Review: Wildwood by Colin Meloy

[roughink]

The first book in the Wildwood Chronicles written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, is a fantastical, detailed, and very well-written installment in the likes of The Chronicles of Narnia and Grimm's Fairy Tales.

In the role of main character we find Prue, a girl who ventures into the wood surrounding her town when her baby brother is kidnapped by crows (a feat she takes in stride, considering). She is joined by a faithful companion of Curtis, who comes along on her trusty bicycle into the Impassable Wilderness, and therein they find a whole series of kingdoms with loyalties, betrayals, wars, and insurrections. The book is full of impossible characters, magic, and events, sweeping the children deep into their stories and conflicts with the result that no one who enters the wood is quite the same. Prue discovers the true nature of her family, and Curtis learns quite a bit about himself in this epic adventure.

The book is long, to be sure, but I personally found the plot, detail, and characterization more than enough to keep interest until the end. It is a very well-written fantasy epic, and fans of Narnia would definitely find a home in the Wilderness outside Portland of Meloy's creation. Ellis' illustrations are beautiful and perfectly capture the essence of Wildwood, intriguing and not a little dangerous that it is.

I would definitely recommend the book to any young adult readers, and will be reading the series.

Three out of Four Stars.

[gali]

I am glad that you enjoyed the book.

I have read the book and found it rather tedious. I won't read the second book.

[CCtheBrave]

I'm reading this book right now and i'm absolutely loving it! I hope the second book is as good, and hopefully it includes illustrations, as well. But I understand where you're coming from, Gali, it does move a little slow at times