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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I freaking love this book! I know that many will find it childish, but I've always been one to enjoy fantasy-themed books. The narrative is so captivating that you'll find yourself reading 100 pages at once.
This book started out soooo sloooooow for me. I probably would have quit it if it weren't my book club book for the month. But I'm glad I didn't because I ended up quite enjoying it.
I think Marillier's forte is definitely her Sevenwater's series. I liked the story, and 15 year old me would have undoubtedly loved it, however I did see many of the plot twists coming and I think I expected more conflict to arise between sisters.
The romance was okay- hardly there, but a nice touch to the story.
There was hardly any plot really, but I enjoy how atmospheric Marillier's writing is and how she manages to blend in fairies so well with the real world.
The romance was okay- hardly there, but a nice touch to the story.
There was hardly any plot really, but I enjoy how atmospheric Marillier's writing is and how she manages to blend in fairies so well with the real world.
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The 12 Dancing Princesses, Tatiana Queen of the Fairies, and The Princess and the Frog are blended together in this well-written children's story. I would have LOVED this as a kid; as it is I am officially too old and only mildly enjoyed it. Would recommend for middle schoolers.
trigger warnings:
not sure if 1 or 2 stars
One of the worst disappointments I've ever had. There's been a long time since since I got so angry while reading a book.
There are so many wrong things in this book I even don't know where to begin with. But let's start with the characters. Usually, when I read a fantasy book with a female protagonist and written by a woman, I expect the narrative to be female-centered. Well, that's not what happened here. It semed the focus was on Cezar, Jena's cosin, all the time. Cezar is a huge mysoginist, possessive, disrespectiful man. He treats women like trash. He underestimates women again and again, even the one he says he's in love with.
I know this is set in the 1800s or 1900s, but this is no excuse. Cezar does A LOT OF SHIT and nothing EVER happens to him. He is possessive and tries to control Jenna and her sisters all the way he can: control where they go, when and IF they can leave their own house, their letters, how they spend their money with, he even TOOK AWAY JENNA'S MONEY, because "she was a woman and didn't know about finances, so he'd decide how much to spend with food, paying workers, and other necessities".
Cezar goes far as saying Jenna's younger sister, Stella, who is 13, is "dressing like a whore", but at the same time, staring at her breasts with lustful eyes. Also, there is a scene of sexual harrasment that pissed me off. And hey, I am not criticizing her here, being a victim of sexual harrassment is no small deal. I'm criticizing the author, who decided to put a mysoginist character doing awful things and having no punishment over them, using the excuse of "we live in a patriarcal society and men are the ones with power, so we can't go against them, otherwhise, we'll be in trouble."
And what happens with Cezar at the end of the book was what frustrated me the most.
As for the other characters, I don't care much about them, I only like Paula and Gogu. I found Jenna, the MC, boring, and they way she was never capable of solving anything annoyed me as hell. Also, Tatiana's love/obsession with a night creature got on my nerves.
Otherwise, knowing about the feeric world and their creatures was interesting, and everytime spent in the other world was entertaining. I wish the main characters could spend more time exploring there, instead of dealing with the drama of Tatiana in love/obsessed with Sorrow and messing with everyone's lives because of it.
In conclusion: I didn't like it and I don't recommend it.
Spoiler
sexual harrasment (one scene), mysoginy.not sure if 1 or 2 stars
One of the worst disappointments I've ever had. There's been a long time since since I got so angry while reading a book.
There are so many wrong things in this book I even don't know where to begin with. But let's start with the characters. Usually, when I read a fantasy book with a female protagonist and written by a woman, I expect the narrative to be female-centered. Well, that's not what happened here. It semed the focus was on Cezar, Jena's cosin, all the time. Cezar is a huge mysoginist, possessive, disrespectiful man. He treats women like trash. He underestimates women again and again, even the one he says he's in love with.
I know this is set in the 1800s or 1900s, but this is no excuse. Cezar does A LOT OF SHIT and nothing EVER happens to him. He is possessive and tries to control Jenna and her sisters all the way he can: control where they go, when and IF they can leave their own house, their letters, how they spend their money with, he even TOOK AWAY JENNA'S MONEY, because "she was a woman and didn't know about finances, so he'd decide how much to spend with food, paying workers, and other necessities".
Cezar goes far as saying Jenna's younger sister, Stella, who is 13, is "dressing like a whore", but at the same time, staring at her breasts with lustful eyes. Also, there is a scene of sexual harrasment that pissed me off.
Spoiler
He forceful kisses Jenna while he's drunk, and she does nothing, because he could give her trouble in the future. She only decides to slap him when he grabs her boobs against her will. Seriously? Does a man need to put you against the wall, kiss you against your will, and grabs your boobs for you to do something about it?And what happens with Cezar at the end of the book was what frustrated me the most.
Spoiler
Basically, nothing happens to him. :) Even though he harrassed Jenna and later slapped her in the face, Costi (Cezar's brother, who is in love with jenna) says he's willing to forgive everything Cezar has done (WTF???), if he gives up his revenge against the fae folk. Cezar doesn't want either Costi inheriting their father's land nor giving up his revenge, so he... runs away to the woods. That's it. The man looks down on women, tries to control them, humilliate his own cosins in front of a party full of people, take possession of their land, and in the end, he runs away and nobody ever talks about him. I don't know what is worse: nothing happening to him, or the many times the did UNFORGIVABLE things and jenna was willing to forgive him. And in the end, even Costi was.As for the other characters, I don't care much about them, I only like Paula and Gogu. I found Jenna, the MC, boring, and they way she was never capable of solving anything annoyed me as hell. Also, Tatiana's love/obsession with a night creature got on my nerves.
Otherwise, knowing about the feeric world and their creatures was interesting, and everytime spent in the other world was entertaining. I wish the main characters could spend more time exploring there, instead of dealing with the drama of Tatiana in love/obsessed with Sorrow and messing with everyone's lives because of it.
In conclusion: I didn't like it and I don't recommend it.
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-book-298.html
Every once in a while, I like a good YA fantasy novel. This book takes elements from several folktales - the 12 dancing princesses and the frog prince, most notably, and also from traditional Romanian folklore.
This was a beautiful retelling of a fairy tale and I absolutely fell in love with it. What a wonderful, enchanted, and magical land the author created with interesting characters. I can't wait to read more books by Juliet Marillier and have her take me to another world I can get lost in.