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wishbea's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Fun concept, enjoyed the inclusion of Cormorants and the spin on Arthurian myth, but the characterisations seemed shallow to me. The first half was better than the second, brilliant atmosphere and intrigue at the beginning, I looked up the author and it turns out she has written horror before so that explains that.
The finale felt unearnt, the way Ivy changes didn't feel believable to me in such a short amount of time and I think Burge's action scenes were very weak, there's also an out of nowhere romance. We haven't defeated the big bad by the end, so it would've been nice if this had been advertised as the start of a series.
The finale felt unearnt, the way Ivy changes didn't feel believable to me in such a short amount of time and I think Burge's action scenes were very weak, there's also an out of nowhere romance. We haven't defeated the big bad by the end, so it would've been nice if this had been advertised as the start of a series.
My main problem is Tom, Ivy's friend. At one point Tom picks up this book describing a man using demon magic to make a woman fall in love with him (evil) and Tom says:
'Shame I didn't know about demon magic. I might've given it a shot.'
When Ivy is offended by this, Tom simply says he's joking and that's the end of it. I half expected Tom to be a surprise villain based on this line, I guess there's room for that in a future sequel, but I don't see that happening with the way this book ended.
That being said, I enjoyed the exploration of the connection between Ivy and Moronoe and the training sequences with the witches, I just wish there had been more depth there. If there is a sequel I'm not sure I'd read it as while I'd like to see more of Ivy, her mum and the witches, Merlin was too cartoony and I dislike Tom a lot.
That being said, I enjoyed the exploration of the connection between Ivy and Moronoe and the training sequences with the witches, I just wish there had been more depth there. If there is a sequel I'm not sure I'd read it as while I'd like to see more of Ivy, her mum and the witches, Merlin was too cartoony and I dislike Tom a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Vomit
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
hannahbailey's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
TW: gore, violence, blood, homelessness, misogyny, sexism, absent family
Great concept, poor execution. Marketed as YA, yet the writing style and characters felt very juvenile. I'd put this in the hands of readers under the age of 12 rather than over, despite the gore and mild violence.
The story follows Ivy, a girl raised in foster care and her search for her biological mother.The search leads her to an isolated island where she encounters shadow demons, bearded evil Merlin and her 1500+ year old sisters (all eight of them). Here she discovers she has the soul of the ninth sister who was killed by Merlin, and to unlock her witchy power she has to believe in herself (something along those lines). The overarching message is that good bests evil and love trumps all, which is why I think it's better suited to middle grade rather than YA.
It's disappointing to see the 'I'm not like other girls' trope STILL being used in 2022: "I want to tell him I didn't learn martial arts the way that some girls take up yoga or gymnastics" like really? As a character growing up in the care system we could have had real insight into an alternative childhood and why Ivy felt prompted to pick up martial arts. Instead we get a quick 'kids go through too much in care' paired with 'oh but my current foster parents are really nice though, and I've always had allowances from every foster family I've been with'. Being chucked straight into the action is normally a good thing, but this history deserved more representation than it was given, both at the beginning and within the awkward flashbacks throughout the novel. Not to mention in the paragraph before we have a "that's what you get for putting your faith in people: disappointment". It's just very cliche and overdone, especially when tied in with the Tracy Beaker-esque backstory. [Edit: a reviewer who has experienced the care system commented below that this part of the storyline is accurate to their own experiences which I am happy to hear and will reserve further judgement on scenarios I know little about]
The other issues I had with this book were the plot holes and the writing. At the beginning of the book, Ivy works in a butterfly centre. I've not read any book featuring a butterfly centre! Nice! There is so much talk about butterflies at the start of this novel I thought this would be a recurring theme, which would've been great had it been executed. During her shift, 3 butterflies start flying around her head in an abnormal pattern. That's weird, and foreboding, and ominous, and all the other things a plot device like this is used for. And then they're never brought up again, save for a caterpillar reference towards the end of the book. Instead we then focus on cormorants, big birds that are actually women!
What's sad about this book too is that with a bit more time and length, it could be a really good book. We're rushed from scene to scene with no time for the character to stop and think. There's not enough character development to find Ivy relatable, nor is there enough dialogue and interaction between the other characters to make them stand out. Most revelations or truths are revealed through 1. info-dumping 2. reading it in a book and 3. memories-that-aren't-quite-her-memories. It means that every 'shock' falls a little flat and the story becomes less and less believable as it continues. Given the speed of the plot, I should've expected the ending to be the same. I was still confused as to why it was cut so short, unless a sequel has been planned.
Now, the writing: it was just so clunky and underdeveloped. Within the span of a couple of pages (and perhaps more, this is only when I started noticing) we have:
"Somehow I know it's done"
"Somehow I know they won't hurt him"
"Somehow I'm not afraid"
"Something tells me that she can heal him"
"Something deep in my gut tells me I can trust her"
"There's something unnerving about the way their bare feet step effortlessly"
"Somehow I know that I once had a special relationship with her"
"Something is happening"
That last one really takes the cake. Yeah, something is happening, it's me losing my will to live. Why hasn't an editor gone through this and tightened it up? It makes for poor storytelling, when we're getting nothing other than the character feeling "something"- I NEED MORE! I know this is an arc, but I'm doubtful how many more revisions it will have before publishing. More show, less tell, please.
There's more I could and want to say, but I've actually run out of steam writing this review. As a disclaimer, two of my favourite books are in the YA genre, so the genre or intended reading age is not the problem here. It's the plot holes, fast pace and lack of characterisation!
Thank you to Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for an honest review. (less)
Great concept, poor execution. Marketed as YA, yet the writing style and characters felt very juvenile. I'd put this in the hands of readers under the age of 12 rather than over, despite the gore and mild violence.
The story follows Ivy, a girl raised in foster care and her search for her biological mother.
It's disappointing to see the 'I'm not like other girls' trope STILL being used in 2022: "I want to tell him I didn't learn martial arts the way that some girls take up yoga or gymnastics" like really? As a character growing up in the care system we could have had real insight into an alternative childhood and why Ivy felt prompted to pick up martial arts. Instead we get a quick 'kids go through too much in care' paired with 'oh but my current foster parents are really nice though, and I've always had allowances from every foster family I've been with'. Being chucked straight into the action is normally a good thing, but this history deserved more representation than it was given, both at the beginning and within the awkward flashbacks throughout the novel. Not to mention in the paragraph before we have a "that's what you get for putting your faith in people: disappointment". It's just very cliche and overdone, especially when tied in with the Tracy Beaker-esque backstory. [Edit: a reviewer who has experienced the care system commented below that this part of the storyline is accurate to their own experiences which I am happy to hear and will reserve further judgement on scenarios I know little about]
The other issues I had with this book were the plot holes and the writing. At the beginning of the book, Ivy works in a butterfly centre. I've not read any book featuring a butterfly centre! Nice! There is so much talk about butterflies at the start of this novel I thought this would be a recurring theme, which would've been great had it been executed. During her shift, 3 butterflies start flying around her head in an abnormal pattern. That's weird, and foreboding, and ominous, and all the other things a plot device like this is used for. And then they're never brought up again, save for a caterpillar reference towards the end of the book. Instead we then focus on cormorants, big birds that are actually women!
What's sad about this book too is that with a bit more time and length, it could be a really good book. We're rushed from scene to scene with no time for the character to stop and think. There's not enough character development to find Ivy relatable, nor is there enough dialogue and interaction between the other characters to make them stand out. Most revelations or truths are revealed through 1. info-dumping 2. reading it in a book and 3. memories-that-aren't-quite-her-memories. It means that every 'shock' falls a little flat and the story becomes less and less believable as it continues. Given the speed of the plot, I should've expected the ending to be the same. I was still confused as to why it was cut so short, unless a sequel has been planned.
Now, the writing: it was just so clunky and underdeveloped. Within the span of a couple of pages (and perhaps more, this is only when I started noticing) we have:
"Somehow I know it's done"
"Somehow I know they won't hurt him"
"Somehow I'm not afraid"
"Something tells me that she can heal him"
"Something deep in my gut tells me I can trust her"
"There's something unnerving about the way their bare feet step effortlessly"
"Somehow I know that I once had a special relationship with her"
"Something is happening"
That last one really takes the cake. Yeah, something is happening, it's me losing my will to live. Why hasn't an editor gone through this and tightened it up? It makes for poor storytelling, when we're getting nothing other than the character feeling "something"- I NEED MORE! I know this is an arc, but I'm doubtful how many more revisions it will have before publishing. More show, less tell, please.
There's more I could and want to say, but I've actually run out of steam writing this review. As a disclaimer, two of my favourite books are in the YA genre, so the genre or intended reading age is not the problem here. It's the plot holes, fast pace and lack of characterisation!
Thank you to Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for an honest review. (less)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Waking The Witch is a deliciously witchy, feminist and delightfully creepy YA fantasy that’s full of atmospheric prose and steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend which I found utterly intriguing.
It follows seventeen year old Ivy, who after year spent in the foster system has finally tracked down her biological mother (who abandoned her at a motorway service station) to a remote Welsh island which some experts claim to be the legendary isle of Avalon.
But, in finding her mother Ivy has uncovered at dark secret about her past. Now, an ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy and her only chance of survival to look deep within herself. For not every story in Legend is true and some evils are not what they seem…
It’s an enchanting allegorical tale of female empowerment and sisterhood that I throughly enjoyed. I loved how it subverts a lot of the popular portrayals of Arthurian Legend especially Morgan Le Fay who I really liked.
I loved quite alot of the characters, including our protagonist Ivy who was a well written and endearingly relatable character. She goes through quiet a lot (having to deal with a lecherous and misogynistic boss before anything creepy or strange even happens) but her slow burn friendship with Tom—their witty banter and jokey comments to one another was a real highlight. Watching Ivy navigate her complex emotions surrounding her life in the care system, constantly feeling like she doesn’t belong but ultimately choosing to open up to Tom (and to include him in her emotional journey) was just a joy to witness.
Their friendship dynamic does veer slightly into romance in the second half of the book and I’m hoping this isn’t a standalone as I’d love to see more of Tom and Ivy together.
I also loved her growing bond with Morgan and the other witches (Glitonea and Thiten especially) who are probably some of the first people to truly welcome, encourage and make her feel she belongs for the first time in her life.
The setting was throughly atmospheric and the island, wild and isolated from human life (beside Ivy’s mum) really helped to bring the mythological magic to life, especially the sinister feeling of unease and foreboding which impressively managed to linger for the entire book—I have to say I was definitely on the edge of my seat both dreading and anticipating that something terrible was about to occur.
Overall an engaging, feminist and thoroughly enchanting read that fans of witchy, eery coming-of-age YA fantasy are bound to enjoy. This is the first book by Rachel Burge I’ve ever read and I can honestly say it won’t be the last!
A massive thank you to Molly Holt, Hot Key Books and Kaleidoscopic Tours for the finished copy and for including me on the book tour.
It follows seventeen year old Ivy, who after year spent in the foster system has finally tracked down her biological mother (who abandoned her at a motorway service station) to a remote Welsh island which some experts claim to be the legendary isle of Avalon.
But, in finding her mother Ivy has uncovered at dark secret about her past. Now, an ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy and her only chance of survival to look deep within herself. For not every story in Legend is true and some evils are not what they seem…
It’s an enchanting allegorical tale of female empowerment and sisterhood that I throughly enjoyed. I loved how it subverts a lot of the popular portrayals of Arthurian Legend especially Morgan Le Fay who I really liked.
I loved quite alot of the characters, including our protagonist Ivy who was a well written and endearingly relatable character. She goes through quiet a lot (having to deal with a lecherous and misogynistic boss before anything creepy or strange even happens) but her slow burn friendship with Tom—their witty banter and jokey comments to one another was a real highlight. Watching Ivy navigate her complex emotions surrounding her life in the care system, constantly feeling like she doesn’t belong but ultimately choosing to open up to Tom (and to include him in her emotional journey) was just a joy to witness.
Their friendship dynamic does veer slightly into romance in the second half of the book and I’m hoping this isn’t a standalone as I’d love to see more of Tom and Ivy together.
I also loved her growing bond with Morgan and the other witches (Glitonea and Thiten especially) who are probably some of the first people to truly welcome, encourage and make her feel she belongs for the first time in her life.
The setting was throughly atmospheric and the island, wild and isolated from human life (beside Ivy’s mum) really helped to bring the mythological magic to life, especially the sinister feeling of unease and foreboding which impressively managed to linger for the entire book—I have to say I was definitely on the edge of my seat both dreading and anticipating that something terrible was about to occur.
Overall an engaging, feminist and thoroughly enchanting read that fans of witchy, eery coming-of-age YA fantasy are bound to enjoy. This is the first book by Rachel Burge I’ve ever read and I can honestly say it won’t be the last!
A massive thank you to Molly Holt, Hot Key Books and Kaleidoscopic Tours for the finished copy and for including me on the book tour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment