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A review by zachisreading
Witch King by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The Witch King is the kind of book I avoided finishing because I didn't want it to be over. The characters grew such immense personality it was tough to say goodbye.
Martha Wells, perhaps best known for the Murderbot Diaries has an incredible talent for writing unique fantasy worlds. In the Witch King she balances the magic system expertly between "makes sense" and "inexplicable." In fact, the entire book keeps the reader on that same razor's edge. Fictional politics make sense, but you struggle to figure out each player's end game, or even who the player are. Each turn between past and present shifts your understanding just a bit more. And by the end you're twisted around this masterfully crafted tale of geopolitics, betrayal, and found family.
It is important to say that the twists in this don't feel like twists. It is not that the narrator is attempting to deceive but that they were deceived or there was no deception but simply an unseen perspective. The story doesn't seek out irony but sincerity to obfuscate in a way that cements Martha Wells further in my recommendations for anyone looking to explore modern literature.
Martha Wells, perhaps best known for the Murderbot Diaries has an incredible talent for writing unique fantasy worlds. In the Witch King she balances the magic system expertly between "makes sense" and "inexplicable." In fact, the entire book keeps the reader on that same razor's edge. Fictional politics make sense, but you struggle to figure out each player's end game, or even who the player are. Each turn between past and present shifts your understanding just a bit more. And by the end you're twisted around this masterfully crafted tale of geopolitics, betrayal, and found family.
It is important to say that the twists in this don't feel like twists. It is not that the narrator is attempting to deceive but that they were deceived or there was no deception but simply an unseen perspective. The story doesn't seek out irony but sincerity to obfuscate in a way that cements Martha Wells further in my recommendations for anyone looking to explore modern literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence