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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
[A free copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review]
Witherward is an amazing adventure, with high stakes and an interesting political climate.
In Witherward we meet Ilsa, a young magician’s assistant, who can do actual magic. As a Changeling she can change shape, into any animal she knows and even in other people. When she gets taken to an alternate version of London, in an alternate world called the Witherward, she quickly learns there are many more Changelings like her, and even five other types of magic. This alternate London is on the brink of a magical civil war, and Ilsa might be the key to stopping it.
I absolutely devoured Witherward. I could not put it down, I was reading when cooking, brushing my teeth, when walking the dog. I loved Ilsa. She felt like a real, fleshed out person with flaws and a history. Her traumatic history wasn’t taken lightly, and it both helped and obstructed her.
The other characters were great as well. They all had their own distinct personalities, their own flaws and secrets. The romance was done very well, as well. It was a slow enough burn to keep me interested, giving just enough flirtation throughout the book.
The story itself was exciting. We learn how the world works at the same time as Ilsa does, which works very well to build up a world. There is a lot of political warfare going on between the six different factions of London, and the stakes are high. There wasn’t a happily-ever-after type of ending, which I appreciate, especially since this is only the first part of a series.
I’m almost sad I rushed through Witherward as I did - I could spend forever with Ilsa and Eliot, Cassia, Fyfe, Oren, Aulius, Fowler and Hester. I can’t wait for the second book to come.
Witherward is an amazing adventure, with high stakes and an interesting political climate.
In Witherward we meet Ilsa, a young magician’s assistant, who can do actual magic. As a Changeling she can change shape, into any animal she knows and even in other people. When she gets taken to an alternate version of London, in an alternate world called the Witherward, she quickly learns there are many more Changelings like her, and even five other types of magic. This alternate London is on the brink of a magical civil war, and Ilsa might be the key to stopping it.
I absolutely devoured Witherward. I could not put it down, I was reading when cooking, brushing my teeth, when walking the dog. I loved Ilsa. She felt like a real, fleshed out person with flaws and a history. Her traumatic history wasn’t taken lightly, and it both helped and obstructed her.
The other characters were great as well. They all had their own distinct personalities, their own flaws and secrets. The romance was done very well, as well. It was a slow enough burn to keep me interested, giving just enough flirtation throughout the book.
The story itself was exciting. We learn how the world works at the same time as Ilsa does, which works very well to build up a world. There is a lot of political warfare going on between the six different factions of London, and the stakes are high. There wasn’t a happily-ever-after type of ending, which I appreciate, especially since this is only the first part of a series.
I’m almost sad I rushed through Witherward as I did - I could spend forever with Ilsa and Eliot, Cassia, Fyfe, Oren, Aulius, Fowler and Hester. I can’t wait for the second book to come.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
gotta love a good portal fantasy
Ilsa is a stage magician's assistant in 19th century London, a step-up from being a pick-pocket street kid and runaway from an orphanage. She also can do actual magic, changing her shape into nearly any creature or person. When she is saved from bizarre attackers and taken to an alternate London in the Witherward, she discovers she's actually the long-lost daughter of the ruling family of the Changelings, one of six magical factions that live in the alternate world.
The London of the Witherward is a dangerous place though, with most of Ilsa's family targeted for assassination. Her elder brother Gedeon, the leader of the Changeling faction has disappeared and seems to be stirring up trouble that threatens war between the factions, leaving his lieutenants in charge of his House and suspicious of each other. Ilsa's arrival in the House changes everything and stirs up even more trouble.
There's an obvious early comparison to [b:A Darker Shade of Magic|22055262|A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400322851l/22055262._SY75_.jpg|40098252] with a scrappy lower class protagonist in a historical London who goes to another world where magic exists and gets involved in the local politics. However, it quickly becomes a mystery novel with relationships within the Zoo (the headquarters of the Changeling faction) at question as well as the larger political situation across the rest of London to deal with. Ilsa thought she was an orphan with unique magical powers, and here she has literally found her family. But which of them should she trust?
The London of the Witherward is a dangerous place though, with most of Ilsa's family targeted for assassination. Her elder brother Gedeon, the leader of the Changeling faction has disappeared and seems to be stirring up trouble that threatens war between the factions, leaving his lieutenants in charge of his House and suspicious of each other. Ilsa's arrival in the House changes everything and stirs up even more trouble.
There's an obvious early comparison to [b:A Darker Shade of Magic|22055262|A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)|V.E. Schwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400322851l/22055262._SY75_.jpg|40098252] with a scrappy lower class protagonist in a historical London who goes to another world where magic exists and gets involved in the local politics. However, it quickly becomes a mystery novel with relationships within the Zoo (the headquarters of the Changeling faction) at question as well as the larger political situation across the rest of London to deal with. Ilsa thought she was an orphan with unique magical powers, and here she has literally found her family. But which of them should she trust?
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4.5 stars
This. Was. So. Good
There were some indirect themes/persuasions that.. made me sad(Besides all the obvious sad stuff that gave the characters depth and who they are in the story while also sympathizing; abuse, betrayal, guilt, abandonment, violence... I think you get it).
But still. The mystery. The awesome alternate world stuff. The different supernatural factions. I like how everything fit together and she made it make sense. I really liked the star theory(though connected to underlying anti-Christianity that was one of the things that made me sad.. understandable given Ilsa’s history that was horrific and led to so much of her trauma but.. still. The association of the corrupt actions of one person/group that claims it and therefore viewed entirely only from that perspective vs what true Christianity IS honestly breaks my heart)
Ilsa’s accent annoyed me but I loved her!
Most of the characters were so relatable, even though part of the mystery was really getting to know them, and therefore second guessing them, along with Ilsa. I ended up really loving Oren. I liked Fowler and kinda hoped he was the interest at first but I DiD like Eliot and ship Ilsa and him! Fyfe of course was adorable. I loved how he was more open with Ilsa and that he OFFerED a friendship/family bond from the beginning.
This story was so complex. There were a few things I saw coming but the ones I didn’t, man! So well written and played out!! The dialogue was good and there wasn’t disconnected/cut short/wonky stuff, it flowed beautifully.
I hope there’s a sequel soon!!!
This. Was. So. Good
There were some indirect themes/persuasions that.. made me sad(Besides all the obvious sad stuff that gave the characters depth and who they are in the story while also sympathizing; abuse, betrayal, guilt, abandonment, violence... I think you get it).
But still. The mystery. The awesome alternate world stuff. The different supernatural factions. I like how everything fit together and she made it make sense. I really liked the star theory(though connected to underlying anti-Christianity that was one of the things that made me sad.. understandable given Ilsa’s history that was horrific and led to so much of her trauma but.. still. The association of the corrupt actions of one person/group that claims it and therefore viewed entirely only from that perspective vs what true Christianity IS honestly breaks my heart)
Ilsa’s accent annoyed me but I loved her!
Most of the characters were so relatable, even though part of the mystery was really getting to know them, and therefore second guessing them, along with Ilsa. I ended up really loving Oren. I liked Fowler and kinda hoped he was the interest at first but I DiD like Eliot and ship Ilsa and him! Fyfe of course was adorable. I loved how he was more open with Ilsa and that he OFFerED a friendship/family bond from the beginning.
This story was so complex. There were a few things I saw coming but the ones I didn’t, man! So well written and played out!! The dialogue was good and there wasn’t disconnected/cut short/wonky stuff, it flowed beautifully.
I hope there’s a sequel soon!!!
Victorian urban fantasy? Sign me up!
Having been in a reading slump for the last few months I was a little apprehensive about beginning a book that was 500+ pages so soon after starting again. This apprehension was quickly muted and I really enjoyed this book.
I liked the characters (orphan finding where she belongs, what's not to love?), I liked the writing (investigations, raids and fighting, that serve to evolve characters rather than fill pages) and the pace was great (if a little sped up towards the latter 100 pages). The world building was done in such a way that it drew emphasis to the plot without being too overwhelming (London and an alternate-London with six different factions).
Having picked up the book after getting Neil Gaiman, 'Neverwhere' vibes from both the name, cover and blurb this book did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next instalment from Hannah Mathewson and see what happens in Ilsa's world next!
Having been in a reading slump for the last few months I was a little apprehensive about beginning a book that was 500+ pages so soon after starting again. This apprehension was quickly muted and I really enjoyed this book.
I liked the characters (orphan finding where she belongs, what's not to love?), I liked the writing (investigations, raids and fighting, that serve to evolve characters rather than fill pages) and the pace was great (if a little sped up towards the latter 100 pages). The world building was done in such a way that it drew emphasis to the plot without being too overwhelming (London and an alternate-London with six different factions).
Having picked up the book after getting Neil Gaiman, 'Neverwhere' vibes from both the name, cover and blurb this book did not disappoint. Looking forward to the next instalment from Hannah Mathewson and see what happens in Ilsa's world next!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes