Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #1)

I got this book as a gift, as part of the series set box. I had asked for it. I had also set a goal to read at least one book cover to cover that had more than 300 pages, because I had noticed I mostly stick to short books. Well, I certain met that goal.

Did I like it? It was okay. Some parts had me gripped while others left me so bored I noticed I was zoning off and daydreaming. The plot fluidity moved along at a decent pace and I did enjoy the flip flopping between Prue and Curtis, the main protagonists of the story. The characters were incredibly fleshed out and the author could put personality into the many characters included throughout the story. Each character had something that set them apart from the others, including the various coyote characters you meet as you read through. The main villain was not a force to be reckoned with, the author did a great job in making her fearsome and having you genuinely worry for some of the characters lives. However, with how the story ended, I am surprised she did not kill one of the characters when she had the chance.

I would recommend this book to people who do enjoy the deep details and long stories. I am glad that this was my first choice in expanding my pages read goal. I would not recommend this book to people who like fast paced stories and do not like so much action.

Here are my notes during the reading, including some quotes that stood out to me. WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

-Curtis is so autism coded
-Prue randomly trusting a man she doesn't know and getting into his van
-Curtis is 12. He also is eating and drinking a strangers food.
-That boy is drunk.
-Poppycock!
-Roger is shady
-Did Curtis kill some people are did I interpret that wrong?
-I thought the child possibly killing some people was a dark turn, but the owl's story with the puppet child was even worse. Eesh.
-Curtis is being groomed.
-Honestly, I'm finding this book hard to follow. As in, it is a little too detailed in its descriptions which feel like they draw on forever. I also feel as though I don't know anything about the main characters and more about the main villain, which can make it hard for someone to want to root for the protagonists. The world building is also confusing, even though there are three detailed maps included throughout the book, which also poorly describe where places are located. However, the story line has me hooked enough to keep reading. I'm also wanting to hurry up and get this book finished so I can meet a goal.

PART TWO

-The egret could possibly be my breaking point. Not the egret!
-"Fear," the sparrow responded quietly. "Fear rules the day. The powerful, for fear of losing that power, have become blinded. Everyone is an enemy. Someone has to bear the brunt."
-She can go in because she was made by magical means. Curtis went in because he was with Prue.

PART THREE

-Curtis just made a blood pact and didn't realize it until after the fact.
-"You needn't wear it all on your shoulders. Bigger events are in play, my dear, far bigger than you. You had as much control over your own involvement in these events as a leaf does in the time of its falling. We must only follow, we must only follow" Iphigenia, page 475
-"There's as much benefit to wishing the world away as there is in demanding a bud to bloom. It's better to live presently. By living thus, perhaps we can learn to understand the nature of this fragile coexistence we share with the world around us." Iphigenia, page 475-476