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nytephoenyx's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
While I felt like Windwitch was scattered, I still enjoyed the book. Folks who like a solid beginning/middle/end may struggle with this second installment in Susan Dennard’s Witchland’s universe. Nevertheless, the vibrant world, interesting magic, and complex characters continue to impress and I intend to continue further into the series.
The most structured story is Merik’s. The prince was presumed dead after an explosion, and his POV storyline takes us through his quest for vengeance against his sister, Vivia, whom he presumes his murderer. We also follow Safiya and Iseult, but so much of their story takes place on the road that it takes extraordinary patience and interest to suffer through their POVs. Windwitch is primarily a bridge book, refining its characters and setting up the next big event in the series.
Susan Dennard excels in her world building. As a book with a lot of journeying, it would be easy to fall into information dumps and over-describing the landscape. Instead, she does an excellent job of surrounding us with the world and letting us uncover, bit by bit, the cultures and current politics. Fantasy is particularly vulnerable to over-description but Susan Dennard’s balance is excellent. I love the Witchlands as a fantasy world. While I’m listening, I am constantly thinking about how I can learn from her and improve my own writing.
The best part of this book was Cam. I’m not qualified to say one way or the other if they are a good representation of a transgender character, but I appreciated their existence as a principally important character. Cam’s unspoken background makes me what to learn more about what drives them. As a warning, though, they are deadnamed in the middle of the book, just once.
Should you run out and pick up a copy of Windwitch? Honestly… no. I really liked it, but a lot of my liking it has to do with my interest in the world and the fact I genuinely like Susan Dennard’s characters. Objectively, it’s not a very focused book and plot line is a really important fundamental. Nonetheless, those who enjoyed Truthwitch shouldn’t necessarily let it stop them from continuing the series. I may know that, from a technical perspective, Windwitch is not amazing. But I also really liked it. The heart wants what the heart wants.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
noxxmog_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming and War
Minor: Mental illness, Transphobia, and Fire/Fire injury
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 ⭐s. Oofffff things are heating up in the Witchlands!!! I'm loving this series so far, I'm so glad I picked it back up. A perfect crossover YA/adult fantasy series with the most loveable ensemble cast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Transphobia, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and War
marisabenn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first in the series. It was a lot slower, and I wanted to skip through some rather boring parts. However, I did enjoy the new chemistry between two characters. It didn't deter me from the series and look forward to reading the new releases.
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
whoeversaidiwaswise's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming
syllareads's review against another edition
I got about a hundred pages in and while I was genuinely curious to see how this book would go, I simply cannot continue reading at this point.
One minor thing: there was SO MUCH happening in between book 1 and 2?? Why were we not allowed to see any of that on screen/paper? Merik, though understandably, had a 180 when it came to his character and we never got to see his slow descent into madness and grief (and I took that personally---). It felt like both a year and 5 seconds had passed between book one and two and I did not Enjoy That
The major thing however is something I learned by accident outside of the book: Cam, a character traveling with Merik, is supposed to be trans.
Why do i say "supposed to"? Because I literally could not tell from how the text aka Merik as our narrative figure frames it. He constantly misgenders Cam even though OUTWARDLY he manages to call him "boy" and even puzzles over as to why Cam would like to "pose" as a boy (which gave me, as the reader, the first impression of Cam being a girl who wanted to prevent stuff like sexual harassment on a ship full of sailors by saying "hey I'm a boy!" out loud. Boy, was I wrong :) ) while constantly using the wrong pronouns to refer to him in his head. Now, while I don't LIKE transphobia in my fantasy books per se bc it's fantasy, who needs that shit in 2k21, this somehow felt worse. Since Merik is the eyes and ears and thoughts through which we experience this world, I, as the reader, was obviously influenced by him somewhat and after finding out that Merik just doesn't CARE enough to treat Cam well, I felt like I had been the one to wrong Cam since we're literally in Merik's head during his parts of the narrative!
TL;DR: I didn't like the transphobia comPLETELY EMBEDDED into the narrative figure. Even if it's "just ignorance", it reads wrong and I would rather not. I'm sorry, Windwitch, but this is a pass from me
One minor thing: there was SO MUCH happening in between book 1 and 2?? Why were we not allowed to see any of that on screen/paper? Merik, though understandably, had a 180 when it came to his character and we never got to see his slow descent into madness and grief (and I took that personally---). It felt like both a year and 5 seconds had passed between book one and two and I did not Enjoy That
The major thing however is something I learned by accident outside of the book: Cam, a character traveling with Merik, is supposed to be trans.
Why do i say "supposed to"? Because I literally could not tell from how the text aka Merik as our narrative figure frames it. He constantly misgenders Cam even though OUTWARDLY he manages to call him "boy" and even puzzles over as to why Cam would like to "pose" as a boy (which gave me, as the reader, the first impression of Cam being a girl who wanted to prevent stuff like sexual harassment on a ship full of sailors by saying "hey I'm a boy!" out loud. Boy, was I wrong :) ) while constantly using the wrong pronouns to refer to him in his head. Now, while I don't LIKE transphobia in my fantasy books per se bc it's fantasy, who needs that shit in 2k21, this somehow felt worse. Since Merik is the eyes and ears and thoughts through which we experience this world, I, as the reader, was obviously influenced by him somewhat and after finding out that Merik just doesn't CARE enough to treat Cam well, I felt like I had been the one to wrong Cam since we're literally in Merik's head during his parts of the narrative!
TL;DR: I didn't like the transphobia comPLETELY EMBEDDED into the narrative figure. Even if it's "just ignorance", it reads wrong and I would rather not. I'm sorry, Windwitch, but this is a pass from me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia