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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Stars: 3.5
Ik vond het lastig om goed in het verhaal te komen omdat Jena en Cezar niet echt fijne personages waren. Ik vond ze een beetje vervelend, bazig en overheersend. Maar aan het einde van het boek, waar alle mysteries samenkomen, vond ik het verhaal toch goed geschreven en begreep ik hun gedrag beter. Niet zo leuk als de andere boeken die ik van Juliet Marillier heb gelezen, maar zeker ook niet verkeerd. :)
Ik vond het lastig om goed in het verhaal te komen omdat Jena en Cezar niet echt fijne personages waren. Ik vond ze een beetje vervelend, bazig en overheersend. Maar aan het einde van het boek, waar alle mysteries samenkomen, vond ik het verhaal toch goed geschreven en begreep ik hun gedrag beter. Niet zo leuk als de andere boeken die ik van Juliet Marillier heb gelezen, maar zeker ook niet verkeerd. :)
A little slow at times and I have mixed feelings about the main character. Her personality is a little inconsistent. I read the first three Seven Waters books and loved them. Marillier seems to have a fondness for silence spells and evil cousins among other things. There was something less mature about this book but I was still entertained enough to want to know what happened.
Not as good as the Shadowfell series. The story was somewhat predictable and the ending was unsatisfying.
Picture an old guy. He coughs. Grunts. Wriggles in his chair and glares suspiciously around...
That is how I felt about this book.
I know, it is a weird analogy (nothing compared to some of the other stuff I've come up with xD) but it was the image I kept coming back to as I read Wildwood Dancing . What follows might end up just being a ramble...because I'm still "chewing" on the book. Which means that some this will end up having SPOILERS. Nothing big (I hope xD) but....
Jena is the second oldest of five sisters living in (or near?) Transylvania. Every full moon they pass to a Fairy Land where they dance through the night, and return home. Until one day, some "Night People" (aka vampires) show up as guests of the Fairy Queen at the dance...and the eldest sister falls in love with one of them. Jena is faced with a battle on two fronts, trying to keep her elder sister away from her pale lover and her male cousin from taking over their home. At least she can rely on her pet frog...
A combination of Twelve Dancing Princesses, and some vampire lore, the thing that kept me reading Wildwood Dancing wasn't the writing (not bad, not striking), wasn't the character (a bunch of whiners), wasn't really even boredom...but the way the various fairy-tales were woven together. It was awfully predictable. But I was also caught in the spell of the plot, and I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen.
And that is why I can't simply rate this book and move on.
From a critical standpoint, I disliked most things about the book. I have no idea if this book was written pre-Twilight, but Twilight has ruined vampires. And even if it hadn't....well, I just didn't like them. I disliked their characters and their attitudes
The eldest sister was...obnoxious. I mean, she "falls in love" and promptly becomes useless, pines away, and nearly ends up ruining it for everyone.
Jena....hmmm. I liked her at first. She starts off as rather gutsy and strong, oblivious to her charms (xD) and smart. But as the book progresses....she just becomes more and more of a wreck. By the end, I was more than ready to hand her over to her "happily-ever-after" and get it done with!
The various forest/fantasy creatures were charming (except the vampires of course). I wish there had been more of them. I wasn't particularly impressed by the fairy queen and her consort, but that is the way it goes.
The girls' cousin Cezar...well, I really felt sorry for him at first. What he had done was completely obvious to anyone with two brain cells, but I pitied him at first anyway. And I think Marillier realizes that you'll eventually start to feel sorry for him...because suddenly she turns him horrible. Disgusting. Nasty. Lewd if you will. Which really was a pity. So I really disliked him by the end, but it wasn't much of "a victory" It was kind of just like..."whatever. Ewww. Creep. You deserve whatever you get."
My biggest peeve with the book though (besides the Vampires) was the luuuvvvvv. Or what they claim to be love. Like....the older sister. She falls in luuuuuvvvvvvvvv after seeing the dude once (I don't think she exchanged a single word) and promptly wastes away for lluuuuuuvvvv. Or Jena. Because while I do believe she might have fallen in love with her love-interest (I'm not giving anything away here ;) )... it had a disturbing quality about it. Sure, it wasn't all "his broad shoulders" "her sweet mouth" idiotic gobbily gook (If you hadn't guessed from previous reviews, nothing ticks me off faster then romance based solely on appearance) but (yes! ha! a but of doom!) there was a lot of...TMI. For example, every time she touches lover-boy she feels "a thrill go through her body". I dunno....I wish them happily-ever-after but I wasn't to sorry let them go when I put the book down.
So, did I like this book or not? Almost all the themes and content felt slightly inconsistent to me but...it was a weaving spell of fairy tales. And, in fact, if I get the opportunity, I'd probably read the sequel and more by this author. Just to see if she does it again.
Would I recommend it? That is a trickier question. Maybe. Just enter realizing there are vampires. And it is kind of predictable. But a good mixture of fairytale and folklore.
That is how I felt about this book.
I know, it is a weird analogy (nothing compared to some of the other stuff I've come up with xD) but it was the image I kept coming back to as I read Wildwood Dancing . What follows might end up just being a ramble...because I'm still "chewing" on the book. Which means that some this will end up having SPOILERS. Nothing big (I hope xD) but....
Jena is the second oldest of five sisters living in (or near?) Transylvania. Every full moon they pass to a Fairy Land where they dance through the night, and return home. Until one day, some "Night People" (aka vampires) show up as guests of the Fairy Queen at the dance...and the eldest sister falls in love with one of them. Jena is faced with a battle on two fronts, trying to keep her elder sister away from her pale lover and her male cousin from taking over their home. At least she can rely on her pet frog...
A combination of Twelve Dancing Princesses,
Spoiler
The Frog PrincessAnd that is why I can't simply rate this book and move on.
From a critical standpoint, I disliked most things about the book. I have no idea if this book was written pre-Twilight, but Twilight has ruined vampires. And even if it hadn't....well, I just didn't like them. I disliked their characters and their attitudes
Spoiler
I know, you're supposed to dislike them, but still, I didn't feel the dislike you get for a bad guy. I seriously loathed them.The eldest sister was...obnoxious. I mean, she "falls in love" and promptly becomes useless, pines away, and nearly ends up ruining it for everyone.
Jena....hmmm. I liked her at first.
Spoiler
I liked her right up until her frog turns into a man. But then she got whiny and pathetic.The various forest/fantasy creatures were charming (except the vampires of course). I wish there had been more of them. I wasn't particularly impressed by the fairy queen and her consort, but that is the way it goes.
The girls' cousin Cezar...well, I really felt sorry for him at first. What he had done was completely obvious to anyone with two brain cells, but I pitied him at first anyway. And I think Marillier realizes that you'll eventually start to feel sorry for him...because suddenly she turns him horrible. Disgusting. Nasty. Lewd if you will. Which really was a pity. So I really disliked him by the end, but it wasn't much of "a victory" It was kind of just like..."whatever. Ewww. Creep. You deserve whatever you get."
Spoiler
unique twist with leaving an opening for him to have made a bargain with the witch...My biggest peeve with the book though (besides the Vampires) was the luuuvvvvv. Or what they claim to be love. Like....the older sister. She falls in luuuuuvvvvvvvvv after seeing the dude once (I don't think she exchanged a single word) and promptly wastes away for lluuuuuuvvvv. Or Jena. Because while I do believe she might have fallen in love with her love-interest (I'm not giving anything away here ;) )... it had a disturbing quality about it. Sure, it wasn't all "his broad shoulders" "her sweet mouth" idiotic gobbily gook (If you hadn't guessed from previous reviews, nothing ticks me off faster then romance based solely on appearance) but (yes! ha! a but of doom!) there was a lot of...TMI. For example, every time she touches lover-boy she feels "a thrill go through her body".
Spoiler
and SERIOUSLY, is anyone else disturbed by the fact that, when an enchanted frog, lover dude saw her changing? I think that is awkward (well, this is National Awkward Moments Day). They got married, which is good, but what if they hadn't? Yeah. AWKWARD. And on that topic...so was the end. Where she is like "We got to know each other before getting married and having the looked-for heir." Yeah. AWKWARD.So, did I like this book or not? Almost all the themes and content felt slightly inconsistent to me
Spoiler
SO CONVENIENT that the Dad comes home, especially after everything is done. And what happens to the Vampires? I can't imagine they just let everyone go on their la-de-da way! Especially if that Chief Vampire dude supposedly liked Jena?Would I recommend it? That is a trickier question. Maybe. Just enter realizing there are vampires. And it is kind of predictable. But a good mixture of fairytale and folklore.
Amazing book! I absolutely love it! The plot combines elements of all the best fairy tales into a fantastical and complex story about family loyalty, courage, respect, and strength, and the dangers of crossing into the Other Kingdom of magic. Completely enchanting, and beautifully written!
Although.... some bits are very dark and might be disturbing to young readers. Definitely a book for older teens or adults.
Although.... some bits are very dark and might be disturbing to young readers. Definitely a book for older teens or adults.
adventurous
medium-paced
I love this book!! It has the best blend of romance, mystery, and adventure! It's one of my favorite books!
Still a beautiful work of art - one of the books that inspired me to be an author