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A review by sdloomer
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
2.0
--2/5 stars--
Not only were absolutely none of my questions answered, but nothing really happened. This book was very much slowed down compared to Truthwitch; sure there were battle scenes galore and a lot of killing and maiming, but they all eventually led to nothing.
Safi and Vaness, the Empress of Marstok, are "kidnapped" by the Cartorran Hell-Bards with only the explanation that Emperor Henrick wants his future bride back. I suppose we readers are meant to have the question of why burning in the back of our minds while we read through the ordeals the two women are put through, but the situation just seemed so...forced? It was mighty easy for a bloody assassin to make his way onto the Empress's ship, fail to murder the both of them, and then suddenly the whole ship just blew up? And they're conveniently the only two survivors? What? For what purpose does this whole bloody circumstance have? Sure it makes way for the Empress to realize that and gives a little backstory to the Hell-Bards, but other than that, there is absolutely no reason for the two of them to be Saldonica in the first place. This whole detour in Safi and Vaness's trip to Azmir in Marstok is simply a footnote in the overall story.
I am at least grateful that Vivia gets her own point of view here. She was only ever painted as "the evil older sister to the holier-than-thou Prince Merik" in Truthwitch and I'm glad Ms. Dennard decided to give her a little more depth than that. Also, bi ladies FTW.
Let's not talk about Merik and his identity crisis.
The only real thing anchoring me to this series is the relationship between Iseult and Aeduan. Because this is the kind of relationship--romance or no--that I can really dig: the hate-to-love kinda thing. Iseult has And Aeduan finally calms down and realizes that he may be in love with her even if he wants to deny it.
No I'm just kidding. Even though I really want him to. But seriously, their bond is drawn pretty well since they're forced to travel with each other because they both need the other for their own individual purposes. What better way than to grow trust between the two? Their relationship isn't as passionate or impulsive as Safi and Merik's, but rather one of respect and intelligence--especially since they're both refined and cautious. It's definitely not love, though I do hope it gets there at some point, but they trust each other now, to some degree, and that's a pretty big step away from what they used to be in Truthwitch.
I'm really praying that Bloodwitch is grades above what this hot mess is, largely because Aeduan is maybe the only character I'm truly invested in--and I just really, really, really want to see all this tension between him and Iseult come to some sort of fruition.
Men charged with blades, but swords were so easy for Iseult to evade with Aeduan at her side. Together, they arced, they lunged, they ducked, they rolled. A fluid combination of steps built on blood and Threads.I really, really expected a lot more out of this installment. And I probably shouldn't have.
Not only were absolutely none of my questions answered, but nothing really happened. This book was very much slowed down compared to Truthwitch; sure there were battle scenes galore and a lot of killing and maiming, but they all eventually led to nothing.
Safi and Vaness, the Empress of Marstok, are "kidnapped" by the Cartorran Hell-Bards with only the explanation that Emperor Henrick wants his future bride back. I suppose we readers are meant to have the question of why burning in the back of our minds while we read through the ordeals the two women are put through, but the situation just seemed so...forced? It was mighty easy for a bloody assassin to make his way onto the Empress's ship, fail to murder the both of them, and then suddenly the whole ship just blew up? And they're conveniently the only two survivors? What? For what purpose does this whole bloody circumstance have? Sure it makes way for the Empress to realize that
Spoiler
both pirate factions of Saldonica have not only banded together, but also betrayed herI am at least grateful that Vivia gets her own point of view here. She was only ever painted as "the evil older sister to the holier-than-thou Prince Merik" in Truthwitch and I'm glad Ms. Dennard decided to give her a little more depth than that. Also, bi ladies FTW.
Let's not talk about Merik and his identity crisis.
The only real thing anchoring me to this series is the relationship between Iseult and Aeduan. Because this is the kind of relationship--romance or no--that I can really dig: the hate-to-love kinda thing. Iseult has
Spoiler
fully admitted and accepted that she is a Weaverwitch with the powers of the Void and may be the other half of the Cahr Awen, opposite of Safi and her Tuthwitchery of the Aether. I mean, if they don't end up being the prophesied Cahr Awen pair, I'll eat my hat.No I'm just kidding. Even though I really want him to. But seriously, their bond is drawn pretty well since they're forced to travel with each other because they both need the other for their own individual purposes. What better way than to grow trust between the two? Their relationship isn't as passionate or impulsive as Safi and Merik's, but rather one of respect and intelligence--especially since they're both refined and cautious. It's definitely not love, though I do hope it gets there at some point, but they trust each other now, to some degree, and that's a pretty big step away from what they used to be in Truthwitch.
I'm really praying that Bloodwitch is grades above what this hot mess is, largely because Aeduan is maybe the only character I'm truly invested in--and I just really, really, really want to see all this tension between him and Iseult come to some sort of fruition.