A review by cousinrachel
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
DNF. I’m only moderately invested in the characters. There’s not much humor or charm, and the often incredibly selfish sisters at the center of the plot spend far more time arguing than supporting each other even during their financial crisis and father’s illness.

Secondly, I anticipated the magical world they’re frequent visitors to and have partially grown up in would be more of a main focus, but it takes a back seat to the protagonist’s managing the household and conflicting with her family. I never felt much individuality from the “other kingdom” characters or a sense of being in said kingdom, in other words, that it was a “real” place.

Also it’s really heavy-handed with demonstrating the main villain is a huge misogynist, as he can’t ever go a single page without saying some exaggerated oafish thing to the female characters and talking about how stupid they all are. I don’t need the point shoved down my throat.

For books about siblings who find an enchanted country, I still gotta go with Narnia. Kind of want to reread it now, actually.
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