A Witchlands Novel (Hardcover); 2016 Edition - Susan Dennard

Enchanting and well written, this book should be on the "to be read list" of anyone who enjoys who enjoys YA Fantasy. Dennard does a masterful job of stringing together engaging characters with a real amount of depth alongside a vivid fantasy world. The pacing is expertly done and never leaves the reader lagging with a dull moment. The two heroines of the book are relatable and perfectly flawed while the supporting cast is equally full of color. (And the swoon-worthy swashbuckling Prince Merik MUST be mentioned!) I devoured this book in two days and my only lament is now having to wait for the next one.

Essentially this book was worth the hype.

So far I've bought two new books this month. Truthwitch and Passenger, I started them both around the same time. I have yet to even hit the quarter mark for Passenger. But this book pulled me in with such force and I did not want to be let go.

Everyone loves a strong, courageous, relatable heroine. Well in these series we get two very different but amazing heroines, who also happen to be thick as thieves. Safi is a take action now, think about the consequences later type of girl. The sort of person finds it easier apologize later rather than ask for permission now. Iseult is a planner. She's the strategist that helps get the duo out of sticky situations. Where Safi is like a blazing fire, Iseult is calm water. It's great to see such a strong female friendship as a main focus in a book. It's refreshing.

The author introduces us to such a wide array of different characters, all with their own interesting ties to the story. It is a world filled with adventure, friendship, romance, intrigue, secrets, betrayal, magic, prophecies and the threat of imminent war. Honestly, I love every minute it of it.

Merik and Safi

Because those eyes of hers were the color of the sky after a storm.

Something had happened between Safi and Merik during their dance. Something as powerful as the wind and the music that had gusted around them. A shift in the air that preceded a storm.

Basically from the moment these two met, it was obvious that they were going to mean more to each other than either would realize or care to admit. I loved their development, and that even in at times when they doubted each other they still cared of one another deep down. Their feelings mattered to each other. Plus, their fun banter was great, their chemistry undeniable.

"...If I were to have a casual tumble, then you are easily the last person I would choose."
"Good", she retorted, "because you're the last person I would choose."
"Which is your loss, I promise."
"As if you're so talented, Prince."
"You know I am."

Neither of them was so stubborn to the point of not understanding where the other was coming from. Merik was able to see the goodness and strength within Safi. He truly believed she was capable of great things. Even if she was not so sure. And she saw his strength, his selflessness, his willingness to do whatever it took to protect his people. To serve a greater purpose, and it inspired her. Meeting each other, they were changed for the better.

Aeduan and Iseult

“Kill me”
“No”
“I will hunt you”
“I know”
“I will kill you”
“…I don’t think you will”

It's hard to explain how I felt exactly when I read this. Maybe I am over thinking it, but for some reason it made me feeling something. Whether or not it was the author's intentions I can't be certain. But reading this made me feel like there was something deeper here, like these two despite being at odds might be the only ones who could truly understand each other's quiet sufferings. Unlike Merik and Safi, these two do not have romantic feelings towards each other (yet). However, I'm convinced that down the road this is going happen at some point. The build up is there.

"Are you deaf or just stupid? Those Cleaved are seconds away. Trust me.
"No." Her hazel eyes shook - but not with fear. With stubborn refusal.
"Trust. Me."
...The Nomatsi girl still wasn't budging.
So he summoned the only words he could find that would make her go: "Mhe varujta" (Trust me as if my soul were yours)

I'm deeply curious as to how he came to know this term. I'm assuming from the Puppeteer, but time will tell. That being said, I know he only said this to get Iseult to to listen but I am a big believer in foreshadowing so I have faith something will come of this.

Other characters I like include Kullen, Ryber and Prince Leopold. For the sake of not spoiling anything and not rambling further I won't go into detail. Just know that Merik and Kullen, just as Safi and Iseult are Threadsisters, these two are Threadbrothers. Their friendship is amazing. Both are so self-sacrificing it hurts. Kullen and Ryber their relationship is so heartbreaking. I adore them.

The point is I really really liked this. Was it perfect? No, no book is perfect. But was is a great, entertaining read? Heck yes! Now I must play the horrid waiting game for yet another book. Hopefully, the sequel will be worth the wait.

Despite my low review I actually loved the world and the writing. What I didn't like was merik and the multiple POV. Also I disliked how weak safi turned out to be. What I mean by that is this is yet another book where a female heorine of great power is bosed around and controlled by a male character that she eventually falls for. Love the world, I wished the capabilities of the different witches was explained more but the actual story is something I've read a thousand times.

Okay so here are my issues with this book. Honestly, I really wanted to like this book. But once again, hype was super high and delivery was fairly low. The premise of the story sounded really awesome and different, but what I got was a story I couldn’t understand and characters I couldn’t tell apart.
Seriously had to read the physical descriptions a few times and even then I still got confused. The author switches between characters with no line breaks or chapter breaks or really anything. That was so confusing. So confusing. One minute you are reading as Safi and the next thing you know, you’ve switched over to Iseult with no warning. And like I said, you can’t really tell them apart so this does not help.

The book really felt like it should be a second book, rather than the first in the series. Where are the background descriptions of this 20-year truce? There are many phrases and nations and lore that is just…. not explained. At all. I
need the juice man!

I’ve had this book since the day it came out and only managed to get about halfway through. Then I realized that almost literally, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. The girls get chased. Still being chased. Where’s the big conflict? What’s with the insta-love. I do not tolerate insta-love. Nope. Won’t do it.

DNF at 50%.

A fun read! Susan brings depth of character to each person in the story. Fast paced action and super imaginative details. Two girls striving for independence in a world where their fate is determined by others. I found myself rooting for each girl on their quest, together and apart. The "bad guys" were just out of reach each step of the way. I can't wait for the next book! Great job Susan Denard!

I just saw this title on the kindle storefront and decided to give it a try. Probably wasn't written for me so take this with a grain of salt. The intro was pretty good at hooking me in. But for a lot of the book plots very moment to moment. There is an over plot about a war breaking out that comes up pretty early but I never got why they would really care other than the plot demands it. They are established as rogue like characters who want nothing to do with politics. I'm also unsure how useful truth witches are. People in the story bend over backwards for her when she even thinks that her power is not that good. I rather have the unstoppable blood witch that only way he seems to be able to be killed is cutting off his head. Seems more useful to me just to have this guy kill the other factions leaders and generals. The Iseult character came off whine to me. Always talking about how she could have tried hard at something and blank wouldn't have happened. The love story for Safi seems weak to me. It more seems like to me they want to bone more than anything. Most of the time they just yell at each other or have awkward physical encounters. Lastly of all they are the chosen ones. I just find this is way overused in fantasy books. Overall I found the book pretty good but with some faults. Will I read the next book when it comes out? Sure. But if I find something better or get bored, I'm going to stop.

Finally, an epic fantasy I could get through without getting bored, annoyed, or confused by! Close female friendships, women of color in positions of high power, inspirational forms of magic, and adventure that never stops. I'm ready for book 2. :)

I was very disappointed in the writing style and execution of this book when the premise was so intriguing. since we selected this as a book club choice for January, I was eager to read a new author as the 2016 reading challenge we are following required that the first book of the year be written/published in 2016. Only one out of the eight of us who read or attempted to read this tome actually finished it. I will not be pursuing anymore materials by this author.

I was looking for a good fantasy adventure and this was it! Love the world, the characters were great. Interesting concept overall. It has magic, sword play, politics, and a little romance. Can't wait for the next book!

Great story, excellent world building and moves at breakneck pace. Everything I want from a good fantasy! The strong friendship between the two female characters is the thing that really drew me in and kept me there.

I don't normally give negative reviews, but this just made me sad. I liked the book up to the point where I was able to read, but there was a huge gap in pages. It jumped from page 128 to 161 and it seemed I missed to much to continue reading. I get that it was just a publishing mistake, but yeah I was disappointed...

Original Post: Truthwitch (The Witchlands 1) at FLYLēF (reviews.flylef.com)

CURSE YOU FICKLEWITCHERY! I’m undecided. I'd like to rate it 2, or 3, or even 4. So, don’t bother with the rating, read on to find out more about my sudden onset of Ficklewitch prowess.

As the first of four planned books in The Witchlands series, Truthwitch, by Susan Dennard, features a breadth of elements that I savor in fantasy novels: an intriguing magical world, fast-pace adventures, spot on humor, steamy romance, and so much more. Here comes the dreaded…But, I had a really hard time connecting with the protagonists—Safiya and Iseult. I found myself not wanting to read about them for a good portion of the story until about the last quarter, then I raced breathlessly to the end.

At its heart, Truthwitch is a beautiful tale of the deep bonds of friendship. I get this appeal, and I absolutely love that Ms. Dennard has chosen to write a story in which the ties of friendship can be just as epic as that of romance. Safiya and Iseult’s Threadsisterhood would have been truly great if they'd shown more consideration for other's instead of only thinking of themselves. It would seem that nothing and no one seemed to ever matter to Safi except for Iseult, and vice versa.

“…when Safi had fought for Iseult—had done everything she could to compensate and to save her other half from the damage she’d wrought—Safi had ended up hurting someone else. Lots of someones.”

I’ve always really enjoyed complex characters that exude strength through struggle. I couldn't see Safi in this light. I took her confidence for arrogance, passion for temper, and ingenuity for troublemaking. I was beginning to believe her uncle's words.

“If you wanted to, Safiya, you could bend and shape the world…Unfortunately, you seem to lack the initiative.”

The character development was really going to “hells gate.” Until that moment when Safi seemed to grow right before my mind’s eye. She gained humility and showed compassion to someone else other than Iseult. That was the turning point for me. Safi took me on a long and arduous character arc, which I feared I wouldn't enjoy. But, my fear was unfound, freeing up my attention to focus on Merik (valiant Prince and his silly bone broth) and Aeduan (deadly assassin and his adorable feelings for a particular Threadwitch).

One of my favorite parts of the book is the highly developed magical realm—the Witchlands—full of exquisite details about the intricate and elaborate magical system. The plethora of witchery seems to be limitless. Each new magic falls within the established magic laws, and feels very naturally and well thought out. And with each new magic introduced, the Witchland magic felt very familiar. Where have I read this recently?

Evrane’s Waterwitchery = Corporalki Healer
Aeduan’s Bloodwitchery = Corporalki Heartrender
Kullen’s Airwitchery = Etherealki Squallers/Tidemakers
Eron’s Aetherwitchery = Fabrikators

Of course, there were a few witcheries, like Truthwitch and Threadwitch, which are very unique. Others though, they resonate very loudly with those in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. So, while I did fall in love with the Witchlands, I am reluctant to hail it as completely “original.”

Truthwitch ended much more positively than I expected. Ms. Dennard begins to set the stage for her next book by slowly revealing a larger more ruthless political game—a widespread web of conspiracy to steal away the Truthwitch. She also hints of a world on the verge of being reborn in the hands of two young characters who have yet to know they're great potential. Are they the Cahr Awen—a mythical pair with the ancient power to change the world? I can’t wait to find out!

I love fantasy, I love YA, I love strong heroines, and I love magic systems. I was excited for this book, but it fell flat on every front. Frankly, I should have closed it when the book began with a massive plot error that made no sense and resulted in the rest of the book feeling extremely contrived. I am relieved to have borrowed this one from the library instead of purchasing it when it first crossed my view.

Safiya was the opposite of a strong heroine; she was petulant and incompetent, portrayed as a hardcore no-nonsense girl and instead ends up being a whiny, simpering wimp through most of the story.
Iseult was a painful case of trying too hard and her people a bland allusion to the Romani without any explanation as to WHY everyone (in three separate empires) hates them and insists on perpetually throwing racist slurs their way.
We're spoon-fed a friendship between Safi and Iseult without ever being given any reasoning for why they're friends, other than that it's necessary for the story and ~prophesied.~
And from the first fleeting moment when Merik appears, it's transparently obvious he's the love interest, since he's the only (non-villain) male character who isn't described as effeminate, foppish, or flat-out stated to be homosexual. Yet for all his bland failings, Merik is also one of the only characters I enjoyed reading about, because at least he had a purpose.
Worldbuilding was practically nonexistent. Throw in dozens of names for countries and cities and races, but never give any of them defining characteristics? Yeah, should be good enough.
The magic is essentially all-powerful, except when it's convenient for it not to be.

Worse yet, the book is full of editorial issues. Gaping plot holes aside, it's rife with typographical errors and grammatical errors, including some misspellings that shouldn't have made it past spell check, never mind an actual editor. It's a poor-quality, slap-dash job all the way around, and it makes me sad, because the bones of a good story were present--just buried beneath a mountain of poor writing and poor workmanship instead of fleshed out into a story that might have been worthwhile.

This was such a masterpiece! Dennard weaves an impressive tale of adventure, friendship, and hope that was such a pleasure to experience. This is my first Dennard book and I am now a lifelong fan!

The world building is just gorgeous! It is intricate, layered, and a thrill to experience through the pages. The magic system that is presented in this book is complex and well thought out. The plot is very driven by the different countries and empires this world is made of. There are a lot of world-specific terms and different languages. I really admire Dennard for her creativity where the world building is concerned. The only criticism that I have is that the world building almost seemed too much at times. Especially at the beginning of the story. This wasn't a deal breaker by any means, but a simple dictionary or guide at the back of the book would have solved this completely.

The characters in this book are extremely noteworthy. I love the different backgrounds they have and the way that their chemistry is when they all come together. It is an interesting and magical mix of personalities. I also love that the characters are complicated and full of flaws and skills alike. I love the powerful concept of friendship that shows up throughout the book.

I loved the slow burn romance. The one trope that I am usually not on board with is instalove. Thank that stars that there was none of that in this book. The author provided enough emotion-jarring scenes to give the reader the right amount of feels. The romance was attraction, rage, vexation, and respect. It was a coming together after seeing someone for all of their strengths and faults. I am eager to see what blossoms forth in the next book.

The plot was really outstanding. The foreshadowing was written into the story beautifully, and I can only imagine that things will pop up in the next book that were hinted at in this one. There are so many pieces on the board, and Dennard plays them all with a clever prowess. She reveals just enough to make you want to read more and connect the dots. I like where the story is going and how it was shaped throughout the book. And that ending definitely makes the reader want to continue to the next book.

Overall, this was an exciting story with plenty of adventure and mystery. The fantasy world is immensely creative and will draw you right into the story. The characters are instantly likable and really grow on your heart the more that you read. If I had to describe this title by comparing to other books series I would say it is a combination of The Grisha Trilogy and the Throne of Glass series. If you like either of those series or books like them then I have no doubt that you will love this one as well!

Check out this and other reviews on my blog, notapickyreader.blogspot.com

Truthwitch is the highly anticipated fantasy series by Susan Dennard. While my love for this book knows no bounds, I hope that you can look beyond the hype to what I think is a fantastic book and start to a series. I haven't read Susan' other series and I wasn't sure if the writing style in Truthwitch, despite a genre and story that sounded right up by alley, would stop me from really enjoying this book. DON'T WORRY GUYS, I WAS WRONG.

Honestly, I read the first chapter of Truthwitch and then set the book down, not touching it for weeks, because it didn't grab me immediately. I know what you're thinking - how Jasmine? HOW? But in my first dip, I got the characters confused with one another, didn't really know how the world worked, and didn't really know where the story was going to go. Not to mention I was in a MAJOR book hangover from Queen of Shadows (coincidentally by Susan's BFF Sarah J. Maas) and just couldn't really get into anything at all. However, once I revisited Truthwitch, it was the. perfect. remedy for my hangover - and I read it in 7 hours.

There are a lot of thing I love about Truthwitch. The world is interesting and original, broad enough to welcome lots of adventure and depth without being too overwhelming. The magic system is presented well, slowly unfolding so that you understand how it all works by the end but aren't info-dumped in the beginning. The history and lore is developed wonderfully and revealed at good times. The pacing of the book, which is something I don't usually notice unless it's really bad or really good, is spot on, lingering in the perfect spots while having lots of action and details to move it forward. I think that the shining points of Susan's newest novel, though, are the characters.

The confict, while threatening wide-spread destruction, is really brought to focus by the threat it has on Iseult and Safiya, as if they are this kind of sun in the entire Truthwitch universe and the rest of the story revolves around them (even if they don't realize it). They are believable and authentic, their friendship reading true and proving that being completely different people doesn't have to hinder a strong, healthy relationship. Susan makes a lot of wonderful points in this novel, introducing characters of multiple social backgrounds, ethnicities, and moralities without ever hitting the reader over the head. She explores these dynamics by just having them all interact with one another and the world and it's a joy to read.

It's hard to explain how engrossing this story is without literally reading it - it grips you immediately and yet pulls you deeper in every chapter, revealing more about Safi and Iseult, about all the people they encounter on their adventure, about the world and the magic and all the pieces that are moving without the characters or the readers knowledge. While there are romantic elements, I see Truthwitch, really, as a novel about sisterhood, about friendship and boundless faith and trust, not only in each other but in one's self. The earnestness and heart that Susan Dennard has put into this novel is the same feeling I got reading Queen of Shadows (a compliment I think both Sarah and Susan would appreciate), this contagious unraveling of the heart that weaves throughout a well-written, well-developed plot.

Two young women taking on the world together is always a fun story to read. Two young women with witchy powers and a knack for getting into trouble is most definitely a fun adventure.

Iseult and Safiya are Threadsisters, which basically translates to bffs x100. Iseult is a Threadwitch, and Safiya is a Truthwitch, which is apparently a very rare form of witch. Both girls are easily able to kick butt; they also have unique personalities that made following their POVs and the POVs of the other two male characters very easy.

While it was fun to read about the two on their journey running from kings and Bloodwitches, it was also a little confusing in the beginning. The magic system is a little complex at first, and so is the political layout. I wasn’t sure who was who of the minor characters until almost halfway through the book. The names are pretty similar, and they’re often just casually dropped with little explanation. Also, the magic system wasn’t described as well as I hoped. I’m still not entirely sure what a Threadwitch does…

However, despite some of my initial confusion, I very much enjoyed the character interactions. I loved seeing not only Iseult and Safiya interact, but Iseult and Merik, Merik and Safiya, Safiya and Aeduan, and Iseult and Aeduan. They all had such explosive energy together, especially Safiya and Merik. I was constantly smiling when I read their parts. The plot of the book wasn’t the most original YA fantasy storyline I’ve ever read, but this was easily remedied by the characters’ personalities.

All in all, this book is definitely one to read if you’re in any way a lover of young adult fantasy stories. You should pick it up even more if you love complex magic systems with some kick-butt characters thrown in.

3.5/5 stars

Quick Review

An epic new fantasy, Susan Dennard's TRUTHWITCH has set a high bar for my reading standards in 2016. This will be a hard book to beat. It's everything I had hoped it would be, and a whole lot more. I LOVED everything about this book! This book more than lived up to it's hype. I don't know what else to say other than I LOVED IT! Go pick this book up! Susan Dunnard, don't ever stop writing. I need the sequel!

My In-Depth Review

TRUTHWITCH has found it's new home on my favorite's bookshelf nestled in between other favorites like Sarah J. Maas & Morgan Rhodes's books. Similar to their books, Dunnard's newest release is one I absolutely loved! Since reading their books, I've not been so enthralled in a book until now. TRUTHWITCH is an epic, new fantasy that I have completely falling in love with, and want more of.

At the heart of this story are two characters who's relationship will change the world in which they live. The relationship between Safi and Iseult is easily one of my all time favorites. These two have an unspeakable bond that will resonate with readers who have that once in a life time relationship with their best friend. Safi and Iseult have an unbreakable bond. They have a trust, and knowing of what the other needs. Their love for each other, their understanding, their unwavering support, and the just knowing what the other needs, was so beautifully written. Their purpose is destined, and I loved watching them figure out their place in all that's going on.

The characters of TRUTHWITCH are some of my all time favorites. Each character is so well written, and has a purpose for being apart of the story. They're each fascinating characters and I loved getting to know them. Each of their lives are intricately woven together, and connected in a way that fueled a complex plot line. I loved how each character is connected to the next, and their place within the story. Not all characters end up being who I thought they were, nor are they destined for the journey they start out on. I loved that Dunnard made it impossible for me to predict the turn of events.

The romance in this book is fabulous! It's one of my all time favorites. It's not a love at first kind, but rather they have an immediate attraction to each other. It's one where the characters challenge each other. They push and infuriate each other. They also do something else, they make each other think outside their own boxes. They're enemies and allies are rolled into one. They are the perfect match. They both are fiercely loyal, and will do anything for those they love. I loved how their paths kept crossing, and how they inadvertently end up apart of each other's lives. I loved watching them go from driving each other crazy, and pushing each other's buttons, to falling for each other.

The world building is visually stunning. Dunnard describes her world in such away that it easily comes to life. The world is just as important in this book as the character are. I loved the differences in the landscapes, and each area that the characters comes from. It's rich, and diverse, just as her characters are.

TRUTHWITCH has all the elements I look for in 5 star book. Rich world building, unforgettable characters, a scorching character chemistry, romance, danger, deceptions, betrayals, action, and dangerous politics that lead to deadly secrets. Dunnard's writing is captivating. I loved everything she gave me, and wanted so much more. This book is one I stayed up past my bed time for it, and it was totally worth the lack of sleep I had. I couldn't stop reading this book, nor did I want to. I loved everything about this book. My only complaint is that this book ended.

5 « I’m exhausted from running-fighting » stars

I wanted to read this book for so long but never took the time to do it. Now I’m addicted!

With this book you will:
-run at break neck speed in dark alleys escaping pursuers;

-jump from rooftop to rooftop to reach the nearest shelter;

-turn mid swing with your foot connecting with nose or ankle or...when you fight some Cleaved witch;

-dance an intricate, fast but sensual dance with a handsome but explosive tempered prince;

-be sore from riding a horse for hours or for fighting dirty with a Blood Monk hell bent on catching you to trade you to the highest bidder.

All that with your BFF at your side because you have her back and she has yours. Threadsisters Forever.

Now back to the characters and somewhat to the story.
This book is told from four different point of view: our feminine witch duo Sari with long blond hair tanned skin and Iseult dark hair and pale pale skin.
Sari is nobility and Iseult Nomatsi, rejected and feared by most.
It took some time to understand how they became such close friends, what was their past and what was their goal. As said above the writing focuses on action, action and more action.
This is an astute trick keeping the reader on his toes all along distilling tidbits here and there to build their life’s puzzle.
I loved the universe building, the different kind of magic, the legend, everything even if it was somewhat confusing in the beginning due to the above writing style.

Sari and Iseult were Yin and Yang. Sari was impulsive, restless would serve as a distraction while Iseult had to stay cool and was difficult to read. She was the planner, the mastermind.
Both would give her life for the other. And my god could they fight!!! Kill Bill ten times.

Susan Dennard did not stop at two main characters but we had two “not really side but not main either” characters. Prince Meric was really fun to read about. I loved that he was tempestuous and could not stay cool for long. When Sari was in the vicinity these two would ignite, bicker and fight like you have no idea!
The Blood Witch Aeduan is a “grey” character. One you should dislike but the more you read about the more you like and can’t wait to see what future await for him.

So you have guessed that this story is packed or rather crammed with action and adventure.
It’s colorful, fast paced, adventurous, epic, theatric …

I could not avoid thinking about Taken, Mission Impossible or Wonder Woman but medieval witch style.

I loved the characters the plot the magic universe...and now I want to read the whole series!
If you want epic and adrenaline THIS IS IT!

I’ve picked up Truthwitch on three separate occasions to read, but twice I set it aside, not getting caught up in the story in the first few pages. Finally, it was chosen for our middle grade book club pick so I had to persevere. I’ll admit, the book picks up after a while, and I will probably continue on to read Windwitch since I like Iseult, but overall the book did not live up the hype.

With fantasy, world building is essential. While I don’t expect to know everything from the get-go, I do appreciate understanding the basics. With Truthwitch, there were many things (threadstones, the witchery) that didn’t come with much explanation, if any. You don’t even get an understanding of why Safi’s truthwitch powers can be swayed by firm conviction in what they’re saying. You don’t understand what threads really do (I’m still not totally sure). While I could extrapolate, I’m not positive I have it right which bothers me.

The characters were okay, but they didn’t inspire me to care that much about them, and overall I’m very ambivalent about this series.​

I wasn’t going to pick up TRUTHWITCH — at least not for a while — simply because of the incredible, months-long hype that surrounded it. To be frank, it really killed my interest for the book and having finished Susan Dennard’s previous series and ending up unimpressed, I wasn’t anxious to dive right into TRUTHWITCH. I was offered a review copy of the audiobook from the publisher and with so many friends who had already given it high praise, I figured it was as good of a time to start as any.

My whole experience with TRUTHWITCH was a rocky one. I started the audiobook and was really enjoying the story but the longer I listened, the more the narrator bothered me. I actually was perfectly fine with her narration of the story but the dialogue was a killer. I couldn’t stand the voices she used for the girls and Safi and Iseult ended up coming off as whiny, immature, and weak. Not wanting this to affect my whole experience, I ended up stopping the audiobook and I purchased a print copy instead.

Things were going okay until I realized I had hit a wall with just about everything. I couldn’t bring myself into this book and I was struggling to pick it back up. I had some serious trouble with the pacing most of all and couldn’t find a good balance between action, world-building, and character development. I ended up feeling like a whole lot was happening but it really wasn’t moving the plot forward at all. I felt no closer to development, a surprise, a turning point, or resolution and it started to get really hard for me to keep reading. Quite frankly, I was bored.

I also really struggled with the world-building. It’s one of my favorite parts of fantasy novels and I absolutely love learning about political and social structures, geography, lore, and history. I felt like there were a lot of missed opportunities in the beginning to introduced something in passing that gets used later in the book (Sarah J. Maas is a PRO at this) so the reader already has knowledge of what it is and is excited about its involvement in a major plot point. There were so many things that happened towards the end that I didn’t realize were even important until the characters were discussing them. I also would have loved to learn more about each ability/power, why it was important, how it ranked in comparison to other powers, why Safi’s Truthwitchery was so incredibly important, why stasis was so important to Iseult and her powers, the limits to the powers, how people ended up having them, etc etc. Some of these things were touched upon but I just wanted so much more detail and backstory and history that I found it really lacking for my taste.

The characters also really didn’t grab me at all. You’d think two amazing friends and strong girls would immediately hook me but somehow they didn’t. Maybe it was the narration that soured me on this because try as I did, I never really got those voices out of my head and I never got over the fact that I didn’t feel much depth to them. I think I connected more to Iseult than Safi because I had kind of a hard time with Safi’s hard-headedness at times. Instead of strength in Safi, I saw immaturity and a lack of patience.

The romance didn’t really get me either. I really liked the introduction of Merik and the dance scene was GREAT but other than that, I didn’t feel the chemistry. The cute romantic things that came later were just too late and I was already stuggling with the book. The chemistry just didn’t feel natural for me. I had already lost interest in the book at that point and was pretty much racing to finish (I READ THIS FOR A MONTH) so nothing was really interesting me at that point in time and I really just wanted to finish.

I am super bummed that I just didn’t latch onto much of anything in this book. I just felt like the development wasn’t there (I guess for me — so many people loved it so maybe I’m just the black sheep here) and things were introduced with no history so I was struggling to realize what they were and why they were so important. TRUTHWITCH was just sadly not a hit for me. This may be my last Susan Dennard book because I really lost steam at the end of the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy and this one didn’t end up changing my mind on what I was missing from Susan Dennard’s first series. I’m not sure hype or persuasion could get me to read another book since I seem to be the unpopular opinion on her books.

God, that World-Building!
Ohhh! You all know me and world-building and this is a story that does NOT disappoint! The world-building, particularly the magic aspect, is exquisite! It’s very well planned out, very well executed. A little overwhelming because there is soooo much of it, but I loved every piece of it and the way it blended into the cultures and nations and societal structure. Divine! ?

Content
I don’t know if I just wasn’t in the right mindset to read this book (because stress), but I had a really hard time getting into this book because it felt like there was nothing going on. Which is weird. I know there was stuff going on. There was lots of stuff going on, but I guess… the tension wasn’t there, maybe? Like it was a very low-impact read. It was good, but I just kept expecting more and I think that might be because this was a mixture between character and plot driven. Thus, it had elements of slow and fast and I just wasn’t really feeling the pacing.

Complex
This is definitely a complex story. There are so many different plot lines, different character arcs, and schemes going on. At times I found it a bit difficult to keep up with it all, but it was woven together really well. I liked the different elements thrown in and I think that’s one of the reasons this book felt a little on the slower side. That, mixed with the multiple POVs, at least. Though, I’m not too sure how I felt about the multi-POVs. I’m generally not a fan and sometimes it was a bit difficult to figure out who was being followed, but I didn’t dislike enough to rant. ?

Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Recommend: Yeah
So I'm not one to jump on the hype train or gush about a book just because everyone else has. Honestly, if a book is hyped I usually pick it up just to see if it is worth the hype or if the hype is there because some people don't want to go against popular opinion. I have read books that I will die saying they are overhyped, read some that aren't talked about enough, and then read some like this that do deserve the hype.
I did pick this one up because so many people were talking about it and saying how amazing it is, and I definitely wanted to weight in. The hype is deserved and I am totally ready to read the sequel.
While I did find the first few chapters a bit slow and had me questioning a lot, it immediately picked up speed and I was game. I read it in 2 days, my heart was racing with every page and that ending had me shook. Like, I need to read the next book NOW.
I love the relationship between Safi and Iz, I love how they will literally die and kill for each other, no matter what. I love how they are both strong, determined, smart women who female readers can look at and know that they are capable of anything.
I love the magic of the world, how it can be beautiful but also how it can be dangerous, deadly and evil. I love how this book was jam packed with action that left my heart racing.
The reason this isn't a 5 star book for me though is because from the beginning it was pretty obvious that Safi and Iz are special, and when a super special Chosen One term is mentioned, it just became expected. Like, I knew that something was gonna happen to prove it. The other reason is because the romance? Yeah, that couldn't have been more obvious if at the beginning the author didn't just say it. I mean, I'm not upset that there is romance, I just wish it wouldn't have been so apparent. Not that I want a love triangle, I just want to be shocked by a romance.
Still, this book is amazing and I am totally joining the hype train for it.

Truthwitch was extremely hyped by the end of last year; in fact, it was hyped so much that I, unfortunately enough, unconsciously began believing that there was no way the book would live up to its hype. There were promises of immersive world-building, shippy ships, and exquisite relationships (platonic, thank you very much), and much to my surprise, this book delivered. Mostly. It definitely took a while to get into, but it was pretty satisfying when everything was said and done. Of course, I had to stew in the world for a couple of weeks, and it took me more than half of the book to become legitimately invested in the characters and interested in their outcomes, but in the end, I'm glad I stuck with this one despite the struggles I faced with it.

Readers are immediately thrown into the world of the Witchlands, with not even a crash course, historical recap, or character introduction to settle readers into the plot. Instead, we meet Safiya and Iseult right in the thick of things as they are attempting to get revenge on a man that wronged Safi - Safi's brilliant idea, of course. Needless to say, things go on from there, and this book doesn't slow its pace there. This abrupt landing into the novel made it a bit difficult for me to find my balance with this book and understand who and what went where in the world, and because this isn't the smooth ride most books present, it seems to weed out readers, in a way - only people genuinely interested in what the story has to offer will continue with it. Or, let's be honest, a person who has nothing better to do.

I found it extremely difficult to connect with any part of this story for a very long time, and was not at all even vaguely interested until I was nearing the end of the novel. However, once near the end, everything that happened from the beginning began to fix together and form a marvelous mosaic of intrigue, betrayal, friendship, and doubt that I was finally able to begin to appreciate. After all this time spent watching the characters from a rather distant perspective and experiencing some rather intense scenes between characters that I may not have fully admired, after all the unique bleh expressions I used to describe this book whenever someone asked me how I was liking this one so far, the story finally made me feel something. More specifically, some of the things in the novel that made me feel other, wonderful things were:

• Iseult and the Bloodwitch: Though I was pretty sure that shipping Merik and Safi were supposed to be my priority, the crazy thick tension/incomprehensible relationship/connection between Iseult and the Bloodwitch was what kept my attention. And did I mention he's a very scary man who is intent on ruthlessly killing Safi (and Iseult as well, just 'cause)?
• Merik and Safi: Okay, despite the predictability of the relationship, Merik and Safi being idiots around each other was pretty fun to watch too.
• ISEULT AND SAFI'S FRIENDSHIP AND BOND. THEY ARE GOALS.
• The fictional world: When looking back, the book is reminiscent of ADSOM in terms of the style of the world, as well as the genre and feel/tone of the book in general.

In all honestly, I feel like this book would have been perfection if only I had gone into it with the right mindset. I expected this to disappoint me, and so for most of the book I was convinced that it did. If I had gone into the novel a bit more believing of the hype - darn my bitter, suspicious consciousness - I probably would have been sucked in right from the very first page. Even so, despite the fact that I didn't start out loving this, Truthwitch managed to convince me of its greatness within the latter half of the book through characters that grow on you like moss and a uniquely written plot. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in Fantasy, and/or authors like V.E. Schwab and Sarah J. Maas.

“Those who win wars are those who write history.”

There are so many things I loved about this book, the world and the plot were amazing, but the thing I loved most about this book was the undying devotion between best friends.

Safiya and Iseult have messed up bad. Now with a Bloodwitch tracking them, Safiya and Iseult have to either hide or go on the run, before he captures Safi for her rare power of being a Truthwitch, or Iseult and her strong powers of Threadwitch.

Right from the first chapter, you can see the bond that Safi and Iseult share. Their bond reminds me so much of me and best friend, its probably the reason why I can relate to them so much. While Safi and Iseult are complete opposites in some ways, they complement each other so well. They're truly better, stronger and smarter as a pair.

The romance between Safi and Merik in this story is the only aspect I didn't really care for. The main point of this book for me was the adventure and the friendship between the two, I would have been happily content with this book if the romance was erased. I liked it, but it wasn't my reason for reading the book.. if that makes sense..

The world that Susan created is breathtaking. This is probably one of my favourite worlds ever created. Honestly the only thing I can compare this world to, would be a Sarah J. Maas world, so if you love her books, you definitely need to this one.

The action in this story was set at the perfect pace. There was some in the beginning, which made it exciting and not boring at all. Then, there was lots of action in the middle and end of the book, I could not put the book down, thats how crazy the action and plot of the story got. If I had the time, this probably would have been a book I could have read in one sitting.

Overall, this book was absolutely amazing. I can't wait to continue the series with book two. If you haven't yet read this one, I highly recommend it, especially if you love fantasy book and look SJM books.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review, thank you to the publisher

This book has been on my self to read like. Forever. I am not even joking. And I don't even know why I took so long either. *sighs*

Truthwitch is an epic tale about to two friends turned into sisters who have each other's backs. Safi and Iseult. Safi is a Truthwitch that means she can tell when someone is lying. Iseult is a Threadwitch, she can kind of see how you are feeling based on the colour of your thread (it reminds me of those magical elements where in other books they can see your aura's and know how you are feeling). These two young ladies always seem to find themselves in to trouble, and now they have to go far away from their homes.

It isn't quite often you get to read a book where the characters are nothing you expect them to be, they constantly surprise you, Safi and Iseult are exactly like that. Iseult powers are different, she is different, she is never able to do what others in her tribe can do, yet as you read the story you can see the underlying theme of there something being more, something dark and powerful. And I think it is the same case with Safi? I am not sure yet.

I ended up liking Adeuan and Merrik more than I thought I would. They are both totally different, have different visions of what they would like to do. Adeuan being a bloodwitch can trace anyone just with the scent of their blood, he also has extraordinary powers such as being able to control his own and others blood. WOAH! Right? And Merrik, although he is I think it is a Waterwitchery but his powers are not as strong as his thread brother Kullens are.

Such phenomenal characters create such a diverse and special world for the reader, all it wants you to do is be captured in to their world and just live and breathe their words.

I loved the constant ups and downs, constantly not knowing which direction the plot would take me. Although I admit it was kind of hard to get in to the book, I guess because I was seeing such good praise everywhere I felt pressured to like the book and I did not want to not like the book. As it turned out, all I needed to do was it give it time because I love the first book so much, so happy the second one has just released now I don't have to wait so long!

Title: Truthwitch

Author: Susan Dennard

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: High Fantasy

Series: Witchlands, book one

Star Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.

DNF at 105 pages. I was so excited about this book--I've literally been raring to get my hands on this one since before it came out--but unfortunately, this novel, my first by Dennard, suffered from some serious overhype. It just didn't hold my attention. I was expecting so much, but unfortunately, I couldn't keep my attention on the narrative long enough to actually be interested in the story. I'm so sad about this--my very first DNF of 2016. The bottom line: I had high hopes for this novel--I've been wanting to read it since before it came out--but it just didn't hold my interest and really suffered from some serious overhype. Next on deck: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken!

For Safiya and Iseult it is another adventure gone wrong. Trying to rob stagecoaches in the witch lands can be hazardous especially if it is someone important, like guild master or royalty. They try tomstopmtheir bomb from going off and end up fleeing to an abandoned lighthouse in Catorra. But getting away will not be easy. A blood witch is on their tail and they are relentlessly pursued by Cartoran soldiers. All this happens during truce talks where in e the three empires and one small state are to begin negotiations. Prince Merrick wants to feed his people as his country Nuvrecnan has been destroyed by magic.

Safiya is in the run not only from Royal guards but also her destiny. She is a truthwitch, someone who can tell if one is telling the truth or lying. She is valuable to the leaders of empires.she is also a Donna or female nobility but she wants no part of that. Her drunk uncle Eron is a hell bard who protects her from other hell bards. The Emperor of Cartorra wants to marry her and it is at a royal dance that she makes her disappearance ,

Iseult, her best friend and a thread witch , bail in different directions . Iseult returns to her home only to find it silently ruled by a purist. She and her mother are driven out. In the process she is grievously wounded. Safiya flees with Merrick to get to Lwjna. All the while pursued by a blood witch.

Plenty of intrigue in the thinning quite a few good plot turn, when I read this I could not put it down. It is young adult fiction and they do use the sh word. But other than that everything else is appropriate . I look forward to reading more from this author.

If you're looking for a fantasy-style political drama, this is the yarn for you. I've worked to get through it, but am halfway, and I think I'm gonna call it quits. 214 pages later, the plot is still unclear. It's called Truthwitch, but there's too much flip-flopping between the Prince Merik, the Truthwitch Safiya, her friend Threadwitch Iseult and Bounty Hunter Bloodwitch Aeduan, who is the coolest character in the book, which is sad because he's hunting the girls. The action in the story seems to be going nowhere. I constantly find myself asking: "So, what's the point of all this?" The whole story is built on political drama and strife framed by a complex system of magic that's difficult to keep up with. The characters are lackluster and difficult to really like; too splashy in Merik's and Safi's case, and too wishy washy for Iseult. It's also difficult to cheer on characters whose magic is useless in combat. What good are powers that reveal truth or read emotions against adversaries who can asfixiate you, blow you away or paralyze you? All this in a world you're struggling to understand, and striving to care about... but can't. The story makes you work to keep up with it, seeming to be a sequel instead of a pilot for an ongoing series. If you're looking for excitement, a gripping plot and unforgettable characters, I tell you the TRUTH, Truthwitch is not for you. On to the next!

Original Review Link: http://asdreamsaremade.com/2015/12/book-tuesday-arc-truthwitch/

This book. Wow.

Safiya and Iseult are Threadsisters; the best of friends. Each has their own magic. Iseult is a Threadwitch and can discern he emotions of those around her, but not her own or those of another Threadwitch. Safi is a Truthwitch; the rarest of powers where she can tell the lies and truths of those around her. Many people would kill to have her in their control. A series of events leads Safi and Isuelt on the greatest and most life changing adventure yet. Along the way, they meet a Bloodwitch who is determined to hunt them down, a prince who is fighting to save his country, and both discover that they might be the key to changing their world and restoring what was thought forever lost.

OMG THIS BOOK.

Guys. Like for real so good. From the very first page, this book is NON STOP. At first it was a little difficult for me to get into it because of that (I know, I know; silly of me), but then I couldn’t stop reading it. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. The characters are great. I loved the dynamic between Safi and Iseult; how they contrast one another, yet completely compliment the other at the same time. Safi is the hot-headed one, while Iseult is the cool and collected one. Their relationship was solid.

The story is told through a few different perspectives: Safi, Iseult, Merik, and Aeduan. Usually, I’m not one for such a variety of POV’s in a story, but this completely worked. I loved the romance between Safi and Merik. The tension!!

Can I also say how much I loved Aeduan? He’s so conflicted and torn and just – I know you’ll do the right thing, Aeduon!! There is so much backstory that Dennard has hinted at with him that I seriously need the second book. I also loved the relationship the four main characters had with their secondary characters. I feel there’s a lot more to Ryber than meets the eye. She’s going to have some sort of impact on the plot later on. Evrane is so bad-ass! I loved her interaction with Merik and the girls. Such a great character. Leopold as well. Don’t want to give to much away about him, but he’s a surprising character. I’ll leave it at that!

The world building was on point. We really get into the different nations in this installment and I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot more of them in the next one. Certain aspects of the plot were a bit predictable, but not in a bad way. We just saw certain things coming, even if we didn’t want them to. The end left you dying to get your hands on the second installment.

What I loved about this book, and Susan also mentions it in her acknowledgements, is it celebrates the relationship between two best friends. Romantic relationships are important in one’s life, yes, but so are the ones of the best friend variety. Sometimes more so. That relationship is not often given the spotlight in a YA novel, so kudos to you, Susan, for giving it some much needed stage time. Go get your hands on this book the second it comes out. I’ll be next to you on line, waiting for the bookstore to open.

While Truthwitch is published as young adult it’s a book that would appeal to fantasy fans of any age. The characters seem older and so I was surprised they even put it in that category of young adult. I don’t think their ages are said but I would have guessed them to be in their 20’s. So if you don’t like young adult or want to be sure to read a mature YA, this is one you should consider. On the other hand, even though it has more mature characters the story is not inappropriate for teens.

While Truthwitch has fantastic characters, the thing that most stood out is the world and the way of magic in this world. It was truly unique and done very well. This is clearly just the beginning of a series of books and I expect we’ll get much more, but I was very satisfied with what we learned about this world and the magic in it. The author was able to incorporate the information in a way that allowed us to ease into it, revealing bits and pieces until by the end we had a decent picture of it all.

The main characters, Safiya and Iseult were done quite well. Initially I grew frustrated with Safi and her poor decision making but this was a place of much growth for her as she learned from her mistakes. Iseult is the quieter one who thinks things through so the two work well together. I was happy to see such a great friendship that was so strong even when they had their differences. And these are strong female characters that truly can take care of themselves and don’t need a man to guard them or fight their fights.

The romance was light in this book as they mostly just had a chance for their attraction to simmer. This was fine with me. It was clear from the moment they met that there was something there but I’ll take a slow burn romance over insta-love any day.

There are quite a few ‘bad’ guys in the book but I’m going to mention one of them. The Bloodwitch that follows them, determined to get them and get an award. He’s a complex character in that you see tiny little honorable things here and there and you want to believe he’s good. That he’s going to do something and save all of them or something. I really loved that there was so much to him and I’m anxious to see where things go on his end.

This was my first Susan Dennard book and I wasn’t at all disappointed. I found myself fully immersed in this story and world and was emotionally invested in it to the point of extreme anger, frustration and at times, happiness. I devoured this book quite quickly considering it’s a larger book as I was anxious to see what happens.

The end is a little cliffhanger’y but I’ve seen far worse and I didn’t find myself screaming in frustration but still really needing to know more. Overall it was a highly enjoyable read and if you are a fan of fantasy books I highly recommend it!