Welcome to another book review! I was gifted a copy of Juliet Marillier's Wildwood Dancing by a dear friend, and now I'm excited to share my thoughts with you!
While it is geared toward younger readers, I have no doubt this cozy novel will delight adults too, especially this season.
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Category: Cozy Read
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RATING: 3.5/5 Stars
Plot: 3/5 stars
Characters: 3/5 stars
World: 5/5 stars
Pairings: Mămăligă (Polenta) porridge with plum compote + hot chocolate
I've heard it said that girls can't keep secrets. That's wrong: we'd proved it.
PLOT
For several years, Jena—along with her frog companion and sisters—has secretly used a hidden portal in their Transylvanian home to sneak away to the Other Kingdom and join faerie revels each full moon. Sounds dreamy, right?
But things take a turn for the worst when a dangerous stranger catches the eye of Jena's elder sister, their father becomes ill and must leave home to recover, and their cousin steps in to help them manage through the winter. Everything Jena loves is threatened, but she is determined to fight for her home, family, and future.
Despite being a book for kids, there is a lot going on in this story: fear of losing loved ones, increasing difficulty in keeping their monthly trips a secret, a forbidden romance, people vying for power and control over what is not theirs, a family business in danger, a curious magical friend, family tensions, faerie bargains, death, unease in the local community, exploration of gender roles… I think you get my point.
Yet it felt like there wasn’t any real action on the girls’ part when it came to the resolution. Oftentimes, they had to wait it out while others embarked on quests, undid spells, or otherwise reversed their misfortunes. The plot was a bit predictable, and I wish there had been a bigger showdown at the end, but I get that this is a kids' book and still had fun with it.
CHARACTERS
Jena and Tatiana, her eldest sister, get the most page time in this story, but each sister has her own distinct personality.
Jena is a character young girls can look up to. She's headstrong, knows what she wants, and has a deep love for her family. With no mother to step in and care for them, Jena takes it upon herself to be a mother figure to her sisters despite not being the eldest. She is also relatable in her insecurities and moments of self-doubt. That said, she isn't perfect. She makes mistakes she has to learn from, but when she realizes her missteps, she does all she can to make up for them.
Tatiana is a bit of a mess, to be honest. She's so self-absorbed and obsessed with her new love that she is never there for her sisters. Instead, she becomes a liability and another source of stress for the younger girls. It's annoying, but I think her character is a great way to illustrate how sitting around and passively waiting for what you want is never the answer.
The other sisters are not as involved in the story, which is a shame. I wish they had been more fleshed out and able to help.
Gogu, Jena's enchanted companion, provides snark and comedic relief. His relationship with Jena is adorable, and I was quickly endeared by the contrast of his protective nature with his size.
As for the antagonist... I'll just say I loathed them and could not wait for them to get what was coming.
WORLD
I enjoyed how Jena's home in the dreary Transylvanian winter and the harshness of the girls’ reality is contrasted by the bright, warm, carefree vibrancy of the Other Kingdom's dancing glade. But not everything in the land of the fey is light and harmless. We see faeries up to typical tricks, but also a more sinister breed in a visiting court.
One of my favorite things about this book is the way Marillier incorporates vampire lore into the story. Rather than outright stating there are vampires, we're shown through their appearance, disposition, and abilities, as well as their kingdom and the rumors swirling around them. This lent a much darker tone that rounded out the world and story nicely.
Certain elements of this world and story would make for an excellent Burton film!
IN CONCLUSION
Marillier's loose retelling and blending of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Grog Prince is a cozy, magical, emotional ride with an unexpected dark side and tons of classic fairytale elements. The characters have their faults, but their stories hold valuable messages for readers young and old. I could of course relate to their desire and excitement around sneaking off to the Other Kingdom and participating in faerie revels. The world and atmosphere, with their cozy yet mildly spooky vibes, were my favorite part.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy, light read that has a touch of darkness. If you like middle-grade/teen fiction, fey and fairytale vibes, vampires, and stories about women fighting against the patriarchy, you'll enjoy this novel.