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Willa #2
Willa of Dark Hollow
This instant New York Time s bestseller is perfect for any reader who loves history and mystery and cares deeply about the natural world.
*"A captivating, stirring tale of family, friendship, the environment, and our place in the world."-- Kirkus (starred review)
Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?
When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Filled with a compelling mixture of history, mystery, and magic, Robert Beatty's books are loved by readers from 8 to 108.
Grow your middle grade fantasy collection with these best-selling fan favorites:
*"A captivating, stirring tale of family, friendship, the environment, and our place in the world."-- Kirkus (starred review)
Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?
When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Filled with a compelling mixture of history, mystery, and magic, Robert Beatty's books are loved by readers from 8 to 108.
Grow your middle grade fantasy collection with these best-selling fan favorites:
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
101 people are currently reading
2485 people want to read
About the author
Robert Beatty
11 books2,063 followersRobert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina Series, the Willa Series, and Sylvia Doe — all published by Disney-Hyperion. Loved by both young readers and adults alike, his books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over twenty languages across the world. Over ONE MILLION of his books have been sold.
The award-winning Serafina Series is a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual cat-like girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate, surrounded by the opulence of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serafina and the Black Cloak, the first book in the series, won the Southern Book Prize in 2016. All four books in the series became #1 New York Times bestsellers.
Mr. Beatty's second project was the #1 New York Times best-selling Willa of the Wood Series, the story of a young forest girl with ancient magical powers who struggles for survival and understanding in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Willa books are in the early stages of being developed into a live action television series by Lionsgate.
His latest book, Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood, is the tale of a lonely 13-year-old girl and a powerful, magical storm that forever changes her life. The award-winning author Kwame Alexander called it, "Magical realism at its best." Both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly awarded Sylvia Doe with a prestigious STARRED REVIEW.
Robert Beatty lives in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore the historic Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Mountains where his novels take place. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Mr. Beatty was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year.
When asked about the inspiration for his writing, Robert said, “My books are inspired by my desire to write about heroic young girls for my three daughters."
The award-winning Serafina Series is a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual cat-like girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate, surrounded by the opulence of the Gilded Age and the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serafina and the Black Cloak, the first book in the series, won the Southern Book Prize in 2016. All four books in the series became #1 New York Times bestsellers.
Mr. Beatty's second project was the #1 New York Times best-selling Willa of the Wood Series, the story of a young forest girl with ancient magical powers who struggles for survival and understanding in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Willa books are in the early stages of being developed into a live action television series by Lionsgate.
His latest book, Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood, is the tale of a lonely 13-year-old girl and a powerful, magical storm that forever changes her life. The award-winning author Kwame Alexander called it, "Magical realism at its best." Both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly awarded Sylvia Doe with a prestigious STARRED REVIEW.
Robert Beatty lives in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore the historic Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Mountains where his novels take place. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Mr. Beatty was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year.
When asked about the inspiration for his writing, Robert said, “My books are inspired by my desire to write about heroic young girls for my three daughters."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
March 11, 2023
I did not expect Willa of Dark Hollow to destroy me emotionally.
The following is real footage of me after finishing this book:
Really, Robert. You had my complete and utter trust. You know how I adore your books. (I'd even consider myself your #1 fan.) You know how I delight myself in entering the worlds you built, reading about the characters you've written and following them on their adventures. But I think you've done it a little too well this time. How could you leave me with a cliffhanger like that?
Allow me to collect myself.
Robert Beatty has delivered yet again in the newest installment of the Willa series. Now that the last of the Faeran are scattered across the Great Smoky Mountains, Willa has found her place with her adopted family, and she spends her days continuing to explore the forest and spying on the oncoming groups of tree loggers who threaten to encroach upon her home. But as more and more humans come to destroy the forest, Willa finds herself unable to stop them. Then the appearance of a strange Dark Hollow with dangerous, unfathomable creatures arises, and Willa soon realizes that it may be the last puzzle piece to the world that seems to be crumbling around her.
I absolutely loved this book. Willa has quickly become one of my favorite characters and her adventures continue to grow with higher stakes, bigger risks, and even better relationships between the characters. I love how deeply connected she is to the world around her. These books definitely make me better appreciate nature and the natural world. To me Willa's Faeran powers are awesome and I admire how she can communicate easily with animals and plants. I mean, she even gets a bear cub as a sidekick in this book. Can I please have one?
Seeing Willa grow closer to her adopted family was so heartwarming. Nathaniel is and forever will be one of my favorite fictional father figures(move over, Tony Stark) and Hialeah is the kind of sister that everyone wants to have. I really did miss Iska in this book though; I thought he had such room for development and chances for his character to shine but he was kind of hidden in the background. And don't even get me started on Inali.
Adelaide completely won over my heart. Her story and where she came from had me in tears; her connection to Willa was so strong that it gave me goosebumps. She's probably one of my new favorite characters in this series.
As always, the plot and setting are terrifically magical. I credit Robert Beatty for the reason why I want to visit the Eastern mountain ranges so terribly. The way Willa used the world around her and her relationship to the environment was exceedingly creative in combating the main antagonistic force in this book.
And as I mentioned before, that cliffhanger. That cliffhanger. Robert has never done anything close to this to me before. All I can remember is the panic of there only being a few pages left and then finishing the book thinking how on earth he could have the audacity to leave me hanging like that. At least, I really hope it's a cliffhanger and not the end to this series. *wink wink nudge nudge*
Luckily, though, it appears we have a Willa TV series in the works, so you can imagine how excited I am for that! And it's being partially produced by Amy Adams nonetheless!!
So, in conclusion, I'm still trash for all of Beatty's books, and I will always be. Willa of Dark Hollow is a perfect story for anyone who is seeking to become in awe of nature and enrich themselves in a tale of adventure, magic, loss, and mystery.
The following is real footage of me after finishing this book:
Really, Robert. You had my complete and utter trust. You know how I adore your books. (I'd even consider myself your #1 fan.) You know how I delight myself in entering the worlds you built, reading about the characters you've written and following them on their adventures. But I think you've done it a little too well this time. How could you leave me with a cliffhanger like that?
Allow me to collect myself.
Robert Beatty has delivered yet again in the newest installment of the Willa series. Now that the last of the Faeran are scattered across the Great Smoky Mountains, Willa has found her place with her adopted family, and she spends her days continuing to explore the forest and spying on the oncoming groups of tree loggers who threaten to encroach upon her home. But as more and more humans come to destroy the forest, Willa finds herself unable to stop them. Then the appearance of a strange Dark Hollow with dangerous, unfathomable creatures arises, and Willa soon realizes that it may be the last puzzle piece to the world that seems to be crumbling around her.
I absolutely loved this book. Willa has quickly become one of my favorite characters and her adventures continue to grow with higher stakes, bigger risks, and even better relationships between the characters. I love how deeply connected she is to the world around her. These books definitely make me better appreciate nature and the natural world. To me Willa's Faeran powers are awesome and I admire how she can communicate easily with animals and plants. I mean, she even gets a bear cub as a sidekick in this book. Can I please have one?
Seeing Willa grow closer to her adopted family was so heartwarming. Nathaniel is and forever will be one of my favorite fictional father figures
Adelaide completely won over my heart. Her story and where she came from had me in tears; her connection to Willa was so strong that it gave me goosebumps. She's probably one of my new favorite characters in this series.
As always, the plot and setting are terrifically magical. I credit Robert Beatty for the reason why I want to visit the Eastern mountain ranges so terribly. The way Willa used the world around her and her relationship to the environment was exceedingly creative in combating the main antagonistic force in this book.
And as I mentioned before, that cliffhanger. That cliffhanger. Robert has never done anything close to this to me before. All I can remember is the panic of there only being a few pages left and then finishing the book thinking how on earth he could have the audacity to leave me hanging like that. At least, I really hope it's a cliffhanger and not the end to this series. *wink wink nudge nudge*
Luckily, though, it appears we have a Willa TV series in the works, so you can imagine how excited I am for that! And it's being partially produced by Amy Adams nonetheless!!
So, in conclusion, I'm still trash for all of Beatty's books, and I will always be. Willa of Dark Hollow is a perfect story for anyone who is seeking to become in awe of nature and enrich themselves in a tale of adventure, magic, loss, and mystery.
January 28, 2022
4.5 /5
O wow! Comfort read jak 150! Zakochałam się w bohaterach i świecie który stworzył Robert Beatty. Akcja tak szybka że nie da się oderwać od niej!
O wow! Comfort read jak 150! Zakochałam się w bohaterach i świecie który stworzył Robert Beatty. Akcja tak szybka że nie da się oderwać od niej!
May 7, 2021
After I finished I sat in awe. And just said “wow”. Mr. Beatty has done it again. What a very surprising conclusion and an amazing book. The story had me hooked from the first chapter. As usual he makes his words come to life and I couldn’t put it down. Such an amazing read!
January 9, 2022
"Tysiące maleńkich światełek, zielonych, białych i niebieskich, unosiło się nad ich głowami w koronach drzew."
"Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy" jest książką taką jak te światełka. Magiczną, baśniową, niezwykłą i wywołującą wypieki na twarzy.
Willa zdecydowanie nie jest zwykłą nastoletnią dziewczynką. Od najmłodszych lat uczono ją, że trzeba kraść, żeby przetrwać. Wychowana wśród nienawiści do "światłolubych" żyje w zamkniętym kręgu swojego rodu Feiran. Nie jest to jednak jedyna cecha, która ją wyróżnia. Willa jest też leśną czarownicą, panującą nad mocami natury i darzącą ją ogromnym szacunkiem. Kiedy jej klan upada, dziewczynka musi przetrwać i odnaleźć się w nowym świecie, a przy tym nawiązać znajomość z ludźmi, w stosunku do których uczono ją wrogości.
Druga część przygód o walecznej, małej czarownicy jest równie wspaniała i zajmująca jak pierwsza. Mogę śmiało powiedzieć, że nawet lepsza! Akcja jest bardziej wartka i szybsza, fabuła jeszcze ciekawsza i trochę mroczniejsza, a sama Willa zdaję się być doroślejsza niż wcześniej. Również emocje, które nam towarzyszą od pierwszych stron, bardzo przybierają na sile! Byłam tak wciągnięta w przygody Willi, że nie mogłam się od tej książki oderwać! Ponadto czyta się ją bardzo przyjemnie i szybko, tak więc kłamstwem nie będzie, jeśli przyznam się, że połknęłam tą opowieść w jeden wieczór.
Warto także wspomnieć o zakończeniu, które złamało mi serce. Byłam tak zszokowana, że przez chwilę musiałam po prostu posiedzieć w ciszy i to wszystko przetrawić - na pewno znacie to uczucie 😉
Wiem, że wiele osób myśli, że literatura dziecięca jest właśnie tylko dla młodszych odbiorców. Wielokrotnie wspominałam w recenzjach, że tak nie jest! Według mnie ten tytuł jest obowiązkowy, zarówno dla dzieci, młodzieży jak i dorosłych. Książka subtelnie przekazuje między wierszami cenne lekcje. Uczy szacunku do natury, empatii oraz miłości do rodziny, z którą nie zawsze muszą nas łączyć więzy krwi.
Premiera drugiego tomu przygód Willi odbędzie się 26 stycznia i uwierzcie mi, jest na co czekać!
Jako ciekawostkę dodam, że autor, Robert Beatty pracuje już nad scenariuszem do serialu o przygodach Willi. Już się nie mogę doczekać!
Za egzemplarz i zaufanie dziękuję bardzo @wydawnictwoliterackie
"Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy" jest książką taką jak te światełka. Magiczną, baśniową, niezwykłą i wywołującą wypieki na twarzy.
Willa zdecydowanie nie jest zwykłą nastoletnią dziewczynką. Od najmłodszych lat uczono ją, że trzeba kraść, żeby przetrwać. Wychowana wśród nienawiści do "światłolubych" żyje w zamkniętym kręgu swojego rodu Feiran. Nie jest to jednak jedyna cecha, która ją wyróżnia. Willa jest też leśną czarownicą, panującą nad mocami natury i darzącą ją ogromnym szacunkiem. Kiedy jej klan upada, dziewczynka musi przetrwać i odnaleźć się w nowym świecie, a przy tym nawiązać znajomość z ludźmi, w stosunku do których uczono ją wrogości.
Druga część przygód o walecznej, małej czarownicy jest równie wspaniała i zajmująca jak pierwsza. Mogę śmiało powiedzieć, że nawet lepsza! Akcja jest bardziej wartka i szybsza, fabuła jeszcze ciekawsza i trochę mroczniejsza, a sama Willa zdaję się być doroślejsza niż wcześniej. Również emocje, które nam towarzyszą od pierwszych stron, bardzo przybierają na sile! Byłam tak wciągnięta w przygody Willi, że nie mogłam się od tej książki oderwać! Ponadto czyta się ją bardzo przyjemnie i szybko, tak więc kłamstwem nie będzie, jeśli przyznam się, że połknęłam tą opowieść w jeden wieczór.
Warto także wspomnieć o zakończeniu, które złamało mi serce. Byłam tak zszokowana, że przez chwilę musiałam po prostu posiedzieć w ciszy i to wszystko przetrawić - na pewno znacie to uczucie 😉
Wiem, że wiele osób myśli, że literatura dziecięca jest właśnie tylko dla młodszych odbiorców. Wielokrotnie wspominałam w recenzjach, że tak nie jest! Według mnie ten tytuł jest obowiązkowy, zarówno dla dzieci, młodzieży jak i dorosłych. Książka subtelnie przekazuje między wierszami cenne lekcje. Uczy szacunku do natury, empatii oraz miłości do rodziny, z którą nie zawsze muszą nas łączyć więzy krwi.
Premiera drugiego tomu przygód Willi odbędzie się 26 stycznia i uwierzcie mi, jest na co czekać!
Jako ciekawostkę dodam, że autor, Robert Beatty pracuje już nad scenariuszem do serialu o przygodach Willi. Już się nie mogę doczekać!
Za egzemplarz i zaufanie dziękuję bardzo @wydawnictwoliterackie
May 22, 2021
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Oh my goodness! what did I just read? “Willa of Dark Hollow” is a fantastic story of friendship, bravery, and bonded with nature, and I loved it! It is easily one of the best middle-grade books I have read this year.
I vaguely remember reading the first book, “Willa of the Wood,” but I don’t recall what happened. Nevertheless, that did not stop me from enjoying this story.
Willa is impressive in the lead, and the author notably wrote her. One of the main reasons I adored her is how realistic she is, even though this is a fantasy book. I loved how she has conflicting feelings towards doing what is right, especially in the scenes where he has to decide whether to save the loggers or the trees. Moreover, the author adds many twists and turns, and the story is never dull. I loved Adelaide as the new character and her bond with Willa. The two of them share a beautiful friendship, and it was interesting reading about their back story.
The author also conveys a beautiful and profound message of how we are all connected. Whether humans or nature, all of us, including the animals and plants, are connected. We all thrive and grow with the help of each other. The book also ends in a shocking manner that had me drop my jaw! I never expected the ending and wonder how the story would continue if there is a continuation to the series.
Overall, “Willa of Dark Hollow” was a fantastic ride, and I enjoyed every moment of it! Even if you have not read the first book in the series, you will surely enjoy reading this!
January 27, 2022
Niezmącone od wieków piękno przyrody zostaje naruszone, gdy życie zostaje przeliczone na zysk przez Przedsiębiorstwo Drzewne Sutton. Stare drzewa zostają powalone przez maszyny, wyjątkowe gatunki tracą miejsce do życia, a zwierzęta umierają z broni lub na skutek głodu. Ludzie przynoszą śmierć naturze, która sama nie potrafi się obronić. Próbuje na wiele sposobów, ale nic nie wydaje się być wystarczające. Nawet pradawna mroczna magia. Są jednak i tacy, którzy stają po jej stronie. Którzy gotowi są ryzykować własne życie, by obronić to, co kochają najbardziej.
Willa wciąż nie potrafi dotrzeć do swoich pobratymców, jej ojciec zostaje oskarżony o zbrodnię, której nie popełnił, a las wokół umiera. Dzieje się wiele i czytelnik od pierwszych stron zostaje wciągnięty w wir wydarzeń. Nie brakuje zwrotów akcji oraz chwil wzruszeń czy radości. Fabuła boli, uwiera, daje nadzieję i pokazuje piękno więzi bliskich osób. Bohaterowie są barwni i z uwagą wykreowani. Wszystko jest przemyślane, a każda strona pokazuje jak wiele destrukcji przynosi działalność wycinkowa. Jak wiele zniszczenia idzie za człowiekiem. Ale też, że głośny sprzeciw daje szansę na uratowanie natury. Że wspólna misja jednoczy i może przynieść zmiany.
Robert Beatty napisał powieść, która uczy szacunku do przyrody. Która ukazuje jak każdy element ekosystemu się łączy i jak wielkie zmiany zachodzą, gdy zabraknie choć jednego jego składnika. Ale jego powieść nie ma jedynie przesłania ekologicznego, bo przecież na pierwszy plan wychodzą tutaj więzi rodzinne oraz czasami trudne ich relacje. Autor mówi o sile, jaka tkwi w grupie i o misji, która łączy. Przed bohaterką stawia wiele dylematów etycznych (jak chociażby to, czy uratować drwali, gdy zagrożone zostaje ich życie), a ubarwia to szczyptą magii (tej pięknej i tej mrocznej). Uczy, że musimy podjąć trudne decyzję i zmierzyć się z ich konsekwencjami.
Jeśli przy poprzednich powieściach autora byłam zachwycona — a byłam — to nie wiem, co powinnam powiedzieć o tej. Wiem, że gdybym się uparła, to mogłabym wymienić choć jeden lub dwa elementy w kreacji świata, które budzą moje pytania, ale nie zmieni to tego, że tytuł ten jest piękny i ważny. Że jest dobry, a obcowanie z nim napełniło moje serce wieloma pięknymi uczuciami.
Zdecydowanie jest to moja ulubiona powieść autora. Taka, która zajmie szczególne miejsce w moim sercu. A moje łzy na koniec niech będą tego dowodem.
przekł. Łukasz Małecki
Willa wciąż nie potrafi dotrzeć do swoich pobratymców, jej ojciec zostaje oskarżony o zbrodnię, której nie popełnił, a las wokół umiera. Dzieje się wiele i czytelnik od pierwszych stron zostaje wciągnięty w wir wydarzeń. Nie brakuje zwrotów akcji oraz chwil wzruszeń czy radości. Fabuła boli, uwiera, daje nadzieję i pokazuje piękno więzi bliskich osób. Bohaterowie są barwni i z uwagą wykreowani. Wszystko jest przemyślane, a każda strona pokazuje jak wiele destrukcji przynosi działalność wycinkowa. Jak wiele zniszczenia idzie za człowiekiem. Ale też, że głośny sprzeciw daje szansę na uratowanie natury. Że wspólna misja jednoczy i może przynieść zmiany.
Robert Beatty napisał powieść, która uczy szacunku do przyrody. Która ukazuje jak każdy element ekosystemu się łączy i jak wielkie zmiany zachodzą, gdy zabraknie choć jednego jego składnika. Ale jego powieść nie ma jedynie przesłania ekologicznego, bo przecież na pierwszy plan wychodzą tutaj więzi rodzinne oraz czasami trudne ich relacje. Autor mówi o sile, jaka tkwi w grupie i o misji, która łączy. Przed bohaterką stawia wiele dylematów etycznych (jak chociażby to, czy uratować drwali, gdy zagrożone zostaje ich życie), a ubarwia to szczyptą magii (tej pięknej i tej mrocznej). Uczy, że musimy podjąć trudne decyzję i zmierzyć się z ich konsekwencjami.
Jeśli przy poprzednich powieściach autora byłam zachwycona — a byłam — to nie wiem, co powinnam powiedzieć o tej. Wiem, że gdybym się uparła, to mogłabym wymienić choć jeden lub dwa elementy w kreacji świata, które budzą moje pytania, ale nie zmieni to tego, że tytuł ten jest piękny i ważny. Że jest dobry, a obcowanie z nim napełniło moje serce wieloma pięknymi uczuciami.
Zdecydowanie jest to moja ulubiona powieść autora. Taka, która zajmie szczególne miejsce w moim sercu. A moje łzy na koniec niech będą tego dowodem.
przekł. Łukasz Małecki
January 27, 2023
4,5⭐️
Świat nie jest ani płaski, ani okrągły.
Świat to są góry.
Zakończenie cudownej dylogii. Zapamiętam ją na długo. 💜
Świat nie jest ani płaski, ani okrągły.
Świat to są góry.
Zakończenie cudownej dylogii. Zapamiętam ją na długo. 💜
December 31, 2021
3,75⭐️/5
Książka od początku mnie wciągnęła. Poznajemy trochę starszą Willę. Bałam się, że kolejny tom będzie gorszy niż 1, ale było kompletnie na odwrót. Była jeszcze lepsza. Niektóre momenty były nudne, ale końcówka mnie bardzo zaskoczyła i niespodziewalam się tego w tej serii.
Książka od początku mnie wciągnęła. Poznajemy trochę starszą Willę. Bałam się, że kolejny tom będzie gorszy niż 1, ale było kompletnie na odwrót. Była jeszcze lepsza. Niektóre momenty były nudne, ale końcówka mnie bardzo zaskoczyła i niespodziewalam się tego w tej serii.
January 29, 2022
4,5⭐️
Zakochałam się w tej książce tak jak w pierwszym tomie. Pierwszy raz w życiu płakałam na książce, mimo że zakończenie jest smutne tak 50/50. Myśle że jest to bardzo wartościowa historia, otwierająca oczy na wiele spraw m. Ja totalnie przepadałam w tej historii i bardzo polecam!! Poza tym strasznie szybko i przyjemnie się czytało
Jednak zakończenie boli…💔
Zakochałam się w tej książce tak jak w pierwszym tomie. Pierwszy raz w życiu płakałam na książce, mimo że zakończenie jest smutne tak 50/50. Myśle że jest to bardzo wartościowa historia, otwierająca oczy na wiele spraw m. Ja totalnie przepadałam w tej historii i bardzo polecam!! Poza tym strasznie szybko i przyjemnie się czytało
Jednak zakończenie boli…💔
December 30, 2024
This story made me want to go out and hug a tree lol. I enjoyed the first book as well as this one.
August 5, 2021
Note: I listened to this on audio. Please excuse any terrible misspellings.
I read the first Willa book back in May and was surprised to fall in love with it. I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but it won me over with the aspect of found family and a very sweet, touching ending.
This second book had that found family aspect again, so I was pleased to start with, but there were some other elements I was a little iffy about. Then the story won me over again for a while, but then the ending. THE ENDING. Hmm. I'm just... I'm not sure what I feel about it. Let's discuss.
If the overarching theme of the first book was learning to stand for what's right as an individual even when everyone around you has forgotten the truth, then this book's theme was figuring out how to deal with the consequences of the choices you make as an individual, and what to do when you eventually come up against problems that are bigger than you alone can overcome.
I did like the author's handling of this theme. He's great at capturing the perspective of a 13 year old child. The way things at that age can feel so overwhelming. You feel too young to deal with it all, but are also at an age that mom and dad can't always rescue you. You start having to deal with the consequences of your own actions, and that's what Willa faces here.
In the last book, Willa defeated the evil leader of her people, freeing them, but also scattering them. She also got adopted by a new, loving family like none she ever would have imagined and now we get to see her working together with them.
The main conflict this time is that the woodcutters we learned of in the last book are still around, cutting way more lumber than is actually needed and destroying the forest of the Blue Ridge mountains. Willa wants to stop them, but doesn't know how. But then, strange, smoky beasts begin showing up and killing some of the woodcutter. Meanwhile, Willa's adoptive father gets blamed for the murders and arrested based on a false witness' claims. Willa must figure out how to save her father and the only world she's ever known before it's too late for both of them. But it seems this challenge is too big for just one person...
Something I really appreciated about what the author did with this story is that he balanced out the themes of individualism in the previous story by showing that there are going to be times when we can't overcome every challenge all by ourselves. And that's okay. Good, even. We can't and shouldn't try to do everything alone. It's 100% okay to ask for help and remember that we have friends and family who will come alongside us to lift us up. (Something that can be easy to forget when things feel overwhelming. Even for adults.)
Another thing I loved was the theme of TIME. Our decisions don't just affect us, they can effect other people now and even down the road. Willa realizes in this book that when her grandmother made the choices she did, to raise Willa in a way that was opposed to the established norms (harmful norms, in this case) of Faeran society, she was looking toward the future, realizing that she may never live to see the results of the change she started, but that she had to do it or nothing would ever change for the better. She had to accept that sometimes you make choices and take actions for the sake of improving life for future generations even if it will make life harder for you right now. That was a pretty weighty theme for a children's book, but one I think is important in our real world where it's so easy and even encouraged to focus only on yourself and what will make you comfortable and happy right now. I also think it's an important thing to teach kids, who, again, can get so overwhelmed with the challenges they're facing right now that they forget to think about the future. We have to remember that time changes things and we won't always be stuck where we are right now.
There was also more of Willa's found family, which I adore and were the main reason I wanted to read the sequel. I was afraid they might get hurt in this one, but was satisfied with the way things turned out. Willa really showed her love for them... *sniffle*
Oh, and there was one big twist to this story that I totally did not see coming. Wow. I'm usually good at spotting this stuff, but this really managed to surprise me in a good way. I loved it.
Now we get to what I didn't like. Mainly, I wasn't super on board with the idea of trees having spirits. As a Christian I'm all for being good stewards of the earth God created. We shouldn't be wasteful of our natural resources, wantonly cutting down trees that aren't going to be used, or not replacing the ones we do cut down. etc. But I do think there are those who take nature conservation past the point of stewardship and borderline worship nature. Sorry, trees are living organisms, but they don't have feelings and they don't have souls or spirits. So, I couldn't help rolling my eyes a bit when Willa kept calling the cutting of trees "murder". In her world, yes, it is murder to some degree because her trees do have spirits, and we learn that ones that are cut down wantonly can even be angry and become . This later revelation was one where I really had to tell myself to keep suspending my disbelief because I just... I would have been okay with the mysterious smoky creatures being the of the animals and even people of the forest, but just wasn't super behind them being This didn't ruin the story for me, though, and I was able to get past it.
I think what made me really flip-flop on what to rate this, though, was the ending. Whereas the first book's ending sealed the deal for me and made me effervescently happy, this one... I saw it coming. It was foreshadowed well. But. It really didn't make me happy. And it wasn't meant to, I get that. It was meant to be poignant and I do appreciate the theme of loving someone enough to be willing to sacrifice for them. Really, the last few moments of this story read like a fairy tale or ancient legend where someone does something miraculous to save someone else, but with the consequence that they themselves won't be the same again afterwards. If you want a spoiler, well, It actually didn't make me cry, because again, I saw it coming. But it was such a stark contrast to the previous book's ending I guess I just didn't know what to feel, and still don't. I'm a little sad, while still appreciating the love on display. I just am not necessarily a fan of melancholy endings, so I can't say that I'm "happy" with it. It just is what it is. I briefly thought I might drop my rating to three stars because of this, but I think I'll still stay with 4 stars because of the strong, positive themes throughout.
While I don't believe that I'll ever reread the Willa books, I don't regret having read them. They were different from anything else I've read, very creative, and I enjoyed them more than I ever expected. However, they are on the darker end of children's literature, which is not my go-to thing, so that's the main reason they haven't become new personal favorites. Others who like that kind of thing more will probably enjoy them immensely.
Content Advisory:
Once again, the tonality of this book leans more toward YA than Middle Grade, though the synopsis suggests it's okay for kids as young as 8. I personally would have been scared by some things in here as a sensitive 8 year old, so please take into consideration your unique child and what they normally read and are sensitive to when deciding if this book is right for them.
Sexual:
None.
Language:
God's name gets taken in vain twice.
Violence: Threats of violence throughout. Rifles get waved around and fired, but no one actually gets shot.
Some smoky, fantastical critters that carry with them coldness and the smell of death (and would probably frighten some young readers) kill a handful of people. The killings aren't graphic or gross (no blood or wounds involved at all because they kill with only a touch), but there is mention of men screaming and writhing in pain and black veins climbing up their skin. Willa and a friend are also threatened by these creatures, but escape.
Some blood mentioned in relation to wounds. Nothing graphic.
A couple mentions of the sound of a bone breaking, like when a man injures his leg.
Spiritual:
In the world of this book, trees are more than living organisms, they're sentient in their own way. They can hear and communicate in their own way, have emotions, respond to Willa's requests of them. Willa considers the cutting of trees for no reason "murder" and refers to the fallen ones as "carcases."
In this book world the trees actually do have spirits that leave them when they're "killed" and can be angry. It turns out that (Major SPOILER)
Willa seems to see the mountain as a living, controlling force in the world and sometimes asks it things in a way that could be considered prayer. No real world belief systems are ever references.
Magic:
Willa, just like in the last book, is a "wood witch" which means she has the ability to communicate with plants, "dead" and alive. However, this is an ability that runs in the family and is natural to the Faeran people (though she's pretty much the only one left alive who still remembers how to do it.)
There is a lake near where the bear lives that has healing properties. In the previous book, Willa healed her own wounds by going there once. It comes up again in this book when someone is grievously injured and Willa has to take them there to save their life.
Willa does even bigger communicating with plants in this book than the last one, connecting to them so deeply that a couple of times she "sees" and feels and breathes and drinks the way a tree would. The plants, too, seem to want to claim her as one of their own after one such incident. MAJOR SPOILER:
Other:
As in the previous book, "following your heart" is implied to be the best guide for your decisions.
I read the first Willa book back in May and was surprised to fall in love with it. I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but it won me over with the aspect of found family and a very sweet, touching ending.
This second book had that found family aspect again, so I was pleased to start with, but there were some other elements I was a little iffy about. Then the story won me over again for a while, but then the ending. THE ENDING. Hmm. I'm just... I'm not sure what I feel about it. Let's discuss.
If the overarching theme of the first book was learning to stand for what's right as an individual even when everyone around you has forgotten the truth, then this book's theme was figuring out how to deal with the consequences of the choices you make as an individual, and what to do when you eventually come up against problems that are bigger than you alone can overcome.
I did like the author's handling of this theme. He's great at capturing the perspective of a 13 year old child. The way things at that age can feel so overwhelming. You feel too young to deal with it all, but are also at an age that mom and dad can't always rescue you. You start having to deal with the consequences of your own actions, and that's what Willa faces here.
In the last book, Willa defeated the evil leader of her people, freeing them, but also scattering them. She also got adopted by a new, loving family like none she ever would have imagined and now we get to see her working together with them.
The main conflict this time is that the woodcutters we learned of in the last book are still around, cutting way more lumber than is actually needed and destroying the forest of the Blue Ridge mountains. Willa wants to stop them, but doesn't know how. But then, strange, smoky beasts begin showing up and killing some of the woodcutter. Meanwhile, Willa's adoptive father gets blamed for the murders and arrested based on a false witness' claims. Willa must figure out how to save her father and the only world she's ever known before it's too late for both of them. But it seems this challenge is too big for just one person...
Something I really appreciated about what the author did with this story is that he balanced out the themes of individualism in the previous story by showing that there are going to be times when we can't overcome every challenge all by ourselves. And that's okay. Good, even. We can't and shouldn't try to do everything alone. It's 100% okay to ask for help and remember that we have friends and family who will come alongside us to lift us up. (Something that can be easy to forget when things feel overwhelming. Even for adults.)
Another thing I loved was the theme of TIME. Our decisions don't just affect us, they can effect other people now and even down the road. Willa realizes in this book that when her grandmother made the choices she did, to raise Willa in a way that was opposed to the established norms (harmful norms, in this case) of Faeran society, she was looking toward the future, realizing that she may never live to see the results of the change she started, but that she had to do it or nothing would ever change for the better. She had to accept that sometimes you make choices and take actions for the sake of improving life for future generations even if it will make life harder for you right now. That was a pretty weighty theme for a children's book, but one I think is important in our real world where it's so easy and even encouraged to focus only on yourself and what will make you comfortable and happy right now. I also think it's an important thing to teach kids, who, again, can get so overwhelmed with the challenges they're facing right now that they forget to think about the future. We have to remember that time changes things and we won't always be stuck where we are right now.
There was also more of Willa's found family, which I adore and were the main reason I wanted to read the sequel. I was afraid they might get hurt in this one, but was satisfied with the way things turned out. Willa really showed her love for them... *sniffle*
Oh, and there was one big twist to this story that I totally did not see coming. Wow. I'm usually good at spotting this stuff, but this really managed to surprise me in a good way. I loved it.
Now we get to what I didn't like. Mainly, I wasn't super on board with the idea of trees having spirits. As a Christian I'm all for being good stewards of the earth God created. We shouldn't be wasteful of our natural resources, wantonly cutting down trees that aren't going to be used, or not replacing the ones we do cut down. etc. But I do think there are those who take nature conservation past the point of stewardship and borderline worship nature. Sorry, trees are living organisms, but they don't have feelings and they don't have souls or spirits. So, I couldn't help rolling my eyes a bit when Willa kept calling the cutting of trees "murder". In her world, yes, it is murder to some degree because her trees do have spirits, and we learn that ones that are cut down wantonly can even be angry and become . This later revelation was one where I really had to tell myself to keep suspending my disbelief because I just... I would have been okay with the mysterious smoky creatures being the of the animals and even people of the forest, but just wasn't super behind them being This didn't ruin the story for me, though, and I was able to get past it.
I think what made me really flip-flop on what to rate this, though, was the ending. Whereas the first book's ending sealed the deal for me and made me effervescently happy, this one... I saw it coming. It was foreshadowed well. But. It really didn't make me happy. And it wasn't meant to, I get that. It was meant to be poignant and I do appreciate the theme of loving someone enough to be willing to sacrifice for them. Really, the last few moments of this story read like a fairy tale or ancient legend where someone does something miraculous to save someone else, but with the consequence that they themselves won't be the same again afterwards. If you want a spoiler, well, It actually didn't make me cry, because again, I saw it coming. But it was such a stark contrast to the previous book's ending I guess I just didn't know what to feel, and still don't. I'm a little sad, while still appreciating the love on display. I just am not necessarily a fan of melancholy endings, so I can't say that I'm "happy" with it. It just is what it is. I briefly thought I might drop my rating to three stars because of this, but I think I'll still stay with 4 stars because of the strong, positive themes throughout.
While I don't believe that I'll ever reread the Willa books, I don't regret having read them. They were different from anything else I've read, very creative, and I enjoyed them more than I ever expected. However, they are on the darker end of children's literature, which is not my go-to thing, so that's the main reason they haven't become new personal favorites. Others who like that kind of thing more will probably enjoy them immensely.
Content Advisory:
Once again, the tonality of this book leans more toward YA than Middle Grade, though the synopsis suggests it's okay for kids as young as 8. I personally would have been scared by some things in here as a sensitive 8 year old, so please take into consideration your unique child and what they normally read and are sensitive to when deciding if this book is right for them.
Sexual:
None.
Language:
God's name gets taken in vain twice.
Violence: Threats of violence throughout. Rifles get waved around and fired, but no one actually gets shot.
Some smoky, fantastical critters that carry with them coldness and the smell of death (and would probably frighten some young readers) kill a handful of people. The killings aren't graphic or gross (no blood or wounds involved at all because they kill with only a touch), but there is mention of men screaming and writhing in pain and black veins climbing up their skin. Willa and a friend are also threatened by these creatures, but escape.
Some blood mentioned in relation to wounds. Nothing graphic.
A couple mentions of the sound of a bone breaking, like when a man injures his leg.
Spiritual:
In the world of this book, trees are more than living organisms, they're sentient in their own way. They can hear and communicate in their own way, have emotions, respond to Willa's requests of them. Willa considers the cutting of trees for no reason "murder" and refers to the fallen ones as "carcases."
In this book world the trees actually do have spirits that leave them when they're "killed" and can be angry. It turns out that (Major SPOILER)
Willa seems to see the mountain as a living, controlling force in the world and sometimes asks it things in a way that could be considered prayer. No real world belief systems are ever references.
Magic:
Willa, just like in the last book, is a "wood witch" which means she has the ability to communicate with plants, "dead" and alive. However, this is an ability that runs in the family and is natural to the Faeran people (though she's pretty much the only one left alive who still remembers how to do it.)
There is a lake near where the bear lives that has healing properties. In the previous book, Willa healed her own wounds by going there once. It comes up again in this book when someone is grievously injured and Willa has to take them there to save their life.
Willa does even bigger communicating with plants in this book than the last one, connecting to them so deeply that a couple of times she "sees" and feels and breathes and drinks the way a tree would. The plants, too, seem to want to claim her as one of their own after one such incident. MAJOR SPOILER:
Other:
As in the previous book, "following your heart" is implied to be the best guide for your decisions.
August 29, 2022
,, ᴡɪʟʟᴀ ᴅᴢɪᴇᴡᴄᴢʏɴᴀ ᴢ ᴍʀᴏᴄᴢɴᴇᴊ ᴊᴀᴍʏ "~Robert Beatty
JAKIE TO BYŁO DOBRE!!! Świetna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu, czyli dokładnie to czego się spodziewałam. Tak jak w poprzedniej części fabularnie dużo się nie działo, ale z drugiej strony jednak tak... Ciężko jest mi to opisać. Może to kwestia tego, że tę powieść czyta się ekspresowo-duża czcionka jak i krótkie rozdziały zdecydowanie temu sprzyjają. Cechy głównej bohaterki zostały zachowane i ani przez moment nie wątpiłam w to czy aby na pewno Willa by tak postąpiła.
Uważam, że absolutnie każdy znajdzie w przygodach leśnej dziewczyny, chociaż powinnam powiedzieć dziewczyny z mrocznej jamy coś dla siebie co pokocha całym sercem, dzięki czemu długo nie zapomni o tej (GENIALNEJ!!) powieści oraz oczywiście będzie się dobrze bawił czytając ją. Podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie autor przywiązuje dużą wagę kontaktowi z naturą. Według mnie fabuła była jeszcze bardziej wciągająca niż w pierwszym tomie. Jeśli pokochaliscie albo chociaż polubiliscie „Willa, dziewczyna z lasu" to MUSICIE sięgnijcie po drugi tom, obiecuje ze się nie zawiedziecie! Jeśli jeszcze nie czytaliście o przygodach Willi, koniecznie to nadróbcie.
Na sam koniec zostawiłam zakończenie- nie mam się do czego przyczepić. Idealnie wpasowało się do całości. Uważam, że nie dało się tego lepiej zrobić. Jeszcze raz ogromnie polecam całą serię.
JAKIE TO BYŁO DOBRE!!! Świetna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu, czyli dokładnie to czego się spodziewałam. Tak jak w poprzedniej części fabularnie dużo się nie działo, ale z drugiej strony jednak tak... Ciężko jest mi to opisać. Może to kwestia tego, że tę powieść czyta się ekspresowo-duża czcionka jak i krótkie rozdziały zdecydowanie temu sprzyjają. Cechy głównej bohaterki zostały zachowane i ani przez moment nie wątpiłam w to czy aby na pewno Willa by tak postąpiła.
Uważam, że absolutnie każdy znajdzie w przygodach leśnej dziewczyny, chociaż powinnam powiedzieć dziewczyny z mrocznej jamy coś dla siebie co pokocha całym sercem, dzięki czemu długo nie zapomni o tej (GENIALNEJ!!) powieści oraz oczywiście będzie się dobrze bawił czytając ją. Podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie autor przywiązuje dużą wagę kontaktowi z naturą. Według mnie fabuła była jeszcze bardziej wciągająca niż w pierwszym tomie. Jeśli pokochaliscie albo chociaż polubiliscie „Willa, dziewczyna z lasu" to MUSICIE sięgnijcie po drugi tom, obiecuje ze się nie zawiedziecie! Jeśli jeszcze nie czytaliście o przygodach Willi, koniecznie to nadróbcie.
Na sam koniec zostawiłam zakończenie- nie mam się do czego przyczepić. Idealnie wpasowało się do całości. Uważam, że nie dało się tego lepiej zrobić. Jeszcze raz ogromnie polecam całą serię.
April 9, 2024
Niesamowicie dojrzała, pełnowartościowa i mądra w każdym aspekcie! Trafia w samo sedno i porusza w człowieku (nawet jeśli czasem głęboko tkwiące) połączenie — z Naturą, ludźmi, ze Światem. Pan Beaty to człowiek o wyjątkowej wrażliwości i wielkiej wyobraźni.
Poprzeczka po pierwszym tomie już była wysoko, a ten jest znacznie, znacznie lepszy!
Poprzeczka po pierwszym tomie już była wysoko, a ten jest znacznie, znacznie lepszy!
January 17, 2022
Szczerzem mogłabym dać jej 5 gwiazdek, bo pod względem ogólnym, jakościowym, jest świetna,cudowna . Ale nie jest to mój ulubieniec. Coś co zostanie w moim sercu na baaardzo długo, coś z czym poczułam szczególną więź i przywiązanie. Nie jest po prostu moją książką. Co nie zmienia faktu że bardzo mi się podobała i uważam ją za dobrą, doceniam ją. Płakałam na końcówce. Polecam totalnie, lepsze chyba od 1 tomu<33
August 20, 2023
This book is now one of my favorites, and I really liked how it was written. My favorite part was when Willa finally meets Adelaide, who is my favorite character of the book, and the part that surprised me most was when Willa discovered that Adelaide was her lost twin sister, Alliw. My least favorite part was when Willa turned into a tree at the end to save Nathaniel, because I wish that she could’ve gotten the chance to spend more time with Alliw. I hope that Robert Beatty makes another book where Willa turns back into a Faeran girl. Overall, I was really impressed with this book, and would like to reread it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2022
Książka od samego początku mnie wciągnęła. Gdy przeczytałam kilka pierwszych stron, uświadomiłam sobie, jak bardzo stęskniłam się za tą historią i bohaterami. Czyta się ją niezywkle szybko, jest pięknie napisana, a relacje, które są w niej nawiązywane bardzo mnie urzekły.
Fabuła tego tomu jest według mnie ciekawsza. Dzieję się o wiele więcej, pojawiają sie nowi bohaterowie. Willa jeszcze bardziej odkrywa swoje moce, a bardziej ich właściwości. Natomiast dalej pozostaję tą samą postacią jaką była w 1 tomie, dla której liczy się życie, a nie śmierć. Uratuję każdego, nie ważne kim jest. Szkoda tylko, że inni nie odwzajemniają jej pomocy i nie dotrzymują obietnic...
Zakończenie było niesamowite. Nie spodziewałam się go i nie wiem co o nim myśleć. Z pewnością mogę powiedzieć, że to było jedno z bardziej niezywkłych zakończeń powieści jakie kiedykolwiek przeczytałam.
Fabuła tego tomu jest według mnie ciekawsza. Dzieję się o wiele więcej, pojawiają sie nowi bohaterowie. Willa jeszcze bardziej odkrywa swoje moce, a bardziej ich właściwości. Natomiast dalej pozostaję tą samą postacią jaką była w 1 tomie, dla której liczy się życie, a nie śmierć. Uratuję każdego, nie ważne kim jest. Szkoda tylko, że inni nie odwzajemniają jej pomocy i nie dotrzymują obietnic...
Zakończenie było niesamowite. Nie spodziewałam się go i nie wiem co o nim myśleć. Z pewnością mogę powiedzieć, że to było jedno z bardziej niezywkłych zakończeń powieści jakie kiedykolwiek przeczytałam.
May 2, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Willa of Dark Hollow
Author: Robert Beatty
Book Series: Willa Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers, Tennessee/Great Smokey Mountains lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, threat of death and destruction)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Review: I really liked this book! I was a bit worried when I saw that it said it was book 2 and I thought we were going to have the same situation I did when I picked up book 3 of Beatty’s Serafina series (I’m always out of order with this author’s books lol). These two books can be read out of order. The book did well to present a character and story within the context of it being the second book, but it can be read like the first book. The story wasn’t confusing and the characters were all well developed.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit hard to get into and it took me a bit to understand the flow of the story.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: Willa of Dark Hollow
Author: Robert Beatty
Book Series: Willa Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers, Tennessee/Great Smokey Mountains lovers
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments, threat of death and destruction)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.
Review: I really liked this book! I was a bit worried when I saw that it said it was book 2 and I thought we were going to have the same situation I did when I picked up book 3 of Beatty’s Serafina series (I’m always out of order with this author’s books lol). These two books can be read out of order. The book did well to present a character and story within the context of it being the second book, but it can be read like the first book. The story wasn’t confusing and the characters were all well developed.
The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit hard to get into and it took me a bit to understand the flow of the story.
Verdict: It’s good!
January 29, 2022
Są książki, które poruszają już od pierwszych stron. Są takie, które wywołują lawinę emocji i powodują, że na chwilę się zatrzymujemy, aby przemyśleć sobie pewne sprawy. Taką serią jest "Willa" pióra Roberta Beatty'ego i tak naprawdę nie ma znaczenia, czy mowa jest tutaj o pierwszym, czy drugim tomie.
Obie części wzruszają i dają do myślenia, a przy tym są po prostu ciekawe i wciągające.
Willa znalazła nowy dom. Odnalazła rodzinę, dzięki której czuje się kochana. Natomiast nie jest w stanie stłumić swojej natury leśnej wiedźmy i cały czas jest mocno zwiazana z lasem.
Lasem, któremu grozi ogromne niebezpieczeństwo. Ludzie sprowadzają wielkie maszyny i niszczą wszystko, co napotkają na drodze. Zabijają drzewa i zwierzęta. Przyroda umiera, a Willa musi na to patrzeć. Cierpi z tego powodu. Lecz to nie jedno zagrożenie, które ją przeraża. W lesie pojawiły się straszliwe cienie, które zabijają wszystko co tylko dotkną.
Przed Willą wiele trudnych decyzji.
Nie ukrywam, że uwielbiam pióro autora. Język powieści jest bardzo plastyczny, a wszystko jest tak opisane, że gdy tylko zaczynam czytać, to przenoszę się w las i widzę wszystko oczami głównej bohaterki.
Willa jest cudowną postacią silną i zdeterminowaną, a przy tym bardzo wrażliwą i empatyczną.
Jeśli poszukujesz książki pięknej, mądrej i wzruszającej, to jest to seria idealna. Wciągnie, wyciśnie łzy, a na koniec zostawi z pustką i pytaniem: co dalej?
Obie części wzruszają i dają do myślenia, a przy tym są po prostu ciekawe i wciągające.
Willa znalazła nowy dom. Odnalazła rodzinę, dzięki której czuje się kochana. Natomiast nie jest w stanie stłumić swojej natury leśnej wiedźmy i cały czas jest mocno zwiazana z lasem.
Lasem, któremu grozi ogromne niebezpieczeństwo. Ludzie sprowadzają wielkie maszyny i niszczą wszystko, co napotkają na drodze. Zabijają drzewa i zwierzęta. Przyroda umiera, a Willa musi na to patrzeć. Cierpi z tego powodu. Lecz to nie jedno zagrożenie, które ją przeraża. W lesie pojawiły się straszliwe cienie, które zabijają wszystko co tylko dotkną.
Przed Willą wiele trudnych decyzji.
Nie ukrywam, że uwielbiam pióro autora. Język powieści jest bardzo plastyczny, a wszystko jest tak opisane, że gdy tylko zaczynam czytać, to przenoszę się w las i widzę wszystko oczami głównej bohaterki.
Willa jest cudowną postacią silną i zdeterminowaną, a przy tym bardzo wrażliwą i empatyczną.
Jeśli poszukujesz książki pięknej, mądrej i wzruszającej, to jest to seria idealna. Wciągnie, wyciśnie łzy, a na koniec zostawi z pustką i pytaniem: co dalej?
April 29, 2024
3.5 ⭐ // Mam mieszane odczucia, co do niej. Z jednej strony podobał mi się przekaz i ukryta w tym historia, ale niekoniecznie jestem fanką wykonania, bo nie potrafiłam się wgryźć i nie zachwyciła mnie tak bardzo, jakbym sie spodziewała po pierwszym tomie. Wrzucenie nas w pierwszych zdaniach w sam środek akcji sprawiło, że zastanawiałam się, czy coś mnie nie ominęło i absolutnie nie zgodzę się z tym, że można to czytać jako pojedynczą książkę, bo inaczej wiele rzeczy jest po prostu bez sensu. Nie czuję się zawiedziona tą opowieścią, bo jest ona bardzo nietuzinkowa i na pewno wciskałabym ją młodszym domownikom, ale nie była to moja historia.
February 6, 2022
Piękno samo w sobie - tak bym określił jednym zdaniem tą książkę.
Robert Beatty jest niezwykłym pisarzem, który oczarował mnie swoją twórczością. Jest to twórca, który zdecydowanie trafia do mojej listy ulubionych autorów. Książka ,,Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy’’ jest cudowną i piękną kontynuacją ,,Willi, dziewczyny z lasu’’.
Uważam, że jego powieści nie tylko są przeznaczone dla młodszych czytelników, ale również i starsi będą się dobrze bawić. Ja się po prostu zakochałem w tych książkach. Willa jest niesamowitą postacią. Jest odważną leśną wiedźmą, która dla bliskich sobie ludzi jest w stanie wszystko zrobić. Jej stosunek do natury, jej miłość do przyrody to coś pięknego i wzruszającego. Sama historia wywołałą we mnie wiele emocji - radość, złość, smutek. Kontynuacja jest dużo bardziej złożona. Pokazuje jak nasze decyzje wpływają na nas samych, ale również i na otoczenie. Skupia się też ona na relacjach międzyludzkich. Książka, mimo że ma charakter bajkowi, baśniowy to skrywa w sobie trudną historię. Styl autora jest lekki, dzięki czemu książkę naprawdę się szybko czyta, a opisy przyrody są tak przyjemnie napisane, że można się w nich zatracić. Samo zakończenie było słodko-gorzkie. Z jednej strony piękne i wzruszające, a z drugiej złamało mi serce. Polecam tą historię KAŻDEMU!!
Robert Beatty jest niezwykłym pisarzem, który oczarował mnie swoją twórczością. Jest to twórca, który zdecydowanie trafia do mojej listy ulubionych autorów. Książka ,,Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy’’ jest cudowną i piękną kontynuacją ,,Willi, dziewczyny z lasu’’.
Uważam, że jego powieści nie tylko są przeznaczone dla młodszych czytelników, ale również i starsi będą się dobrze bawić. Ja się po prostu zakochałem w tych książkach. Willa jest niesamowitą postacią. Jest odważną leśną wiedźmą, która dla bliskich sobie ludzi jest w stanie wszystko zrobić. Jej stosunek do natury, jej miłość do przyrody to coś pięknego i wzruszającego. Sama historia wywołałą we mnie wiele emocji - radość, złość, smutek. Kontynuacja jest dużo bardziej złożona. Pokazuje jak nasze decyzje wpływają na nas samych, ale również i na otoczenie. Skupia się też ona na relacjach międzyludzkich. Książka, mimo że ma charakter bajkowi, baśniowy to skrywa w sobie trudną historię. Styl autora jest lekki, dzięki czemu książkę naprawdę się szybko czyta, a opisy przyrody są tak przyjemnie napisane, że można się w nich zatracić. Samo zakończenie było słodko-gorzkie. Z jednej strony piękne i wzruszające, a z drugiej złamało mi serce. Polecam tą historię KAŻDEMU!!
May 30, 2021
While Willa of Dark Hollow was a decent read, it definitely didn't live up to the previous book. I did like elements of it, but there were just a lot of things that didn't make sense, including the catalyst for the plot. I did still enjoy it, but it just wasn't great. It really let me down. I might change this to 2 stars, but we'll see.
TW: blood, death, near death experiences
TW: blood, death, near death experiences
September 26, 2022
Byłam bardzo ciekawa kontynuacji przygód Willi i tego co wydarzy się w 2. tomie. Ostatecznie nie zawiodłam się.😊 Książka utrzymuje klimat poprzedniego tomu, a fabularnie jest bogata w nowe wątki. Oczywiście nie zabrakło też magii, która tutaj jest o wiele bardziej wyeksponowana. Oprócz takiej rozumianej jako niesamowite zdarzenia i sytuacje, występuje jeszcze magia w postaci przyrody. Za pomocą bogatego języka pełnego empatii i wrażliwości, autor przekonuje czytelnika, że magia może istnieć naprawdę w postaci lasów, rzek i gór. Postać Willi bardzo mi się spodobała, a w szczególności za rozwój charakteru. Feiranka poznaje otaczający ją świat i próbuje go zrozumieć, jednocześnie będąc świadomą swojej odmienności. To samo mogę powiedzieć o nowej bohaterce, która co prawda nie była aż tak wyeksponowana jak Willa, ale nadal była dobrze napisana.
„Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy” to bardzo dobra kontynuacja, pełna akcji, magii, piękna, ale też smutku (ostrzegam, końcówka może sprawić, że poleci łezka). Pomimo tego, że 1. tom podobał mi się odrobinkę bardziej, to nie mogę powiedzieć by kontynuacja była gorsza. Jest fenomenalną młodzieżówką, ze świetną bohaterką, pokazującą jak ważna jest natura, która potrafi być jednocześnie piękna i niebezpieczna.
„Willa, dziewczyna z Mrocznej Jamy” to bardzo dobra kontynuacja, pełna akcji, magii, piękna, ale też smutku (ostrzegam, końcówka może sprawić, że poleci łezka). Pomimo tego, że 1. tom podobał mi się odrobinkę bardziej, to nie mogę powiedzieć by kontynuacja była gorsza. Jest fenomenalną młodzieżówką, ze świetną bohaterką, pokazującą jak ważna jest natura, która potrafi być jednocześnie piękna i niebezpieczna.
March 18, 2022
Aaaa jakie to było dobre!!
Świetna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu, NIESAMOWITE zakończenie, wciągająca fabuła, główna bohaterka bardzo dobrze wykreowana, ogólnie cudo!
Myślę, że każdy znajdzie w tej powieści coś „swojego” co pokocha całym serduchem, dzięki czemu będzie się dobrze bawił czytając ją.
Podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie, mamy bardzo dobry kontakt z naturą, książka utrzymuje w mrocznym klimacie co jest ogromnym plusem, bo TOTALNIE to kocham.
Momentami powieść mi się dłużyła, ale myślę, że to z powodu kumulacji nauki, która padła akurat na moment, w którym czytałam tą książkę.
Fabuła była jeszcze bardziej wciągająca niż w pierwszym tomie i jak podobała Wam się „Willa, dziewczyna z lasu” to koniecznie sięgnijcie po drugi tom, obiecuje ze się nie zawiedziecie!
A jak nie czytaliście pierwszego tomu to koniecznie musicie to nadrobić!
Świetna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu, NIESAMOWITE zakończenie, wciągająca fabuła, główna bohaterka bardzo dobrze wykreowana, ogólnie cudo!
Myślę, że każdy znajdzie w tej powieści coś „swojego” co pokocha całym serduchem, dzięki czemu będzie się dobrze bawił czytając ją.
Podobnie jak w pierwszym tomie, mamy bardzo dobry kontakt z naturą, książka utrzymuje w mrocznym klimacie co jest ogromnym plusem, bo TOTALNIE to kocham.
Momentami powieść mi się dłużyła, ale myślę, że to z powodu kumulacji nauki, która padła akurat na moment, w którym czytałam tą książkę.
Fabuła była jeszcze bardziej wciągająca niż w pierwszym tomie i jak podobała Wam się „Willa, dziewczyna z lasu” to koniecznie sięgnijcie po drugi tom, obiecuje ze się nie zawiedziecie!
A jak nie czytaliście pierwszego tomu to koniecznie musicie to nadrobić!
March 7, 2021
It's extremely difficult not to spoil this book! I did get an e-ARC from edelweiss.
To start - this is an amazing, fantastical, historical fiction. Willa has so many struggles and she perseveres through SO much!
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a strong heroine.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON:::::
That ending!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know this was going to be a duology! :( Just WOW. I had all the emotions at the sacrifice. I saw the build up, but didn't think Beatty would actually do that! I'm so sad that this amazing character is no longer available, unless Beatty has something truly incredible up his sleeve.
This truly did have you feeling all the emotions - absolutely stunning work.
To start - this is an amazing, fantastical, historical fiction. Willa has so many struggles and she perseveres through SO much!
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a strong heroine.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON:::::
That ending!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know this was going to be a duology! :( Just WOW. I had all the emotions at the sacrifice. I saw the build up, but didn't think Beatty would actually do that! I'm so sad that this amazing character is no longer available, unless Beatty has something truly incredible up his sleeve.
This truly did have you feeling all the emotions - absolutely stunning work.
February 26, 2021
We - people, animals, plants - are all connected. When one is hurt or destroyed, the others suffer. Willa must find a way to stop the loggers from destroying the forest or there will be nothing left.
The loggers are intent upon cutting down the trees on Nathaniel's land. They frame him for murder and take him to jail. Willa and her human sister must find a way to rescue him. While trying to find out what really happened, Willa rescues a member of the logging team from the ghosts of the forest. She also saves more of the loggers later, but regrets it because she killed trees to do it. Willa finds her sister Alliw, who she believed was dead. Willa helps Alliw remember who she is and together they rebuild their clan's home. The truth is revealed, and Nathaniel is released from prison, but the loggers make an attempt to take his land. Willa asks the trees for help and triggers a mudslide which almost kills Nathaniel. She, Alliw, and her human sister take him to the bear lake to be healed, but are refused by the guardian bear. Willa makes the ultimate sacrifice to save her adopted father.
#WillaofDarkHollow #NetGalley
The loggers are intent upon cutting down the trees on Nathaniel's land. They frame him for murder and take him to jail. Willa and her human sister must find a way to rescue him. While trying to find out what really happened, Willa rescues a member of the logging team from the ghosts of the forest. She also saves more of the loggers later, but regrets it because she killed trees to do it. Willa finds her sister Alliw, who she believed was dead. Willa helps Alliw remember who she is and together they rebuild their clan's home. The truth is revealed, and Nathaniel is released from prison, but the loggers make an attempt to take his land. Willa asks the trees for help and triggers a mudslide which almost kills Nathaniel. She, Alliw, and her human sister take him to the bear lake to be healed, but are refused by the guardian bear. Willa makes the ultimate sacrifice to save her adopted father.
#WillaofDarkHollow #NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide - Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I can totally see this as a Disney Pixar or Disney Animation movie. The imagery Robert Beatty has given in the book of Willa especially when she enters the dark forest reminded me a lot of Chronicles of Narnia discovering a whole new parallel universe that really brought the book to life. I can see the expressions on our young readers' faces and I know there will be excitement and many smiles on their faces while they read this book and they will never stop talking about it in our book clubs.
We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I can totally see this as a Disney Pixar or Disney Animation movie. The imagery Robert Beatty has given in the book of Willa especially when she enters the dark forest reminded me a lot of Chronicles of Narnia discovering a whole new parallel universe that really brought the book to life. I can see the expressions on our young readers' faces and I know there will be excitement and many smiles on their faces while they read this book and they will never stop talking about it in our book clubs.
We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
February 27, 2022
To było dobre i zaskakujące WOW.
March 21, 2024
That ending 😭😭😭 I did not see it coming.
May 29, 2021
You can find my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Rockstar Book Tours for copies in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m going to admit that I didn’t love Willa of the Wood, even though it seems like everyone else did. Beatty has a fantastic writing style, though, so despite that, I definitely wanted to check out the next book in the series. Willa of Dark Hollow felt stronger than the first book to me, and I enjoyed it a lot more.
Willa of Dark Hollow is a love letter to conservationism and a thoughtful look at how interconnected the world is, touching on big themes like family, impact, and self-sacrifice.
Even though it’s touted as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend reading it as such. I feel like it would lose a lot of impact having not read Willa of the Wood first, and readers are likely to be somewhat confused jumping into this book without previous knowledge of the series. This book is also dark, surprisingly so. I’d recommend it only for upper middle grade readers who are more mature and can handle death and violence.
My Thoughts:
- Willa of Dark Hollow puts the dark in dark fantasy … which makes sense, because it’s even in the title! I normally like dark fantasy, but I’m not used to it in middle grade, so it caught me by surprise! Make no mistake that this book is dark. If you enjoy books that will raise goosebumps along your arms, you will love this one. Beatty does the creepy factor so well that it made me shudder a little at times, which was fabulous! Of course, given that, this book likely isn’t for less mature middle grade readers who may not be ready for the violence and death. The book isn’t needlessly dark, necessarily, though. It’s historical, so it’s set in a tumultuous time in the Appalachian Mountains (the Great Smokey Mountains). There’s an interesting underlying narrative about killing needlessly. In a world where Willa can commune with and understand the trees and their souls, this extends to the trees, too, as settlers are moving in and cutting them down. There are some interesting scenes, too, about whether killing is the answer to stopping killing and where/how the cycle ends (or if it ends).
- Beatty combines gorgeous writing with powerful, evocative themes that will leave readers with plenty to think about after they set the book down. There’s no doubt that Beatty is a fantastic writer! I mean, look at this quotes. *points to quote boxes* They are fabulous. I was struck over and over again by the power of his writing, and I enjoyed reading some passages multiple times just to soak them up. It isn’t just the gorgeous writing, though. Beatty tackles some really big themes. Conservation is obviously a big one. For Willa, who can hear the trees and feel their souls, cutting them down is nothing short of murder. She weeps for each individual tree, of course, but also the magic of the forest that dies with them. One really big theme is the idea of interconnectedness. If the trees die, the animals die, and a whole cycle of death occurs. Slowly, Willa realizes that humans are a part of the chain, too, whether she likes it or not. And the things they do today will decide what happens tomorrow. It’s such a wonderful message for young readers to grapple with!
- And the sibling/family bonds! *chef’s kiss* Willa has been adopted into a human family, but she still sometimes questions her place in it. Being a sister is hard, and she doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with her human sister. However, they both share a deep love for their father, and at no point is Willa treated like she doesn’t belong. It’s so heartwarming and lovely to see her have a place in this family, and that even as she may question it (as adopted children often do), her family doesn’t.
- The fantasy elements of this are woven wonderfully into the historical setting, creating a magical effect. While magic played a role in the first book, I felt like this one delved into it more. The reader gets to see more of what Willa is capable of, as well as being more immersed in the magic of the forest, even as it’s dying. Willa’s magic is as wondrous as it is dangerous, and we get to see both sides of that in this book. There’s a strong sense of the magic is what she makes it, basically, and she has the ability to choose which direction to go. There’s a really dark atmosphere in the book, but it’s offset by all these wonderous things, too. I thought the balance was struck nicely in this book. Yes, magic can do horrible things, but it can do amazing things. I enjoyed the dichotomy of it and the fact that Willa did get a choice in the matter. Like so many things, it’s more about how you wield it than the thing itself.
Sticking Points
- There were what felt like inconsistencies in the book, things I think middle grade readers will probably overlook but which jumped out at me. I noticed this a lot about the first book, and while I thought it was handled better in this book, it was still there. I’ll list a few examples which I don’t think will spoil anything:
- Willa repeatedly decries how she helps people/animals and doesn’t hurt them … except she’s done just that. Repeatedly.
- At one point, Willa says she forgives wolves for killing animals to eat because that’s in their nature, and she extends that idea to her father … but not to all humans?
- Characters in this are either good or bad … that’s it. There’s no nuance. I think this is what leads to the majority of the inconsistency about the characters, because it's almost like there's an attempt to introduce nuance but then it's quickly rolled back again.
- Faeran children are born as twins, and their names are palindromes, which is cute, buuuuut … there’s an emphasis on the fact that Faeran don’t speak English. They have their own language, so it makes no sense at all that their names would be palindromes in English, which apparently has very different sounds. And their language doesn’t have a written component. I highly doubt middle grade readers will notice or care about this, but darn it, as someone who loves languages, this bothered me!
Many thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Rockstar Book Tours for copies in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m going to admit that I didn’t love Willa of the Wood, even though it seems like everyone else did. Beatty has a fantastic writing style, though, so despite that, I definitely wanted to check out the next book in the series. Willa of Dark Hollow felt stronger than the first book to me, and I enjoyed it a lot more.
Willa of Dark Hollow is a love letter to conservationism and a thoughtful look at how interconnected the world is, touching on big themes like family, impact, and self-sacrifice.
Even though it’s touted as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend reading it as such. I feel like it would lose a lot of impact having not read Willa of the Wood first, and readers are likely to be somewhat confused jumping into this book without previous knowledge of the series. This book is also dark, surprisingly so. I’d recommend it only for upper middle grade readers who are more mature and can handle death and violence.
My Thoughts:
- Willa of Dark Hollow puts the dark in dark fantasy … which makes sense, because it’s even in the title! I normally like dark fantasy, but I’m not used to it in middle grade, so it caught me by surprise! Make no mistake that this book is dark. If you enjoy books that will raise goosebumps along your arms, you will love this one. Beatty does the creepy factor so well that it made me shudder a little at times, which was fabulous! Of course, given that, this book likely isn’t for less mature middle grade readers who may not be ready for the violence and death. The book isn’t needlessly dark, necessarily, though. It’s historical, so it’s set in a tumultuous time in the Appalachian Mountains (the Great Smokey Mountains). There’s an interesting underlying narrative about killing needlessly. In a world where Willa can commune with and understand the trees and their souls, this extends to the trees, too, as settlers are moving in and cutting them down. There are some interesting scenes, too, about whether killing is the answer to stopping killing and where/how the cycle ends (or if it ends).
Lying on the forest floor, a fallen tree would take months, sometimes years, to die, and even then it wouldn’t be truly dead. Lichen and mushrooms and tiny flowers would grow from its sides. The small beginnings of new trees would sprout from it. Beetles and millipedes and other tiny creatures would live beneath its aging bark. And foxes would make dens in the hollows of its bones. A tree in the forest didn’t die in the normal sense of the word—it changed shape into a thousand other lives.
- Beatty combines gorgeous writing with powerful, evocative themes that will leave readers with plenty to think about after they set the book down. There’s no doubt that Beatty is a fantastic writer! I mean, look at this quotes. *points to quote boxes* They are fabulous. I was struck over and over again by the power of his writing, and I enjoyed reading some passages multiple times just to soak them up. It isn’t just the gorgeous writing, though. Beatty tackles some really big themes. Conservation is obviously a big one. For Willa, who can hear the trees and feel their souls, cutting them down is nothing short of murder. She weeps for each individual tree, of course, but also the magic of the forest that dies with them. One really big theme is the idea of interconnectedness. If the trees die, the animals die, and a whole cycle of death occurs. Slowly, Willa realizes that humans are a part of the chain, too, whether she likes it or not. And the things they do today will decide what happens tomorrow. It’s such a wonderful message for young readers to grapple with!
- And the sibling/family bonds! *chef’s kiss* Willa has been adopted into a human family, but she still sometimes questions her place in it. Being a sister is hard, and she doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with her human sister. However, they both share a deep love for their father, and at no point is Willa treated like she doesn’t belong. It’s so heartwarming and lovely to see her have a place in this family, and that even as she may question it (as adopted children often do), her family doesn’t.
Willa began to wonder about the interconnections, not just between the people, animals, and trees living in these mountains at this moment, but between the past, present, and future. Maybe the only way out of all this was time, to somehow use time to her advantage. The decisions her grandmother had made long ago had caused things to happen this very moment she was living through now. And the decisions Willa was making would cause things to happen in the future. And so it was, for every Faeran and every human. Maybe she’d been thinking about the world too simply. It wasn’t just interconnected—it was a mesh of interconnections across time, as thick as the soil was deep.
- The fantasy elements of this are woven wonderfully into the historical setting, creating a magical effect. While magic played a role in the first book, I felt like this one delved into it more. The reader gets to see more of what Willa is capable of, as well as being more immersed in the magic of the forest, even as it’s dying. Willa’s magic is as wondrous as it is dangerous, and we get to see both sides of that in this book. There’s a strong sense of the magic is what she makes it, basically, and she has the ability to choose which direction to go. There’s a really dark atmosphere in the book, but it’s offset by all these wonderous things, too. I thought the balance was struck nicely in this book. Yes, magic can do horrible things, but it can do amazing things. I enjoyed the dichotomy of it and the fact that Willa did get a choice in the matter. Like so many things, it’s more about how you wield it than the thing itself.
A black phantasm of a fox darted past, grazing her calf with a searing slash of burning cold. A huge, plunging mountain buffalo as black as charcoal crashed through the undergrowth and smashed into a group of fleeing loggers. An immense elk with long black burning horns speared a man against a tree and engulfed him in black flames. They were the spirits of Dark Hollow, past and the present, every one of them as dead and deadly as the next.
Sticking Points
- There were what felt like inconsistencies in the book, things I think middle grade readers will probably overlook but which jumped out at me. I noticed this a lot about the first book, and while I thought it was handled better in this book, it was still there. I’ll list a few examples which I don’t think will spoil anything:
- Willa repeatedly decries how she helps people/animals and doesn’t hurt them … except she’s done just that. Repeatedly.
- At one point, Willa says she forgives wolves for killing animals to eat because that’s in their nature, and she extends that idea to her father … but not to all humans?
- Characters in this are either good or bad … that’s it. There’s no nuance. I think this is what leads to the majority of the inconsistency about the characters, because it's almost like there's an attempt to introduce nuance but then it's quickly rolled back again.
- Faeran children are born as twins, and their names are palindromes, which is cute, buuuuut … there’s an emphasis on the fact that Faeran don’t speak English. They have their own language, so it makes no sense at all that their names would be palindromes in English, which apparently has very different sounds. And their language doesn’t have a written component. I highly doubt middle grade readers will notice or care about this, but darn it, as someone who loves languages, this bothered me!
September 27, 2025
This is one of those rare cases where the sequel is better than the original book. And this is also one of those rare books that made me feel stuff, especially towards the end. I got all misty eyed. While the ending had been hinted at throughout the story I still didn't actually expect it so it caught me off guard.
This is expertly written. It tells a story from two sides: Willa who lives in the forest and is friends with the trees as she is some nature spirits and then there are the humans who want to cut the trees down to build their homes and to make their train tracks. One sees it as progress while the other sees it as destruction & murder. And while I was reading this, I just couldn't see how this issue could ever be resolved. Both sides are confident they are right.
It's not a very happy story. It's glum in places and even rather frightening with dark creatures running about the woods. It's rather mysterious too with several mysteries to be solved. And it's packed full of action as well. There's daring rescues and fleeing through the woods at night and confrontations. Several different times I just couldn't see how anything in here could be solved as it just seemed totally impossible.
And just when I breathed a sigh of relief then a new horrible problem popped up! This book is a wild rollercoaster ride.
And somehow, don't ask me how, the author managed to pull off clever miracles! And no, I didn't see them coming ahead of time either.
I did guess one secret in here. But I hadn't guessed the other stuff at the end at all.
I am still a bit shocked actually.
You should definitely read the first book before you read this one. Plus this one is much more powerful and it packs an emotional punch. There's characters you live in here as well as hate. Plus others who get what they deserve.
Adding this to my favorites.
This is expertly written. It tells a story from two sides: Willa who lives in the forest and is friends with the trees as she is some nature spirits and then there are the humans who want to cut the trees down to build their homes and to make their train tracks. One sees it as progress while the other sees it as destruction & murder. And while I was reading this, I just couldn't see how this issue could ever be resolved. Both sides are confident they are right.
It's not a very happy story. It's glum in places and even rather frightening with dark creatures running about the woods. It's rather mysterious too with several mysteries to be solved. And it's packed full of action as well. There's daring rescues and fleeing through the woods at night and confrontations. Several different times I just couldn't see how anything in here could be solved as it just seemed totally impossible.
And just when I breathed a sigh of relief then a new horrible problem popped up! This book is a wild rollercoaster ride.
And somehow, don't ask me how, the author managed to pull off clever miracles! And no, I didn't see them coming ahead of time either.
I did guess one secret in here. But I hadn't guessed the other stuff at the end at all.
I am still a bit shocked actually.
You should definitely read the first book before you read this one. Plus this one is much more powerful and it packs an emotional punch. There's characters you live in here as well as hate. Plus others who get what they deserve.
Adding this to my favorites.
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