Wildwood Dancing

I have literally had this book on my TBR for YEARS! And I am so sad that I haven't read it until now. This book hit everything right for me, and after a long string of disappointing YA fantasy and fairytale retellings, I was happy to finally find one I loved, even if it is an older release.
Firstly, I found the writing to be exquisite, being atmospheric and lyrical, but not so much so that it detracts from the story. It transported me to that world and wrapped me in it. The ancient, maze-like castle, the mysterious forest, the magical realm, and all the varied fairy denizens hidden in the Wildwood –are described in striking detail and made it a place I wanted to wander to myself.
The main character Jena and her frog companion were my favourites by far and a huge reason why I loved this book. Level-headed, family-oriented, smart, and determined, Jena has a lot of qualities to admire. But also, to be wary of! It would be easy to have made her this all-encompassing hero, but Marillier shows that even our best qualities can become toxic if not kept in check and when not considering others. The story is at its heart a coming-of-age story and Jena must learn to grow as well as let go, and her journey there feels very real.
Jena's sisters are not as detailed and therefore I didn't find my connection to them to be very strong, only through the lens of Jena's love for them is there any kind of feeling for them. In fact, her older sister Tatiana was probably the most annoying of the bunch. The love at first sight and wasting away and ignoring your family because you're pining over love is just too base and toxic, and if I had one detraction to mention about this book it would be her storyline. I was thoroughly annoyed with her!
The villain of the story was suitably slimy and made my skin crawl every time he appeared, but his motivations allow him some humanity and therefore he's not just a cookie-cutter bad guy, but also all the more frustrating in how he chooses to act.
There are surprise reveals and lessons to be learned, which is very fitting for a fairytale. I was satisfied with the ending, even if the story was a bit drawn out in the middle and took longer to get to the conclusion than was maybe necessary. I didn't mind since I liked the world so much.
Much of what I dislike about YA fantasy was done so much better in Wildwood Dancing. Delicious writing, strong family bonds, friendship, a strong main character but with room to learn and grow, a dark, mysterious, and magical world, and a main romance born out of friendship rather than love at first sight.
I just fell in love with this book and will definitely be putting it on my favs list.