Jaime Reviews ~ Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard
By Susan Dennard
Published on January 5, 2016
Published by: Tor Teen
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
Published by: Tor Teen
Source: Around the World ARC Tours
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.
Pre-Order this one, y'all! Amazing!
There are not enough words in the English language to express how much love I have for this book. So, here are a few words in other languages...Fantastico! Perfezione! Schon! Terribilis (It looks bad, but it isn't!) Truthwitch is the first book that I have read by Susan Dennard, but I can guarantee that this will not be the case for much longer.
Truthwitch is a story about Threadsisters Safiya and Iseult. But it is about so much more than that. It is about friendships, sisterhood, brotherhood, what it means to be a family. It is about fighting for the right thing, the good thing, until you have no fight left but you continue fighting anyway. It is about profound loss, and finding the strength to move on. Truthwitch is about how relationships can change you and shape you, enemy or friend. There is so much beauty and wonder, fear and hope in this story.
I am not going to tell you a single plot point to Truthwitch. The little bit that they synopsis gives is just enough to grab your interest and make you want to read it. To spoil anything else about this story would be plain cruel. There are three things that I WILL tell you. The writing is magnificent. There are some authors who seem to naturally having the talent to write in the perfect way, their words conveying the most meaning, the dialogue flowing beautifully. Susan Dennard is one of those authors. Second, the world-building is incredible. I could close my eyes and picture in vivid detail the world that Safi and Iseult live in. The descriptions of one land in this story made me close my eyes, and cry. Finally, the characters are so true to life, so believable. I rooted for them, I hated them, I pitied them, I feared them, I was repulsed, and curious, and drawn to.... Each character that graces the pages of Truthwitch has their own personality, their own voice. There were no two characters that were alike, and not one character that felt lifeless.
I am blown away. Truthwitch is easily at the top of my 2015 reads, it will easily be at the top of 2016. Heck, it is easily at the top of my all time favorites list. I cannot wait to reread this story, to join Safi and Iseult on their next adventure, and to hope that a very new and sometimes volatile but always passionate, love has the chance it deserves to really bloom. Everyone, young and old, should give this book a chance. Everyone!
Thank you, as always, to Around the World ARC Tours. This one was the best one yet!
