Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Night of the Solstice (Wildworld #1)

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 905 ratings · 72 reviews

When Claudia Hodges-Bradley meets a fox, she knows it will be an extraordinary day. Not just any fox, this vixen is the magical familiar of the sorceress Morgana Shee. For years Morgana has guarded the solitary gate between Earth and the Wildworld, a shimmering parallel universe where legends still live. She alone holds the secret of the mirrors that serve as the last pass...more

Paperback, 326 pages

Published May 25th 2010 by Aladdin (first published October 31st 1987)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Night and Day

174th out of 262 books — 27 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,130)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 09, 2011 Jim Haggerty rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I first picked up this book I thought the author L.J. Smith was 'Little John' Smith, the former tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles and that he had just branched into writing young-reader fantasy novels, but part of the way in I realized he wasn't capable of writing something this bad and that I was actually reading this chick. Once I got over my initial shock and disappointment I really tried to force myself to enjoy this book, kind of like when your wife forces you to see Twilight for t...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2012 Tessa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

En commençant ce livre j’avais une petite appréhension. Il me tentait énormément de par sa superbe couverture et son histoire mais Lisa Jane Smith est une auteure que je suis beaucoup mais qui ne réussit pas à me convaincre à chaque fois.

Finalement, elle assez bien réussi le pari et même si on ressent pas mal le côté jeunesse, l’auteure nous emmène dans un nouveau monde plein de surprises (qu’elles soient bonnes ou mauvaises).
J’ai retrouvé un petit côté Narnia dans l’idée de traverser les miroir...more

like · see review

Jan 19, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, own

The story itself was quite interesting. A group of siblings discover that magic is real and that they need to save a sorceress in order to stop a bunch of people from another world punching through the fabric between worlds and causing all kinds of chaos. Not sparkling original, I'll grant you, but still fun, and there are a thousand and one ways that story can be told in an entertaining fashion. Mixing some Celtic mythology, the hidden history of this world, and playing around with some fantasy...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 13, 2010 Jennifer Rayment rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Good Stuff

* Magic, sorcerers, flying serpents, talking foxes and lots of adventure!
* Intriguing bad guys/gals
* Wonderfully real and interesting characters
* You won't want to put it down
* Reminded me a little of Lion Witch and Wardrobe without the religious imagery. Not really the story but the way the children worked together. Very real sibling relationships.
* Fantastic opening that really grabs your attention and draws you into the story
* Looking forward to the next book in the serie...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 14, 2010 Lyndsay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: from-when-i-was-young

Maybe I'm old (I'm not really old) but I already feel this horrible disconnect between my generation and the generations after me. Its like how you wonder about your parent's musical tastes. I'm nor sure if young adults would like this book. I think that culture has moved on. I think now things are more polished, or flashier, more complicated, or more SOMETHING that I cannot put my finger on because I am 30 (see, not really old). Besides, they have Twilight for their generation. A poor substitut...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Jordan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2,5/5

http://wandering-world.skyrock.com/31...

Le plus gros avantage de ce roman est devenu pour moi un énorme inconvénient : La Nuit Du Solstice regroupant deux opus en un seul, je me sentais obligé d'avaler les deux tomes en même temps. Mais, malheureusement, en terminant le tome 1, je dois me rendre à l'évidence : je n'accroche vraiment, mais alors vraiment, pas à l'histoire. Je déteste ne pas terminer un livre. C'est horriblement frustrant, mais c'est ainsi. Je peux au moins me dire que j'ai é...more 2,5/5

http://wandering-world.skyrock.com/31...

Le plus gros avantage de ce roman est devenu pour moi un énorme inconvénient : La Nuit Du Solstice regroupant deux opus en un seul, je me sentais obligé d'avaler les deux tomes en même temps. Mais, malheureusement, en terminant le tome 1, je dois me rendre à l'évidence : je n'accroche vraiment, mais alors vraiment, pas à l'histoire. Je déteste ne pas terminer un livre. C'est horriblement frustrant, mais c'est ainsi. Je peux au moins me dire que j'ai été au bout du premier tome, ce qui me déculpabilise un peu. Je suis d'autant plus gêné de ne pas arriver à la conclusion de La Nuit Du Solstice car les Édition Michel Lafon me l'ont très gentiment offert grâce à notre partenariat. Moi qui voulait tenter à nouveau du L.J. Smith, je dois bien avouer que je suis déçu. Explications.
Au départ, l'intrigue qui se met en place m'a très agréablement surpris. Les personnages principaux, à savoir Alys, Claudia, Charles et Janie, sont tous adorables. Comme ils sont frères et soeurs, on sent bien qu'il y a une vraie complicité et un véritable attachement entre eux. C'est vrai qu'au niveau des protagonistes, La Nuit Du Solstice ne m'a pas chagriné. Du moins, dans les premiers chapitres. Ils m'ont paru très profonds, pleins d'humanité et très protecteurs les uns envers les autres. Il est vrai que là, Lisa Jane Smith marque des points.
Malheureusement, très vite, plusieurs évènements vont se succéder. Et là... C'est la débandade. Dès le départ, j'ai trouvé que l'auteure utilisait beaucoup trop la facilité. Les réactions des personnages face à certaines situations m'ont semblé surfaites et peu travaillées. Trop simples, trop prévisibles, les surprises et les dénouements de ces dernières m'ont juste énormément déplu. J'ai eu l'impression que L.J. Smith optait, à chaque fois, pour le chemin le plus basique à prendre. Dommage, car j'aime lorsqu'une histoire me surprend et me coupe le souffle. Ici, je n'ai rien ressenti de cela.
Même si j'adore me casser la tête pour comprendre une énigme ou une histoire, il y a bien une chose que je déteste faire pour déchiffrer l'univers que l'auteur a voulu nous transmettre : relire sans cesse la même page pour tenter de digérer la mythologie qu'on veut nous offrir. Les descriptions de Lisa Jane Smith concernant Féerie m'ont juste complètement perdu. Je suis incapable de vous expliquer le fonctionnement de ce monde magique. Tout est confus, et j'ai eu l'impression, à plusieurs reprises, que nous découvrions des choses d'un seul coup au milieu de l'histoire, alors qu'elles auraient dû nous être expliquées auparavant. Soit on reçoit une tonne d'explications d'une traite, soit les non-dits se multiplient et on se perd totalement dans l'histoire. Pourtant, j'ai insisté, je vous assure !
Malgré tout, je dois bien avouer que l'atmosphère du roman rattrape un tout petit peu les bémols cités plus haut. Le cadre dans lequel se déroule l'histoire est tout de même agréable à découvrir. Dans le monde réel, plusieurs éléments rendent le climat prenant : vieille bâtisse sur la colline, nuit noire, pleine lune, forêt et histoires de sorcières. C'est sûrement grâce à cela que j'ai adhéré à l'histoire au départ. Il en va de même une fois plongés dans Féerie. Là, nous faisons la connaissance d'une myriade de personnages intrigants, mais pas assez développés à mes yeux. L'ambiance est fascinante également, car nous baignons dans un cadre enchanteur et littéralement ensorcelant.
On parvient à la conclusion du roman sans trop s'en apercevoir. Lisa Jane Smith tente de nous décrire une scène de bataille magique dans les dernières pages, mais ça n'a pas vraiment eu d'effet sur moi. J'ai peiné à y croire, voilà tout. Les réactions et les sentiments m'ont paru, une fois de plus, surjoués et trop simples. Le grand dénouement de l'histoire est lui aussi, pour moi, trop rapide et pas assez approfondi. La toute fin du premier tome est assez étrange et ne m'a pas convaincu. ( Je vais éviter les spoilers au maximum : ) Comment peuvent-ils laisser Janie avec elle sans verser une seule larme ? On dirait qu'il est normal "d'abandonner" un frère ou une soeur au bord de la route. Vraiment, cette fin est... Spéciale.
En conclusion, je pense que si "Solstice d'Hiver", le premier tome de La Nuit Du Solstice, était sorti sans sa suite, je n'aurai pas lu cette dernière. Et, malheureusement, c'est ce qu'il m'arrive aujourd'hui bien que le tome 2 soit déjà disponible dans le roman. Le premier opus n'a pas su me convaincre de m'engager pour les aventures à venir de Charles, Alys, Janie et Claudia. Malgré un début captivant et qui m'a beaucoup plu, La Nuit Du Solstice se révèle être une petite déception ( petite car je n'en attendais pas énormément de ce livre ). Trop confus, doté de trop de simplicités et d'émotions qui m'ont semblé fausses, ce roman n'a pas su me toucher. J'ai eu l'impression de rester trop longtemps en surface, sans pénétrer pleinement dans l'intrigue. J'aimerai insister sur une chose : ceci n'est que mon ressenti. J'ai de plus en plus de mal avec Lisa Jane Smith, mais ce n'est pas obligatoirement le cas de tout le monde. Si vous aimez cette auteure, vous aimerez sûrement cette histoire. Personnellement, je n'ai pas su apprécier l'univers qu'elle a voulu m'offrir à sa juste valeur. Il ne me correspondait pas, c'est aussi simple que cela.(less)

like · see review

Jun 13, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

36 books/2010

My relationship with L.J. Smith started while I was in middle school, about 1997. I devoured her books. She was my favorite author and first fandom. At the time, several of her novels were already out of print, including this one and its sequel. It was quite a feat trying to find an affordable copy. I never did. So, I was filled with childish delight when I learned that this book was back in print.

Beyond that, I was weary because I was disappointed by Nightfall. However, I was absol...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 28, 2011 Soybean Soybean rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

nyeaa..it was just alright..i just couldnt help but get somewhat irritated every once in a while because the main characters didn't seem believable to me..compared to the kind of books i've read in the same genre and age bracket, this one appears to still have a lot of catching up to do..the kids are so hopeless most of the time and their adventures on the other side of the mirror were so tame and short...the author didnt seem able to properly convey the nuances of whatever situation the kids we...more

like · see review

Jan 27, 2011 Melanie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed L.J. Smith's Night World series, but I have tried some of her other books and haven't been able to finish a single one. I got further with this one than any of the others, but the characters were annoying and I just didn't care enough about the plot to see how it played out. The writing was okay, but it was like she decided that because she chose to do third-person omniscient for the POV, she didn't feel it necessary to show rather than tell what the characters were feeling; the...more

like · see review

Nov 11, 2010 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

I liked this book but I didn't love it. I came across it in the library a few weeks ago and as a big fan of L.J. Smith's Vampire Diaries series I thought it was about time I branched out and read some of her other books. She seems to have a huge back-catalogue. This is a re-release as it was originally published in 1987. Even though this title is over twenty years old, it seems to have aged very well. I do think that it would probably be more suited to a slightly younger teen audience though.

The...more

like · see review

Aug 10, 2010 Bibliotropic rated it 3 of 5 stars

The problem with reading books intended for younger audiences is that it can be very hard to put ones mind back to the age group the book is intended for. As such, my adult mind was saying things like, "They actually expect the 'doll under the bedcovers' trick to actual fool parents?" and, "Does anyone not know how to solve that trick/riddle/game?" at regular intervals while reading Night of the Solstice.

The writing style was nothing special. It didn't stand out as particularly amazing or partic...more The problem with reading books intended for younger audiences is that it can be very hard to put ones mind back to the age group the book is intended for. As such, my adult mind was saying things like, "They actually expect the 'doll under the bedcovers' trick to actual fool parents?" and, "Does anyone not know how to solve that trick/riddle/game?" at regular intervals while reading Night of the Solstice.

The writing style was nothing special. It didn't stand out as particularly amazing or particularly bad. However, that wasn't necessarily a drawback, as sometimes with books the writing style can actually detract from enjoyment of the story being told, whether the style is good or bad, and in this case I could just move with the words and see the story unfold instead of being wowed or disgusting with phrasing or horrible copyediting. Not sure if that's a bonus. Let's call it a neutral point, but still one worth commenting on.

The story itself was quite interesting. A group of siblings discover that magic is real and that they need to save a sorceress in order to stop a bunch of people from another world punching through the fabric between worlds and causing all kinds of chaos. Not sparkling original, I'll grant you, but still fun, and there are a thousand and one ways that story can be told in an entertaining fashion. Mixing some Celtic mythology, the hidden history of this world, and playing around with some fantasy elements to make a creative and interesting setting was pretty well done here, and I like the effect. The world the children end up in isn't overly analyzed or picked apart, it isn't glorified or put down. It just is. And so much was glossed over because of the pressing needs of the questing kids, but that in itself lends a bit more magic to the Wildworld. You can't help but wonder what you're not seeing.

For those who enjoy a good mid-grade fantasy, or for those who have or who know children who'd enjoy a good epic fantasy quest, I do recommend this book. For most, though, this book is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of book. It kills some time on the bus, but ultimately my life wasn't changed by reading it.

Won't stop me from reading the sequel, though!(less)

like · see review

Jun 17, 2008 Izlinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

I first started reading L.J. Smith almost a decade ago. I finished all the books of the Nightworld series, The Vampire Diaries series and the trilogies: The Secret Circle, The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions. While impatient for the final Nightworld book to come out, I drifted to read other authors and series.

Recently I got re-interested in LJ Smith and was surprised to find out from her Wikipedia page she had two "companion novels" out. The Night of the Solstice being the first and The Heart of ...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 19, 2009 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, owned, paranormal, teen

A talking vixen enlists the four Hodges-Bradley children to rescue an imprisoned sorceress and prevent an evil wizard from taking over the mortal world.

I have some very fond memories of this book, and they don't quite hold up. It is still a very good fantasy read, with the classic set-up of children versus mystical beings. Janie was terribly annoying, however, and I just wanted to smack her most of the time. The action seems a little too jam-packed at times, making it hard to figure out what is...more

like · see review

Apr 15, 2011 Meerit rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kirjan päähenkilöt lapset tuntuivat alussa aika epämielyttäviltä tuttavuuksilta mutta kirja oli kirjoitettu sen verran mukaansa tempaavasti että jatkoin kuitenkin lukemista. Vaikka pääjuoni lapset-pelastavat-maailman tuli alussa selväksi niin miten se tapahtuu oli sen verran vaikea arvata että jännitys säilyi loppuun asti. Viihdyttävä lukukokemus ja aion lukea jatko-osankin vaikka toivoisin että henkilöhahmoissa olisi hiukan enemmän syvyyttä.

like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Lee Pritchett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone!!

Shelves: children-s

This is a really charming book. The style of language it is written in and the general theme and feel of the story reminds me of the Narnia titles by c.s lewis. It's really exciting and interesting all the way through. The magical creatures in the story are brilliant and really entertaining creations and there is plenty of danger and suspence to make sure you keep on reading to the end. I am really looking forward to the next book.

like · see review

Feb 07, 2011 Emma (BelleBooks) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love all of L.J Smith's other works, like The Vampire Diaries, Night World and Dark Powers, but unlike her other books this seemed to be lacking something I just can't place my finger on. The language was quite simple, making me think it was targeted to a younger audience.

It did however have a good story, lots of originality and imagination. The reader needs to remember this was first publish in the 1980's, so I think the story has lasted well.

like · see review

May 05, 2011 ephrielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a case where one good book by an author does not reflect perfectly the state of other books by the same author.

The story wasn't terribly bad but not what I have come to expect from this author. It was so much closer to a Chronicles of Narnia spin off. All in all, the story was a bit lame and the characters a bit too predictable and weak. If this sort of story is among your favorites you might find this a tolerable read otherwise pass it up.

like · see review

Feb 08, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: youth-fiction

I enjoyed this fantasy story of 4 siblings who are led on an adventure to save the world by going to the world of Magic. I liked that the characters were siblings and because of time spent together their relationship was strengthened and got to know each other better. They had noble intentions and learn that the biggest mistake you can make is by not trying at all. This seemed like it would be good for a younger audience, not to scary, but full of magic and magical creatures.

like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was a cute book, and kept me mostly interested. Did it keep calling me back to read it whenever I had time to kill? Not really. Well, not more than the need to finish it before the library due date. Definitely interested enough to read the second book, however. And so that being said, it was just enjoyable enough.

like · see review

Aug 10, 2010 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Traded with SandDanz for Heart of Valor, but this book came first, so it was sent too!! Yeah.

Teen novel, but L.J. has done better. A cross-over between our world (Stillworld) and a world of magic (Wildworld) - kids have to save the day because truthfully they are the only ones who believe.

like · see review

Jan 15, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was pleasant reading and, though mild, was entertaining. It kind of seemed like a children's journey similar to what Chris Golden did for adults in The Veil series: a trip into the land of the world's myths and fantasies. I always enjoy the excursion and look forward to the next book in the series.

like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Four siblings on a journey through a magical/parallel world to free a great sorceress who was imprisoned by an evil sorcerer. The story reminded me of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) yet different and quite intriguing. It may not be as great as Narnia or Harry Potter, but bear in mind, this is the first book L.J. Smith wrote, long before The Night World series or The Vampire Diaries. (Correct me if I'm wrong though)

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading the book,...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Miriam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, younger, adventure, parallel-dimensions

A nice, solid, traditional kids-save-the-world adventure fantasy, featuring four diverse siblings who are randomly asked for help by a familiar when her sorceress is taken prisoner by old enemies in an alternate dimension.

There are definite weaknesses, but a good, fun first novel showing touches of imagination and humor. My favorite scene was where, instead of the traditional riddle contest, the girls have to win a game of Question against a subterranean monster.

I'm glad to have finally gotten a...more

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 23, 2008 Janice (Janicu) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

L.J. Smith has written a few teen series about the paranormal. This book is one of her earliest works, part one of a duo of books about 4 siblings. It is geared more towards a younger pre-teen audience. The Hodges-Bradley childen are recruited by a sorceress's familiar to rescue it's mistress. The house of the sorceress Morgana is a gateway to another world and she has been trapped on the other side of the mirrors. If you liked her vampire series and her teen books I'm not sure you will also lik...more

like · see review

Jan 09, 2011 Comicfairy (Leanne) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Classic LJ Smith. If you're looking for mad romance or soulmate pairings, this will not be your fave LJ Smith series. It was at the bottom of her totem pole for me, but still a nice read when I was a kid.

like · see review

Nov 01, 2010 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got this book because the author was LJ Smith the rest of her books are better , i didn't like the vampire diaries though the night world and the secret circle were Excellent!

like · see review

Apr 12, 2011 Amina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like Alys, though the other girl - jane?janey? - is the best. Clever.

Story's kinda kiddish but I liked the plot. After all, I am a diehard fan of magical worlds!

like · see review

Dec 05, 2010 Syd rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a really great book... Unfortunately I read the second book before the first. My mistake! I thought the book was well thought out, and perfectly decsribed.

like · see review

Jan 28, 2009 Ria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brilliant book but not the type of book you can read as a stand alone, you need the sequel Heart of valor to follow the story.
An exciting tale of witchcraft and wizardry.
True L . J Smith.

like · see review

Mar 27, 2012 harlequin {Stephanie} rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenges

2 Stars - Feels too much like a rip off of the narnia / through the looking glass to be truthful. This is not a teen read it is a middle grade read. It has the feel of it. This may have not been a good read after a dresden files book. It fell flat for me.

For young children this is an enchanting tale.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 70 71 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (17)

More editions...

Genres

Fantasy

57 users

Young Adult

36 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

18 users

Fantasy > Magic

10 users

Fantasy > Supernatural

9 users

Young Adult > Teen

6 users

Adventure

5 users

Childrens

5 users

Childrens > Middle Grade

3 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About L.J. Smith

L.J. SMITH has written over two dozen books for young adults, including The Vampire Diaries, now a hit TV show. She has also written the bestselling Night World series and The Forbidden Game, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Dark Visions. She loves to walk the trails and beaches in Point Reyes, California, daydreaming about her latest book. She also loves to hear from readers (info@lja...more

More about L.J. Smith...

Books by L.J. Smith

The Awakening and The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries, #1-2)

The Fury and Dark Reunion (The Vampire Diaries, #3-4)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Night of the ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Night of the Solstice

“If you can find one good thing to say about her I'll turn vegetarian!” — 29 people liked it

“But we did it," said Alys. "We found Morgana and we helped her. How can you worry about detentions when life as we know it has just been saved?” — 10 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Night of the Solstice
avg rating	preview: Night of the Solstice Goodreads rating: 3.67 (905 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6610376-night-of-the-solstice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348836586l/6610376.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6610376-night-of-the-solstice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Night of the Solstice by L.J. Smith[/url]

Night of the Solstice (Wildworld #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website