At first I thought it was Ki-bel-le because of the Greek goddess, since the Greeks pronounce C as K. I'm going to go get the book and see the pronunciation guide for this one.

Although 'Sibyl' makes more sense, it just seems like SIGH-bell to me. Don't ask why. I'm a doof - maybe that's it. ;D

And I think of the wee things as pixies, which can be Bad A too - keep an eye out for Toot Toot when you read the Dresden books! ;D

Jane wrote: "how do you pronounce Cybele? Is it like Sybil? Or like Si-bel-le?"

I'm guessing sibyl, like prophetess--that makes the most sense to me but her pronunciation guide may prove me wrong.

Clix wrote: "One thing I liked about WD was something I've seen lately in fantasy fiction: "Fairy" is no longer synonymous with "cute" or "pansy."

Fairies are BAD A, yo."

I don't know why, but for some odd reason, I always associate FAERIES as the ones that can be bad (i.e. human sized, elves or vampires, etc.) while FAIRIES are little fluttery things.

You're right Alethea: it would be very humorous. I can't remember exactly, but I think I read a book like that once. I want to say something similar to The Willoughbys.

Thanks E.! I'll have to get a copy of Cybele's Secret. I want it to be just as good as the first. By the way, how do you pronounce Cybele? Is it like Sybil? Or like Si-bel-le? That was something Alethea and I couldn't figure out at the meeting.

Jane said: "I liked her pragmatic nature and how she gets down to business! She doesn't spend a whole lot of time feeling sorry for herself." Me too! I think that's the best part about Jena. Sure she's on this wild unbelieveable journey, but she handles is so well. I love her.

Jane said: "Did anyone read Cybele's Secret yet?" Yes, I did read it and it was great, too. I love Marillier's style so I might be a little biased. I love Paula just as much as Jena. And of course there's a pirate. What's not to love about pirates?

Jane wrote: "I really like Jena as well. I think characters like her are just more fun to read about. Imagine reading the story from Tati's POV... Disaster!"

Actually, I think that sounds awesome! In a humorous way. Imagine if it was told from Iulia's POV and she is totally clueless about everything but relates events in such a way that the reader can figure out what's happening, and the storyteller is the only one who is confused!

One thing I liked about WD was something I've seen lately in fantasy fiction: "Fairy" is no longer synonymous with "cute" or "pansy."

Fairies are BAD A, yo.

Yeah - I think everyone would've EXPECTED Jane to do it. But... just MAYBE... Lizzy might've jumped the gun. You know? So that Jane wouldn't have to make the noble sacrifice like the Good Daughter.

Clix wrote: "You don't think she (Lizzy, I mean) would've made a practical match if it came down to it?"

Hmm... Not sure. I feel that it would be up to Jane to do the practical thing. I don't see her wasting away for Mr. Bingley--though she was sad. But that could be because she wasn't certain if Bingley was still attached to her. I think that Lizzy wouldn't get that chance since Collins already got married. I think it would take a whole lot of unfortunate circumstances for Lizzy to marry without love.

Jena on the other hand seem to jump more at the chance of saving her sisters.

Oh! No, he's the main character. Um. They're by Jim Butcher.

Well, she's like Lizzy in SOME ways. Hm.

You don't think she (Lizzy, I mean) would've made a practical match if it came down to it? I mean if her father got sick and they were facing poverty?

Harry Dresden... haven't heard of him. What has he written? I didn't find him on Goodreads.

Yes exactly! Always looking out for others, not too concerned for her own wellbeing. She was even going to get married just so her sisters would be taken care of.

I was comparing this book to Pride and Prejudice earlier -- though now I guess I have to take back a comment about Jena being like Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy would never marry just for the sake of her sisters.

Yeah! I felt REALLY BAD for Cezar. O, sad face. Not that he didn't earn his fate, but... but the WHAT IF? you know? Plus it's the Macbeth Question all over!

That part of the ending REALLY made me think of the Harry Dresden books - which, if you like interesting takes on faeryland, you should definitely read!

What do you mean by "like her" - are you referring to her pragmatic, focused nature as well? or something else?

I don't think it's redundant. I think it sets it up nicely for us to be surprised at who Jena actually ended up with. I really thought there was going to be something with Cezar, or with what's his name Night person.

I really like Jena as well. I think characters like her are just more fun to read about. Imagine reading the story from Tati's POV... Disaster!

Jane wrote: "complaining about the scenes with Jena and Cezar..."

Redundant? I don't see that. How so?!

So ... oooo, pirates!

Did anyone read Cybele's Secret yet?

Cezar made me so mad when he took away the money boxes.

Yes, I did know there was a sequel. I didn't pick up the book until a month ago and it was right next to Cybele's Secret. I know, I cheated.

It's funny because before I read the summary for the sequel, I guessed that it would be about Paula. Paula's in the same sort of situation as Jena (older by 1 year beautiful sister, while she's the more sensible, plain, and clever one).

I have a feeling if there's a third, it'll be about Stela being overshadowed by her 4 elder sisters.

Alethea wrote: "Jane, note her about the review that you read complaining about the scenes with Jena and Cezar..."

I read a review somewhere where the reader complained about the scenes between Jena and Cezar -- who knows? The review is probably from goodreads. Basically, she complained that the bantering was "filler" to flush out more pages for the book, that it was redundant, and unnecessary. I also get the feeling that the reader thinks that the purpose of the scenes are to set up a romance between the two characters... though, at this point of reading the review (I should have never read it in the first place!) I suspect the reader didn't actually finish the book.

VERY true, Alethea! I tend to be a practical person - or I try to be - so I admire that too.

Jane, do you KNOW there's going to be a sequel, or were you just guessing? maybe we'll get to revisit the faery world again! :D

I was totally expecting it to be like Wicked Lovely and was so glad that it wasn't. Sure, there are some similarities, but Marillier handles the scenes really well. I especially liked how she didn't go to far with the whole vampire lore -- and not calling them vampires adds a little charm to the whole idea.

However, I wish that we could have learned a little more about the faery world and not just linger around it.

I liked her pragmatic nature and how she gets down to business! She doesn't spend a whole lot of time feeling sorry for herself.

I always loved the Twelve Dancing Princesses! *laugh* What made you like Jena?

Ok, so first of all I was really surprised I liked this as much as I did, because a) I had expected some sort of vampire-centric drivel, which it isn't, and b) I had expected totally annoying typical "faerie" YA tale, as in everything is set in this world, we just talk about Faerie without actually going there, everybody is pretty and glowy and issues are made to seem much more dire than they really are (thank you Wicked Lovely).

I really liked the main character, the handling of the traditional tales (Romanian + Grimm + Frog Prince), the Dracula cameo (thank goodness only a small one), and the resolution which does not come so very easily to Jena. Marillier really makes her work for her happy ending! Lots of walking, thinking, worrying about everyday stuff, and always putting her own needs and wants last--hm. That reminds me of some other heroine.

Here's the link to The Twelve Dancing Princesses... make sure you click through to the end!

And to answer something Roxy asked earlier, no, there is no moral.

*nod* The story I'm remembering used the phrase 'turn to ash in your mouth.' Good stuff. Probably one of the Xanadus...

Clix wrote: "people who dined on fairy food would starve once they got back to the normal world because normal food seemed like cardboard in comparison. So they lost their will to eat..."

I think that's a general or "normal" faery rule. I've seen it used in many stories: Pans Labyrinth and Spiderwick use it.

Oh, yeah...

Meeting's over, but some of us are still logging on to blog during the original time.

Suzy wrote: "I'm not too sure why she had to have so many sisters. I kept having to go back to figure out which when each of the sisters were. Might just be me but it was a little annoying."

I think she wrote in all the sisters so that there can be sequels.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope you all have a great discussion. I have to get going now. Bye!

true i can understand how that plays out

Suzy wrote: "...with Jena, it was more of her not allowing herself to trust and fighting it..."

*grin* See, I was totally with her on this, though, cuz I did the same thing with my Hunk. Of course, running from someone in horror is rather a bit more of an offense than telling him that he's too wonderful to be believed and "there's got to be a snake in the cookie jar."

Maybe that was why I got more patience extended to me in my uncertainty than she did. ;)

Suzy wrote: "Alethea wrote: "Roxy was annoyed by Tatiana's wasting away phase..."

I totally agree with Roxy. "

Not so much. WHAT did I read recently... I think it was a short story in a Jane Yolen collection... YA fantasy shorts... and it talked about how people who dined on fairy food would starve once they got back to the normal world because normal food seemed like cardboard in comparison. So they lost their will to eat... Neat story.

Anyway. I can see that, though - having experienced something as all-encompassing as True Love, life without it is flat and stale. I always wondered why people were surprised that Monk still wore his wedding ring six years after his wife's death.

Clix wrote: "Suzy wrote: "...when she needs to follow her heart instead of her head all the time"

I've always had trouble with this idea. I mean, if you're following your head well, it tells you when you can f..."

True, trust should be earned but I think with Jena, it was more of her not allowing herself to trust and fighting it until she was able to realize that it's ok for her to want something for herself.

Suzy wrote: "...when she needs to follow her heart instead of her head all the time"

I've always had trouble with this idea. I mean, if you're following your head well, it tells you when you can follow your heart.

Trust has to be earned. It's not (usually) something that can be assumed.

Alethea wrote: "Kevin (Roxy's hubby) says he thinks Jena is a great example of the human struggle (whatever that means :)"

I think I get what he means. She deals with very real problems of watching over her family, staying strong, trying to always be the support but finding it hard when she needs support herself and when she needs to follow her heart instead of her head all the time.

Kevin (Roxy's hubby) says he thinks Jena is a great example of the human struggle (whatever that means :)

Jane, note her about the review that you read complaining about the scenes with Jena and Cezar...

mmmm wow I just made chicken and pasta too. with a mushroom cream sauce :)

I was just glad that Jane wasn't serving cheese and starch gruel as our theme dinner (we are having chicken and pasta).

I'm not too sure why she had to have so many sisters. I kept having to go back to figure out which when each of the sisters were. Might just be me but it was a little annoying.

I'm not too familiar with the history of Transylvania but the book definitely made me want to read more about the place and time.

Jane was just glad that it didn't turn out like Under the Blood Red Sun, where the author could not seem to make up her mind on which time period she was in.

Alethea wrote: "We were all thinking that Sorrow was going to be a really bad guy... and were surprised when he wasn't."

I thought he was going to be a bad guy too.

Hello all, Hope you had a good dinner.

Alethea wrote: "Roxy was annoyed by Tatiana's wasting away phase..."

I totally agree with Roxy.

Alethea thought it had a lot to do with the story, The Twelve Dancing Princesses.