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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This is a striking book inspired by Transylvanian mythology and fairy tales. Following five sisters, the book opens with the girls preparing to enter a portal that will take them to the Other Kingdom, a kingdom of fairies and goblins and other creatures who are not of our world, yet exist in a parallel version. Every month on the night of the Full Moon, the sisters cross the lake by their castle and dance the night away in a magical glade with their forest friends. They have to return before dawn or the portal will be closed and they will be trapped in between the two worlds.
When mysterious Night People appear at the Dancing Glade, and Tati, the oldest sister, begins to fall in love with one of them, a tall, quiet, pale young man, the rules the girls have in place to keep themselves safe teeter on the edge of breaking. To make matters worse, their father goes away for his health, and their overbearing, domineering cousin Cezar has decided that it is he who will be master of their home and handle business affairs, rather than Jena, the second eldest sister and the one who helps her father's merchant business.
With their secret at risk of exposure, and their world falling apart, Jena and her sisters have to decide how much they can sacrifice, and how much love, faith, and trust is really worth.
This is truly a magical and alluring book. I could empathize with the sisters and their troubles, hate Cezar, wonder at the Other Kingdom, and the story truly had me on edge because I could not figure out how it was going to wrap up. I do wish there had been a little more world-building and descriptions of the Other Kingdom, and I also did not care for Tati and how she responded to being in love, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am tempted to pick up the companion novel one day.
When mysterious Night People appear at the Dancing Glade, and Tati, the oldest sister, begins to fall in love with one of them, a tall, quiet, pale young man, the rules the girls have in place to keep themselves safe teeter on the edge of breaking. To make matters worse, their father goes away for his health, and their overbearing, domineering cousin Cezar has decided that it is he who will be master of their home and handle business affairs, rather than Jena, the second eldest sister and the one who helps her father's merchant business.
With their secret at risk of exposure, and their world falling apart, Jena and her sisters have to decide how much they can sacrifice, and how much love, faith, and trust is really worth.
This is truly a magical and alluring book. I could empathize with the sisters and their troubles, hate Cezar, wonder at the Other Kingdom, and the story truly had me on edge because I could not figure out how it was going to wrap up. I do wish there had been a little more world-building and descriptions of the Other Kingdom, and I also did not care for Tati and how she responded to being in love, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am tempted to pick up the companion novel one day.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Can I just tell you how much I love the cover of this book. Very rare for me with fantasy novels. I've actually covered a favorite novel with paper because I was so embarrassed to be seen reading a book with such a shitty cover. It was a distraction.
This cover was as lush and gorgeous as the story. This was a highly engaging read. It mixes a bit of "The Frog Prince" with "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and even a bit of "Hansel and Gretel". There are also some darker tales woven throughout. I read it in one day whilst suffering from one of the worst hangovers in recent memory and it was such a good diversion. Romantic in the vein of a Perrault story, a bit of gothic, and a teeny bit of Jane Austen. You will hate the villain while still feeling a bit sorry for him. I found the eldest sister, Tati to be a bit much with her wasting away for love and all (it begins to happen early on---no spoilers here) but I think she is meant to be a symbol and is well-balanced by the main protagonist, Jena and her sensible younger sisters (even the flirtatious, busty 13 year-old sister has good sense in her own way). I only just noticed that this book is apparently part of a series. I look forward to more tales from this author.
This cover was as lush and gorgeous as the story. This was a highly engaging read. It mixes a bit of "The Frog Prince" with "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and even a bit of "Hansel and Gretel". There are also some darker tales woven throughout. I read it in one day whilst suffering from one of the worst hangovers in recent memory and it was such a good diversion. Romantic in the vein of a Perrault story, a bit of gothic, and a teeny bit of Jane Austen. You will hate the villain while still feeling a bit sorry for him. I found the eldest sister, Tati to be a bit much with her wasting away for love and all (it begins to happen early on---no spoilers here) but I think she is meant to be a symbol and is well-balanced by the main protagonist, Jena and her sensible younger sisters (even the flirtatious, busty 13 year-old sister has good sense in her own way). I only just noticed that this book is apparently part of a series. I look forward to more tales from this author.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fun story and I really enjoyed it. Very magical and cottage core, fairy. The characters and plot were really well developed!
Reread after a few years (and a lot of forgetting) and I'm sure I enjoyed it more the second time. It helped that I was used to the little hiccup of —BUT, even beyond that, I just got more out of the book the second time. The setting feels extremely magical, one I loved sinking into, and even though the middle bit devolved into Jena constantly butting heads with Cezar in a way that became somewhat repetitive, there was enough there to keep me enjoying.
Lastly, I just can't stop chortling at the thought of a frog ineptly flirting by finding a seedpod in the shape of a heart. The whole segment of Gogu getting jealous and trying to woo Jena in ways that would work if it wasn't for the whole 'he's a frog'-thing made me laugh a lot because it was so sweet and so misguided. Dude, I'm sorry to tell you this but... you're a frog. A special frog, but a frog. So cute, anyway.
Definitely recommended for lyrical fantasy lovers! Fairy kingdoms and vampires and crumbling castles and roomfuls of sisters galore. I could have done with a bit less ~true love~ey stuff, but what else can you expect from fairytale Marillier?
Spoiler
the love interest being the main character's cousin—I know that was normal in many times and places, but it's not exactly the usual in romance novels! Still, having time to get used to the idea made me way more okay with itLastly, I just can't stop chortling at the thought of a frog ineptly flirting by finding a seedpod in the shape of a heart. The whole segment of Gogu getting jealous and trying to woo Jena in ways that would work if it wasn't for the whole 'he's a frog'-thing made me laugh a lot because it was so sweet and so misguided. Dude, I'm sorry to tell you this but... you're a frog. A special frog, but a frog. So cute, anyway.
Definitely recommended for lyrical fantasy lovers! Fairy kingdoms and vampires and crumbling castles and roomfuls of sisters galore. I could have done with a bit less ~true love~ey stuff, but what else can you expect from fairytale Marillier?
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
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 loved this one. I have read many of Juliet Marillier's books and each one has a different flavor. I find that so interesting because with some authors, they tend to re-use their structure and voice in a book and don't really deviate from that. I feel like Juliet's books- while all have the whimsical feel of a fantastical fairy tale, the characters and stories are all each their own. I love that.
I really enjoyed this story and Jena as our main character. I thought it was a wonderful twist to go with the main point of view of the second eldest sister- the sensible, logical sister who's first instinct isn't to just fall in love and into the arms of the first dark enchanting man she meets. Jena had a head of sense on her shoulders and I love that. She is strong, independent and absolutely wonderful. The romance is sweet- I always enjoy the way Juliet writes the romances and the male characters- though it's the magic and whimsy that always draws me in.
I do wish her characters (in particular her female characters) were older, though I know this is due to the medieval time period Juliet tends to write in, which I understand; if the characters were in mode times, that would be a different conversation. But the girls in this age became women quick, due to a variety of reasons. Regardless, I am really, really loving Juliet as an author and am excited to get into more of her books!
I really enjoyed this story and Jena as our main character. I thought it was a wonderful twist to go with the main point of view of the second eldest sister- the sensible, logical sister who's first instinct isn't to just fall in love and into the arms of the first dark enchanting man she meets. Jena had a head of sense on her shoulders and I love that. She is strong, independent and absolutely wonderful. The romance is sweet- I always enjoy the way Juliet writes the romances and the male characters- though it's the magic and whimsy that always draws me in.
I do wish her characters (in particular her female characters) were older, though I know this is due to the medieval time period Juliet tends to write in, which I understand; if the characters were in mode times, that would be a different conversation. But the girls in this age became women quick, due to a variety of reasons. Regardless, I am really, really loving Juliet as an author and am excited to get into more of her books!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Que delícia de história! Longe de ser perfeita, mas tão gostosa de acompanhar. Nem acredito que acabou :(
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced