Book Review: Dancing Valley

Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

A story filled with magical beings, lush greenery, and evil creatures with destruction on their mind

Carolyn has lived in a beautiful valley for nearly a century and a half. After the death of her mother in the 1800s, she vowed to stay in the land that raised her and with the fairies that taught her how to wield masterful magic. Then, in present day, a young woman named Anita comes knocking at her door.

Anita feels called to roam the valley, and when she stumbles upon Carolyn’s home, she feels a strong, unknown connection. It turns out those fairies she thought she saw in her childhood weren’t as make believe as her adoptive parents persuaded her them to be. Everything is soon revealed to Anita, including her magical ancestry. With the help of Carolyn and the fairies in the valley, Anita learns to trust her intuition and further develop her own magical gifts.

After an old friend gives her magical seeds that can harness a life-saving plant for the fairies, evil forces arise, plotting to destroy the plant and anyone who gets in their way. With helpful friends from near and far, the valley comes to life in an epic battle of good versus evil. 

Lucky for me, I am in my fairy era. Dancing Valley provides readers with every aspect that fantasy readers love. The magical creatures really bring this book to life, especially when combined with Karen Black’s lush nature writing. Black sets her main characters in the most ideal setting, nestled into a small home in the middle of secluded forest with an impressive garden. The descriptions of this natural scenery makes it easy to get comfy in.

Anita’s storyline has a magnetic pull to it. As the mystery of her past is slowly revealed, she transforms from unsure of herself to a content and capable person. After the loss of her adoptive parents and her own professional success, Anita still feels a bit lost in the world. It’s this feeling that leads her to Dancing Valley and the start of her new life. Black does a wonderful job building Anita up after years of being told to ignore her intuition. So much of that is thanks to her newfound friendship with Carolyn. Their friendship is a true highlight in this book. Carolyn ends up playing a sort of motherly role, and they both fulfill an empty part in the other’s life.

I could have read the story of Anita and Carolyn in the woods forever, but things don’t stay peaceful for very long. There’s danger afoot in the form of Bargrim and his army of goblins, and while I wanted things to stay peaceful (surprised much?), I also like the rising stakes. The incoming danger gives the characters a powerful purpose. The plants that Anita is growing could make such a big impact, and everyone feels a calling to ensure their survival.

Dancing Valley has something in it for everyone: magic, friendship, romance, evil goblins. Someone pinch me when the next book comes out!

Thank you for reading Jaylynn Korrell’s book review of Dancing Valley by Karen Black! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: Dancing Valley appeared first on Independent Book Review.