The Amber Owl

Heartwood, Book 1

By: Juliet Marillier

Narrated by: Emma Drysdale

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 exception: 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 mission: to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. 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.

©2025 Juliet Marillier (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing

Another Fabulous Book By Juliet!

I have read and or listened to all of Juliet’s books and The Amber Owl is just as wonderful as her other books! I was so glad to see the audiobook, but am disappointed that there is not an ebook. The narrator, Emma Drysdale, is excellent!

I loved how the beauty of the forest was at the forefront of this story, and how each of the main characters were given their voice. What a magical place Juliet wove for us to visit!

Beautiful and complex

I love that every book I read written by Juliette takes me on an unexpected journey! This book does not disappoint and I can't wait for book 2 to be released.

Thoroughly enjoyed

The narrator did amazing, the story is brilliant, loved the story. I hope she continues this in a series.

The Amber Owl

Juliette Marillier does not disappoint with yet another lovely tale that reads like poetry. She brings us into a magical world
with characters that are strong and true. This story starts a little slow as it creates the ground work for what follows. Eagerly looking forward to the conclusion in book two.

Another beautifully written story

I like all of her books and this one is no exception. There was amazing scenery that I could picture in my head, characters that I loved, and a team working together for a courageous goal. However, I feel this one had a little less relief (comedy or characters becoming close) in between the tragedies in the first half of the book while the author built the scene and plot. Part of that comes with the job of a first book in a series to set the stage for what’s to come, so I continued on knowing I would not be disappointed.
I was very happy with the ending and look forward to the next installment in the series!
I wish the author could release a book every few months, I love her storytelling so much.