Cybele's Secret (Wildwood, #2) in Study Buddies

Feb 13, 2011 Erica (storybookend) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-reads, best-endings, i-own, would-love-if-it-were-a-movie, endearing-heroes, really-liked

I fell in love with Wildwood Dancing, the story of five sisters caught in an enchantment, living in a fairytale retold beautifully and captivatingly by brilliant author Juliet Marillier. And when I found there was a sequel, I knew I must acquire it soon, so as to not have to leave this enchanted world just yet. With an intriguing premise, and the promise of enchantment and romance, Cybele’s Secret called out to me, beckoning. I was prepared to not love it utterly like I did with WD, as I’d heard I fell in love with Wildwood Dancing, the story of five sisters caught in an enchantment, living in a fairytale retold beautifully and captivatingly by brilliant author Juliet Marillier. And when I found there was a sequel, I knew I must acquire it soon, so as to not have to leave this enchanted world just yet. With an intriguing premise, and the promise of enchantment and romance, Cybele’s Secret called out to me, beckoning. I was prepared to not love it utterly like I did with WD, as I’d heard it wasn’t as good, and while it may not have had that same enchantment with stunningly beautiful prose and endearing characters that worked their way into my heart, it wasn’t altogether a disappointment, still managing to intrigue me with its adventures and the subtle romance.

In Wildwood Dancing, Paula and her sisters traveled to an enchanted world where they danced the night away. Except for Paula, who much preferred conversing with scholars there, cultivating a love of books and wisdom. It is because of this that Paula accompanies her father in Cybele’s Secret on a quest to find a lost artifact deeply desired by many with its priceless quality and secrets it holds. Here Paula meets Stoyan, who is hired as her bodygaurd, and Duarte, the enigmatic pirate who she had first seen on seas. Together, these three embark, albeit some unwillingly, on an adventure to recover this artifact, in the process, learning new things about themselves and each other.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Paula’s voice wasn’t quite distinctive and didn’t make me latch onto her right away. I felt all the characters could have used some fleshing out. This isn’t to say I didn’t like them, because I did. I especially liked Stoyan, and his quiet, intimidating demeanor. From the start, he is so protective of Paula, and would do anything to keep her safe. There was a slight love triangle, but with the focus more on the adventure, the romance was more an underlying hint, yet still managing to excite me, because as a hopeless romantic, I swoon at any beautiful romance. And I did. Swoon. But more towards the end when the romance fully manifested, and the two were finally together.

And I so missed the enchanting, luscious prose that I have come to expect of Marillier. It was starkly present in Heart's Blood, my first read of hers, and then beautifully portrayed in Wildwood Dancing. But here, in Cybele’s Secret, I just found it lacking. There were hints of it, but it just wasn’t the same. It was still written well, of course it was, that is just a talent Marillier possesses. But it could have been better, it could have been more lyrical and beautiful.

Yet, despite these little nagging bits, I still loved the story. The first half of the book may be a little slow, as the adventure hasn’t started, and there’s no romance, just subtle hints of it, but the rest of the book made up for it, with the danger and wit, and budding romance that ends in a beautiful bloom. In the end, I can’t say that everyone who loved WD will love this book, but its still an intriguing read, with hidden gems in it.

And lastly, I love the cover. Just as I do with WD. It may seem strange at first glance, but as you keep looking at it, and then read the story, you notice little things in there which are in the story, and I just love it. ...more

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