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A review by savage_book_review
The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So it appears my inner mood-reader thinks it's spooky season, as I'm currently in the middle of my witch era. This is the second book that I've read this year with the basic premise that a witchling must compete in a trial to try and become the new leader of their coven, so I felt on firm ground from the off. But the characters, chemistry and magic system gave it its own USP, and made it a really enjoyable read. It also gives off vibes similar to the Shepherd King series by Rachel Gillig, so if you enjoyed that I'd highly recommend picking this one up!
The writing is extremely focused on our main character, Raven, and although it's written in the third person it comes across as being completely from her point of view. As a result, many of the secondary characters are held on the periphery of your notice - they are named and you get a sense of them, but unless they have a direct affect on her outlook they don't really get fleshed out to the extent that one might hope. Even the main competition, while described in more detail, doesn't necessarily pop off the page in the way that they should. However, this means that all of your attention is drawn to the core cast. I personally am particularly intrigued by Grey... I feel like he needs his story told!
The premise of the story is set out well, but there are elements that you just have to go with as the depth of explanation isn't always there. For example, the magic system is really well developed throughout the book, and the fact that Raven is an Unmarked Witch is clearly important and sets her apart from the rest of the coven. But it's not as highlighted in the narrative as you might expect. And when it does become central to the plot, it's explained in a 'blink and you'll miss it' way. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with it, even though there is enough there for your imagine to fill in the gaps.
Similarly, the start of the relationship development between Raven and Bastian is incredibly good to read; sweet and yet totally inkeeping with the type of character he is, and yet it does feel a little abrupt - I was expecting things to go in a very different direction. BUT *Shadow Daddy alert!* Bastian is everything you'd hope for; dark, brooding, sexy and powerful, the villain in everyone's narrative but his own and would burn down the world for his girl. And he has wings. And a mountain cabin. With soup. Need I say more?
There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises in here, with moments I was genuinely not expecting. While they didn't cause me to drop my Kindle in shock or launch it across the room, they're the sort of events that make you wonder just how the author is going to bring things back around because surely she didn't just do that?! This continues right to the conclusion, and to borrow a phrase it definitely ends on a cliff dangle! And I have to know what happens next! So there's another KU book jumping the TBR queue...
The writing is extremely focused on our main character, Raven, and although it's written in the third person it comes across as being completely from her point of view. As a result, many of the secondary characters are held on the periphery of your notice - they are named and you get a sense of them, but unless they have a direct affect on her outlook they don't really get fleshed out to the extent that one might hope. Even the main competition, while described in more detail, doesn't necessarily pop off the page in the way that they should. However, this means that all of your attention is drawn to the core cast. I personally am particularly intrigued by Grey... I feel like he needs his story told!
The premise of the story is set out well, but there are elements that you just have to go with as the depth of explanation isn't always there. For example, the magic system is really well developed throughout the book, and the fact that Raven is an Unmarked Witch is clearly important and sets her apart from the rest of the coven. But it's not as highlighted in the narrative as you might expect. And when it does become central to the plot, it's explained in a 'blink and you'll miss it' way. I feel like there could have been a lot more done with it, even though there is enough there for your imagine to fill in the gaps.
Similarly, the start of the relationship development between Raven and Bastian is incredibly good to read; sweet and yet totally inkeeping with the type of character he is, and yet it does feel a little abrupt - I was expecting things to go in a very different direction. BUT *Shadow Daddy alert!* Bastian is everything you'd hope for; dark, brooding, sexy and powerful, the villain in everyone's narrative but his own and would burn down the world for his girl. And he has wings. And a mountain cabin. With soup. Need I say more?
There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises in here, with moments I was genuinely not expecting. While they didn't cause me to drop my Kindle in shock or launch it across the room, they're the sort of events that make you wonder just how the author is going to bring things back around because surely she didn't just do that?! This continues right to the conclusion, and to borrow a phrase it definitely ends on a cliff dangle! And I have to know what happens next! So there's another KU book jumping the TBR queue...