Nestled deep in the Transylvanian woods, the castle Piscul Draculi is home to five sisters and their devoted father. For Jena, the second eldest, life is an enchanting exploration of the mysterious forest, often accompanied by her unusual frog companion. However, the true marvel of their lives is a hidden portal, known only to the sisters, which opens into the ethereal Other Kingdom every Full Moon. Here, they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm. Their idyllic existence shatters when their father falls ill, forcing him to seek recovery in the south. With his departure comes their cunning cousin Cezar, ostensibly to help them through winter, but Jena senses his motives are far darker. Adding to the turmoil, Jena's sister falls for a dangerous creature from the Other Kingdom, an impossible union Jena feels compelled to prevent. As Cezar's sinister influence tightens its grip, threatening their home, family, and the beloved Other Kingdom, Jena finds herself facing unimaginable tests of trust, strength, and love to save everything she holds dear.
Critical Reception
"Juliet Marillier's "Wildwood Dancing" is widely acclaimed as a captivating and richly woven fairy tale retelling, celebrated for its atmospheric prose and enchanting world-building within the young adult fantasy genre."