I'm a big fan of Juliet Marillier. I first stumbled across Daughter of the Forest years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Part of what I love is the setting--the mysticism, the fairy-tale atmosphere, and the wild places. And partly I love the characters. 
 In saying that, this was not my absolute favorite Juliet Marillier book. I wasn't completely sold on Blackthorn or Grim throughout the book; maybe I just wanted to see a bit more depth to their characters, and maybe it would have helped if the characters (in their own narrations) integrated their past lives a bit more. The way they are told, their former lives are a complete blank (though Blackthorn's history comes out partway through the book). While this helps cast mystery over the events that formed the bitter people they are now, it also makes them seem a bit detached and unreal. 
 I did enjoy the twist at the end. I had suspected something a bit less complex at first, but the truth of the mystery was much more satisfying. Overall it was a gripping, enjoyable book that would have won me over completely if the characters had felt a bit more real.