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Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier
Jan. 11th, 2008 09:24 amWildwood Dancing
Juliet Marillier
Knopf, 2007
400 pp.
YA
I came into this book with high expectations, based on reviews of a lot of people whose reading tastes (and writing tastes, for that matter) are similar to my own. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it very much! Aside from the recommendations, the fact that it's 400 pages and a fantasy set in the real world are been two pluses, even if I'd found it on my own. I love when an author succeeds in suspending my disbelief over the course of a novel, especially when the real world runs into the fantasy world and if you squinted your eyes just right, you could almost go to that place and see the same things, fantastical or not.
Wildwood Dancing is the story of five sisters living in 19th century Transylvania. Piscul Dracului is the name of where they live, if that uh, brings anything to mind. The sisters have a secret: every full moon, they are able to pass through a portal into the fairy world, which exists concurrent with their own over the same wildwood that surrounds their house. And for years, everything goes well. Until the oldest sister falls in love with one of the other visitors to the fairy world--the Night People. Jena, main character and second sister, has to stop this most unfortunate attraction. Unfortunately, as her sister slips into a lovesick disinterest in daily life, Jena must also deal with ever-increasing problems with their estate. Their father is ill, away for the winter for medical care, and neighboring second cousin Cezar is determined to take over. Jena does have help--a pet frog who has been her companion since childhood. Before the end, a number of myths and fairy tales have come together to unravel the meaning of wishes and payment and choice.
The only thing I would perhaps have changed on this book is to focus the cover a little. The cover is nice, but very busy. The back features two slices of the overall picture, and I almost think it could have just been the front cover. That, or to focus in on one aspect of the book and leave a tantalizing question for the reader. But maybe I'm just partial to covers I've seen lately like those of Elizabeth Bunce, Melissa Marr, Libba Bray, or Shannon Hale. (Or, maybe I've been reading Betsy Bird too much, too.) But it's still a nice cover, and doesn't change the innards of the book any.
Juliet Marillier
Knopf, 2007
400 pp.
YA
I came into this book with high expectations, based on reviews of a lot of people whose reading tastes (and writing tastes, for that matter) are similar to my own. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it very much! Aside from the recommendations, the fact that it's 400 pages and a fantasy set in the real world are been two pluses, even if I'd found it on my own. I love when an author succeeds in suspending my disbelief over the course of a novel, especially when the real world runs into the fantasy world and if you squinted your eyes just right, you could almost go to that place and see the same things, fantastical or not.
Wildwood Dancing is the story of five sisters living in 19th century Transylvania. Piscul Dracului is the name of where they live, if that uh, brings anything to mind. The sisters have a secret: every full moon, they are able to pass through a portal into the fairy world, which exists concurrent with their own over the same wildwood that surrounds their house. And for years, everything goes well. Until the oldest sister falls in love with one of the other visitors to the fairy world--the Night People. Jena, main character and second sister, has to stop this most unfortunate attraction. Unfortunately, as her sister slips into a lovesick disinterest in daily life, Jena must also deal with ever-increasing problems with their estate. Their father is ill, away for the winter for medical care, and neighboring second cousin Cezar is determined to take over. Jena does have help--a pet frog who has been her companion since childhood. Before the end, a number of myths and fairy tales have come together to unravel the meaning of wishes and payment and choice.
The only thing I would perhaps have changed on this book is to focus the cover a little. The cover is nice, but very busy. The back features two slices of the overall picture, and I almost think it could have just been the front cover. That, or to focus in on one aspect of the book and leave a tantalizing question for the reader. But maybe I'm just partial to covers I've seen lately like those of Elizabeth Bunce, Melissa Marr, Libba Bray, or Shannon Hale. (Or, maybe I've been reading Betsy Bird too much, too.) But it's still a nice cover, and doesn't change the innards of the book any.
