Scan barcode
A review by michellehenriereads
The Will and the Wilds by Charlie N. Holmberg
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I've read many of Holmberg's books and there are a couple of overriding comments about why I like her writing.
1- She develops new worlds and doesn't rehash all her old ideas
2- Every magic system in the new world is unique and has a set of rules
3- How the characters don't know how to solve their problems, but they keep going anyhow
One of the strengths in The Will and the Wilds is the relationship Enna has with her father. It feels so genuine the way he is slipping away with dementia and how she guides or misdirects him because of his failing memory. When she discovers the root of his mental problem, I felt like it brought the issue to a new level.
I also enjoyed her relationship with Tennith and Maekallus. In both cases, she is tentative but for different reasons. Tennith is kind and handsome, and the boy she's crushed over, so her hesitancy is believable. Maekallus is a supernatural being with a horn and knife-like tail, so there is no need to describe her hesitancy in this case. Who does she fall for? The good boy or bad monster? The biggest component of the relationship with the possible male romantic lead characters is how Enna's compassion grows. She is multidimensional and takes the reader on a trip through all her emotions as she works out her feelings and problems.
This story was being written at the same time as The Paper Magician. I didn't know this fact until after I'd finished. The awesome thing about this is seeing how different the two worlds are.
If you're a fan of fantasy with a fairytale bent, I think you'll enjoy The Will and the Wilds.
I've read many of Holmberg's books and there are a couple of overriding comments about why I like her writing.
1- She develops new worlds and doesn't rehash all her old ideas
2- Every magic system in the new world is unique and has a set of rules
3- How the characters don't know how to solve their problems, but they keep going anyhow
One of the strengths in The Will and the Wilds is the relationship Enna has with her father. It feels so genuine the way he is slipping away with dementia and how she guides or misdirects him because of his failing memory. When she discovers the root of his mental problem, I felt like it brought the issue to a new level.
I also enjoyed her relationship with Tennith and Maekallus. In both cases, she is tentative but for different reasons. Tennith is kind and handsome, and the boy she's crushed over, so her hesitancy is believable. Maekallus is a supernatural being with a horn and knife-like tail, so there is no need to describe her hesitancy in this case. Who does she fall for? The good boy or bad monster? The biggest component of the relationship with the possible male romantic lead characters is how Enna's compassion grows. She is multidimensional and takes the reader on a trip through all her emotions as she works out her feelings and problems.
This story was being written at the same time as The Paper Magician. I didn't know this fact until after I'd finished. The awesome thing about this is seeing how different the two worlds are.
If you're a fan of fantasy with a fairytale bent, I think you'll enjoy The Will and the Wilds.