son of the Shadows is a fantasy novel by Juliet Marillier and the second book in the Sevenwaters Trilogy first published in 2000. It follows the path of Sorcha and Red's third child, Liadian, a girl who lives outside the pattern of the 'Fair Folk', also known as Túatha Dé Danann. Son of the Shadows won the 2001 Aurealis Awards for Fantasy Novel.

Plot Summary 

In this novel, Liadan grows up in Sevenwaters with her twin brother Sean and her older sister Niamh. They are the children of Sorcha and Iubdan (formerly Hugh of Harrowfield). Liadan follows in her mothers tradition in learning the healing arts. Niamh has great beauty and is 'expected' to wed Eamonn, a nearby chieftan. Eamonn actually asks for the hand of Liadan, she says that she will give him an answer in one year. While staying at Sevenwaters, Eamonn tells a tale of a recent attack by a band of mercenaries.  Upon this attack, all his men were killed, and his life was spared by a man called the Painted Man. He swears that he will kill him. During the festival of Imbolc, a young druid named Ciarán tells the story of Aengus Óg and Caer Ibormeith and catches the fancy of Niamh. They are soon having a secret love affair. Liadan discovers their secret during a walk in the forest. When the truth comes out, Ciarán leaves the Druids and Sevenwaters and Niamh is forced to marry the Uí Néill chieftan, Fionn.

Liadan goes with her sister on the trip to her new home.   On the way back she is kidnapped by an outlaw and brought to the camp of "The Painted Man" in order to try to save the life of their smith who was hurt in an accident. She accepts the task and eventually falls in love with Bran, their leader. When Bran finds out that she is the daughter of Hugh of Horrowfield, he sends her back home. When she returns to Sevenwaters, she finds she is pregnant with Bran's child. The Tuatha Dé Danann demand that she and her son remain in the forest, but she refuses to comply. With the help of Finbar she realizes that she has his gift of sight and can read and heal the minds of others.

Sean, Liadan's brother and heir to Sevenwaters, wants to buy the Painted Man's fighting men in their long battle for the sacred islands. All of the leaders go to a meeting to discuss the feud with the Britons. Liadan and her sister visit Sean's future bride and Eamonn's sister at his estate called Sídhe Dubh. During this visit Liadan discovers that her sisters husband has been beating her. She uses her mind gifts to help Niamh. With the help of Bran they plan on secretly taking Niamh out of Sídhe Dubh and take her to a Christian nunnery where she can be safe. At the last moment Eamonn and Fionn return and attack Bran and Gull as they escape with Niamh. Eamonn returns from the chase and tells the tale of how Naimh slips on the rocks and fell into the bog and died.  All that remained was a cord that Liadan made for Niamh that held a white stone given to her by Ciarán.

Liadan finally gives birth to her son.  Her mother and father realize when the child is born that his father (Bran) must have been the son of John and Margery, kinsman of Iubdan when he was Lord of Horrowfield. Liadan names the child Johnny. Shortly after the birth of Johnny, Sorcha dies. But before her death Liadan tells Sorcha, Iubdin and Finbar the story of Niamh's abuse by her husband; the escape from Sídhe Dubh with the help of Bran; and her belief that Niamh is not dead. On her deathbed Sorcha tells Iubdin that he must return to Harrowfield and learn the truth about John and Margery's son. Ciarán returned in hiding as a tinker during the ceremory for Sorcha.  He tells Liadan that Niamh is indeed alive and safe. He also tells her the truth of why they could not wed. Ciarán is the son of Lord Colum and the Lady Oonah, he is half brother to Niamh's mother. So their union was forbidden by blood. This was why they were not allowed to wed and that he could never be a druid since he carried the blood of the sorceress Lady Oonah. Ciarán gives Liadan a gift for helping rescue Niamh for her abusive husband and returning her to Ciarán, a mysterious raven named Fiacha.

Bran comes to Sevenwaters in secret to meet with Sean and meets Liadan, she tells him of his son. After Bran leaves, Liadan has a vision of her Uncle Liam's death; a vision of Eamonn telling Aisling that she could not marry Sean and then her suicide. They then learn that Fionn was recently killed in his sleep. Liam was indeed killed by a Britons arrow and his nephew Sean takes control of Sevenwaters. Sean fearful for Aisling convinces Liadan to go to Sídhe Dubh to bring Aisling back so they can be married. Liadan has had visions of Eamonn torturing Bran. When she arrives at Sídhe Dubh she learns from Eamonn that he indeed has Bran held prisoner. She makes a deal with Eamonn, in exchange for not revealing that Eamonn betrayed his kinsman Liam and sacrificed his life in exchange for the Painted Man capture. Aisling will be allowed to go Sevenwaters and Liadan can leaves with Bran and Gull if she can find them and leave before dusk.  With the help of some magic and Fiacha they make it safely through the bog that surrounds Sídhe Dubh. Liadan learns Bran's hidden truth about his childhood during her fight to bring him back from the torture inflicted on him. She reveals this to her father Iubdin and she convinces Bran that his future might lie in returning to his roots at Harrowfield in Briton, while his men talk of setting up a school for warriors.

Character List 

 Liadan: Youngest child of Red and Sorcha, with the gift of Sight and the ability to resist the Fair Folk.
 Niamh: Sorcha and Red's oldest child.
 Sean: Brother to Niamh, twin of Liadan. Only heir to Sevenwaters. He and Liadan can speak mind to mind.
 Liam: Eldest brother of Sorcha. Liam is the current Lord of Sevenwaters.
 Conor: Brother to Sorcha, now leader of the Druids.
 Finbar: Brother to Sorcha, he was left with a swans wing as an arm at the end of Daughter of the Forest.
 Painted Man aka Bran: Mercenary for hire with a dedicated band of followers. In actuality, son of John and Margery of Harrowfield, originally named John
 Sorcha: Sister to Liam, Diarmid, twins Cormack and Conor, Finbar and Padriac and daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Wife to Iubdin
 Iubdin: Husband of Sorcha, formerly Hugh of Harrowfield, British lord and ruler of Harrowfield. Goes by "Red" or "the Big Man."
 Ciarán: A young druid, really the son of Lord Colum and the Lady Oonagh, he falls in love with Niamh.
 Fionn: A chieftan's son of the Uí Néill, he weds Niamh.
 Eamonn: Grandson of Seamus Redbeard, Lord of Sídhe Dubh, interested in Liadan.
 Aisling: Eamonn's younger sister, betrothed to Sean.
 Janice: The kitchen woman, a Tinker woman who settled at Severwaters. One of the few people to appear in all three books of the trilogy
 Evan: The smith in the Band of the Painted Man, Liadan with the help of the Chief removed his injured arm and attempts to save his life.
 Gull: Member of the Band of the Painted Man, brings Liadan into the camp of the Painted Man to attempt to save the Evan the smith
 Snake: Member of the Band of the Painted Man, second in command
 Dog: Member of the Band of the Painted Man, Liadan mercifully ends his life after Eamonn's men leave him mortally wounded on the road
 Spider: Member of the Band of the Painted Man
 Otter: Member of the Band of the Painted Man
 Rat: Member of the Band of the Painted Man, he takes care of Johhny when Liadan and Johhny are with the band of the Painted Man
 Padriac: Sorcha's youngest brother. He became a seaman and traveled the world.
 Johnny: Liadan and Bran's son
 Fiacha: A raven given to Laidan by Ciarán who follows her everywhere.
 Dan Walker: A tinker (relative of Janice) from Kerry, he plays the pipes at Sorcha's funeral
 Margery: Bran's mother who is killed by bandits and leaves little Johnny hidden under the floorboards
 Rory: The man who finds Bran as a 3 year old hidden under the floorboards, he abuses him and Bran kills him at the age of 9.

Literary significance and reception 

Publishers Weekly said that "The story, though a bit light on the magic and heavy on the romantic, is reminiscent of Jennifer Roberson's Chesuli series. Fantasy addicts should love it".

Jackie Cassada in The Library Journal said "Marillier blends old legends with original storytelling to produce an epic fantasy that belongs in most libraries".

Booklist in 2001 said that "Marillier's virtuosic pacing and vivid, filmic style make this an engaging continuation of one of the last year's best fantasies".

Allusions and references

Characters of Irish mythology mentioned 

Spellings shown below are the one used in the novel

 Túatha Dé Danann: The "Fair Folk"
 Fomhóire: The "Old Ones"
 Brighid
 Dana: mother goddess
 Morrígan
 Lugh
 Dadga: "The Good God"
 Díancécht: healing god
 Manannán mac Lir: god of the Sea
 Eithne: The Sight is said to have come from her.

Celtic Seasonal Festivals mentioned 

 Samhain: November 1
 Imbolc: February 1
 Beltaine: May 1
 Lugnasad: August 1
 Meán Geimhridh: winter solstice
 Meán Earraigh: spring equinox
 Meán Samhraidh: summer solstice
 Meán Fómhair: autumn equinox

Allusions to actual geography 

 Tirconnell: Fionn of the Uí Néill lives here
 Isle of Man: Conor tells the story of the first guardian of Sevenwaters, Fergus and his trip to the sacred islands south of the Isle of Man.
 Cumbria: Northwoods, the Briton who took control of the sacred islands is from Cumbria.
 Ulster: Sevenwaters and Sídhe Dubh is within Uslter.
 Kerry: Dan Walker the tinker is from Kerry and Ciarán is returning there with him.
 Elvington: The village where little Johnny (Bran) loses his mother and taken in and abused by Rory.

Awards and nominations 

Son of the Shadows won the 2001 Aurealis Awards for Fantasy Novel

Sources, references, Other websites, quotations 
 Son of the Shadows  entry on official Juliet Marillier website
 Son of the Shadows  entry on US publishers (Tor and Forge Books) web site
 In-depth interview with Juliet Marillier at Writer Unboxed, where Juliet also blogs.
 Review of Son of the Shadows by fantasy author Victoria Strauss

Notes 

2000 books
Fantasy books