4 Stars
Pros: Whitten's way with words is beautiful, she's able to paint the first sinister and then beautiful scenes in the Wilderwood so vivdly/The concept behind the Wolf and the Second Daughters, first starting as legend but Red learning more, it was interesting.
Cons: The ending was a bit contrived, very much, "I know things are rough but for right now, let's hold each others hands and go home" but I can understand why Whitten did what she did/Every now and again Whitten re-use words, I can't recall any specifically but after awhile it got a little tiresome.
Full Review:
Redharys (Red) is the second daughter of Queen Isla and that means she'll be a sacrifice to the Wilderwood and the monstrous Wolf that lives within its borders. The sacrifice is a long standing tradition and is done in the vain hope that if the Wolf finds the sacrifice acceptable, then he'll release the five kings that he's kept imprisoned in the Wilderwood for centuries. If the Wolf releases the Kings, then the people of Valleyda can again, have their rulers and all can feel right with the world. The fact that it's never worked doesn't seem to phase anyone, except for Redharys, who will have to go into the Wilderwood in her 20th year and give herself over to a mythical monster. Old habits die hard though and Red is sent to the Wilderwood but her twin sister Neverah (Neve) is determined to find a way to bring her back.
Another part of the myth is that the sacrifice also keeps monsters from the Shadowlands from escaping the Wilderwood and wreaking havoc in Valleyda, or so everyone is told. There are indeed monsters in the woods, shadow creatures that infect the trees and men alike but they're the product of the five Kings originally attempting to bargain with the Wilderwood, so long ago.
While Red is learning about herself and the Wolf, Eammon, who is human, but also a creature of the wood, bound in flesh and magic, Neve begins following the fanatical leadership of a Priestess of the Order, Kiri. Under her direction, Arick (a long time lover of Red) and Neve, begin working with Kiri to weaken the Wilderwood and try to make it so Red can return to the castle. They create the Order of the Five Shadows and though Neve is convinced that what they're doing is right, in the Wilderwood, the Sentinels (trees whose job is to keep the monsters from the Shadowlands at bay) begin dying and disappearing at an alarming rate, thus allowing shadow creatures to cross over.
Eammon and Red learn that they can work better together, when they're close, and that the magic that is in them and in the Wilderwood, is stronger when they work together. This of course creates a strong, emotional bond and romance, but Eammon is hesitant to let himself get too close to Red because he must constantly keep the Wilderwood at bay since its one goal is to get to Red and drain her dry, always hungry for her blood, always desperate to live, since that is how its survived for so long, by draining the Second Daughters dry.
Red knows she needs to go home and talk Neve out of whatever she's doing, but her newfound feelings for Eammon are complicated and make her want to stay. It's the usual "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario but once she actually does get back to Valleyda, things are far worse than she could ever possibly have imagined. Bargains have been made with creatures far older than even the Wolf and it could all very much come crashing down on everyone's' heads if things aren't put to right.
There was of course the climactic conclusion that left off at a cliffhanger so you'll read the second book. And for the most part, it was an engaging, beautifully vivid, imaginative read. At times Red and Eammon's relationship felt a little forced, as if Whitten wanted chemistry to be there when it didn't always feel that way but for the most part, the story worked really well and I enjoyed it. I have the second book on pre-order in paperback for June 7th, so I know what I'll be getting myself for my birthday.
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