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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This has one of the worst (in a good way) villains I have read in a while. He was so realistic, taking our main character's choices away because she was a woman. It was frustrating to read.
I liked the cast of characters, and Jena's romance was slow paced and believable. I didn't like Tati's storyline. I admit that it suited a fairytale but I couldn't stand her not taking care of her sisters after she fell in love. She was just moping around doing nothing. I'm glad that Jena was our protagonist. Maybe she was opinionated and little bit of a control freak but those things made me empathize with her more.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it was a little bit shorter. It was too slow at times and I found myself wanting to skip some parts.
Overall, a nice fairytale-esque book with feys, an enchanted frog and a cute friends-to-lovers romance.
I liked the cast of characters, and Jena's romance was slow paced and believable. I didn't like Tati's storyline. I admit that it suited a fairytale but I couldn't stand her not taking care of her sisters after she fell in love. She was just moping around doing nothing. I'm glad that Jena was our protagonist. Maybe she was opinionated and little bit of a control freak but those things made me empathize with her more.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it was a little bit shorter. It was too slow at times and I found myself wanting to skip some parts.
Overall, a nice fairytale-esque book with feys, an enchanted frog and a cute friends-to-lovers romance.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wonderful fairytale retelling, which I have read several times over the years.
This is a version of the "Twelve Dancing Princesses", except that there are only five sisters, not twelve, and they aren't princesses. This is a very solid and satisfying version - sometimes I find fairytale retellings very lofty and poetic - no doubt lovely pieces of literature, but not so enjoyable to get lost in.
The main character, Jena, is a great narrator - she's sensible, has great love for her family and her home, and has just enough insight into her flaws that it's not too frustrating for us to watch her when she makes mistakes.
I didn't give the book five stars for mainly one reason: Cezar, the book's antagonist. He is a bully, and it is AGONISING in the middle section of the book as he systematically chips away at the authority that Jena and her sisters are meant to have over their lives. Jena does manage a couple of small victories, but overall the powerlessness is awful to live through and I'm not sure whether it did drag on too long, or if I just felt that way because it was very unpleasant.
I also wish he'd had more of a comeuppance at the end. Jena so often reminds him that his authority is unwanted and temporary as her father is still alive; I would have loved to see him really told off by the girls' father (and his mother!) rather than disappearing in a huff.
Overall, I loved the descriptions of the Other Kingdom and how much the sisters enjoyed it, the relationships they had with the people there, and the romance that grows in the book - it's very sweet.
I'm sad that there's only one sequel - there really needs to be one book for each sister.
This is a version of the "Twelve Dancing Princesses", except that there are only five sisters, not twelve, and they aren't princesses. This is a very solid and satisfying version - sometimes I find fairytale retellings very lofty and poetic - no doubt lovely pieces of literature, but not so enjoyable to get lost in.
The main character, Jena, is a great narrator - she's sensible, has great love for her family and her home, and has just enough insight into her flaws that it's not too frustrating for us to watch her when she makes mistakes.
I didn't give the book five stars for mainly one reason: Cezar, the book's antagonist. He is a bully, and it is AGONISING in the middle section of the book as he systematically chips away at the authority that Jena and her sisters are meant to have over their lives. Jena does manage a couple of small victories, but overall the powerlessness is awful to live through and I'm not sure whether it did drag on too long, or if I just felt that way because it was very unpleasant.
I also wish he'd had more of a comeuppance at the end. Jena so often reminds him that his authority is unwanted and temporary as her father is still alive; I would have loved to see him really told off by the girls' father (and his mother!) rather than disappearing in a huff.
Overall, I loved the descriptions of the Other Kingdom and how much the sisters enjoyed it, the relationships they had with the people there, and the romance that grows in the book - it's very sweet.
I'm sad that there's only one sequel - there really needs to be one book for each sister.
Not my favorite. I'm disappointed I didn't like it more, because a couple of my GR friends whose opinions I usually agree with loved this book, but I just never got into it. I actually thought the first half was mildly boring...and I had to flip to the end to see what happened, and when I did that I thought "oh cool! I do wanna read this to see how we get there!" After that point, I enjoyed the book much more. Weird.
This was a solid little fairytale. Whimsical with the happy ending you want from a story like this. The plot was quite predictable, but that’s to be expected with a fairytale I guess. I do think it could have been condensed a little, but all in all I enjoyed it.
E mais uma leitura mágica.....
Quando comecei a leitura de Danças na Floresta, pensei que iria ser mais um livro de fantasia comum, igual a muitos outros, principalmente porque a acção se passa na Transilvânia. Mas com o continuar da leitura e com o passar dos capítulos percebi que seria um livro extremamente emocionante e vibrante.
Mas agora vamos falar um pouco da história em si...
Danças na Floresta conta a história de cinco irmãs, Tatiana, Jenica, Iulia, Paula e Stela, que quando eram muito novinhas e se mudaram para Piscul Dracului descubriram uma magia antiga, um portal que as levava a um Outro Reino.
Mas não podiam entrar sempre por este portal. As 5 irmãs nas noites de lua cheia juntavam-se num recanto do seu quarto e abriam o portal com as sombras das suas mãos. Já neste Outro Reino elas dançavam toda a madrugada e faziam amizade com os habitantes sobrenaturais deste reino.
Mas um dia as coisas começam a mudar, pois chegam visitantes, o Povo da Noite. Não mudam só no Outro Reino mas também em Piscul Dracului...
Juliet Marillier inspirou-se no conto As Doze Princesas Bailarinas para escrever esta história, mas na minha opinião também se inspirou um pouco no conto A Princesa e o Sapo. A autora aproveitou uma viagem à Transilvânia para ficar a conhecer algumas das suas histórias e lendas e começar a escrever este livro. Tenta principalmente tirar a ideia de que a Transilvânia esta só relacionada com vampiros e lobisomens.
Gostei muito da estrutura da história, da forma como se desenvolveu ao longo dos capítulos. A facilidade com que lemos o livro é incrível, é muito fácil compreender os mistérios e desvendar os segredos que a história vai construindo.
A minha personagem favorita é o sapo GOGU, uma personagem muito misteriosa e que consegue derreter o coração de qualquer um. GOGU é o melhor amigo e animal de estimação de Jena, a personagem principal. Este sapo é muito estranho, tem muitos segredos. Jena encontrou-o na floresta perdido, todo a tremer quando tinha 5/6 anos, aos seus 15 anos este sapo já era parte da sua vida, parte da sua consciência. Durante todo o livro GOGU dá conselhos sábios a Jena, sobre como agir, como falar, mas também consegue ser maldoso para com os que tentam fazer mal a Jena. É sem dúvida alguma uma personagem incrível.
Para além de GOGU e de Jena, as personagens mais importantes da história, no livro existem mais 4 personagens importantes e que desenrolam um papel decisivo em várias situações.
Em primeiro lugar Draguta, a feiticeira da floresta, que desde o principio é temida e considerada o ser mais maldoso de todo o vale.
Em segundo lugar Cezar, primo das 5 irmãs e um tirano inato, que só pensa em poder e em apoderar-se de Piscul Dracului, dos negócios do tio e das cinco meninas... Ah e que é apaixonado (ou pelo menos diz ele) por Jena.
Em terceiro lugar Tatiana, a irmã mais velha, que só pensa em conhecer o amor verdadeiro e que dará tudo para viver a sua paixão.
E por último Tristeza, um homem misterioso que aparece na clareira da dança nas noites de lua cheia e que se apaixona de imediato por Tatiana, mas que não conta nada sobre ele e que deixa todos apreensivos.
Uma grande história e com um final emocionante mas feliz...
Apesar de ser uma fantasia mais juvenil, acho que todos podem ler e gostar desta história e por estas razões é que decidi dar 5 estrelas.
Quando comecei a leitura de Danças na Floresta, pensei que iria ser mais um livro de fantasia comum, igual a muitos outros, principalmente porque a acção se passa na Transilvânia. Mas com o continuar da leitura e com o passar dos capítulos percebi que seria um livro extremamente emocionante e vibrante.
Mas agora vamos falar um pouco da história em si...
Danças na Floresta conta a história de cinco irmãs, Tatiana, Jenica, Iulia, Paula e Stela, que quando eram muito novinhas e se mudaram para Piscul Dracului descubriram uma magia antiga, um portal que as levava a um Outro Reino.
Mas não podiam entrar sempre por este portal. As 5 irmãs nas noites de lua cheia juntavam-se num recanto do seu quarto e abriam o portal com as sombras das suas mãos. Já neste Outro Reino elas dançavam toda a madrugada e faziam amizade com os habitantes sobrenaturais deste reino.
Mas um dia as coisas começam a mudar, pois chegam visitantes, o Povo da Noite. Não mudam só no Outro Reino mas também em Piscul Dracului...
Juliet Marillier inspirou-se no conto As Doze Princesas Bailarinas para escrever esta história, mas na minha opinião também se inspirou um pouco no conto A Princesa e o Sapo. A autora aproveitou uma viagem à Transilvânia para ficar a conhecer algumas das suas histórias e lendas e começar a escrever este livro. Tenta principalmente tirar a ideia de que a Transilvânia esta só relacionada com vampiros e lobisomens.
Gostei muito da estrutura da história, da forma como se desenvolveu ao longo dos capítulos. A facilidade com que lemos o livro é incrível, é muito fácil compreender os mistérios e desvendar os segredos que a história vai construindo.
A minha personagem favorita é o sapo GOGU, uma personagem muito misteriosa e que consegue derreter o coração de qualquer um. GOGU é o melhor amigo e animal de estimação de Jena, a personagem principal. Este sapo é muito estranho, tem muitos segredos. Jena encontrou-o na floresta perdido, todo a tremer quando tinha 5/6 anos, aos seus 15 anos este sapo já era parte da sua vida, parte da sua consciência. Durante todo o livro GOGU dá conselhos sábios a Jena, sobre como agir, como falar, mas também consegue ser maldoso para com os que tentam fazer mal a Jena. É sem dúvida alguma uma personagem incrível.
Para além de GOGU e de Jena, as personagens mais importantes da história, no livro existem mais 4 personagens importantes e que desenrolam um papel decisivo em várias situações.
Em primeiro lugar Draguta, a feiticeira da floresta, que desde o principio é temida e considerada o ser mais maldoso de todo o vale.
Em segundo lugar Cezar, primo das 5 irmãs e um tirano inato, que só pensa em poder e em apoderar-se de Piscul Dracului, dos negócios do tio e das cinco meninas... Ah e que é apaixonado (ou pelo menos diz ele) por Jena.
Em terceiro lugar Tatiana, a irmã mais velha, que só pensa em conhecer o amor verdadeiro e que dará tudo para viver a sua paixão.
E por último Tristeza, um homem misterioso que aparece na clareira da dança nas noites de lua cheia e que se apaixona de imediato por Tatiana, mas que não conta nada sobre ele e que deixa todos apreensivos.
Uma grande história e com um final emocionante mas feliz...
Apesar de ser uma fantasia mais juvenil, acho que todos podem ler e gostar desta história e por estas razões é que decidi dar 5 estrelas.
Jena and her four sisters have a secret. Every full moon, they open up a portal to the Other Kingdom, a parallel world filled with magical creatures, where they dance the night away and return before dawn. One night, Jena’s eldest sister, the beautiful Tati attracts the attention of one of the Night People. Jena knows that these creatures are said to feed on the blood of humans, and fears for her sister’s life. Tati will hear none of her sister’s protests, claiming that she is in love. Meanwhile, their home life is turned upside down with their father is sent away from their cold Transylvanian home for the winter season. Jena and her sister plan on managing the castle by themselves until his return, but their cousin Cezar has other plans. They watch in shock as he bullies his way into taking over the household and their father’s business. He even threatens to fell the forest that surrounds their castle, a decision that will destroy the Other Kingdom that they have come to love.
Wildwood Dancing is a unique twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, told from the point of view of one of the “princesses” (although here, she’s not nobility). The setting is in Transylvania, a unique choice for a fantasy book, and Marillier does a great job in immersing the reader in the culture. There’s even a pronunciation guide in the back for the names and words found in the original language. When it comes to characterization, I found that Marillier succeeds here as well as in her popular Severwaters books. Jena is a strong heroine, a sensible, yet flawed young girl that wants nothing more than what’s best for her family. Sometimes, this leads her to make poor choices, but she always has the best intentions. Wildwood Dancing also has a very well crafted villain in Cezar. His condescending and bullying nature made me want to reach through the pages and strangle him on many occasions. His controlling, sexist attitude is not idealized, but neither is he just evil for the sake of being evil. He honestly believes that the choices he are making as the best for the town, and for the five sisters, seeing himself as a benevolent force instead or something damaging. In a way, he’s a lot like Jena. Unlike Jena, he’s so blinded by his own prejudices that he doesn’t know when he needs to stop. This makes for an interesting parallel.
Wildwood Dancing is a beautifully written fantasy great for people who love fairy tale retellings. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is not the only fairy tale referenced here, but I don’t want to spoil the others. There is also a strong romantic storyline, not just for Tati, but for Jena as well, which a great added bonus. Perhaps it's biggest flaw is it is a bit predictable. If you're looking for a twisty turny thriller, this may not be for you. If you like lyrical fantasy books filled with drama, romance, and magic, then this is for you.
Wildwood Dancing is a unique twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, told from the point of view of one of the “princesses” (although here, she’s not nobility). The setting is in Transylvania, a unique choice for a fantasy book, and Marillier does a great job in immersing the reader in the culture. There’s even a pronunciation guide in the back for the names and words found in the original language. When it comes to characterization, I found that Marillier succeeds here as well as in her popular Severwaters books. Jena is a strong heroine, a sensible, yet flawed young girl that wants nothing more than what’s best for her family. Sometimes, this leads her to make poor choices, but she always has the best intentions. Wildwood Dancing also has a very well crafted villain in Cezar. His condescending and bullying nature made me want to reach through the pages and strangle him on many occasions. His controlling, sexist attitude is not idealized, but neither is he just evil for the sake of being evil. He honestly believes that the choices he are making as the best for the town, and for the five sisters, seeing himself as a benevolent force instead or something damaging. In a way, he’s a lot like Jena. Unlike Jena, he’s so blinded by his own prejudices that he doesn’t know when he needs to stop. This makes for an interesting parallel.
Wildwood Dancing is a beautifully written fantasy great for people who love fairy tale retellings. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is not the only fairy tale referenced here, but I don’t want to spoil the others. There is also a strong romantic storyline, not just for Tati, but for Jena as well, which a great added bonus. Perhaps it's biggest flaw is it is a bit predictable. If you're looking for a twisty turny thriller, this may not be for you. If you like lyrical fantasy books filled with drama, romance, and magic, then this is for you.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I kinda enjoyed some aspects of the book (such as the writing and the world building), but I found it to be a little bit disappointing when I realized that every character in this book is extremely dumb.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Already in chapter 3 I had solved the mystery and rightly predicted the outcome of this book. The last 350 pages were not all that interesting after that...
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