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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
4/5
I really enjoyed Wildwood Dancing. It has beautiful writing, believable characters, heart-warming romance and friendship, and JENA! Finally, a practical, sensible lead who sticks to her principles through thick and thin!
However, it's a little short of perfection because:
- Jena's sisters could have been better developed. There was the beautiful one, the smart one, the flirtatious one, and the young innocent one. They didn't really grow from their stock characters. I hope they are better developed in the second book.
- I loathed Cezar! If I was reading a paper copy, I definitely would have thrown it across the room! *MINOR SPOILERS* But his arguments with Jena were so stagnant. There wasn't much progress on either character's part from the first argument to the last.
Despite all that, I recommend this book to fans of YA fantasy, romance, and fairy-tale retellings.
I really enjoyed Wildwood Dancing. It has beautiful writing, believable characters, heart-warming romance and friendship, and JENA! Finally, a practical, sensible lead who sticks to her principles through thick and thin!
However, it's a little short of perfection because:
- Jena's sisters could have been better developed. There was the beautiful one, the smart one, the flirtatious one, and the young innocent one. They didn't really grow from their stock characters. I hope they are better developed in the second book.
- I loathed Cezar! If I was reading a paper copy, I definitely would have thrown it across the room!
Spoiler
which is a good thing because he's supposed to be the antagonist.Spoiler
There was so much opportunity for redemption on his part but he made no effort to do so. And while I'm not asking for a happily ever after ending, it's sad that choices made by a young naive boy could derail his life so much. He deserved to be punished for his actions but the book would have benefitted from showing some growth in his characterDespite all that, I recommend this book to fans of YA fantasy, romance, and fairy-tale retellings.
Okay my edited proper review of this book. Here we go.
Juliet Marillier has been one of my all time favorite authors since high school. Daughter of the Forest basically changed my life. I had never read a book that I devoured so intensely before, it turned me into a reader and developed my love of books in general. So going off of that and into this, I had high, high, high, HIGH expectations.
In some areas those were met. First, the setting. The world is always explained in perfectly imaginable details. You can see everything exactly how she describes it and it's stunning. The characters are all given their own unique quirks and moments and despite there being a lot of them, you come to know them all individually and for who they are. Also, the magical aspect. It's done perfectly, not over the top but still special and different than any other book.
It took me a long time to realize what I DIDN'T like about this book and that is her sister, Tati, and the whole story line in how she basically ceases to exist for love. It was not only really unrealistic, for me, but also just kind of screamed "really unhealthy relationship" and kind of gave me weird vibes. So that was where the missing star came from.
Still a great read and if you enjoy her other work or fantasy novels in general, I would definitely check it out.
Juliet Marillier has been one of my all time favorite authors since high school. Daughter of the Forest basically changed my life. I had never read a book that I devoured so intensely before, it turned me into a reader and developed my love of books in general. So going off of that and into this, I had high, high, high, HIGH expectations.
In some areas those were met. First, the setting. The world is always explained in perfectly imaginable details. You can see everything exactly how she describes it and it's stunning. The characters are all given their own unique quirks and moments and despite there being a lot of them, you come to know them all individually and for who they are. Also, the magical aspect. It's done perfectly, not over the top but still special and different than any other book.
It took me a long time to realize what I DIDN'T like about this book and that is her sister, Tati, and the whole story line in how she basically ceases to exist for love. It was not only really unrealistic, for me, but also just kind of screamed "really unhealthy relationship" and kind of gave me weird vibes. So that was where the missing star came from.
Still a great read and if you enjoy her other work or fantasy novels in general, I would definitely check it out.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I have read my fair share of Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings. I think at this point I have read 4 or 5 of them. Though Wildwood Dancing isn't my favorite TDP retelling (My two favorites are Entwined by Heather Dixon and A Branch of Silver, Branch of Gold by Anne Elisabeth Stengl), I did really enjoy it!
This is a great atmospheric read. It was so easy to immerse myself in the world of this book, due to the author's wonderful descriptions. It was also easy to pick up on the mood of certain scenes, especially the scarier ones.
Speaking of scary scenes, be aware this isn't a strictly happy retelling. Though this book does end with a "happily-ever-after," there are several dark moments. Characters are murdered, tortured, and one character is sexually assaulted (they are forcibly kissed and groped. It is very brief, but could be triggering for some).
My favorite thing about this book is that the author added some unique elements to classic The Twelve Dancing Princesses storyline. Besides the classic fae creatures, there are also night people (aka vampires). I don't think I have ever read a fairytale retelling that had vampires in it before! Another unique thing about this retelling is that also contains a princess and the frog-esque subplot. I think it fun when authors mix two fairytales together in their retellings.
The only main thing I didn't love about this book was that I felt it was a little too long. The storyline dragged a bit in the middle. I think if the author had condensed the story and had made it about 50 pages shorter that the story as a whole would have been more enjoyable and exciting. This is just my opinion, though.
While this book technically could be a stand-alone, there is a sequel. I think I may give this sequel a go in the future, because I am curious to what happens to the sisters after the end of this book.
I have read my fair share of Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings. I think at this point I have read 4 or 5 of them. Though Wildwood Dancing isn't my favorite TDP retelling (My two favorites are Entwined by Heather Dixon and A Branch of Silver, Branch of Gold by Anne Elisabeth Stengl), I did really enjoy it!
This is a great atmospheric read. It was so easy to immerse myself in the world of this book, due to the author's wonderful descriptions. It was also easy to pick up on the mood of certain scenes, especially the scarier ones.
Speaking of scary scenes, be aware this isn't a strictly happy retelling. Though this book does end with a "happily-ever-after," there are several dark moments. Characters are murdered, tortured, and one character is sexually assaulted (they are forcibly kissed and groped. It is very brief, but could be triggering for some).
My favorite thing about this book is that the author added some unique elements to classic The Twelve Dancing Princesses storyline. Besides the classic fae creatures, there are also night people (aka vampires). I don't think I have ever read a fairytale retelling that had vampires in it before! Another unique thing about this retelling is that also contains a princess and the frog-esque subplot. I think it fun when authors mix two fairytales together in their retellings.
The only main thing I didn't love about this book was that I felt it was a little too long. The storyline dragged a bit in the middle. I think if the author had condensed the story and had made it about 50 pages shorter that the story as a whole would have been more enjoyable and exciting. This is just my opinion, though.
While this book technically could be a stand-alone, there is a sequel. I think I may give this sequel a go in the future, because I am curious to what happens to the sisters after the end of this book.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I cannot believe this book was published nearly 20 years ago. This book has the strong female main character before the “strong female main character” started taking off. I would have loved this book as a teenager and boy do I love this book now.
The writing is so steady, and Jena makes for such a compelling, strong willed young woman. And I adored her “pet” frog. And lord, was Cezar the most wonderfully frustrating and well-fleshed out villain.
Highly recommend even if you don’t like YA!
The writing is so steady, and Jena makes for such a compelling, strong willed young woman. And I adored her “pet” frog. And lord, was Cezar the most wonderfully frustrating and well-fleshed out villain.
Highly recommend even if you don’t like YA!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Really enjoyable fairytale, great characters - didn't feel too young either.
Fun and cute! Reminded me pleasantly of Uprooted. Enjoyed the frog Googoo. The book was very effective at making me extremely angry at Cezar.
This was quite an addicting read and I couldn't flip through the pages fast enough. Unfortunately, I wasn't sure why I was so addicted. I found myself frequently annoyed and bored while I read. Still, I couldn't stop reading!
The main character, Jena, was frustrating and weak. I kept waiting for her to take charge of her course.
Jena's sisters were not very well developed and I felt indifferent towards them, minus, Tati. I despised Tati.
It was strange to me that the author did not put more focus on Gogu. The story would have been infinitely more interesting if he would have played a bigger part. As it was, his role was limited to conversations with Jenna where he said single sentences and Jena went on and on for long paragraphs.
The story was also sadly predictable. True, I raced through the pages... But not to see what would happen next, but to see when it would happen. I'm usually not that great at predictions, but I was pro with this book. The ending was wrapped up a little too neatly with little action necessary on Jena's part.
Even with these faults, I still enjoyed certain aspects of this book. I loved how the story incorporated several fairy tale ingredients. Also, Gogu was a fun character.
2.5 Stars.
The main character, Jena, was frustrating and weak. I kept waiting for her to take charge of her course.
Spoiler
She never did though. Sigh.Jena's sisters were not very well developed and I felt indifferent towards them, minus, Tati. I despised Tati.
Spoiler
All she had to do was stay strong while her "one true love" risked everything for her. Apparently, that was too hard for her and she became weak and helpless. Also, I didn't appreciate how foolish Tati was with her relationship. She had no idea what kind of person Sorrow was and yet, she trusted him almost immediately. Jena was actually sensible about Sorrow. Inconceivably, it was Jena who felt bad about her behavior in the end.It was strange to me that the author did not put more focus on Gogu. The story would have been infinitely more interesting if he would have played a bigger part. As it was, his role was limited to conversations with Jenna where he said single sentences and Jena went on and on for long paragraphs.
The story was also sadly predictable. True, I raced through the pages... But not to see what would happen next, but to see when it would happen.
Spoiler
Some examples, I knew who Gogu was pretty early on and as soon as I learned about the dark moon, I knew that Tati would try to meet Sorrow through it.Even with these faults, I still enjoyed certain aspects of this book. I loved how the story incorporated several fairy tale ingredients. Also, Gogu was a fun character.
2.5 Stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
the fairy tale of the princess and the frog - again, the story line was a little obvious and i did get annoyed with the main character when she didn't notice the 'prince.' the plot was creative as we discover a little more about the 'evil' that may motivate someone even as young as 8. the whole dying for love thing was a little over the top. definitely a YA book.
I SHIP IT SO HARD!!
And I like Juliet more and more with every book of hers I read.
And I like Juliet more and more with every book of hers I read.