Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1)
Susan Dennard
Susan Dennard
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis:
On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.
In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.
Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.
Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.
Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
My thoughts:
Are you freaking kidding me?
You can't leave me like this.
No.
Thrice-damned no.
NO.
Bat-shit!
Stasis. Stasis.
I've read Susan's other book series (Something Strange & Deadly trilogy) and although I love and cheerish the series, this was something else. It screamed that fantasy is here to stay, to remain thriving amongst our book-loving-selves. I'm strangely glad that this is Susan's first proper introduction to the UK, as an author, because this book kicked butt. It was fantastic! Definitely worth the wait.
The Witchlands is a richly developed world. Thought to just be Earthwitches and Voidwitches etcetera...we are expanded to a vast cast of witchery talents. I would like to list all the types of witches in the book and what of the six they belong too. And it's still left that more could be introduced into the world.
This book it quite decieving, a lot like a few of the characters we meet on Safi and Iseult's journey. It became a world with a dark past and a darker future. Not all clear on what this could mean but I hope that as the series progresses this will recieve all the same level of development. However,
When I asked Susan what she hopes readers will get out of reading Truthwitch she gave an answer of honesty:
"[For Truthwitch, that feeling was] epic and sweeping and intense. So I want readers to feel the same--or feel anything, really, that's pleasurable while they read. [...] They'll resonate with one character more than another; they'll love one setting over another; they'll take each sentence and make it their own. And that's exactly what I want them to do."What I got out of this experience? I definitely got that epic, sweeping intense feels that Sooz was on about. But what I grabbled with was this deep connection of friendship. Iseult and Safi's friendship was what made this book exactly what it is.
In one final say, can I just point out what Safi and Merik's ship name would be. Mafiya or Mafi. I'm scared to say the least. What a terrifying team they make.
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