A review by yvo_about_books
Witherward by Hannah Mathewson

4.0

Finished reading: December 20th 2022

“Look around you, Ilsa. We're all scared. It's only a weakness if you give in to it.”

I added this book to my TBR on a whim mostly because it gave me Schwab vibes, and I'm glad I did because I ended up having an excellent time with this YA urban slash high fantasy debut. I still can't believe Witherward hasn't been mentioned more to be honest... I mean, parallel Londons that make you think of the Shades Of Magic series, but with a whole different worldbuilding, magic, shapeshifters and a threatening civil war; what's not to like? I love the set up of this story, with the two different Londons and the story having both an urban fantasy and high fantasy feel. The different factions each having their own magic/powers, the tension between them and the mystery around Gedeon's disappearance all add suspense, and danger is around every corner. There is quite a cast of characters to keep apart, but once you get a proper feel for the world you will be completely hooked. Ilsa makes for a great main character, and it was interesting to see her adapt to her new reality and world and learn more about her past. There is plenty of action to keep you busy and even a hint of romance... The main focus of this story isn't the romance though, which is always a bonus when it comes to the YA fantasy genre. Witherward is fast, exciting, packed with action and a lot of magic and shapeshifting. If you like the genre, I can highly recommend this debut! I definitely can't wait to read the sequel myself to find out what happens next.