Status
Available
Series
Collections
Publication
Knopf Books for Young Readers (2008), Edition: Reprint, 407 pages
Description
Five sisters who live with their merchant father in Transylvania use a hidden portal in their home to cross over into a magical world, the Wildwood.
Original publication date
2006-07-01
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User reviews
LibraryThing member ncgraham
Juliet Marillier throws everything but the proverbial kitchen sink into Wildwood Dancing. Like Kinuko Y. Craft’s inspired cover art, the novel is a whirlwind combination of various themes and motifs. Mostly it is a retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” but there are also elements of
In a Transylvanian castle live the five daughters of an ailing merchant: Tatiana, a dreamy beauty; Jenica, our headstrong heroine; Iulia, a typical, petulant teenager; Paula, bookish and plain; and five-year-old Stela, full of wonder and love. Every Full Moon the sisters go through a portal into the Other Kingdom, and spend a night in Dancing Glade. But after their father leaves to spend the winter in the south, it looks as though both their domestic tranquility and visits to the Other Kingdom may be in serious danger. Their cousin Cezar has begun infringing upon their privacy: he evidently wishes to take over the farm and destroy the Wildwood while he’s at it. Meanwhile, the Night People have come to Dancing Glade, bringing with them a young man named Sorrow, who falls for Tati. Luckily Jena has her trusty frog Gogu with her to sort things out, although she is beginning to have her doubts even about him....
Though Marillier’s prose is mostly unobtrusive, there are some little gems here: for example, when she says that the Night People “moved to some silent, dark music that was all their own,” or describes the forest folk’s beauty as lacking “the flaws that give individuals character.”
Marillier was probably wise in reducing the number of “princesses” to five; even then, making each unique and interesting is a challenge, but she manages nicely. Unfortunately, the two romances are not quite as convincing, mostly because she devotes comparatively little time to them.
Neither do the villains pose much of a threat: both Cezar and the Night People drop out of the story long before they should have, and Cezar was two-dimensional to begin with. On reflection, he’s really less of a character and more of a means for Marillier (and Jena) to speechify on the need for acceptance and the value of women: admirable notions, to be sure, but a trifle anachronistic given the medieval setting.
The ending is exactly the sort I dislike, not because it is bittersweet—I love a good bittersweet ending, the kind that makes you walk around for hours afterwards with a lump in your throat—but because it seems so pointless. Really, why?
In spite of these quibbles, I did enjoy Wildwood Dancing, although not as much as I would have liked. I would recommend it to fans of YA fairytale retellings, and look forward to reading more from this author.
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“The Frog Prince,” vampire lore, the Fey, and other legends.In a Transylvanian castle live the five daughters of an ailing merchant: Tatiana, a dreamy beauty; Jenica, our headstrong heroine; Iulia, a typical, petulant teenager; Paula, bookish and plain; and five-year-old Stela, full of wonder and love. Every Full Moon the sisters go through a portal into the Other Kingdom, and spend a night in Dancing Glade. But after their father leaves to spend the winter in the south, it looks as though both their domestic tranquility and visits to the Other Kingdom may be in serious danger. Their cousin Cezar has begun infringing upon their privacy: he evidently wishes to take over the farm and destroy the Wildwood while he’s at it. Meanwhile, the Night People have come to Dancing Glade, bringing with them a young man named Sorrow, who falls for Tati. Luckily Jena has her trusty frog Gogu with her to sort things out, although she is beginning to have her doubts even about him....
Though Marillier’s prose is mostly unobtrusive, there are some little gems here: for example, when she says that the Night People “moved to some silent, dark music that was all their own,” or describes the forest folk’s beauty as lacking “the flaws that give individuals character.”
Marillier was probably wise in reducing the number of “princesses” to five; even then, making each unique and interesting is a challenge, but she manages nicely. Unfortunately, the two romances are not quite as convincing, mostly because she devotes comparatively little time to them.
Neither do the villains pose much of a threat: both Cezar and the Night People drop out of the story long before they should have, and Cezar was two-dimensional to begin with. On reflection, he’s really less of a character and more of a means for Marillier (and Jena) to speechify on the need for acceptance and the value of women: admirable notions, to be sure, but a trifle anachronistic given the medieval setting.
The ending is exactly the sort I dislike, not because it is bittersweet—I love a good bittersweet ending, the kind that makes you walk around for hours afterwards with a lump in your throat—but because it seems so pointless. Really, why?
In spite of these quibbles, I did enjoy Wildwood Dancing, although not as much as I would have liked. I would recommend it to fans of YA fairytale retellings, and look forward to reading more from this author.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
An excellent and original fantasy novel, based on the Twelve Dancing Princesses and the Princess and the Frog with a little vampire lore thrown in. Set in medieval Transylvania , five sisters are able to pass through a portal on the night of the every full moon to the kingdom of the fey, where they
The main character, Jenica is the second eldest sister, the practical one. She has a pet frog that she found years ago in the forest and keeps him with her always. Of course this frog is more than he seems. The sisters are left on their own one winter as their merchant father falls ill and leaves for a milder climate. Their cousin, Cezar wastes no time in taking over their lives and they come to realize they are under the thumb of a overbearing, power-hungry man.
With her cousin in control of her life and home, and her beautiful elder sister under the sway of a Night Creature, Jenica stuggles to find a way to free herself and her sisters and find the right balance between the two worlds.
Wildwood Dancing has adventure, romance and mystery. The author was able to make these fairy tales new and fresh. Like all good fairy tales there is definitely a moral involved, this one is about making the right choices in life.
Fantasy is a newer genre for me, but after reading this book I will be looking for more, expecially by this author.
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dance the night away with a variety of magical beings. The eldest sister, the beauty of the family, falls in love with a creature who appears to belong to the Night World, the dark side of the fey.The main character, Jenica is the second eldest sister, the practical one. She has a pet frog that she found years ago in the forest and keeps him with her always. Of course this frog is more than he seems. The sisters are left on their own one winter as their merchant father falls ill and leaves for a milder climate. Their cousin, Cezar wastes no time in taking over their lives and they come to realize they are under the thumb of a overbearing, power-hungry man.
With her cousin in control of her life and home, and her beautiful elder sister under the sway of a Night Creature, Jenica stuggles to find a way to free herself and her sisters and find the right balance between the two worlds.
Wildwood Dancing has adventure, romance and mystery. The author was able to make these fairy tales new and fresh. Like all good fairy tales there is definitely a moral involved, this one is about making the right choices in life.
Fantasy is a newer genre for me, but after reading this book I will be looking for more, expecially by this author.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Jena and her sisters have always been warned to stay out of the woods surrounding their home: dangerous creatures live there, and their cousin Costi drowned in a pond during a childish game. However, the five girls have a secret - on the full moon, they're able to open a portal into the
Review: This book had a lot of things going for it - most prominently the way it wove together a number of fairy tales into one historical Eastern European backdrop - and there wasn't anything really wrong with it. However, I felt like it always was missing some spark that would make truly unputdownable, and as a result, while I enjoyed it, I felt like it could have been more than it was.
The characterizations were well-done; Jena was a independent but not infallible narrator, her sisters all had distinct (if somewhat two-dimentional) personalities, and Cezar was a realistically drawn but still incredibly menacing villain. (Not that he starts out as a bad guy - Cezar's motivations and decisions, and the path on which they lead him, form one of the most complex and fascinating aspects of the book.) The relationships among the characters felt real, with a good eye for some of the more subtle nuances that could easily have been ignored. The fairy realm was also well done, with a clear sense of magic and wonder, but also a distinct undercurrent of danger and darkness, where bargains must be carefully worded, and every gift has its price.
I also really enjoyed all of the elements of various fairy tales that cropped up throughout, and how Marillier managed to make the entire book fit the rhythm and feel of the old stories. However, this also worked against the novel: because the rhythm of fairy tales is so familiar, it meant that the ending of this one was pretty predictable, even from fairly early on. That meant that at times this book felt kind of slow, and parts where Jena was pondering the identity of the green-eyed man from her visions, or waffling about what to do about her sisters felt overly dragged-out, since the answer should be obvious to anyone who was ever told a bedtime story. Technically, since Jena was living at a time when such stories were still being written, I can't really fault her for not knowing, but I still felt like there were places where I wanted the story to get to the point a little faster.
I listened to the audio version of this book, and I had somewhat of a mixed reaction. Kim Mai Guest does a nice job of differentiating the voices, and providing an appropriately-froggy-but-not-overly-silly voice for Gogu. It was also nice to hear all of the names pronounced correctly... but she also frequently carried that pronunciation over into the rest of the prose, so that many lines were read with a vaguely Eastern European accent, but some were not. It was distracting, more so than it would have been to have the whole thing read in an unaccented voice, and makes me inclined to recommend the text version rather than the audio. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: For fans of fairy tale retellings, especially those in a realistic historical setting, it's definitely worth trying.
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faerie woods, for a night of dancing and celebration with the folk of the forest. When Jena is 15, though, their father becomes ill and is taken to the coast for the winter to recover his health. Jena tries to keep things in order, but her sister has fallen for a mysterious and potentially dangerous man she met at one of the full-moon dances; her cousin Cezar seems intent on taking over not only the household, but also the lives of the girls; fear among the neighbors, drummed up by Cezar, is threatening the future of the Wildwood; and the only friend Jena has to turn to is her pet frog, Gogu. How can she manage to save not only herself and her sisters, but also the entirety of the faerie realm?Review: This book had a lot of things going for it - most prominently the way it wove together a number of fairy tales into one historical Eastern European backdrop - and there wasn't anything really wrong with it. However, I felt like it always was missing some spark that would make truly unputdownable, and as a result, while I enjoyed it, I felt like it could have been more than it was.
The characterizations were well-done; Jena was a independent but not infallible narrator, her sisters all had distinct (if somewhat two-dimentional) personalities, and Cezar was a realistically drawn but still incredibly menacing villain. (Not that he starts out as a bad guy - Cezar's motivations and decisions, and the path on which they lead him, form one of the most complex and fascinating aspects of the book.) The relationships among the characters felt real, with a good eye for some of the more subtle nuances that could easily have been ignored. The fairy realm was also well done, with a clear sense of magic and wonder, but also a distinct undercurrent of danger and darkness, where bargains must be carefully worded, and every gift has its price.
I also really enjoyed all of the elements of various fairy tales that cropped up throughout, and how Marillier managed to make the entire book fit the rhythm and feel of the old stories. However, this also worked against the novel: because the rhythm of fairy tales is so familiar, it meant that the ending of this one was pretty predictable, even from fairly early on. That meant that at times this book felt kind of slow, and parts where Jena was pondering the identity of the green-eyed man from her visions, or waffling about what to do about her sisters felt overly dragged-out, since the answer should be obvious to anyone who was ever told a bedtime story. Technically, since Jena was living at a time when such stories were still being written, I can't really fault her for not knowing, but I still felt like there were places where I wanted the story to get to the point a little faster.
I listened to the audio version of this book, and I had somewhat of a mixed reaction. Kim Mai Guest does a nice job of differentiating the voices, and providing an appropriately-froggy-but-not-overly-silly voice for Gogu. It was also nice to hear all of the names pronounced correctly... but she also frequently carried that pronunciation over into the rest of the prose, so that many lines were read with a vaguely Eastern European accent, but some were not. It was distracting, more so than it would have been to have the whole thing read in an unaccented voice, and makes me inclined to recommend the text version rather than the audio. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: For fans of fairy tale retellings, especially those in a realistic historical setting, it's definitely worth trying.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
4.5 stars
15-year old Jena is the second of five sisters. All five, on nights where there is a full moon, find their way to a portal to the “Other Kingdom”, another world where they are able to dance the night away. Tati is one year older than Jena and falls for one of the “Night People”
This surprised me! I really, really liked this. I loved Gogu, Jena's pet frog! There were fairy tale elements that I hadn't expected, and although I often am not a fantasy fan, I do like fairy tales. I enjoyed this so much and I kept wanting to read. I will definitely be reading the next in the series, and will likely try other books by this author, as well.
I also found the author's note at the end interesting. She talked a little bit about Transylvania (where it was set), mythology and vampires.
15-year old Jena is the second of five sisters. All five, on nights where there is a full moon, find their way to a portal to the “Other Kingdom”, another world where they are able to dance the night away. Tati is one year older than Jena and falls for one of the “Night People”
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from the Other Kingdom, but the tales of the Night People are scary, so Jena is worried for her sister. In the regular world, their father is ill, so their cousin Cezar steps in to take over the girls' father's business, despite their father's wish that his perfectly capable daughters take care of things. This surprised me! I really, really liked this. I loved Gogu, Jena's pet frog! There were fairy tale elements that I hadn't expected, and although I often am not a fantasy fan, I do like fairy tales. I enjoyed this so much and I kept wanting to read. I will definitely be reading the next in the series, and will likely try other books by this author, as well.
I also found the author's note at the end interesting. She talked a little bit about Transylvania (where it was set), mythology and vampires.
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LibraryThing member utsusemia
I don't really like Marillier, but my friend recommended Wildwood Dancing to me, and when I heard that it was a retelling of my absolute favorite fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I knew that I had to give her a second chance. And actually, I’m pretty glad that I did. I don’t want to
Unfortunately, this book also confirmed what was on more egregious display in that earlier trilogy: Marillier is far from a subtle stylist. In fact, her narratives have all the emotional (and plot-functional) subtlety of the ending of Titanic. In illustration: at one point the main character gets a minor injury from a bramble bush. Her romantic lead kisses the cut, and asks “Does that make the hurt all better?”
Entirely sans irony.
And the secondary romance is a lite version of the unbearable star-crossed lovers thing I so hated in the trilogy. But if you like simple fairy tale retellings, and especially if you like The Twelve Dancing Princesses, this is worth reading. It won’t take up too much of your time ,and it left a smile on my face.
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spoil the experience, but suffice it to say that the primary romance featured characters interesting and realistic enough to sustain the narrative. I also really enjoyed the specific setting of Romania (as opposed to generic fantasy-land)– it fit very well with the mythological elements of the story she created and rooted the characters in an actual culture that constrained (and compelled) their actions.Unfortunately, this book also confirmed what was on more egregious display in that earlier trilogy: Marillier is far from a subtle stylist. In fact, her narratives have all the emotional (and plot-functional) subtlety of the ending of Titanic. In illustration: at one point the main character gets a minor injury from a bramble bush. Her romantic lead kisses the cut, and asks “Does that make the hurt all better?”
Entirely sans irony.
And the secondary romance is a lite version of the unbearable star-crossed lovers thing I so hated in the trilogy. But if you like simple fairy tale retellings, and especially if you like The Twelve Dancing Princesses, this is worth reading. It won’t take up too much of your time ,and it left a smile on my face.
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LibraryThing member edspicer
Set in what may be Transylvania and with characters whose names include Draguta and Vlad, this book obviously has to be about vampires (although the word vampire is never used). The fact that it both is about vampires and that I am surprised, speaks to why this book needs to be added to high school
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libraries (and make the BBYA list). The story, however, is more than vampires. It is about princesses dancing at midnight after traveling through a portal to another world. It is about frogs and transforming ourselves. It is about overcoming evil family members like Cezar who would crush our dreams. This sophisticated and interesting story is told through the voice of Jenica and Gogu, her pet frog. Jenica is the oldest of the five dancing princesses. Wildwood Dancing has myth and lore in a way that is never condescending or unbelievable. Especially enjoyable is the way that things like kissing a frog and watching that frog change into a prince seems so fresh and so enjoyable. The book is bursting with fairytale threads that weave throughout the story in a seamless, wonderful tapestry. While this book is probably more likely to appeal to high school girl readers, give this one to intelligent boys who love unexpected surprises. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarymeg
I've always been a sucker for a book inspired by fairy tales and folklore, and this particular book packed a heavy punch. The main fairy tales that can be seen are "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and "The Frog Prince," although neither is so obvious as to be boring and predictable. The book also
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covers all kinds of mythology, including fairies, dwarves, elves, and vampires. The book follows Jenica, one of the teenaged daughters of a Romanian merchant, who along with her sisters has been visiting the "other side" at every full moon for years. She is clever and independent, and her best friend Gogu is a frog who goes with her everywhere. When her father, whose health is too frail to stand the frigid winters, goes away to the coast for the winter he leaves Jenica in charge of the household and business. Jena not only has to keep her sisters safe in the other world, where a troop of Night People are visiting, but increasingly must defend her independence from her interfering cousin Cezar. I found the story to be beautifully written and completely absorbing, and I never wanted it to end. Wildwood Dancing was the first book I'd read by Juliet Marrillier, but I'm very excited to read more as soon as possible. I'd give this my highest recommendation to fantasy fans everywhere. Show Less
LibraryThing member LadyBlakney
It's been long enough since I read this that I don't remember the details - only that I liked it. I know that's not very helpful, but if the main thing that sticks in my mind is that its a good book, that must counts for alot (especially when you take into consideration that fact that I can't
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recall the titles of most of the books I read without looking at my book journal). Show Less
LibraryThing member polliejean
I thought it would be fitting that my first review feature my favorite author. Words cannot justly express just how much I adore Juliet Marillier. I was first introduced to her when I found her Sevenwaters trilogy at a used bookstore. I fell in love. Never have I been so emotionally attached to
Wildwood Dancing has everything I love in a novel: strong characters, romance, magic, adventure, and is rich with detail. The world that Marillier creates is so richly woven that I became more lost within it with every page I turned. Her characters and plot are so completely engrossing that I stayed up well past midnight in order to find out what happened next, full of suspicions and making guesses, eager to see if I was right. This was a book that had my heart pounding in some places, and tears streaming in others.
In the end, I was happy with the story but sad to see the characters go. I wanted more. Finishing a Marillier novel is like parting with very dear friends, or leaving home.
Please read this novel! I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
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characters in a novel. When I discovered she was to write a young adult novel I was beyond elated.Wildwood Dancing has everything I love in a novel: strong characters, romance, magic, adventure, and is rich with detail. The world that Marillier creates is so richly woven that I became more lost within it with every page I turned. Her characters and plot are so completely engrossing that I stayed up well past midnight in order to find out what happened next, full of suspicions and making guesses, eager to see if I was right. This was a book that had my heart pounding in some places, and tears streaming in others.
In the end, I was happy with the story but sad to see the characters go. I wanted more. Finishing a Marillier novel is like parting with very dear friends, or leaving home.
Please read this novel! I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
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LibraryThing member cmbohn
Jena and her 4 sisters have a secret. Every full moon, they find a portal into the Other World and dance the night away. But things are changing. Their father must leave their home and spend the winter away for his health. He leaves the castle in the care of Jena and her older sister Tati, and
Add to this the twist that Tati falls in love with one of the other visitors to the Other World, one who hangs around with a suspicious crowd. Vampires, anyone? Jena's own companion, a frog, starts acting differently too. It seems like just when things can't get any worse for the family, they do.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a mix of vampire folklore (it's set in Romania), the 12 Dancing Princesses and The Frog Prince, but it works surprisingly well. I really liked Jena, despite her flaws, and I loved the ending. Then I found out there's a sequel, Cybele's Secret, which might not be out yet. This one was a lot of fun.
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reminds them to ask their uncle for any help they need. But after he leaves, their uncle is killed in a hunting accident and their cousin Cezar takes over. And wow, does he take over. Suddenly the girls have little control over anything, because Cezar knows best.Add to this the twist that Tati falls in love with one of the other visitors to the Other World, one who hangs around with a suspicious crowd. Vampires, anyone? Jena's own companion, a frog, starts acting differently too. It seems like just when things can't get any worse for the family, they do.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a mix of vampire folklore (it's set in Romania), the 12 Dancing Princesses and The Frog Prince, but it works surprisingly well. I really liked Jena, despite her flaws, and I loved the ending. Then I found out there's a sequel, Cybele's Secret, which might not be out yet. This one was a lot of fun.
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LibraryThing member mmillet
I finished tis book in one day, I just couldn't put it down. Its a twist on the Twelve Dancing Princess and the Frog Prince, but so much better than I've ever heard them. Beautiful story with wonderful detail and characters. One of my new favorites!
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
It's the early 1500s in wintery Transylvania, and five sisters are left on their own as their father leaves for the coast for the sake of his health. Second eldest sister Jena is managing the estate and business just fine until their Uncle Nicolae dies. Their cousin Cezar take the opportunity to
Every full moon, the sisters journey to the Other Kingdom through a portal to dance with various magical creatures. Cezar suspects that they are involved in the Other Kingdom which he blames for the death of his older brother Costi ten years before. Jena tries to warn the magical people's and also stop Tati from seeing Sorrow who lives in the Other Kingdom and whom, Jena suspects, is one of the Night People. Jena's treasured constant companion is a most unusual frog.
I like how this book is loosely related to the fairy tales, The Frog Prince and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, as well as cleverly incorporating Transylvanian vampire lore. A good fantasy read.
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seize control of their assets and takes over their castle Piscul Draculi. Every full moon, the sisters journey to the Other Kingdom through a portal to dance with various magical creatures. Cezar suspects that they are involved in the Other Kingdom which he blames for the death of his older brother Costi ten years before. Jena tries to warn the magical people's and also stop Tati from seeing Sorrow who lives in the Other Kingdom and whom, Jena suspects, is one of the Night People. Jena's treasured constant companion is a most unusual frog.
I like how this book is loosely related to the fairy tales, The Frog Prince and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, as well as cleverly incorporating Transylvanian vampire lore. A good fantasy read.
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LibraryThing member booksandwine
I'll write this when I'm sober... buuuuut it was AWESOME!!
LibraryThing member Samanthasrai
Quite a wonderful little book that balanced and incorporated very well both the encounters with the Other Kingdom and the issues facing Jena in reality. A lovely fairytale quality to it, with some great characterisation and established relationships, particularly between Jena and her frog. The only
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thing that deterred me a little was the final romantic encounter- a bit ick, but what can you expect from a book based on fairytale- there was always going to be a happy ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member aimb
Wildwood Dancing is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses with The Frog Prince and vampires put in as well. Jena is the heroine of the story, her and her four sisters are left alone in their home when their father becomes ill and must go to a warmer climate for the winter.
I thougth this was good retelling of some well known fairy tales. Juliet Marillier does a good job of describing the Other Kingdom and the creatures the sisters find there. These were the best parts of the book. Cezar made a very believable villain and there was lots of tension in the book because of him that made it more interesting. The vampires were shown in a little different light and really just played minor characters in the book. The one thing that I really didn't care for was the love story between Jena's sister Tatiana and Sorrow. Tatiana spends most of the book pining for Sorrow and is no help to her sisters at all. Other than that it was fun to read this fairy tale story.
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They are left to endure the harsh Romanian winter with only the help of their cousin, Cezar. The only true enjoyment they find in their lives is every full moon they pass through a magical portal to an enchanted place called the Other Kingdom where they spend the night dancing with magical creatures. Joining the sisters to this kingdom is Gogu, Jena's constant companion, a pet frog that she carries in her pocket who can speak to her. Of course Jena must face trouble and they are found in her sisters falling in love with one of the magical people and her cousin Cezar taking more control from her and taking more power over the family. I thougth this was good retelling of some well known fairy tales. Juliet Marillier does a good job of describing the Other Kingdom and the creatures the sisters find there. These were the best parts of the book. Cezar made a very believable villain and there was lots of tension in the book because of him that made it more interesting. The vampires were shown in a little different light and really just played minor characters in the book. The one thing that I really didn't care for was the love story between Jena's sister Tatiana and Sorrow. Tatiana spends most of the book pining for Sorrow and is no help to her sisters at all. Other than that it was fun to read this fairy tale story.
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LibraryThing member BookRatMisty
Wildwood Dancing is retold fairy tale set in Romania of a century ago. Five sisters (beautiful Tati; sensible Jena, who narrates the story; lively Iulia; smart Paula and young Stela) are left to take care of their estate, Piscul Dracului, when their father travels south for his health. They try to
Wildwood Dancing retells the classic Twelve Dancing Princesses, as well as weaving in other traditional tales and bits of mythology in an interesting and clever way. Marillier’s use of Romania as a setting provides great depth to the story, layering in interesting culture and an appropriately untamed setting. Her writing is well-suited to the story, making it lush and fully fleshed out. The world she creates and the characters who inhabit it are detailed and dynamic, and though some things work out a little too conveniently and quickly for all the build-up, the story is enchanting and I was sad when it was over. Perfect for those who love retold fairy tales, historical and paranormal romance, and strong female characters.
(On a personal note, I want my own Gogu)
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go on with their lives as before: doing chores, watching over his mercantile business, and sneaking out of their bedroom once a month through a secret portal that lead to a fairy realm where they dance until dawn. But when Tati begins to show feelings for a potentially dangerous creature from the Other Kingdom, and the girls’ cousin, Cezar, shows up to take over the affairs of the castle, Jena begins to fear that the world she knows is falling apart. With her best friend, a talking frog named Gogu, at her side, Jena struggles to maintain her independence and control while keeping her family together and her fairy friends safe. Wildwood Dancing retells the classic Twelve Dancing Princesses, as well as weaving in other traditional tales and bits of mythology in an interesting and clever way. Marillier’s use of Romania as a setting provides great depth to the story, layering in interesting culture and an appropriately untamed setting. Her writing is well-suited to the story, making it lush and fully fleshed out. The world she creates and the characters who inhabit it are detailed and dynamic, and though some things work out a little too conveniently and quickly for all the build-up, the story is enchanting and I was sad when it was over. Perfect for those who love retold fairy tales, historical and paranormal romance, and strong female characters.
(On a personal note, I want my own Gogu)
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LibraryThing member Ddevil
can't explain, it's amazing, love love love it!
LibraryThing member isigfethera
The main drift of the story follows the five sisters, who live in the Transylvanian countryside, fending for themselves for the winter as their merchant father travels to warmer weather for his health. More specifically, it follows the second oldest sister, Jena, who is in charge of the family
There's a lot going on, and its a great fairy tale, coming-of-age story. Some parts of the plot and exposition felt a bit rushed toward the end, and the characters had a couple of moments of not noticing the obvious, but overall really enjoyed this book. I liked the love story, and I liked the relationship between the sisters. Though some the sisters were in danger of seeming two-dimensional at times- the smart one, the flighty one, the baby- for the most part this was avoided due to the clearly strong relationship they had, which allowed them to be fleshed out, and this relationship is sketched in well, the sisterly love, tensions and all.
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business while their father is away, with support from her uncle's family who live nearby. Unfortunately, her cousin's idea of help is to take control of the household of girls, and to pursue his goal of clearing the woods to take revenge on its supernatural inhabitants for the death of his older brother when they were kids. This threatens the household and their trips to the other kingdom to dance every full moon, as well as their independence and hopes for the future. The book feels increasingly suffocating as the the smart, practical and independent Jena and her sisters find themselves increasingly controlled, and face how little power they have as women in their time period. These are the books that made me cry as a kid, the infuriating and senseless injustice of someone abusing their power over others. It makes for a similar reaction as an adult, the same helpless feeling of suffocation. Jena battles with her cousin and works to look after her sisters as events in the both worlds lead to a crisis, with the help of her frog. Did I mention there's a love story?There's a lot going on, and its a great fairy tale, coming-of-age story. Some parts of the plot and exposition felt a bit rushed toward the end, and the characters had a couple of moments of not noticing the obvious, but overall really enjoyed this book. I liked the love story, and I liked the relationship between the sisters. Though some the sisters were in danger of seeming two-dimensional at times- the smart one, the flighty one, the baby- for the most part this was avoided due to the clearly strong relationship they had, which allowed them to be fleshed out, and this relationship is sketched in well, the sisterly love, tensions and all.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
A wonderfully suspenseful adaptation of several familiar fairy tales with a few vampires thrown in for interest.
With their father taken ill and sent south for his health, five daughters of a wealthy merchant are left to their own devices for the winter. Second-eldest, 16 year old Jenica and her pet
Marillier masterfully combines a number of familiar tales here -- the frog prince, the twelve dancing princesses, Transylvanian "night people", the lady of the lake, etc. -- with domestic and cultural elements typical of the time-period. In the best Grimm tradition, the evil are punished, but even wise choices are not without peril.
With their father taken ill and sent south for his health, five daughters of a wealthy merchant are left to their own devices for the winter. Second-eldest, 16 year old Jenica and her pet
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frog Gogu are capably managing the finances, and all the girls from eldest to youngest (17-6) are enjoying a monthly frolic in the Wildwood, reached through a secret door in their bedchamber. At first all goes well, but soon thanks to the girls power-hungry cousin Cezar's manipulations, events take a dark turn. Can Jena save her sisters and the land from Cezar's machinations?Marillier masterfully combines a number of familiar tales here -- the frog prince, the twelve dancing princesses, Transylvanian "night people", the lady of the lake, etc. -- with domestic and cultural elements typical of the time-period. In the best Grimm tradition, the evil are punished, but even wise choices are not without peril.
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LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
Not sure how to rate this. Somewhere around 3.5 stars rounded up to generous 4 I guess?
I really do like Juliet Marillier's writing, even though it always takes me a while to get into any of her books. I like how descriptive and atmospheric her stories are. Wildwood Dancing offers an interesting
I am starting to see a bit of a pattern in Marillier's books though. The story here is basically the same as I've read in her first 2 Sevenwaters books - the same cast of characters - a self-sufficient heroine, a suddenly weakened father, loving siblings, fairies, a family member villain, etc. The main conflict always has something to do with fairy games and the human villain trying to force himself on the heroine.
This particular story is also a little bit convoluted and muddy. I never got the clear picture what happened and why. Jena and her sisters, when her father is absent, start experiencing troubles in both fairy realm and real world. Then these difficulties are all resolves, but interestingly enough, without any kind of effort on the sisters' part. Basically, a witch messed with them all and then all her spells are gone. All that the sisters need to do is endure and wait for changes to come. It's just weird.
And then some actions by the main character - Jena - are strange too. I often didn't understand why exactly she did certain things. For example, her sexist pig cousin tries to take away the authority Jena has over her household and her father's business' finances, and all she does is argue with him without actually exercising the power she has to stop him. And it happens on several occasions. So, you see, she is pretty much all talk no game. It is frustrating. And then the way she reacts to her best friend's transformation doesn't make sense either.
Now, looking over my review, I think I am going to downgrade my rating to 3 stars. I am, however, still very much interested in reading the sequel - Cybele's Secret.
I really do like Juliet Marillier's writing, even though it always takes me a while to get into any of her books. I like how descriptive and atmospheric her stories are. Wildwood Dancing offers an interesting
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blend of traditional fairy tales (The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Frog Prince) and Transylvanian vampire lore. The characters are likable - the heroines are strong and resourceful, the heroes valiant and loving, the villains sufficiently despicable. And of course, there is always LOVE, a sweet and touching type of love.I am starting to see a bit of a pattern in Marillier's books though. The story here is basically the same as I've read in her first 2 Sevenwaters books - the same cast of characters - a self-sufficient heroine, a suddenly weakened father, loving siblings, fairies, a family member villain, etc. The main conflict always has something to do with fairy games and the human villain trying to force himself on the heroine.
This particular story is also a little bit convoluted and muddy. I never got the clear picture what happened and why. Jena and her sisters, when her father is absent, start experiencing troubles in both fairy realm and real world. Then these difficulties are all resolves, but interestingly enough, without any kind of effort on the sisters' part. Basically, a witch messed with them all and then all her spells are gone. All that the sisters need to do is endure and wait for changes to come. It's just weird.
And then some actions by the main character - Jena - are strange too. I often didn't understand why exactly she did certain things. For example, her sexist pig cousin tries to take away the authority Jena has over her household and her father's business' finances, and all she does is argue with him without actually exercising the power she has to stop him. And it happens on several occasions. So, you see, she is pretty much all talk no game. It is frustrating. And then the way she reacts to her best friend's transformation doesn't make sense either.
Now, looking over my review, I think I am going to downgrade my rating to 3 stars. I am, however, still very much interested in reading the sequel - Cybele's Secret.
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LibraryThing member page.fault
Wildwood Dancing may be, externally, a fairytale retelling, but on a deeper level, it is a commentary on feminism and the role of women. Jena, the main character, is strong and perceptive, but trapped and stifled by her role as a young girl, forced into dependence by the men around her. My feelings
The antagonist of the story, Cezar, is actually pretty standard fare for fairytales and romance stories: domineering, controlling, passionate, and angry. Yet although Cezar mouths all of the proper Heathcliffe remarks, despite his "passion" or "love", Jena continues to note how he is driven to stifle and control Jena. Marillier does an absolutely stellar job in capturing the myriad ways in which he seeks to dominate her, including noting each time he physically invades her space--taking her arm, brushing her shoulder, even leaning into her so that their legs touch; for example, "I could feel the imprint of his hand on my waist, like a brand of ownership."
But this is still a fairytale, so we still have the ridiculously young heroines (ages 15 and 16, no less) seeking and finding their "true loves." We still have women obsessing over dressing and dances and parties and planning to effectively sell themselves as property. We still have "true love" as so important and significant that it makes one girl become detached and withdrawn and starve herself--and apparently that's OK, because it's the prerogative of one in the throes of True Love. I felt, when reading it, like a bemused Elinor watching the starstruck Marianne in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
Overall, I found the story enjoyable, and I loved Jena's strength and sense. The story is a fantastic YA novel, a beautiful blend of fairy tales with themes that are both relevant and articulately delivered.
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about the book are as mixed and torn as Jena is between her roles of subservience and strength.The antagonist of the story, Cezar, is actually pretty standard fare for fairytales and romance stories: domineering, controlling, passionate, and angry. Yet although Cezar mouths all of the proper Heathcliffe remarks, despite his "passion" or "love", Jena continues to note how he is driven to stifle and control Jena. Marillier does an absolutely stellar job in capturing the myriad ways in which he seeks to dominate her, including noting each time he physically invades her space--taking her arm, brushing her shoulder, even leaning into her so that their legs touch; for example, "I could feel the imprint of his hand on my waist, like a brand of ownership."
But this is still a fairytale, so we still have the ridiculously young heroines (ages 15 and 16, no less) seeking and finding their "true loves." We still have women obsessing over dressing and dances and parties and planning to effectively sell themselves as property. We still have "true love" as so important and significant that it makes one girl become detached and withdrawn and starve herself--and apparently that's OK, because it's the prerogative of one in the throes of True Love. I felt, when reading it, like a bemused Elinor watching the starstruck Marianne in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
Overall, I found the story enjoyable, and I loved Jena's strength and sense. The story is a fantastic YA novel, a beautiful blend of fairy tales with themes that are both relevant and articulately delivered.
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LibraryThing member Ritastradling
I don't know if I'm just getting better at this, but I predicted everything that would happen by (about) the second chapter; so I'd be dishonest if I didn't call this book predictable. Usually when I can see what's comming I lose interest but not with this book. I love this book. The writing is
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excellent the characters developed and the story captivating. Show Less
LibraryThing member anyaejo
I only got like 20 pages into Wildwood Dancing and just wasn't really in the mood for it. I'm not particularly feeling Twelve Dancing Princesses right now and I'm not a fan of vampires so since the writing didn't really grab me, it's probably just not the book for me, oh well!
LibraryThing member rocalisa
Wildwood Dancing - Juliet Marillier
Fantasy. This is a loose retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses about five sisters and I think I just wasn't in the mood. I still think it sounds very interesting and will give it another go some time.
Fantasy. This is a loose retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses about five sisters and I think I just wasn't in the mood. I still think it sounds very interesting and will give it another go some time.
LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
What a marvel this book was. Truly enchanting, with exquisite descriptions of faerie, a wonderful tale of female friendship and a top-notch feminist-friendly heroine. Lovely romance too. I loved this so much. My first book by Marillier, but certainly not the last.
Pages
407