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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Love the world built here and the idea present. Perfect book for mid-fall or winter, tea, and a cozy blanket. I haven’t read a book by Juliette that I haven’t loved. Can’t wait to read the rest of the wildwood series.
My only beef with this book was that the forgiveness and reunion of Jena and the love interest was built up high in my mind and then it actually happened and it felt a little lackluster.
But I couldn’t get enough of this book and stayed up until 4am two night in a row to read it.
My only beef with this book was that the forgiveness and reunion of Jena and the love interest was built up high in my mind and then it actually happened and it felt a little lackluster.
But I couldn’t get enough of this book and stayed up until 4am two night in a row to read it.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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 too would be pissed if I was stressing over family funds and my older sister wasn't helping out because she was busy daydreaming about some guy she just met, TATI gET IT TOGETHER
Wonderful. A very different setting, likeable characters, and that certain "something" that always brought me back to the story. It started out as a whisper, then grew into me walking around the house while reading it because I was SO into the story. A lovely adaptation. I can't wait to read the next one!
If you ignore the fact that the romance is between a 15 year-old girl and her 20 year-old cousin, you’ve got yourself a nice little fairy-tale retelling.
✅ vibe/atmosphere/aesthetic, creative premise, fairytale retelling
❌ dumb clueless mc, predictable, incest
❌ dumb clueless mc, predictable, incest
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.
I have yet to read anything by Juliet Marillier that I haven't loved. Wildwood Dancing started out a little slow, but once it got going I couldn't put it down. This is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Marillier does an excellent job of weaving this tale into something of her own. I loved the characters in the story even though some of them could be frustrating at times. And speaking of characters, I wanted to punch Cesar in the face numerous times. The sisters however were enchanting to read about, and when I was done reading this I wanted there to be a book for each of them. Unfortunately there is only one other book because the publisher canceled the series, but this is good as a standalone story and I highly recommend it if you love fairy tale retellings. I also have to mention that the cover to this book is probably one of the most beautiful book covers I own. When I got the book I spent quite a while looking at all the little details that are depicted in it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
I have yet to read anything by Juliet Marillier that I haven't loved. Wildwood Dancing started out a little slow, but once it got going I couldn't put it down. This is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Marillier does an excellent job of weaving this tale into something of her own. I loved the characters in the story even though some of them could be frustrating at times. And speaking of characters, I wanted to punch Cesar in the face numerous times. The sisters however were enchanting to read about, and when I was done reading this I wanted there to be a book for each of them. Unfortunately there is only one other book because the publisher canceled the series, but this is good as a standalone story and I highly recommend it if you love fairy tale retellings. I also have to mention that the cover to this book is probably one of the most beautiful book covers I own. When I got the book I spent quite a while looking at all the little details that are depicted in it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
This combines several fairy tale tropes with a beautifully realized Eastern European setting. The main character is Jena, a strong, sensible heroine who still long for romance and Otherness. She has to balance her own wishes and desires against what's good for her family and land.
The oldest sister is a tad drippy for an adult reader, but I think I would have found her soggy wasting away intensely romantic when I was young. The main fairy tale is also recognizable early on for the adult reader, but I know without a doubt I would have been just thrilled to recognize it gradually as a young reader, and then watch to see how expertly Marillier twisted it to make it exciting and not quite predictable.
I do think that there are a lot of supposedly YA books put out now that appeal more to adults. I am not talking about content. Teens are aware of different aspects of life at different ages, and so I have no quarrel with the more mature subjects. But some books seem to require reading protocols way ahead of the young reader, or have complex issues, or oblique references, that really seem adult. This one I think can be loved by the genuine twelve year old, as well as those of us who still remember being twelve.
The oldest sister is a tad drippy for an adult reader, but I think I would have found her soggy wasting away intensely romantic when I was young. The main fairy tale is also recognizable early on for the adult reader, but I know without a doubt I would have been just thrilled to recognize it gradually as a young reader, and then watch to see how expertly Marillier twisted it to make it exciting and not quite predictable.
I do think that there are a lot of supposedly YA books put out now that appeal more to adults. I am not talking about content. Teens are aware of different aspects of life at different ages, and so I have no quarrel with the more mature subjects. But some books seem to require reading protocols way ahead of the young reader, or have complex issues, or oblique references, that really seem adult. This one I think can be loved by the genuine twelve year old, as well as those of us who still remember being twelve.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No