This book got a ton of hype last year, which I totally resisted, then when I did pick it up to read it I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it (5 stars!) There’s a sequel to look forward to, as well. This is a difficult book to categorize-it does have a supernatural element to it (angels, fallen angels, the devil?), but it’s not a lame-o Twilight book.
The heroine is a fascinating teenager living in Prague (which is also fascinating). Turns out she’s been raised by some supernatural beings that she can always find, but no one else can. Her father figure carer is a terrifying creature, but caring and nurturing to her and along with some others the only family she’s ever had. She does not know the specifics of his work, but the reader can tell it’s unsavory.
Things start happening around the world and it’s all very good and evil, fire and brimstone, questioning what she knows. Romance, adventure, mythology, religion-all wrapped up in a detailed, exciting package.
I adored this fairy tale fantasy. It’s based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which was one of my favorite fairy tales as a child (read in those Andrew Lang “color” fairy books-Red Fairy Book, Yellow Fairy Book, etc.), but adds elements of Transylvanian lore, Night People aka vampires, and a bewitched frog. Instead of twelve sisters there are 5, and it’s told from the second eldest’s pov. Gorgeous cover, but the title is not very romantic to those of us from New Jersey! (Wildwood Dancing conjures up images of girls at Wildwood beach partying in the summer.)
