Review – Windwitch (Witchlands, Book 2) by Susan Dennard (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: January 10, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-0765379306
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Witchlands series
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5 stars
“After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak―which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.
When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her―yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?
After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge―especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.”
This is the 2nd book in the Witchlands series and I enjoyed it. There are four books planned for this series. I enjoy this world and the characters but am struggling a bit as to what the point of the story is.
This book jumps around a ton between POVs. You will sometimes get three or four POVs in one chapter. We hear from Safi, Merik, Aeduan, Iseult, and Vivia. I struggled with this some because as soon as I got into one character’s story I was ripped out of it and thrust into a different character’s story…sometimes only a page or two in. This made it very hard to engage with the characters.
The above gives the story a very epic fantasy feel (lots of viewpoints and a story that spans broad distances). I really do love this world and some of the magic present here. I just wish the story didn’t jump around so much. Additionally since the story is so fractured I had some trouble figuring out what the point was…I know there is war brewing and there is something to do with these magical Wells…
The writing style is very readable and flows well. The characters are interesting and Dennard focused less on Safi and Iseult’s relationship as Threadsisters and more on how Iseult and Aeduan interacted. The addition of Owl (the small girl they find) was a good one and I am wondering where that will lead to.
Things end at a good point and left me curious as to where things are going.
Overall this is a very creative fantasy story with some amazing world-building….I just wish it didn’t jump around so much. I plan on continuing the series because I am very curious as to where things are going but I hope the next book is more cohesive.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– New Release Reading Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
– YA Reading Challenge