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silver_anchor4's review against another edition
2.0
Overall, it was good, but I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much I thought I would. The writing style was not my cup of tea, and the pacing felt off the entire time. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot felt a bit all over the place.
But it is still a good, interesting story... It just isn't what I expected.
But it is still a good, interesting story... It just isn't what I expected.
mareli_coetzer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
*I apologize in advance if this review makes no sense*
There is a lot of hype surrounding this book. There is a major street team, a big ARC distribution, twitter pages and so much more that shows that this is the book to have in 2016. But I am always scared of that hype, because you expect something excellent then. If so many people love it, it must be a five star book, right? That is wrong. I was not a big fan of Truthwitch.
My biggest problem with this book was that it was so confusing. I understand that the beginnings of fantasy books tend to be confusing because of the world building, but I felt like there was so little world building that I was scrambling to figure out what was happening. But there are things that are left unexplained, are skimmed over. Things that were essential to the plot too. I pushed through it though, because everyone loved this book.
I enjoyed Merik's character. But I didn't like his ways. One minute he was protective over Safi, then he wanted to hand her over to the bad guys, then he wanted to kiss her, then he was locking her in chains. Hot and cold much? I get that he was under stress, but I really expected more from Merik from what everyone was saying. I also wish he stopped being an ass hat sooner and kissed Safi, because Denard did write a pretty steamy kissing scene and I wish we could have had a few more before the story ended. (They kiss in the last 20%)
Now as much as there were things that I didn't like about Truthwitch, there were somethings that I did like about. Safi's impatiences and eagerness to dive into things with out thinking about it reminded me of myself. But she also had a streak of selflessness at the end of the novel that had me a little bewildered.
Truthwitch has me a bundle of emotions that I can't decipher. I liked it. I didn't like it. I want the next book. I don't want to next book. I think my big problem with this book was the hype surrounding it. I tend to struggle with those kinds of book. If I do happen to read the next book, I do wish I have better luck with it then this one.
Note: Thank you to Tor Teen for sending me a finished copy in exchange of an honest review
*I apologize in advance if this review makes no sense*
There is a lot of hype surrounding this book. There is a major street team, a big ARC distribution, twitter pages and so much more that shows that this is the book to have in 2016. But I am always scared of that hype, because you expect something excellent then. If so many people love it, it must be a five star book, right? That is wrong. I was not a big fan of Truthwitch.
My biggest problem with this book was that it was so confusing. I understand that the beginnings of fantasy books tend to be confusing because of the world building, but I felt like there was so little world building that I was scrambling to figure out what was happening. But there are things that are left unexplained, are skimmed over. Things that were essential to the plot too. I pushed through it though, because everyone loved this book.
I enjoyed Merik's character. But I didn't like his ways. One minute he was protective over Safi, then he wanted to hand her over to the bad guys, then he wanted to kiss her, then he was locking her in chains. Hot and cold much? I get that he was under stress, but I really expected more from Merik from what everyone was saying. I also wish he stopped being an ass hat sooner and kissed Safi, because Denard did write a pretty steamy kissing scene and I wish we could have had a few more before the story ended. (They kiss in the last 20%)
Now as much as there were things that I didn't like about Truthwitch, there were somethings that I did like about. Safi's impatiences and eagerness to dive into things with out thinking about it reminded me of myself. But she also had a streak of selflessness at the end of the novel that had me a little bewildered.
Truthwitch has me a bundle of emotions that I can't decipher. I liked it. I didn't like it. I want the next book. I don't want to next book. I think my big problem with this book was the hype surrounding it. I tend to struggle with those kinds of book. If I do happen to read the next book, I do wish I have better luck with it then this one.
Note: Thank you to Tor Teen for sending me a finished copy in exchange of an honest review
julesjoulesjewels's review against another edition
5.0
This book has liveliest prose and the most vivid characters I have read in a good long while. Everything about it, from world-building to plot pacing, is executed perfectly and with panache. I can hardly wait to open the next one.
alapinski's review against another edition
2.0
EDIT: Down to two stars... the more I thought about this book, the more I realized how much I disliked it.
Oh. My. God. That took forever to finish. When I would sit down to read this book I found myself scrolling through my phone instead, which is saying a lot. Now I gave this book 3 stars for the following reasons:
Things I liked about the book:
1. The world, a new spin on magic and witches, cleaving was interesting, I still don't get why people don't like the Nomatsi and use "wards against evil" when they are around...
2. The main characters, Safi and Iseult were cool, I definitely liked Iseult more, Safi was too spoiled and stuck up for me to like her.
3. The overall storyline and plot of the book. It was different and although hard to follow at times, I found the premise intriguing.
Things I didn't like:
1. probably the most annoying thing was the way character dialog was split three words in with a description "I think that," she said softly, wind blowing her hair around and probably some grass and flowers smelled sweet and some more random description, "was the reason something happened." Like almost every time someone talked this is how it was written and it just drove me crazy
2. I feel like there was too much going on, the world building was terrible, eventually I got the gist of it but only 300 pages in
3. It was super slow and not much happened for the first 300 pages, maybe one or two action scenes
4. I feel like this book could've been split into two, the first half starting with gambling with the Chiseled Cheater(which was mentioned at the beginning and end.... still don't know who this guy is) and background then going into where the book actually started, then ending when she was taken on the ship. (That way Iseult's time in the Nomatsi camp could have been longer and we could've gotten to know her mom more and Safi's switching over to being a domna wouldn't have been rushed. Also why were they on the dock that one time? When the cleaving happened, and they had to elude the guards even though Safi was a domna? I still don't get it.) Anyways then starting up again on the ship. This book was just way too long with too many side plots.
5. Too many new pointless characters that show up for a few chapters then disappear again.
6. I mentioned 300 pages earlier... this book finally got good in the last 100 pages, which I hate because I struggled through 300 before finally starting to enjoy it. This book's ending redeemed my rating.
7. Terribly obvious foreshadowing... read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about. Like so obvious it almost hurt to know she just put it in so that the part she added next wouldn't be too random.
So there was more I didn't like about this book than I liked, and so I think 3 stars is fair, it's not bad, but the length and the writing style hit me so hard it took me too long to read it.
Oh. My. God. That took forever to finish. When I would sit down to read this book I found myself scrolling through my phone instead, which is saying a lot. Now I gave this book 3 stars for the following reasons:
Things I liked about the book:
1. The world, a new spin on magic and witches, cleaving was interesting, I still don't get why people don't like the Nomatsi and use "wards against evil" when they are around...
2. The main characters, Safi and Iseult were cool, I definitely liked Iseult more, Safi was too spoiled and stuck up for me to like her.
3. The overall storyline and plot of the book. It was different and although hard to follow at times, I found the premise intriguing.
Things I didn't like:
1. probably the most annoying thing was the way character dialog was split three words in with a description "I think that," she said softly, wind blowing her hair around and probably some grass and flowers smelled sweet and some more random description, "was the reason something happened." Like almost every time someone talked this is how it was written and it just drove me crazy
2. I feel like there was too much going on, the world building was terrible, eventually I got the gist of it but only 300 pages in
3. It was super slow and not much happened for the first 300 pages, maybe one or two action scenes
4. I feel like this book could've been split into two, the first half starting with gambling with the Chiseled Cheater(which was mentioned at the beginning and end.... still don't know who this guy is) and background then going into where the book actually started, then ending when she was taken on the ship. (That way Iseult's time in the Nomatsi camp could have been longer and we could've gotten to know her mom more and Safi's switching over to being a domna wouldn't have been rushed. Also why were they on the dock that one time? When the cleaving happened, and they had to elude the guards even though Safi was a domna? I still don't get it.) Anyways then starting up again on the ship. This book was just way too long with too many side plots.
5. Too many new pointless characters that show up for a few chapters then disappear again.
6. I mentioned 300 pages earlier... this book finally got good in the last 100 pages, which I hate because I struggled through 300 before finally starting to enjoy it. This book's ending redeemed my rating.
7. Terribly obvious foreshadowing... read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about. Like so obvious it almost hurt to know she just put it in so that the part she added next wouldn't be too random.
So there was more I didn't like about this book than I liked, and so I think 3 stars is fair, it's not bad, but the length and the writing style hit me so hard it took me too long to read it.
kambmoore's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
This book was amazing. I can't even form coherent thoughts about what I have just read, because it was all so so good.
The characters were amazing. I loved how there were multiple POVs (that's what I like about fantasy books) and I didn't feel bored about any of them ever. Safi and Iseult were definitely my favorite though, because they had such an epic friendship and plot. Aeduan was also a favorite of mine, and I was immediately intrigued by his witchery and his family (which totally freaked me the fuck out when I read it). Merik is such a babe. He is so hot (from what I'm imagining) and he's very dedicated to his people and doing what's right do them (a very admirable quality).
The plot was also amazing. There were so many twists and turns that it made my head spin a little, but I loved every second of it. I loved all of the concepts behind the world, the world-building, and all of the mythology behind everything.
5/5 stars, for sure.
I can't wait to read Windwitch when it comes out next year (UNGH!!!!! Why so far awayyyy!!!?)
This book was amazing. I can't even form coherent thoughts about what I have just read, because it was all so so good.
The characters were amazing. I loved how there were multiple POVs (that's what I like about fantasy books) and I didn't feel bored about any of them ever. Safi and Iseult were definitely my favorite though, because they had such an epic friendship and plot. Aeduan was also a favorite of mine, and I was immediately intrigued by his witchery and his family (which totally freaked me the fuck out when I read it). Merik is such a babe. He is so hot (from what I'm imagining) and he's very dedicated to his people and doing what's right do them (a very admirable quality).
The plot was also amazing. There were so many twists and turns that it made my head spin a little, but I loved every second of it. I loved all of the concepts behind the world, the world-building, and all of the mythology behind everything.
5/5 stars, for sure.
I can't wait to read Windwitch when it comes out next year (UNGH!!!!! Why so far awayyyy!!!?)
itsbernaertsnotbernard's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
purpleren331's review against another edition
4.0
More of a 3.7 than a 4. It took me a long time to get into this book, and I got a little confused at parts. But once I got about half way through it, I flew through the rest! Looking forward to the next book!
tmledvina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Listen. Safi is written wonderfully, but I also want to smack her so hard over and over. She's kinda dumb sometimes (with good reason) and honestly that's what makes her so likable but also infuriating.
This was a fabulous story though! I had such a good time!!
This was a fabulous story though! I had such a good time!!