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alexisneuville23's review against another edition
4.0
REVIEW: http://theliteraturelion.blogspot.com/2013/01/oldies-but-goodies.html
This was part of the Oldies But Goodies post in which I do mini-reviews for books that haven't been published in the past two years.
Brightly Woven was recommended to me many times by multiple bloggers, so I knew I had to pick it up. I'm not really one for high fantasy, but I've slowly been finding myself drawn to it. I finally picked this one up, and I was pleasantly surprised! The high fantasy plot was okay, but I loved the ADVENTURE! It was exciting and rich and what made it that way was the characters! Sybelle and North were wonderful characters and I'm glad I got to follow them on this journey!
This was part of the Oldies But Goodies post in which I do mini-reviews for books that haven't been published in the past two years.
Brightly Woven was recommended to me many times by multiple bloggers, so I knew I had to pick it up. I'm not really one for high fantasy, but I've slowly been finding myself drawn to it. I finally picked this one up, and I was pleasantly surprised! The high fantasy plot was okay, but I loved the ADVENTURE! It was exciting and rich and what made it that way was the characters! Sybelle and North were wonderful characters and I'm glad I got to follow them on this journey!
evensong's review against another edition
4.0
Once I got into this, I couldn't put it down. Read the entire thing in a day. Action, adventure, and a unique magic system.
Takes the traditional female skill of weaving and turns it into something magical. The main character never waits to be rescued and takes charge of her own life, asking for what she wants. The charming love interest wins you over despite a few issues with bad hygiene and some questionable decisions. MC models a willingness to forgive mistakes
It doesn't tie everything up neatly at the end, so you keep thinking about possibilities with the characters living on in your mind.
Takes the traditional female skill of weaving and turns it into something magical. The main character never waits to be rescued and takes charge of her own life, asking for what she wants. The charming love interest wins you over despite a few issues with bad hygiene and some questionable decisions. MC models a willingness to forgive mistakes
It doesn't tie everything up neatly at the end, so you keep thinking about possibilities with the characters living on in your mind.
naomi_mahoney's review
4.0
What is it with Alexandra Bracken's books that they make me fall completely into the world and experience the story as if I was walking side by side with the characters? I loved the writing, I loved the characters and I loved the story. I couldn't put it down. I would have liked a bit more background on the history of the world and the characters, though. That's why it's only four stars. Other than that it's a great read!
kailiasage's review against another edition
3.0
After hearing so much about this book, I just had to pick it up. Lucky for me, I won it. And after reading it, I am pleased to say that I am not dissapointed at the least.
This book had everything. From adventure to magic to romance to danger to mystery and everything else in between. There was a lot I loved about this book and little I didn't like. As a debut author, I was very pleased at how well Ms. Bracken can write. The writing in this book played a key part in how well it turned out. She's got a great way to get you hooked and keep you there instead of bore you to death. She put in a lot of descriptions but it helped me understand this book! Honestly, I found my self in the story, in Cliffton and Provincia with Sydelle and North.
Though the plot line was very well written and carried out with great care, I had some trouble with the flow of the book. There were times when I felt the story would slow down to the speed of a snail and then speed up to the seed of a cheetah. With a story like this a more fast moving book would have done it a lot more justice. With that came the characters. When I first met Sydelle and North, I didn't know them very well. But I had hoped to know them as the story progressed. Though I got what I wanted, I felt it all came to slowly. I couldn't really connect with Sydelle or North as I wanted to. But they were great characters non the less.
I think I'm right when I say that 2010 has had some amazing authors make their debut. I am happy to say that Alexandra Bracken has become one of my favorite debut authors.
This book had everything. From adventure to magic to romance to danger to mystery and everything else in between. There was a lot I loved about this book and little I didn't like. As a debut author, I was very pleased at how well Ms. Bracken can write. The writing in this book played a key part in how well it turned out. She's got a great way to get you hooked and keep you there instead of bore you to death. She put in a lot of descriptions but it helped me understand this book! Honestly, I found my self in the story, in Cliffton and Provincia with Sydelle and North.
Though the plot line was very well written and carried out with great care, I had some trouble with the flow of the book. There were times when I felt the story would slow down to the speed of a snail and then speed up to the seed of a cheetah. With a story like this a more fast moving book would have done it a lot more justice. With that came the characters. When I first met Sydelle and North, I didn't know them very well. But I had hoped to know them as the story progressed. Though I got what I wanted, I felt it all came to slowly. I couldn't really connect with Sydelle or North as I wanted to. But they were great characters non the less.
I think I'm right when I say that 2010 has had some amazing authors make their debut. I am happy to say that Alexandra Bracken has become one of my favorite debut authors.
sarcrawsh's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This book was great, much better than I expected it to be (although I don't know where my low expectations came from). The characters were good, the plot quite believable for a historical fantasy, and the conflicts were great. The romance was a bit clumsy, but not the focal point of the story, so acceptable. Will definitely read more by this author!
lizpatanders's review against another edition
5.0
I first saw the cover of Brightly Woven in December of 2009, and my jaw instantly hit the floor. When I realized that not only is the cover gorgeous but also that it is an epic fantasy, I knew that I needed to own Brightly Woven. Full of magic, action and romance, this story proved to be just as epic as the cover that drew me in.
Brightly Woven is a fitting title for this novel not only because of the pot, but because of how the book is written. Even though this is epic fantasy, Bracken doesn’t just hit the reader with world-building like a ton of bricks. Instead, it’s carefully woven into the story. Oftentimes a new plot twist would uncover a new element of Bracken’s world, or in dialogue. Yet even if Bracken had used verbose descriptions of her world, I still would have soaked them up like a sponge. Bracken’s writing is simple yet gorgeous.
Of course, I’ve got to mention North, who nearly every blogger has been swooning over. If you’ve swooned over North, I’m going to be straight with you: I spent the first half of the book thinking that you were crazy. About halfway through, however, it clicked for me. I don’t want to say any more at risk of being spoilery.
Brightly Woven is a brilliant debut novel, and while it’s gotten many positive reviews in the blogosphere, I think it deserves more praise than what it’s already gotten. I urge all of you fantasy lovers to go out and buy this book. You want that gorgeous cover in your personal collection, right? I look forward to reading Bracken’s future work, and will be hoping that one day she shares more stories set in this world.
yatllive's review against another edition
4.0
I was trying so hard to wait, and be patient, and read this book closer to release date but alas, as you can see, I couldn't hold off anymore. I am so glad I read it, because it got me out of a reading slump and I devoured this book page by page.
Alexendra Bracken's debut, BRIGHTLY WOVEN, is a high fantasy adventure filled with mystery, love, romance, and danger. It has the perfect blend of mysterious boy meets fascinating, small town girl and these unseemingly opposite characters are on the run from a mean and powerful wizard that seeks to cause some serious damage.Not only to our hero and heroine but well, to a lot more people! But not all is as at it seems --Syd and North learn new things about themselves and eachother but the magic happens as they discover these dangerous and heartbreaking secrets that make this book so wonderful and unexpected.
Bracken's well-paced storytelling mixes well with a fascinating world and vibrant and intriguing characters that transform this tale into a book that you cannot possibly put down! Like Norht's capes, Bracken unfurls the corners to reveal unexpected twists and turns and each chapter is a vibrant thread that make up this enthralling BRIGHTLY WOVEN!
Fans of Cashore will devour this book! And it's a must read this spring when the book debuts in March! Seriously worth pre-ordering!
Alexendra Bracken's debut, BRIGHTLY WOVEN, is a high fantasy adventure filled with mystery, love, romance, and danger. It has the perfect blend of mysterious boy meets fascinating, small town girl and these unseemingly opposite characters are on the run from a mean and powerful wizard that seeks to cause some serious damage.Not only to our hero and heroine but well, to a lot more people! But not all is as at it seems --Syd and North learn new things about themselves and eachother but the magic happens as they discover these dangerous and heartbreaking secrets that make this book so wonderful and unexpected.
Bracken's well-paced storytelling mixes well with a fascinating world and vibrant and intriguing characters that transform this tale into a book that you cannot possibly put down! Like Norht's capes, Bracken unfurls the corners to reveal unexpected twists and turns and each chapter is a vibrant thread that make up this enthralling BRIGHTLY WOVEN!
Fans of Cashore will devour this book! And it's a must read this spring when the book debuts in March! Seriously worth pre-ordering!
booksareamood's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Superb fantasy book! My favourite part was how it wasn't instant romance the 'I'm drawn to you' and all of that malarky. I like the hart to love transition, and I think this was written really well! I recommend it.
Superb fantasy book! My favourite part was how it wasn't instant romance the 'I'm drawn to you' and all of that malarky. I like the hart to love transition, and I think this was written really well! I recommend it.
holtfan's review
4.0
3.5 stars...I am left with too many unanswered questions but it was so good!
An absorbing read that balances fantasy, mythology, and power play with wizards and magic and heroines-with-untapped-potential.
Truly a must-read for [a:Diana Wynne Jones|4260|Diana Wynne Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1193516584p2/4260.jpg] lovers.
Plot
Sydelle Mirabil's village has been in a drought for 10 years. When a wizard, Wayland North, comes bringing rain, the grateful villagers offer him anything he might want. He chooses Sydelle. Naturally, Sydelle resents being dragged away from her family and friends as little more than a slave. However, North has an important message that might save the country from going to war, if only they reach the capital city in time.
Thoughts
Very likable characters and a plot setting. I liked the myths of sister-goddesses and the start of wizards, but would have preferred more information and action from them, something like [b:The Thief|448873|The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839s/448873.jpg|1069505]. The plot had a good antagonist and a lot at stake. Characters had multiple sides with good questions about power and good and evil.
The romance was adorable.
Lots of good side characters.
In some ways, this could have been a perfect fantasy story (I mean, come on, the main character is a red head. Doesn't get better than that!) but I felt it didn't quite reach its full possibility.
I love that Sydelle is a weaver. It gave her an awesome talent and spark to her character.
Overall, a good read!
An absorbing read that balances fantasy, mythology, and power play with wizards and magic and heroines-with-untapped-potential.
Truly a must-read for [a:Diana Wynne Jones|4260|Diana Wynne Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1193516584p2/4260.jpg] lovers.
Plot
Sydelle Mirabil's village has been in a drought for 10 years. When a wizard, Wayland North, comes bringing rain, the grateful villagers offer him anything he might want. He chooses Sydelle. Naturally, Sydelle resents being dragged away from her family and friends as little more than a slave. However, North has an important message that might save the country from going to war, if only they reach the capital city in time.
Thoughts
Very likable characters and a plot setting. I liked the myths of sister-goddesses and the start of wizards, but would have preferred more information and action from them, something like [b:The Thief|448873|The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427740839s/448873.jpg|1069505]. The plot had a good antagonist and a lot at stake. Characters had multiple sides with good questions about power and good and evil.
The romance was adorable.
Lots of good side characters.
In some ways, this could have been a perfect fantasy story (I mean, come on, the main character is a red head. Doesn't get better than that!) but I felt it didn't quite reach its full possibility.
Spoiler
It almost seems to set up for a sequel but there isn't one...and there are too many plot elements left open for my imagination! Is North ever healed? Is her family happy to have her back? What happened to the evil wizard dude? Where were the hedge witches throughout this all? Why does she look like the goddesses? What was the prophecy precisely and why are all mentions of god/goddesses basically ignored outside of her village? Are jinxes really that common and if making bracelets to contain their power is really that easy, why kill them? Why did the cloak she weaved work for North, doesn't the talisman have to come from the master? Can she really control her powers, or just hold her emotions in check long enough to release them later? I thought Sydelle might have a bigger identity role as well. Like she really was the goddess or a lost princess or at least the descendant of the evil hedge witch. And then I expected her to become friends with the new Queen or help usher in a new age or something. Not go wandering about. The story could have been wound up more tightlyI love that Sydelle is a weaver. It gave her an awesome talent and spark to her character.
Overall, a good read!