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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I adored this book!! Once I entered Juliet Marillier's magical world I never wanted to leave. I can't wait to start Cybele's Secret.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
retelling of the 12 dancing princesses. The cover art is exquisite!
Do not be fooled by the mildly trippy, doe-eyed cover. This is an Eastern-European heavy folklore fantasy, and the intrigue hits hard and fast from the get go. I have been seeing this author as a favorite of several of my favorite authors (namely Rebecca Ross), and this was the first one of hers available on Libby. After I got about 1/4 into the book, I simply could not set it down. Part mystery, part folklore, part very tender and sweet romance.
Also posted on Rally the Readers.
I first borrowed Juliet Marillier’s Wildwood Dancing from the library over a year ago but sadly did not have time to read it before it was due back. It’s taken me this long to pick it up again, and this is yet another case of Why Didn’t I Read This Book Sooner?!
Sometimes you just have to take a moment or two to admire how pretty a novel’s prose is, and there were several such moments while reading Wildwood Dancing. Almost immediately, you’re whisked away into a realm of fairies and other magical folk. The characters from Dancing Glade, and even Dancing Glade itself, brim with so much life. It’s easy to understand why the protagonist, Jena, and her four sisters love their trips to the Other Kingdom at every Full Moon. With the novel set in Romania, Marillier also incorporates vampires into the story. They’re called Night People here, and they’re as chill-inducing and dangerous as they are alluring.
Jena is a great main character, fiercely protective of her sisters and the core of the quintet. Each sister has a distinct personality, but it’s Jena they look to as “the sensible one.” And how could you not be intrigued by a protagonist with a pet frog whom only she can hear talk? Jena and Gogu’s bond was a highlight of the book for me, not to mention Gogu’s snarky side, which might have gotten him into a tad of trouble if everyone were able to hear him.
My only slight issue with Wildwood Dancing was the pacing. A few times I felt like I’d made considerable progress reading for the night, but in reality, I hadn’t read as many pages as I’d thought. I never lost interest or found myself skimming, but a confrontation or two less between Jena and her bully of a cousin, Cezar (it’s been a while since I met a character so desperately deserving of a punch to the face) would have been fine.
More often than not, fairytale romances miss their mark with me, but I absolutely fell for this one. It suited this story perfectly, and I unabashedly loved it. There’s quite a bit to love about Wildwood Dancing in addition to the romance, and I will definitely be reading more of Juliet Marillier’s novels.
I first borrowed Juliet Marillier’s Wildwood Dancing from the library over a year ago but sadly did not have time to read it before it was due back. It’s taken me this long to pick it up again, and this is yet another case of Why Didn’t I Read This Book Sooner?!
Sometimes you just have to take a moment or two to admire how pretty a novel’s prose is, and there were several such moments while reading Wildwood Dancing. Almost immediately, you’re whisked away into a realm of fairies and other magical folk. The characters from Dancing Glade, and even Dancing Glade itself, brim with so much life. It’s easy to understand why the protagonist, Jena, and her four sisters love their trips to the Other Kingdom at every Full Moon. With the novel set in Romania, Marillier also incorporates vampires into the story. They’re called Night People here, and they’re as chill-inducing and dangerous as they are alluring.
Jena is a great main character, fiercely protective of her sisters and the core of the quintet. Each sister has a distinct personality, but it’s Jena they look to as “the sensible one.” And how could you not be intrigued by a protagonist with a pet frog whom only she can hear talk? Jena and Gogu’s bond was a highlight of the book for me, not to mention Gogu’s snarky side, which might have gotten him into a tad of trouble if everyone were able to hear him.
My only slight issue with Wildwood Dancing was the pacing. A few times I felt like I’d made considerable progress reading for the night, but in reality, I hadn’t read as many pages as I’d thought. I never lost interest or found myself skimming, but a confrontation or two less between Jena and her bully of a cousin, Cezar (it’s been a while since I met a character so desperately deserving of a punch to the face) would have been fine.
More often than not, fairytale romances miss their mark with me, but I absolutely fell for this one. It suited this story perfectly, and I unabashedly loved it. There’s quite a bit to love about Wildwood Dancing in addition to the romance, and I will definitely be reading more of Juliet Marillier’s novels.
This delightful fairytale was part "Princess and the Frog," part "Twelve Dancing Princesses," and all loveliness. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because I hate relationship angst in the form of, "I know this could all be resolved if I'd just talk to the other person, but I won't do that." That's very personal nit-pickiness, though, so take it with a grain of salt. I'd still recommend this story unequivocally.
Despite the presence of vampires it was an excellent book.
Eu gostei deste livro. É uma história cheia de magia, animação (quase que parece a Disney) e mistérios. Achei o livro cativante e o mundo construído interessante e Juliet Marillier não me desiludiu trazendo-me umas boas surpresas.
Porém, houve algumas coisas que me fizeram confusão. Estou a falar das relações amorosas.
A autora também podia ter explorado mais o Outro Reino (onde elas iam para dançar) e também dado mais importância aos vampiros.
Algumas coisas ficaram por explicar
Mas, pronto... Eu gostei do livro e tenho a certeza que me vai ficar na memória
Porém, houve algumas coisas que me fizeram confusão. Estou a falar das relações amorosas.
Spoiler
A sério? A Tati a morrer de amor? Isso foi um bocadinhoooo ridículo. E sou mesmo a única que ficou incomodada por Jena e Costi serem primos? Normalmente, os primos não se casam, não é?A autora também podia ter explorado mais o Outro Reino (onde elas iam para dançar) e também dado mais importância aos vampiros.
Algumas coisas ficaram por explicar
Spoiler
como o que aconteceu a Cezar e para onde foram Tati e TristezaMas, pronto... Eu gostei do livro e tenho a certeza que me vai ficar na memória
A remarkable tale with a terrifically hateful villain and loveable sidekicks to a ridiculously--and at many times irritatingly--passive protagonist. The last third of the book was exciting, and I couldn't put it down!