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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
It took me a while to get into this book. In fact I was beginning to think I wouldn’t like it much at all. I’m happy to say I was very wrong. Marillier captures the feeling of a wild land that holds plenty of its own earthly dangers but also shares a thin border with a wholly magical places filled with wonders and many dangers of its own. Marillier writes characters who were believably formed in the shadows of those woods and that border to the other world. She creates rich characters with their own strengths and weaknesses an. Very really problems. I was enchanted by the story, heartened and heartbroken at turns. This is a story that tells us that we make our own decisions and our fate is in our hands, but just maybe if we’re on the right path, we might get a little nudge from someone other. I loved this book. I hope you do too.
3.5-4 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy YA fantasy, and fairytale retellings.
Jena and her sisters have found a secret passage into another realm, that they have been visiting at the full moon for years. They cross through the portal and dance all night with creatures and people from another world. When their father goes away to heal from an illness, their imposing cousin Cezar little by little begins to take over their estate. Cezar's hatred of the forest and the other folk comes from the loss of his brother in the lake. He will kill the creatures and chop down every tree if he has to, to make Transylvania safe. In his blind rage and single-mindedness he goes too far and Jena and her sisters must work with the other folk to fight a common enemy: the night people. Can Jena save her family, estate, and the other realm?
I absolutely loved Marillier's book The Harp of Swans in 2019 and am now trying to grab any book of hers that I can. I already had a copy of this one and decided to continue reading Marillier with this book even though it is an unfinished series. The writing is just as I expected: excellent and atmospheric. It doesn't feel quite as "high fantasy" as The Harp of Swans, but I still enjoyed it. This story is sort of a Twelve Dancing Princesses re-telling, with Romanian Folkloric influences. That of course, means vampires... which is not something I was expecting when I picked up the novel. I adored the sisters and their trips to the other world. I liked that they each had their own defined personalities and interests. I loved Jena and her pet frog Goku as they were the main characters and Jena was the POV of the story. I did wish from time to time that the POV of the chapters switched from one sister to another, even if that meant some chapters were quite short. I felt that I was missing what was going on with the other girls, and Jena didn't seem to know either. Cezar was the worst worst worst type of mansplainer and I really hated him. Marillier did a good job with her characters. The second half of this novel I enjoyed much more than the first as it follows up on some pieces of their childhood and contains some interesting folklore related to Draguta (the witch of the forest). In the end I guessed things that were revealed, but was overall happy with the book. I'm excited to see what happens in book two, and to try not to be too sad that it is an unfinished series.
Jena and her sisters have found a secret passage into another realm, that they have been visiting at the full moon for years. They cross through the portal and dance all night with creatures and people from another world. When their father goes away to heal from an illness, their imposing cousin Cezar little by little begins to take over their estate. Cezar's hatred of the forest and the other folk comes from the loss of his brother in the lake. He will kill the creatures and chop down every tree if he has to, to make Transylvania safe. In his blind rage and single-mindedness he goes too far and Jena and her sisters must work with the other folk to fight a common enemy: the night people. Can Jena save her family, estate, and the other realm?
I absolutely loved Marillier's book The Harp of Swans in 2019 and am now trying to grab any book of hers that I can. I already had a copy of this one and decided to continue reading Marillier with this book even though it is an unfinished series. The writing is just as I expected: excellent and atmospheric. It doesn't feel quite as "high fantasy" as The Harp of Swans, but I still enjoyed it. This story is sort of a Twelve Dancing Princesses re-telling, with Romanian Folkloric influences. That of course, means vampires... which is not something I was expecting when I picked up the novel. I adored the sisters and their trips to the other world. I liked that they each had their own defined personalities and interests. I loved Jena and her pet frog Goku as they were the main characters and Jena was the POV of the story. I did wish from time to time that the POV of the chapters switched from one sister to another, even if that meant some chapters were quite short. I felt that I was missing what was going on with the other girls, and Jena didn't seem to know either. Cezar was the worst worst worst type of mansplainer and I really hated him. Marillier did a good job with her characters. The second half of this novel I enjoyed much more than the first as it follows up on some pieces of their childhood and contains some interesting folklore related to Draguta (the witch of the forest). In the end I guessed things that were revealed, but was overall happy with the book. I'm excited to see what happens in book two, and to try not to be too sad that it is an unfinished series.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m gonna be honest—I read this book because the premise was similar to “12 Dancing Princesses,” and I think that was the movie that started my love for ballet.
I liked the combination of fairy tales, and the Romanian spin on several of them was interesting to read. Being immersed in Romanian culture was interesting as well, and it fascinates me to learn how they used to (and probably still do) make their livings.
That being said, I didn’t love the book. I certainly liked it, but there were issues. Several characters (Tati, Iulia, Sorrow, and at some points even the MC) really got on my nerves. Tati was whiny, Iulia was difficult, Sorrow was dramatic, and Jena didn’t uphold to her own values sometimes.
There was a lot of foreshadowing, which I normally love, but it almost seemed overdone. There was so much of it that things were “revealed” to the characters when it had been spelled out pretty easily for the readers.
Regardless of its flaws, I enjoyed reading this book, and I’d probably read it again!
I liked the combination of fairy tales, and the Romanian spin on several of them was interesting to read. Being immersed in Romanian culture was interesting as well, and it fascinates me to learn how they used to (and probably still do) make their livings.
That being said, I didn’t love the book. I certainly liked it, but there were issues. Several characters (Tati, Iulia, Sorrow, and at some points even the MC) really got on my nerves. Tati was whiny, Iulia was difficult, Sorrow was dramatic, and Jena didn’t uphold to her own values sometimes.
There was a lot of foreshadowing, which I normally love, but it almost seemed overdone. There was so much of it that things were “revealed” to the characters when it had been spelled out pretty easily for the readers.
Regardless of its flaws, I enjoyed reading this book, and I’d probably read it again!
So so very beautiful-- the language, the characterisation, the atmosphere created; an enchanting take on one of my favourite fairytales, cleverly drawing elements from quite a few others. The richness of description, plot and characters will leave you supremely satisfied. I was.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated