Reviews

The Wood Wife by Terri Windling

cozylittlebrownhouse's review against another edition

2.0

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I just didn't GET this book. I wasn't into the story at all, even though I finished it. I was very disappointed, but gave it two stars because of the creative premise.

saguaros's review against another edition

5.0

It's always a bit of a gamble to re-read an old favourite that you haven't read in years (over a decade for me in this case). I didn't like it as much as I remember liking it which is a bit disappointing, but the same urgency was there to read it, to know what happens, the same enchantment with its mystery and spirit, the same delight in its inner folklore. I think only other aspects of the book displeased me this time around, but it still has this hold on me, perhaps because of what it represents to me more than anything else. I'll probably always cherish it. Perhaps I'll re-read it in 10 years and see how I feel then :)

sprinkled's review

5.0

When I picked this up, I wasn't expecting to feel the way that this book made me feel. I love a good fantasy novel based on folklore, but this was deep and mysterious and poetic all at once and it made me wish I was in the desert so that I could understand it all. 

snowmaiden's review against another edition

3.0

It took me a long time to get into this book, and before I really connected with it, I was sick with the flu for about a week. When I finally did feel like reading again, other books called to me more strongly. All these excuses explain why it took me over a month to read this book, but I have to wonder if the real reason was that I just wasn't that into it. Or, on the other hand, maybe I would have enjoyed the book more if I'd read it under normal circumstances. Who can say?

What I can say is that I found it quite enjoyable at times, particularly in the middle section, but the beginning and the climactic ending sequence seemed rather opaque to me. I can't say whether it was a fault of the author or a fault of my comprehension, but I'm still not exactly sure what happened, other than the fact that Maggie got her guy in the end! However, Terri Windling is a very good writer on a sentence level, and her descriptions of the desert are stunning, so don't let my weak recommendation keep you from reading it if you're interested!

jan2bratt's review against another edition

5.0

Loved all the elements of this story. This is the first Terri Windling book I have read but I'm certain it won't be my last. I recommend this to anyone interested in legend, myth, the Sonoran desert, animal spirits. And Love.

lyrafay12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

pnw_michelle's review against another edition

5.0

This is probably my favorite book ever. I read it over when I need comfort or inspiration. I love the way Windling approaches the magical world, making magic something that is rooted in THIS reality, in the physical, real time world. And I love her kind, thoughtful characters. And I have a crush on Johnny Foxxe. I have a full review up on my blog:

http://greenwoman.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/recommended-reading-the-wood-wife/

suannelaqueur's review against another edition

4.0

A poet leaves his Tucson house and all his work to an artist in California. She moves to Arizona, and through subsequent friendships and a romance, begins to discover the poet, his talented and disturbed wife, and the magic of the Arizona desert. Does life imitate art, or art life? Fantastic and gripping, you can actually feel the heat of the desert sun on the pages.

autumn_dannay's review against another edition

4.0

Good, and it makes me miss the desert. Magical in spades but sometimes the plot jumps around a little. In the end, a good story to help you feel the desert sun on your skin and sharp rocks under your feet.

lifstrand's review against another edition

5.0

Uncanny, beautiful, disturbing, luscious, infused with ancient Sonoran desert magic.