Wildwood Dancing (2006)

I'd rate this 3 1/2 stars.

This is the story of Jena, her enchanted frog, and her 4 sisters. It is a full length fairy tale and is well told. It evoked emotion in me, most often frustration for Jena over Cezar's doings, and frustration with Jena over her reaction to Gogu's transformation, but I also experienced Jena's wonder and the magic of the Dancing Glade along with Jena and her sisters.

I enjoyed this story, and although it is a fairy tale, I'm not sure I would categorize it as a YA novel. Although there was nothing specifically in it to categorize it as an adult novel, (i.e. no sex, extreme violence, foul language, etc.) I felt the story to be far more maturely written than I would expect in a YA novel. ( )

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 excellent the characters developed and the story captivating. ( )

Wildwood Dancing is a very interesting blend of several different fairytales and folklore: the seven dancing princesses, the princess and the frog, stories of vampires and fairies. I love fairytale retellings, and it was interesting to see the way these were all put together in a reasonably historical framework, in Romania -- with strong touches of realism, when the girls were going about their ordinary lives.

Unfortunately, for me, there was something all too predictable about it. I'd answered all the questions long before the narrator, Jena, even thought to ask them. I knew the identity of Gogu, and what Cezar had done, and what would happen to Costi... At some point, I've read a book very like this, or enough books that were like this to tie them all together and make an Ur-Wildwood Dancing in my head! That made it rather less fun for me, since I knew how it would all go and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop, constantly.

With that in mind, I'm not sure how much I actually enjoyed reading it. Everything just seemed so familiar -- and I'm absolutely positive I haven't read it before. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, I think it's worth a try, and I haven't been put off Juliet Marillier entirely: I'm going to read Cybele's Secret, at least, which is the sequel to this. I'm told the narrator is one of the sisters from this story, but not Jena. I wanted more depth in Paula, Iulia and Stela, so perhaps Cybele's Secret will provide. If not, I'll give one of her other books from a different series a try, and then perhaps give it up if that doesn't work out... I really want to like what Marillier does -- and in some ways, her work reminds me of Robin McKinley's: that was a part of the familiarity I had with the writing, I think -- but this was just too, too predictable for me. ( )

Based very loosely on the traditional fairytales of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and "The Frog Prince” WILDWOOD DANCING slowly drew me into its world as the magic contained in the story leaked out and wove a web around me. Aaaah isn’t that poetic? Everything you need in a good fantasy is here – damsels in distress, heroes, menacing villains and various assortments of both good and evil fairy creatures, and a frog. Yes I did say a frog! Jena relates the story and is a perfect heroine – loyal, determined (maybe a tad stubborn), adventurous, chaste, brave and though she tries hard to be sensible she does make wrong decisions, so is not flawless. Overall the main characters are all well developed and there is definite growth in Jena’s character as she learns that you can’t control everything and sometimes you have to make the moves to rectify mistakes. If you are looking for a story that is historical, magical, full of adventure with some romance thrown in then this is the book for you.

Loosely based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, among other fairy tales, Wildwood Dancing is the story of five sisters who disappear into The Other Kingdom for a fairy revel every full moon night. But when their father leaves them alone to spend the winter in another city, their cousin, Cezar, realizes something is going on and starts making their lives difficult.

So maybe there's nothing deep or thought-provoking here. This was still a hugely fun book. It's pretty obvious that this is a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but there are some other fairy tales thrown in. I enjoyed seeing how all of them fit together to make this tale.

Jena is the second-oldest sister and the narrator of the book. I loved her. I have noticed in Marillier's other books that her female characters rock, and this one isn't any different. She's intelligent, capable, caring, but also maybe a little blind and naive about some things. Her sisters are a little bit of a disappointment. They don't really have huge roles to play, so they fall more into stereotypes. The pretty one. The smart one. The flirt. The baby. But for me, that just fell right into the spirit of a fairy tale. If you really think about it, aren't they generally peopled with stereotypes that prevent a lot of needless explanation?

Cezar was bad enough for me to really despise him, but he didn't cross this weird line I have where I hate the bad guy too much. He was an insufferable, chauvinist prick who infuriated me, but at the same time I loved it. Go figure.

Once I realized that there were so many stories being woven together to make this one, I started to worry a little that there was no good way to wrap it up. But it all comes together in the end. I do have one or two lingering questions that I would like to have answered, but that's just me. Everything really does wrap up nicely in the end.

If you love fairy tale re-tellings, go pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. ( )