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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I really wanted to like this book more, but I found it to be a sometimes frustrating read. It is inventive and the scenes of the wood both in the normal world and the fairy world are very evocative and beautiful. It is hard to describe my main reason for only giving it two stars getting too spoilery, so if you don't want any spoilers at all don't read further.
Here's my issue in a nutshell, many romance books use the trope of "true love" and since this is a fairy tale I was prepared to go along with the often destructive notion that there is only ever one person in the world that is your true love and if you miss your chance your doomed to a life-time of misery. This idea wouldn't normally have bothered me too much, but there is one character who takes it to ridiculous extremes. She selfishly allows herself to waste away over her seemingly impossible love. When she is given the possibiltiy of potentially being with her love, she continues to waste away because it will take too long and she doesn't believe it will come true. This isn't true love, her actions are selfish, self defeating, and unbelievably cowardly given the sacrifices of the man she is supposed to love more than her own life. The main character is a strong and independent young woman, but seems to be completely incapable of slapping some sense into her overwrought sister. Some how we are supposed to see the two love stories as equal, but one is straight-up Victorian melodrama and the other is a more satisfying union of equals.
Here's my issue in a nutshell, many romance books use the trope of "true love" and since this is a fairy tale I was prepared to go along with the often destructive notion that there is only ever one person in the world that is your true love and if you miss your chance your doomed to a life-time of misery. This idea wouldn't normally have bothered me too much, but there is one character who takes it to ridiculous extremes. She selfishly allows herself to waste away over her seemingly impossible love. When she is given the possibiltiy of potentially being with her love, she continues to waste away because it will take too long and she doesn't believe it will come true. This isn't true love, her actions are selfish, self defeating, and unbelievably cowardly given the sacrifices of the man she is supposed to love more than her own life. The main character is a strong and independent young woman, but seems to be completely incapable of slapping some sense into her overwrought sister. Some how we are supposed to see the two love stories as equal, but one is straight-up Victorian melodrama and the other is a more satisfying union of equals.
My main problem with this book was that I had to force myself to read it. I caught the flow somewhere about 70% and that's just too late for my taste. Nothing much happened and I absolutely hated Cezar, each scene he was in I wanted to kick him. I guess that's a proof of a good writing. But this book just didn't do it for me.
vibes except i can’t believe she fell in love with her second cousin bye
I love retold fairy tales that twist many old stories into one new one. In Wildwood, we meet Jena who goes out dancing with her sisters in another world, a world that she trusts but whose power is deeper and farther reaching than she can imagine. Set in the deep forest of Transylvania, Jena feels responsible for the safety of her sisters and the creatures of the wood when suddenly everything she loves seems to be at stake.
So, I started listening to this one last summer, on a long drive to and from Chicago, but when my ipod died a sad death, I was stuck in the middle of the story. For some reason, I wasn't grabbed enough by the beginning to rush out and get a copy to know how it ended. That's really the reason it gets 4 stars instead of five.
When I finally got my hands on a copy of the book, I was glad that I finished it. I love that I listened to part of it first, because I knew how to pronounce all the wonderful names and places - the heady Romanian influence over the whole story makes it feel dark and mysterious, which I liked. Fairy Folk and Night People are different sides of the same coin and when you meddle with one, you meddle with the other, with sometimes disastrous results. Jena is a character with a lot to learn and her stubborn pride makes for some tough decisions and not a little bit of hard-earned humility.
True love. Mysterious castles. Frog friends. Sisterly love. I enjoyed this read muchly. (if you want to know how to pronounce those wonderful names, go to the glossary in the back before you start reading, you'll be glad you did!).
So, I started listening to this one last summer, on a long drive to and from Chicago, but when my ipod died a sad death, I was stuck in the middle of the story. For some reason, I wasn't grabbed enough by the beginning to rush out and get a copy to know how it ended. That's really the reason it gets 4 stars instead of five.
When I finally got my hands on a copy of the book, I was glad that I finished it. I love that I listened to part of it first, because I knew how to pronounce all the wonderful names and places - the heady Romanian influence over the whole story makes it feel dark and mysterious, which I liked. Fairy Folk and Night People are different sides of the same coin and when you meddle with one, you meddle with the other, with sometimes disastrous results. Jena is a character with a lot to learn and her stubborn pride makes for some tough decisions and not a little bit of hard-earned humility.
True love. Mysterious castles. Frog friends. Sisterly love. I enjoyed this read muchly. (if you want to know how to pronounce those wonderful names, go to the glossary in the back before you start reading, you'll be glad you did!).
THREE STARS
This was cute, but I wish I had read it it when I was younger!
Review to come
This was cute, but I wish I had read it it when I was younger!
Review to come
A nice, young adult fantasy read. Sometimes I found myself wanting to scream at the protagonist - I'm not sure anyone would be that oblivious - but a comfort story nonetheless.
Juliet Marillier brings together the tales of the twelve dancing princesses, and the princess and the frog (and the five Bennett sisters, I think) in this wonderful story. Not that I'm really surprised. Marillier is accomplished at weaving the fantastic, the historical, and the folkloric together into beautiful tales of young women finding their strength and their way through trying and difficult circumstances.
Here, second eldest sister Jena is left in charge by her ailing father (he’s off to dryer climes to heal his lungs); Jena has a good head for business and has been managing the books for her father’s business and is good at it. Almost immediately, cousin Cézar makes off with her books and strong boxes because he thinks a woman can’t deal with business or money. He tells her he'll dole out funds when Jena asks. Omigoodness. This is Cézar's first grab for power over the sisters, and over Jena in particular, which does nothing to endear him to the reader. Coupled with his intense hatred for the fae living in the woods that he wants to eradicate for the murder of his elder brother, and yup, Cézar is horrible. His curtailing of the sisters’ funds, and gradually, their freedom to go anywhere, including their once-monthly visits to a clearing in the woods they’ve been going to for years to dance the night away with the fae.
Marillier ratchets up the tension as Jena becomes increasingly furious as Cézar gaslights her, removes her ability to run her own house, then begins hinting, very heavily, that she’s his future wife. He’s utterly odious, and if it weren’t for Jena’s pet frog Gogu, she probably would have lost it. Gogu and she have a many years long friendship (Gogu is obviously not a regular frog) and Gogu's many funny, angry and soothing comments help Jena plan and cope her way around her cousin’s restrictions.
Jena’s a wonderful character, I loved watching her learn to let go a little and trust her instincts, which helps her help herself and her sisters.
I will say that despite enjoying this story a lot, I was totally frustrated with Jena’s older sister Tati, who walks around in a daze because she’s in love with a stranger from the wood. Despite wanting to be sympathetic to Tati, I mostly wanted to give her a good slap. She’s the one sour note for me in an otherwise lovely story.
Here, second eldest sister Jena is left in charge by her ailing father (he’s off to dryer climes to heal his lungs); Jena has a good head for business and has been managing the books for her father’s business and is good at it. Almost immediately, cousin Cézar makes off with her books and strong boxes because he thinks a woman can’t deal with business or money. He tells her he'll dole out funds when Jena asks. Omigoodness. This is Cézar's first grab for power over the sisters, and over Jena in particular, which does nothing to endear him to the reader. Coupled with his intense hatred for the fae living in the woods that he wants to eradicate for the murder of his elder brother, and yup, Cézar is horrible. His curtailing of the sisters’ funds, and gradually, their freedom to go anywhere, including their once-monthly visits to a clearing in the woods they’ve been going to for years to dance the night away with the fae.
Marillier ratchets up the tension as Jena becomes increasingly furious as Cézar gaslights her, removes her ability to run her own house, then begins hinting, very heavily, that she’s his future wife. He’s utterly odious, and if it weren’t for Jena’s pet frog Gogu, she probably would have lost it. Gogu and she have a many years long friendship (Gogu is obviously not a regular frog) and Gogu's many funny, angry and soothing comments help Jena plan and cope her way around her cousin’s restrictions.
Jena’s a wonderful character, I loved watching her learn to let go a little and trust her instincts, which helps her help herself and her sisters.
I will say that despite enjoying this story a lot, I was totally frustrated with Jena’s older sister Tati, who walks around in a daze because she’s in love with a stranger from the wood. Despite wanting to be sympathetic to Tati, I mostly wanted to give her a good slap. She’s the one sour note for me in an otherwise lovely story.
I was looking for books to read similar to Naomi Novik's Uprooted and saw this being one of the books recommended. So I read it and... Loved this book to bits. It was great. Was initially hesitant to read it because it didn't catch my eye at first (but, as I always seem to preface my review these days), my library hold was expiring so I read it with new eyes and wow, blown away! Debated between 4 and 5 stars and thought, for the hell of it, 5 stars. I enjoyed it that much. Hadn't realized it was a fairytale retelling of sorts until it came to me and when I did realize, it was very enjoyable to see how it played out.
Knew that Gogu the frog was not so when he talked about true love, it like immediately set off my radar. I hadn't connected the dots before, like the fact that he had showed up one day and that Jena knew him for 9 years as a frog, conveniently timed in with Costi's death, so I was overjoyed when he turned into a human because I KNEW IT! Princess and the frog retelling, this book has.
But I had no idea that he was Costi. Totally shocked me to bits. I kept on wondering who Jena's love interest would be in this book and I thought, well we're already halfway through the book and no new guy is introduced, so maybe it's a guy that has been there all along? And it was I had just told myself to read just one more chapter before going to bed, but then when I found out Gogu was Costi I told myself my plans for sleeping right away were canceled because I needed to read more. When this reveal happened, I audibly gasped and yelled a bit LOL. It was that good. I was quite devastated when his death scene happened in the book even though it only occurred in the beginning but I had already become attached to the book's characters.
Which brings me to my next point. I had actually entertained myself with the thought, while reading this book, that what if Costi was still alive? I bet he'd be able to make things right, I thought to myself. AND DAMN IT WAS TRUE AND IT WAS GREAT.
Tati, though... Honestly, maybe it's because I've never experienced True Love before but I honestly couldn't relate to her situation at all.
Spoiler
Totally knew what Cezar's wish was. Called it the moment it happened. Glad I saw it in time. Also despised Cezar and so glad he didn't end up with Jena. A thought occurred to me, what if he ends up with her and I was so horrified by it and so glad that it didn't end up coming true.Knew that Gogu the frog was not so when he talked about true love, it like immediately set off my radar. I hadn't connected the dots before, like the fact that he had showed up one day and that Jena knew him for 9 years as a frog, conveniently timed in with Costi's death, so I was overjoyed when he turned into a human because I KNEW IT! Princess and the frog retelling, this book has.
But I had no idea that he was Costi. Totally shocked me to bits. I kept on wondering who Jena's love interest would be in this book and I thought, well we're already halfway through the book and no new guy is introduced, so maybe it's a guy that has been there all along? And it was I had just told myself to read just one more chapter before going to bed, but then when I found out Gogu was Costi I told myself my plans for sleeping right away were canceled because I needed to read more. When this reveal happened, I audibly gasped and yelled a bit LOL. It was that good. I was quite devastated when his death scene happened in the book even though it only occurred in the beginning but I had already become attached to the book's characters.
Which brings me to my next point. I had actually entertained myself with the thought, while reading this book, that what if Costi was still alive? I bet he'd be able to make things right, I thought to myself. AND DAMN IT WAS TRUE AND IT WAS GREAT.
Tati, though... Honestly, maybe it's because I've never experienced True Love before but I honestly couldn't relate to her situation at all.
“Wildwood Dancing” reminds me of "Pride and Prejudice" with a spattering of different fairy tales and a bit of Dracula mixed in.
There are five sisters and the oldest is beautiful and the second oldest is smart and witty. The other three consist of the scholar, the flirt and the youngest is just young.
Their father becomes ill and leaves the girls to run the castle under the watchful eye of an uncle and cousin Cezar. To say the least things go awry and the cousin is power hungry and in love with Jenica the second oldest, but things do not go as planned and the girls are defiant.
These lovely sisters have found a portal into another dimension. The portal takes them to the land of fairies and dwarves and all types of fantastical creatures. In this land they dance to their hearts content, but they have rules they all swear to follow. No one can eat or drink the food from this fantasy land, for it may change them and they would not be able to live a proper life in their own land. They are to stay in each other sight, but Tatiana one night catches the eye of her true love. Her true love is trapped into servitude by creatures of the dark. Sorrow who is Tatiana’s true love changes the purpose of the monthly visits for Tatiana and the ramifications that follow effect everyone even the people of the girls’ village. Tatiana lives for nothing but to be with Sorrow.
Jenica tries to keep everything under control with the help of her trustworthy companion Gogu. Gogu happens to be a frog and Jenica can hear him talk, but no one else can. Jenica found him when she was six years old and they are inseparable companions much to the consternation of cousin Cezar. The frog plays a major part in the story as most frogs do in fairy tales.
The story is a delight to read and even though it is based on other stories, it contains a lot of wonderful surprises that kept me reading about the girls' journeys. In this book true love wins, but the two eldest girls have to fight to win it.
There are five sisters and the oldest is beautiful and the second oldest is smart and witty. The other three consist of the scholar, the flirt and the youngest is just young.
Their father becomes ill and leaves the girls to run the castle under the watchful eye of an uncle and cousin Cezar. To say the least things go awry and the cousin is power hungry and in love with Jenica the second oldest, but things do not go as planned and the girls are defiant.
These lovely sisters have found a portal into another dimension. The portal takes them to the land of fairies and dwarves and all types of fantastical creatures. In this land they dance to their hearts content, but they have rules they all swear to follow. No one can eat or drink the food from this fantasy land, for it may change them and they would not be able to live a proper life in their own land. They are to stay in each other sight, but Tatiana one night catches the eye of her true love. Her true love is trapped into servitude by creatures of the dark. Sorrow who is Tatiana’s true love changes the purpose of the monthly visits for Tatiana and the ramifications that follow effect everyone even the people of the girls’ village. Tatiana lives for nothing but to be with Sorrow.
Jenica tries to keep everything under control with the help of her trustworthy companion Gogu. Gogu happens to be a frog and Jenica can hear him talk, but no one else can. Jenica found him when she was six years old and they are inseparable companions much to the consternation of cousin Cezar. The frog plays a major part in the story as most frogs do in fairy tales.
The story is a delight to read and even though it is based on other stories, it contains a lot of wonderful surprises that kept me reading about the girls' journeys. In this book true love wins, but the two eldest girls have to fight to win it.