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106th out of 143 books
—
835 voters
Under Wildwood (Wildwood Trilogy #2)
Under Wildwood is the second book in the New York Times bestselling adventure series the Wildwood Chronicles from Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Decemberists, and Carson Ellis, the acclaimed illustrator of The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Ever since Prue McKeel returned home from the Impassable Wilderness after rescuing her brother from the malevolent Dowager Governess, li...more
Ever since Prue McKeel returned home from the Impassable Wilderness after rescuing her brother from the malevolent Dowager Governess, li...more
Hardcover, 559 pages
Published
September 25th 2012
by Balzer + Bray
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The overall feeling/aura/context of Under Wildwood matches it's cover: dark.
Dark places, dark emotion, and very dark verbiage. Meloy definitely took this story to depths not seen in the first book, and he approached bloodshed with zero fluff.
Somehow the entire 559 pages are spent merely aligning things for the third book, though a hearty amount of new characters are introduced and new places explored.
Unfortunately I was turned off almost immediately by WAY too many "hold ups" in the book.. mean...more
Dark places, dark emotion, and very dark verbiage. Meloy definitely took this story to depths not seen in the first book, and he approached bloodshed with zero fluff.
Somehow the entire 559 pages are spent merely aligning things for the third book, though a hearty amount of new characters are introduced and new places explored.
Unfortunately I was turned off almost immediately by WAY too many "hold ups" in the book.. mean...more
Mac is home. Everything should be right for the McReel's, but it's not. Prue faces a daily longing and emptiness and there is no one to share it with. Curtis is back in The Wood training with the Bandits, but Prue's story in Portland continues on in dullness that gnaws at her. It seems as though the wood is calling her. Sometimes it seems to be sending for her and other times it seems threatening and menacing. Somethings is unsettled, unclear, on the brink of change, but what?
Meanwhile in the Me...more
Meanwhile in the Me...more
My goodness Colin Meloy turned this series around! At the end of the last one, I was pleased. It seemed like a good, happy way to wrap things up (ignoring the fact that Curtis never went home. I didn't agree with that.) However, in this second book, he takes the book to a much darker level. People die. Hands are cut off. Both of these things I tend to appreciate in books. (Queen of Attolia. Best plot twist ever.)
Anyway, despite (or perhaps because of) the darker feel to this book, I really enjoy...more
Anyway, despite (or perhaps because of) the darker feel to this book, I really enjoy...more
Feb 03, 2013
Charlyn Trussell
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Grades 5 and up
Shelves:
adventure,
animals,
birds,
fantasy,
fiction,
friendship,
magic,
orphans,
series,
strong-female-character,
strong-male-character
In book 1, Prue McKeel had been joined by schoolmate Curtis to go into the Impassable Wilderness to find and rescue Prue’s brother who had been taken. When Prue returns home with her brother, Curtis stays in the I.W. to join a band of bandits where he feel he is “at home.”
As book 2 begins, the reader already has two different action lines to follow, Prue in the city and Curtis in the wilderness. Surprisingly it is Prue’s whose begins with more action. She feels life is dull and her schoolwork su...more
As book 2 begins, the reader already has two different action lines to follow, Prue in the city and Curtis in the wilderness. Surprisingly it is Prue’s whose begins with more action. She feels life is dull and her schoolwork su...more
Under Wildwood is the second recently released book in the Wildwood Chronicles a slated trilogy. I enjoyed the first book immensely, likening it to a contemporary Chronicles of Narnia but set in my own backyard of Portland, OR. It has a wonderful dark side I find so alluring in young adult literature, similar to Neal Gaiman. I wish I had reread the first book so it would have been a little fresher in my mind, it would have helped me jump into this book quicker. We again follow Prue on an adventu...more
Since the events in Wildwood, Prue has returned to the unfulfilling monotony of the Outside while Curtis trains with bandits in the Wood. But their lives are disrupted again, this time by an assassination attempt which sends them on a long quest to resurrect a ruler and save the Wood. Under Wildwood continues the stylistic traditions of its predecessor, but this is a darker book. Rambling and whimsical, lengthy but so diverse--exploring new areas of the map and introducing a number of new charac...more
Under Wildwood picks up after the events of Wildwood. Prue is home with her family, Curtis is training to be a Bandit, and all seems fine. But all is not fine. The South Wood is still in turmoil and assassins have been sent after the major players of Wildwood. Prue returns to Wildwood on the run from the Kitsune assassins. She and Curtis must save themselves and figure out how to save Wildwood at the same time. Meanwhile, Curtis's parents are off on a wild goose chase to find him in Istanbul. Th...more
Feb 04, 2013
Sarah Kathleen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013,
amazeballs,
children,
fiction,
hip,
not-just-for-children,
modern-classic,
sci-fi-etc,
ya
The Wildwood series is quickly becoming one of my favorite book series. In the words of Taylor Swift, like, ever. I read the first one because I'm a big fan of Colin Meloy's music, and it was on sale in the Kindle store. It seemed like the fates were smiling down on me, and telling me it was finally time to read his debut novel. I was totally blown away. It was so much better than I expected. I bought Under Wildwood before I even finished Wildwood. Although I felt Wildwood was a slightly stronge...more
2.5
It's weird to be saying this, but I did not enjoy Under Wildwood as much as I did the first book. It just didn't capture me the same way, and while I didn't mind that this book was a little darker, it was lacking a spark that kept me wanting to read it every day. I did finish it, and while the prose is lovely and Prue was still a great protagonist, everything in terms of the story fell flat and didn't keep me engaged. Also, why did the moles speak in caps lock? That got really irritating afte...more
It's weird to be saying this, but I did not enjoy Under Wildwood as much as I did the first book. It just didn't capture me the same way, and while I didn't mind that this book was a little darker, it was lacking a spark that kept me wanting to read it every day. I did finish it, and while the prose is lovely and Prue was still a great protagonist, everything in terms of the story fell flat and didn't keep me engaged. Also, why did the moles speak in caps lock? That got really irritating afte...more
Definitely a great follow-up to the highly enjoyable first book in this planned trilogy. I was pleased that things that had seemed too easily resolved in the first book, in fact were and many problems still exist. I liked that Prue feels a pull to the return to the Woods and that she's not content back home. Once she's back in the Woods it feels right, and there was some good tension between her and Curtis. It was nice to have some new characters and the book benefited from the introduction of C...more
Meloy creates a credible world in the heart of Portland. It's magical, unique and enthralling, however, the pace of the story lets it down. Yes, it's well written. Yes, it's a page-turner, but one cannot help but wonder when something is actually going to happen, or, at least something pivotal to Prue and Curtis' adventures.
Under Wildwood sets up the chronicles for the next book, where everything will inevitably happen (as all books must do at some point). Meloy's writing is poetic, and very mag...more
Under Wildwood sets up the chronicles for the next book, where everything will inevitably happen (as all books must do at some point). Meloy's writing is poetic, and very mag...more
There's something about Meloy's writing that doesn't resonate with the story he is telling. Fortunately that didn't ruin the read, but it did make a bunch of noise in my head while I was trying to read. Meloy creates lots of loose ends, many of which seem to have a basis in a prequel to Wildwood, as well as many that will either be explained in a later book or books, or maybe never explained at all. In this way Under Wildwood is different than the first book Wildwood, which seemed to stand on it...more
After what happens in Wildwood, (Prue's little brother Mac's abduction and rescue) it isn't over. Curtis failes the first test of the bandit winter term test, and Prue has her own problems. Specificly a teacher who is acually a kitsune, half human, half wolf.
At the same time, Curtis's sisters become orphaned and go to the Joffery Unthank Home for Wayward Youth, where all the orphans are forced to make machine parts. And if you get three things wrong, you become unadoptable and are sent into t...more
At the same time, Curtis's sisters become orphaned and go to the Joffery Unthank Home for Wayward Youth, where all the orphans are forced to make machine parts. And if you get three things wrong, you become unadoptable and are sent into t...more
Prue and Curtis are back, with another knock out adventure inside and outside Wildwood, the not so mythical forest on Portland’s edge. This book finds Curtis enmeshed in the bandit life while Prue makes a go of life with her family in outside world (St. John’s neighborhood). But, evil is afoot. When a shape shifter impersonates a schoolteacher, Prue is in danger. Rescued and flown back to Wildwood, Prue finds a calling from the North Wood she cannot refuse. Enlisting Curtis’s help, the half-bree...more
I liked this book, but I have to say, I didn't like it as much as the first one. It was still good and well-written, and engaging, but I think the through-line of the first one was a little more clear. There were a lot of great ideas here, and I really, really loved the art (my ARC just had the sketches, and even those are amazing, so I can only imagine the final art will be fantastic.). The word choice is still something to marvel at here, and its a still a lovely, charming story. I did think a...more
Slower read than Wildwood, setting up the characters and string of events for the next story (which is kind of a shame, I was left with wanting more).
Wondering if the different story lines and flashbacks would all be kept straight by younger readers? There are more new groups and characters introduced in this book. The impassable Wilderness is a wonderful and complicated land, but I wonder how younger readers keep track of the different stories, the different worlds, and the flashbacks.
Beautifu...more
Wondering if the different story lines and flashbacks would all be kept straight by younger readers? There are more new groups and characters introduced in this book. The impassable Wilderness is a wonderful and complicated land, but I wonder how younger readers keep track of the different stories, the different worlds, and the flashbacks.
Beautifu...more
While reading this one, I began to wonder whether or not this book has been categorised right. It say YA but I wonder if it should be middle grade (despite the length) but then again Colin does seem to have a tendency to use big words; when a big word, that will have youngens (and probably some grown-ups) scrambling for the dictionary, really isn't needed. So it falls into a weird place for me.
Sometimes I fell like the pace is really slow and others times it moves along nicely. Some secrets are...more
Sometimes I fell like the pace is really slow and others times it moves along nicely. Some secrets are...more
I know it's a kid's book... But it's a FANTASTIC kid's book. I wish I had this series to read when I was growing up. Meloy's story telling is at times laugh-out-loud funny and is constantly engaging. Ellis' illustrations create a rich tapestry that enhances the story telling through a unique an consistent visual style.
It's hard to put this book down, and it's easy to tear through it in just a few sittings. This is a fantastic book to get your kids to read, or to read to them. The 2nd book in th...more
It's hard to put this book down, and it's easy to tear through it in just a few sittings. This is a fantastic book to get your kids to read, or to read to them. The 2nd book in th...more
I put 4 stars... but it was really a 3.5 stars. I LOVED LOVED the first novel so much- so original, beautifully and cleverly written... and as a result I was a little disappointed with this second instalment.
I'm not sure why, but I felt that Prue and Curtis's storylines were finished and it felt a bit forced to continue on, along with the feeling that their storylines dragged on interminably. While, surprisingly, I really enjoyed Curtis's sister's storyline... and could've cared less reading fr...more
I'm not sure why, but I felt that Prue and Curtis's storylines were finished and it felt a bit forced to continue on, along with the feeling that their storylines dragged on interminably. While, surprisingly, I really enjoyed Curtis's sister's storyline... and could've cared less reading fr...more
For the most part, I thought this was a worthy successor to Wildwood - and in many ways, I felt it was a stronger book. There were more story lines to follow so, unlike Wildwood, the pace did not slacken over the course of the 500+ pages. If I have one objection, it is the blatant cliff-hanger at the end of this book. While I am happy that, in the tradition of great children's literature (Narnia comes to mind), Meloy has decided to write a cycle of books, I was hoping that each would stand on it...more
I appreciated that this book helped me to remember the events of Wildwood that I'd read a year ago without bogging me down with a chapter of reminders (I hate when series do that).
It did take me at least 100 pages to be captured by this book though. The characters don't even actually go "under wildwood" until halfway through the book, and that's when I was caught.
I did love the industrial enemy (Meloy's nod to Tolkien?) and also the shapeshifter Kitsune assassins. And, as always, I adore Ellis...more
It did take me at least 100 pages to be captured by this book though. The characters don't even actually go "under wildwood" until halfway through the book, and that's when I was caught.
I did love the industrial enemy (Meloy's nod to Tolkien?) and also the shapeshifter Kitsune assassins. And, as always, I adore Ellis...more
Although this book was sort of a filler book, setting up the characters and plotline for the big finale, it was still really well done. I absolutely (SPOILER) loved the moles. I thought they were extremely funny and Sir Timonthy was just hilarious, so that was somethign new in book 2 that I thought was a great addition. I was less enthused with the ending, which didn't really resolve much of the conflict going on. I felt like some parts of the plotline were dragged along way too much, and either...more
Wished that Prue & Curtis would have connected to Rachel & Elsie (sisters of Curtis). I could hardly wait to get out of the Underworld & the moles...the moles were annoyingly boring! Meloy has created a unique fantasy world but in this book somethings should have had more closure. I really understand all the comments about how this book was creating the basis for his next book...super annoying. I didn't like when Prue & Curtis swore either - unimpressive of the author, never need...more
I did not read the first book in this series and was very disappointed to discover that book 3 is not out yet. What a let down. This is not a criticism of the book. I just didn't know what I was getting into. Starting with book two is easy and I may or may not read the first one.
However, I loved this one. What an adventure -- and a well characterized one at that! -- lots of folk to attach to and lots to dislike.
Overall rating -- excellent! Would have given 5 stars if it had included the end of t...more
However, I loved this one. What an adventure -- and a well characterized one at that! -- lots of folk to attach to and lots to dislike.
Overall rating -- excellent! Would have given 5 stars if it had included the end of t...more
Usually I am slightly disappointed in sequels to really good books. This one was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Prue and Mac are home safe, and Curtis has decided to stay behind and become a bandit. His family is so upset by his sudden disappearance, and they go on a search for him in Turkey. His sisters are deposited in a home Jeoffry Unthanks' Home for Wayward Youth. His home also doubles as a undercover child labor operation. Prue is beset by an assassin, and she must also find a...more
There's never enough time spent looking under things, especially in stories. We want to hurry past the dark times, resolving our conflicts prematurely, and maybe never getting anything from them but the sense of security knowing they've passed. Or maybe we aim more for a quick and painless end, so as not to be troubled by the caring about our hurt and confused characters...how can we stand that lingering in our minds? What will happen to our dearest Prue? What of the bear? And how long can this...more
Prue McKeel is bored in school, but becomes the target of a deadly assassin. She is rescued by her friends Curtis (and Septimus the rat), and returns to the Impassable Wilderness. Once there, she and her friends are charged with reanimating the dead son of the DOwager Governess again to save the inhabitants. To succeed, they seek out the two collaborators, who had previously succeeded. Meanwhile, Curtis's sisters Rachel and Elsie are left at the local orphanage by their parents who are looking f...more
With new characters as well as familiar ones, Under Wildwood quickly draws the reader back into the world created in Wildwood. The new characters of Elsie and Rachel bring in new perspectives to the story even as Prue and Curtis are developed more. The expanded world brings new places into the story that are just as fascinating as the Wildwood. While a little slow at times, the book’s plot is interesting, and it definitely satisfies as a sequel to Wildwood. Under Wildwood receives four out of fi...more
THANK GOODNESS IT'S OVER!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why I kept reading. I normally take pride in giving up on a book I'm not enjoying. I am in charge of my reading life! I don't let guilt propel me! There are too many great books I'll never read to waste time on those I don't like.
Why did I keep on reading this one even though I was not enjoying it?
1. I enjoyed the first one. I assume it's going to be a trilogy and I like reading trilogies. 3 is the magic number!
2. I like the look and feel of the b...more
I don't know why I kept reading. I normally take pride in giving up on a book I'm not enjoying. I am in charge of my reading life! I don't let guilt propel me! There are too many great books I'll never read to waste time on those I don't like.
Why did I keep on reading this one even though I was not enjoying it?
1. I enjoyed the first one. I assume it's going to be a trilogy and I like reading trilogies. 3 is the magic number!
2. I like the look and feel of the b...more
In this fast paced second volume of the Wildwood Chronicles, we learn that turmoil has been brewing in Wildwood since the routing of the Dowager Governess. A power vacuum has created unrest among those who wish to rule and a hard winter has stirred up discontent among those living in Wildwood. While aided by her friend Curtis, who has since become a bandit-in-training, Prue narrowly escapes a shape-shifting assassin and finds herself back in Wildwood, faced with a new set of challenges. A parall...more
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Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (born October 5, 1974) is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to his vocal duties, he plays acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, and percussion. As of 2005, Meloy has written a 100-page book on The Replacements' fourth album, Let It Be, released as part of the 33⅓ series.
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Apr 09, 2013 04:53am