A promising fantasy series with a an innovative blend of magic wielding and witchery.
Title: Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1)
Author: Susan Dennard
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Published January 5th 2016 by Tor Teen
At times Truthwitch feels like a foundation for the rest of the series than anything more than that. But it's subjective to your own tastes and what you expect from the first in a fantasy series.
But for a book that's trying to build a foundation, it certainly keeps you confused for the better part. There was too many names and too many new phrases that were unexplained. A very confusing map with Empires and Countries' who's political dynamics were unknown for the better part of the book. We didn't get much cultural exploration of the different countries either.
But what Truthwitch lacks in world building, it makes up for in terms of characters... kinda.
Right away, I have to mention that Safiya was a bit of a MarySue when she's first introduced. The special snowflake who's specialness was entirely lost on me. Iseult was easily the more likeable one because despite the fact that as a threadwitch she can't show emotions, she was the more emotionally vulnerable one.
While I love amazing friendship between Safi & Iseult, and how they'd do anything for each other, I still feel like we need more heartfelt moments in their friendship. It's nice that they'd even die for each other, but the back-story we did get for the basis of their friendship just wasn't that compelling?
Apart from Safi and Iseult, we meet a slew of characters and basically everyone is a witch.
Prince Merik is easily my favourite. I'm in love.
Kullen was another one of my favourites. Ryber too.
I hope we see more of Leopold and Uncle Eron in the next book.
And I know you're expecting me to say it so I'll say it, even the bloodwitch,Aeduan is a problematic favourite.... He's the most complex character in this story perhaps.
Despite my complaints, I did find myself hooked while reading Truthwitch. It's not a perfect book and for many, it's probably over-hyped and not at all gratifying, but I found myself invested in the story and some of the characters. I'm interested to see where the story goes because it promises a big political fight. Even if the politics in this first book are murky at best, there was something about the world that appealed to me. As far as recommending this book to others goes, it's on the slower side of pacing which is why it may not appeal to all.
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