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Dancing Valley
A captivating blend of fantasy and adventure unfolds when Anita, lost and exhausted, stumbles into Dancing Valley, a mystical world filled with fae, goblins, and ancient magic. There, she meets Carolyn, a guardian of the fae, who cares for a mystical world filled with little people and ancient magic.
With Carolyn’s guidance, Anita develops her previously unknown abilities to communicate with the little people of the forest, and she discovers her destiny is intertwined with the guardianship of Dancing Valley. A botanist, Anita works alongside the fae to cultivate magical flora, the only remedy for a supernatural virus. When she learns a sinister warlock, Bagrim, plans to attack their sanctuary and destroy the greenhouse, Anita joins Carolyn and the mystical beings who inhabit their valley in a battle to protect the irreplaceable plants.
This enchanting tale explores themes of loss, self-discovery, and the enduring bond between nature and humanity, inviting readers to believe in the magic that surrounds us all.
With Carolyn’s guidance, Anita develops her previously unknown abilities to communicate with the little people of the forest, and she discovers her destiny is intertwined with the guardianship of Dancing Valley. A botanist, Anita works alongside the fae to cultivate magical flora, the only remedy for a supernatural virus. When she learns a sinister warlock, Bagrim, plans to attack their sanctuary and destroy the greenhouse, Anita joins Carolyn and the mystical beings who inhabit their valley in a battle to protect the irreplaceable plants.
This enchanting tale explores themes of loss, self-discovery, and the enduring bond between nature and humanity, inviting readers to believe in the magic that surrounds us all.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 26, 2024
Karen Black opens the door to a spellbinding realm in her sequel, Dancing Valley. This fantasy novel brims with magical creatures of all kinds—fae, pixies, goblins, and even a dogman. For readers craving a story steeped in enchantment, this book delivers in spades. At its heart, the narrative centers on two remarkable women whose lives intertwine in the midst of extraordinary events. The first protagonist, Carolyn, serves as the guardian of the fae, devoting her centuries-long life to protecting the magical inhabitants of Dancing Valley. Her counterpart, Anita, has a far different path. Orphaned at birth and later losing her adoptive parents, Anita seeks solace in nature. During a fateful hiking trip, she loses her way and stumbles into the mystical Dancing Valley. There, she meets Carolyn and discovers that the magical beings she once thought imaginary are not only real but deeply connected to her. A biologist with a passion for cultivating rare plants, Anita becomes a target of Bagrim, a malevolent goblin intent on exploiting her skills. Together, Carolyn and Anita must rally their magical allies and newfound friends to defend their home. But will their combined efforts be enough to thwart evil?
One of the novel’s strengths lies in its rich cast of characters. From the many mystical beings to the two leads, each one is carefully crafted with a distinct personality. Despite the abundance of characters, Karen Black manages to give them depth, making them easy to remember and relate to. The background provided for each adds dimension, creating an immersive world full of life and variety. The book’s short chapters contribute to its readability. The pacing keeps the story engaging, pulling readers into a steady rhythm. It’s one of those books where you find yourself saying, “Just one more chapter,” until suddenly, it’s finished.
I feel the writing style may divide readers. Magical chants are frequent in the narrative, and while they attempt to rhyme and evoke a sense of wonder, they often come across as ordinary monologues. This detracted somewhat from the immersive quality of the magic. The story delves into every character’s thoughts, giving insight into their motivations but sometimes at the expense of pacing. While this approach makes the plot easy to follow, it can feel dense, with details that are easy to forget or skim over due to the volume.
Dancing Valley is a vibrant and imaginative fantasy tale. Its compelling world-building and memorable characters make it a must-read for fans of magical adventures. Though the writing style may appeal to a specific group of readers, the story’s charm and creativity shine through, making it a worthy addition to any fantasy lover’s collection.
One of the novel’s strengths lies in its rich cast of characters. From the many mystical beings to the two leads, each one is carefully crafted with a distinct personality. Despite the abundance of characters, Karen Black manages to give them depth, making them easy to remember and relate to. The background provided for each adds dimension, creating an immersive world full of life and variety. The book’s short chapters contribute to its readability. The pacing keeps the story engaging, pulling readers into a steady rhythm. It’s one of those books where you find yourself saying, “Just one more chapter,” until suddenly, it’s finished.
I feel the writing style may divide readers. Magical chants are frequent in the narrative, and while they attempt to rhyme and evoke a sense of wonder, they often come across as ordinary monologues. This detracted somewhat from the immersive quality of the magic. The story delves into every character’s thoughts, giving insight into their motivations but sometimes at the expense of pacing. While this approach makes the plot easy to follow, it can feel dense, with details that are easy to forget or skim over due to the volume.
Dancing Valley is a vibrant and imaginative fantasy tale. Its compelling world-building and memorable characters make it a must-read for fans of magical adventures. Though the writing style may appeal to a specific group of readers, the story’s charm and creativity shine through, making it a worthy addition to any fantasy lover’s collection.
March 6, 2025
Karen Black opens the door to a spellbinding realm in her sequel, Dancing Valley. This fantasy novel brims with magical creatures of all kinds—fae, pixies, goblins, and even a dogman. For readers craving a story steeped in enchantment, this book delivers in spades. At its heart, the narrative centers on two remarkable women whose lives intertwine in the midst of extraordinary events. The first protagonist, Carolyn, serves as the guardian of the fae, devoting her centuries-long life to protecting the magical inhabitants of Dancing Valley. Her counterpart, Anita, has a far different path. Orphaned at birth and later losing her adoptive parents, Anita seeks solace in nature. During a fateful hiking trip, she loses her way and stumbles into the mystical Dancing Valley. There, she meets Carolyn and discovers that the magical beings she once thought imaginary are not only real but deeply connected to her. A biologist with a passion for cultivating rare plants, Anita becomes a target of Bagrim, a malevolent goblin intent on exploiting her skills. Together, Carolyn and Anita must rally their magical allies and newfound friends to defend their home. But will their combined efforts be enough to thwart evil?
One of the novel’s strengths lies in its rich cast of characters. From the many mystical beings to the two leads, each one is carefully crafted with a distinct personality. Despite the abundance of characters, Karen Black manages to give them depth, making them easy to remember and relate to. The background provided for each adds dimension, creating an immersive world full of life and variety. The book’s short chapters contribute to its readability. The pacing keeps the story engaging, pulling readers into a steady rhythm. It’s one of those books where you find yourself saying, “Just one more chapter,” until suddenly, it’s finished.
I feel the writing style may divide readers. Magical chants are frequent in the narrative, and while they attempt to rhyme and evoke a sense of wonder, they often come across as ordinary monologues. This detracted somewhat from the immersive quality of the magic. The story delves into every character’s thoughts, giving insight into their motivations but sometimes at the expense of pacing. While this approach makes the plot easy to follow, it can feel dense, with details that are easy to forget or skim over due to the volume.
Dancing Valley is a vibrant and imaginative fantasy tale. Its compelling world-building and memorable characters make it a must-read for fans of magical adventures. Though the writing style may appeal to a specific group of readers, the story’s charm and creativity shine through, making it a worthy addition to any fantasy lover’s collection.
One of the novel’s strengths lies in its rich cast of characters. From the many mystical beings to the two leads, each one is carefully crafted with a distinct personality. Despite the abundance of characters, Karen Black manages to give them depth, making them easy to remember and relate to. The background provided for each adds dimension, creating an immersive world full of life and variety. The book’s short chapters contribute to its readability. The pacing keeps the story engaging, pulling readers into a steady rhythm. It’s one of those books where you find yourself saying, “Just one more chapter,” until suddenly, it’s finished.
I feel the writing style may divide readers. Magical chants are frequent in the narrative, and while they attempt to rhyme and evoke a sense of wonder, they often come across as ordinary monologues. This detracted somewhat from the immersive quality of the magic. The story delves into every character’s thoughts, giving insight into their motivations but sometimes at the expense of pacing. While this approach makes the plot easy to follow, it can feel dense, with details that are easy to forget or skim over due to the volume.
Dancing Valley is a vibrant and imaginative fantasy tale. Its compelling world-building and memorable characters make it a must-read for fans of magical adventures. Though the writing style may appeal to a specific group of readers, the story’s charm and creativity shine through, making it a worthy addition to any fantasy lover’s collection.
May 3, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading DANCING VALLEY (book 2 in the Unmistakably Mystical series) by Karen Black. The author does an excellent job of taking readers into her mystical world of pixies, leprechauns, gnomes, goblins, warlocks, witches, dogmen, and fairies. So much so that I felt like I was right there with the characters.
In this story, Anita, a botanist, treks through Dancing Valley, an estate within the Adirondack Mountains that borders other mystical estates. She wanders around lost and eventually follows a fairy to the cottage of Carolyn, a witch and Guardian of the Valley. It is here that Anita learns that she, too, is a witch and develops her skills under Carolyn.
A friend of Anita's sent her seeds of two rare, magical plants found only in the Amazon. They are known to cure ailments suffered by the fae, and having them available in the Valley will save many magical lives in the future. She builds a greenhouse and provides an environment that duplicates the Amazon jungle, then, with the help of others in the Valley, they nurture the seeds with other freshly planted herbs and spices. A Warlock in the Amazon learns of their activity and takes his army to Dancing Valley to steal or destroy the plants. The showdown gathers all the creatures in the Valley to fight the invading force collectively. Of course, magic spells and collective chants are needed to succeed. Can they defeat this strong enemy and save the plants?
Of all the mystical creatures in the story, I found Viki the pixie to be my favorite. Her energy and mischievous behavior made me smile throughout the story. Like book one, I was engaged from the very beginning and felt close to the characters. It's a story everybody should read, and I highly recommend it. I gave it five stars.
In this story, Anita, a botanist, treks through Dancing Valley, an estate within the Adirondack Mountains that borders other mystical estates. She wanders around lost and eventually follows a fairy to the cottage of Carolyn, a witch and Guardian of the Valley. It is here that Anita learns that she, too, is a witch and develops her skills under Carolyn.
A friend of Anita's sent her seeds of two rare, magical plants found only in the Amazon. They are known to cure ailments suffered by the fae, and having them available in the Valley will save many magical lives in the future. She builds a greenhouse and provides an environment that duplicates the Amazon jungle, then, with the help of others in the Valley, they nurture the seeds with other freshly planted herbs and spices. A Warlock in the Amazon learns of their activity and takes his army to Dancing Valley to steal or destroy the plants. The showdown gathers all the creatures in the Valley to fight the invading force collectively. Of course, magic spells and collective chants are needed to succeed. Can they defeat this strong enemy and save the plants?
Of all the mystical creatures in the story, I found Viki the pixie to be my favorite. Her energy and mischievous behavior made me smile throughout the story. Like book one, I was engaged from the very beginning and felt close to the characters. It's a story everybody should read, and I highly recommend it. I gave it five stars.
March 31, 2025
What a wonderful book of Materia Magica: poetic spells (all in rhythmic poetry), healing herbs (some from the Amazon Rain Forest), gemstones (crystals and semi-precious--very magical--ones), mysterious soul stones, amulets, two romances, and familiars disguised as pets. Karen Black's genius as a creator of novels and stories shines brighter than the highly polished pendants her Guardians wear. In all Black’s writings, the characters are always the central jewels. We met many in Book 1 (Goldfield Forest) but we are introduced to some worthy new ones here in the Valley. My particular favorite is Rocky the dog, but if you are a cat-lover, you’ll love the Telecats. Treat yourself to an entertaining read, I did!
November 25, 2025
I loved meeting Carolyn and all her friends! Delightfully creative magical creatures and their world! Love Viki! These are my thoughts after enjoying an early copy of the book.
October 20, 2025
The story had me spell bound. I felt like I was part of the story and I. The forest. Cannot wait until book 3
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews