Book Review: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Title: Wildwood Dancing
Author: Juliet Marillier
Published: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 403
Total Page Count: 70,037
Text Number: 202
Read For: personal enjoyment, checked out from the library
Short review: On a Transylvanian estate, five sisters, including the independent Jena and her frog companion Gogu, have a portal which every full moon takes them deep into the fairy realm. But when their father leaves for the winter, they must struggle to hold their family together against the attacks of a domineering cousin and trouble in the magic realm. Despite a promising setting and cast of characters, this book is bogged down by the frustration of a predictable plot and exaggerated antagonists. Avoid this novel—it's just not worth reading, especially while there are so many better books with similar premises.

( Long review. )

Review posted here on Amazon.com.

BPAL Review: Lovers with Rutting Cats, White Chocolate and Sugared Violets, Lovers in a Ricefield

LOVERS WITH RUTTING CATS (LE, Lupercalia 2009: Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements II)
Vanilla, red ginger, oakmoss, palm date, and oud.
( Review. )

Verdict: When I sniff my skin directly, the oud is a little too smoky-dry for me. But from a distance, floating around me in a whispered haze of scent, Rutting Cats is simply lovely. The vanilla is rich and creamy, colored and spiced by the red ginger and just a touch of date, and it's a beautiful balance of smoothness and spice. I wish I could bury my nose in the scent, but instead I'll be content to enjoy the waves of it that surround me. I'll keep my decant, but don't need a bottle.


WHITE CHOCOLATE AND SUGARED VIOLETS (LE, Luperalia 2009: Box of Chocolates)
( Review. )

Verdict: I wish the white chocolate were a bit more present, but even if it were I doubt a sugary herbal would delight be. I'll retest this in a few more days, to see if the scent is still settling after shipping, but as it is this is just too herbal, too light on the chocolate, and all-around too odd for me. I'll trade away my imp.

ETA: As it wears, the stark herbal nature of the violets continues to dry down. Within an hour this becomes much more pleasant, a soft powdery herbal against a more noticeable sweet white chocolate. However, it never quite reaches the point where I enjoy it. While it improves as it wears, I'll still pass along my imp.


LOVERS IN A RICEFIELD (LE, Lupercalia 2009: Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements II)
Plum blossom, vanilla sandalwood, nutmeg, and wild rice.
( Review. )

Verdict: Lovers in a Ricefield is pleasant but a bit flat. It's just plum and vanilla for me, which is nice enough but lacks dimension—there's no warmth and texture from the spices, barely any starch from the rice, or whatever else I was supposed to find here. I don't know yet if I'll keep my decant, but I certainly don't need a bottle.