Truthwitch could very well be a solid 4 stars or even better, but my actual rating is about 3.8 stars - which I understand is absolutely weird. |
In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
Here's my thought process:
As much as I liked this book, I understand where all the dislikes are coming from.
World-building: Believe me, I had some issues with this too. Fortunately, this book doesn't info-dump. Which is great. Fantastic. But it is pretty much the direct opposite of info-dumping. It was very difficult for me not to be confused throughout the book. Everything is so vaguely explained in the book, such that I go 'okay...?', half understanding and half not understanding - basically, confused - as I move on to whatever comes next. And really, I am a reader who absolutely hates to be confused in a fantasy world. It doesn't matter where I am in the book, so long as I reach some place where I'm confused but I'm quite sure it was vaguely explained in front, I would literally flip back to that page to try to make sense of it. Seriously. It gets really tiring after a while when in the middle of nowhere I'm like: What the heck is the Eridysi's Lament?
Romance: Honestly, this romance won't be able to bullshit it's way through readers who are very particular on romance. Try as it might but alas it cannot. I don't know whether I can call it instalove but definitely something along those lines.
As much as I liked this book, I understand where all the dislikes are coming from.
World-building: Believe me, I had some issues with this too. Fortunately, this book doesn't info-dump. Which is great. Fantastic. But it is pretty much the direct opposite of info-dumping. It was very difficult for me not to be confused throughout the book. Everything is so vaguely explained in the book, such that I go 'okay...?', half understanding and half not understanding - basically, confused - as I move on to whatever comes next. And really, I am a reader who absolutely hates to be confused in a fantasy world. It doesn't matter where I am in the book, so long as I reach some place where I'm confused but I'm quite sure it was vaguely explained in front, I would literally flip back to that page to try to make sense of it. Seriously. It gets really tiring after a while when in the middle of nowhere I'm like: What the heck is the Eridysi's Lament?
Romance: Honestly, this romance won't be able to bullshit it's way through readers who are very particular on romance. Try as it might but alas it cannot. I don't know whether I can call it instalove but definitely something along those lines.
“Something had happened between Safi and Merik during their dance. Something as powerful as the wind and the music that had gusted around them. A shift in the air that preceded a storm.” |
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your typical 'hate at first sight turned into love at the snap of your fingers' moment. There was a lot of tension between them in the book. Sexual tension and even a bit of the kind of tension between enemies. The latter kind of tension I find very engaging, the former is worth raising an eyebrow.
I really couldn't care less about the romance between them. And I also believe it is because I didn't like Merik at all.Merik was so annoying and boring, I can't see how is he even a prince. He cares about his people, he is all about doing things morally blahblah. Sometimes I do understand him, other times I just really want to hit him with a rock. All I got from this book was how plain boring his personality was. And irritating. And I couldn't give a shit about him. And when I found out the next book is focusing on Merik being the 'readers' favourite' and all, I did a double take and went all like:
I really couldn't care less about the romance between them. And I also believe it is because I didn't like Merik at all.Merik was so annoying and boring, I can't see how is he even a prince. He cares about his people, he is all about doing things morally blahblah. Sometimes I do understand him, other times I just really want to hit him with a rock. All I got from this book was how plain boring his personality was. And irritating. And I couldn't give a shit about him. And when I found out the next book is focusing on Merik being the 'readers' favourite' and all, I did a double take and went all like:
Putting all that aside, I really did enjoy this book. I loved how the characters were portrayed in this book. Safi and Iseult's relationship was just so rich and engaging. They would trust each other to their deaths and they always got each other's backs. No, it's not the 'I took a fatal arrow shot for her' kind of thing for you to know how much they love and had faith in each other. But you just know. Safi and Iseult are simply inseparable. They work together like no other.
For Mathew always said, With your right hand, give a person what he expects—and with your left hand, cut his purse. Safi always played the distracting right hand—and she was good at it—while Iseult lurked in the shadows, ready to claim whatever purse needed cutting. |
Safi and Iseult are both very original and real characters; they will capture your attention for the rest of the book. Though, some reckless decisions did taint Safi's character a little but I don't think that's much of a concern to me in this book.
And what is a book without a good villain? Definitely, this book presents a villain with much potential albeit I believe he wouldn't be the main villain for the rest of the series. Aeduan, the Bloodwitch, is deemed a villain ever since his first introduction, with his creepy red eyes and horrifying magic rumoured to come from the Void. And that's the thing about him. Yes, he does hunt down the girls with murderous intentions but he is as normal as any other witch may be despite his 'evil' powers. Aeduan isn't invincible, isn't pure evil, isn't inconquerable, isn't fearless, isn't heartless. He isn't 'born evil'. And really, that's what made him an interesting villain. With his mysterious past and all, I couldn't help but be hooked right up by Aeduan whenever he appeared in the book.
You probably heard, but I'll say it again. Truthwitch is freaking fast-paced. You don't get a moment to breathe at all. The action jumps at you constantly throughout the novel and surprises you. It felt like running a marathon with the Safi and Iseult, and you can't stop, couldn't stop. It's a race against time, a lot of chasing, running, fighting, killing and surprises. It's filled with action from the first page to the last. Though lacking substance and any sort of meaning, it captivates you with action and excitement. It's a book you would read if you wanted non-stop action.
For action lovers, this book is for you.
And what is a book without a good villain? Definitely, this book presents a villain with much potential albeit I believe he wouldn't be the main villain for the rest of the series. Aeduan, the Bloodwitch, is deemed a villain ever since his first introduction, with his creepy red eyes and horrifying magic rumoured to come from the Void. And that's the thing about him. Yes, he does hunt down the girls with murderous intentions but he is as normal as any other witch may be despite his 'evil' powers. Aeduan isn't invincible, isn't pure evil, isn't inconquerable, isn't fearless, isn't heartless. He isn't 'born evil'. And really, that's what made him an interesting villain. With his mysterious past and all, I couldn't help but be hooked right up by Aeduan whenever he appeared in the book.
You probably heard, but I'll say it again. Truthwitch is freaking fast-paced. You don't get a moment to breathe at all. The action jumps at you constantly throughout the novel and surprises you. It felt like running a marathon with the Safi and Iseult, and you can't stop, couldn't stop. It's a race against time, a lot of chasing, running, fighting, killing and surprises. It's filled with action from the first page to the last. Though lacking substance and any sort of meaning, it captivates you with action and excitement. It's a book you would read if you wanted non-stop action.
For action lovers, this book is for you.