hannah_the_home_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
This book was extremely captivating and I honestly wished it had a sequel. Ryder and Falpian were such dynamic characters with their own complexities and realistic motivations. Falpian is a Baen and is learning to control his voice in order to harness the power of the nature around him. Little does he know that his father has plotted to kill him in order to start a war with the Witchlanders. As a Witchlander who has just lost his mother Mabis to the Gormy Monsters and his sisters Skyla and Pima to the witch coven, Ryder thwarts the assassination attempt on Falpian's life. Through their journey across the border to save Skyla and Pima from the attack on the coven, the two unlikely allies learn they are each other's "talat-sa", a bond which is revered in the Baen culture. After successfully saving Skyla, Pima, Dassen, and the village, Falpian and Ryder run away with Bo the Dreadhound to harness their powers together. Definite bonding will ensue, I think.
emiliebookworld's review against another edition
Until I received a copy of Witchlanders by Lena Coakley for review, I hadn’t really heard anything about it. The premise sounded really interesting and once I started reading the book, I found out that it was a lot more than I originally expected. It was a truly fantastic read.
All of his life Ryder has lived and worked on his family's farm in the Witchlander mountains. In the life he knows, everyone is afraid of the witches and gives them a portion of their crops after the harvest. The only thing is, Ryder has never liked that the witches hold so much power over them. The one thing Ryder believes in, are his mother's predictions, especially when one of them turnes out to be true. Now Ryder starts to doubt everything he has ever been told, especially when it comes to the Baen. Ryder sets out to inf answers to all his questions and in the process will find out more truths than he ever thought possible.
I knew next to nothing about Whitchlanders when I first started reading the book. The story is high fantasy, which is something I don't find myself reading very often. So at first I was a little unsure about the story and I couldn't really figure out where it was going. There are two story lines in the book, and until they intersected, I didn't really enjoy the story. But once they two stories came together, I was completely hooked.As someone who doesn't tend to enjoy high fantasy, I found myself to be pleasantly surprised by Witchlanders. The story took me on a crazy adventure and the characters that were in it with me were just as great. I didn't see anything coming and discovered a fantastic new writer in Lena Coakley.
When I first started the book, Ryder and his attitude towards everything kind of annoyed me but at the same time I could see and understand where he was coming from. But as the story moved forward, I liked how Ryder evolved and liked the person he ended up becoming. What I especially liked about the story was seeing the relationship between Ryder and Falpian develop. It wasn't a romantic relationship by any stretch of the imagination, but it was still a really interesting one to see. If only because Ryder and Falpian are complete opposites but so similar at the same time and that made the idea of the relationship between them that much more appealing to me. Falpian himself was also very interesting, mostly because it too me a while to understand who he was and exactly how he fit into the story. But once I had that all figured out, I really liked him. As for the rest of the characters, the majority of them were a bit of a mystery to me, but many of them still played an important part in the story.
Witchlanders was most definitely not what I expected but in a very good way. It took me completely by surprise and I absolutely loved reading the book. Lena Coakley is a fantastic new writer and I look forward to reading whatever comes next from her.
All of his life Ryder has lived and worked on his family's farm in the Witchlander mountains. In the life he knows, everyone is afraid of the witches and gives them a portion of their crops after the harvest. The only thing is, Ryder has never liked that the witches hold so much power over them. The one thing Ryder believes in, are his mother's predictions, especially when one of them turnes out to be true. Now Ryder starts to doubt everything he has ever been told, especially when it comes to the Baen. Ryder sets out to inf answers to all his questions and in the process will find out more truths than he ever thought possible.
I knew next to nothing about Whitchlanders when I first started reading the book. The story is high fantasy, which is something I don't find myself reading very often. So at first I was a little unsure about the story and I couldn't really figure out where it was going. There are two story lines in the book, and until they intersected, I didn't really enjoy the story. But once they two stories came together, I was completely hooked.As someone who doesn't tend to enjoy high fantasy, I found myself to be pleasantly surprised by Witchlanders. The story took me on a crazy adventure and the characters that were in it with me were just as great. I didn't see anything coming and discovered a fantastic new writer in Lena Coakley.
When I first started the book, Ryder and his attitude towards everything kind of annoyed me but at the same time I could see and understand where he was coming from. But as the story moved forward, I liked how Ryder evolved and liked the person he ended up becoming. What I especially liked about the story was seeing the relationship between Ryder and Falpian develop. It wasn't a romantic relationship by any stretch of the imagination, but it was still a really interesting one to see. If only because Ryder and Falpian are complete opposites but so similar at the same time and that made the idea of the relationship between them that much more appealing to me. Falpian himself was also very interesting, mostly because it too me a while to understand who he was and exactly how he fit into the story. But once I had that all figured out, I really liked him. As for the rest of the characters, the majority of them were a bit of a mystery to me, but many of them still played an important part in the story.
Witchlanders was most definitely not what I expected but in a very good way. It took me completely by surprise and I absolutely loved reading the book. Lena Coakley is a fantastic new writer and I look forward to reading whatever comes next from her.
olivia_joyce's review against another edition
5.0
A great read! I finished it in 2 days, despite being in the middle of my examens
lumos_libros's review against another edition
5.0
I am going to open this with something a tad irrelevant, but I kind of do that all the time huh? Anyhow, when I first put this book on to-read I took a quick glimpse of the cover and thought it had an ice landscape as the cover, and low and behold when I actually get the book I find there is an actual GIRL on it! On that note what a cool cover right?
This book, goodness..., it was just great. Ok I need to do better than that *shakes head*. I haven't read any hardcore fantasy in a while but this book rekindled my love for it. It has excellent world-building, complex characters, complex problems, and a sense of an epic quest. All the ingredients needed for a well-told adventure.
We have two main players in this book, Ryder and Falpian. The two leading males could not be more different. Ryder is a strong young man who lives in the witchlander territory. He has the responsibility of a family and their farm since their Fa died, and has to watch over his troubled mother and two younger sisters. He basically resists the whole idea of magic being real. Falpian on the other end is a privelged young man from Baen (enemy of the witchlander country), and has recently suffered the death of his twin. He has been exiled to pay grievance for his brother's death. Magic has been shoved down his throat since he can remember, and despite that he hasn't able to do much of anything dealing with magic. These two young men's storylines and perspectives will intertwine in the most surprising and intriguing way. They both will play a key role on what is happening between their two lands, and will find out the reason behind all these attacks on Ryder's home turf.
The actual mastermind/villain behind the whole thing isn't revealed right away and I'm surprised to say that this hasn't been the case for the books I've been reading lately. Part of the fun of reading a fantasy book is finding out who is behind the turmoil, and follow how the characters in the book find out for themselves. I could also visualize the world so clearly, and it felt believable and the explanation of how the magic works makes actual sense. This book concentrates on the "bromance", there is only a teensy eensy inkling of a romance that could develop with one of the main characters and a withclander. I have to say this gave the book more kudo points because though I love my romance it's always nice to see a change. And I also like the fact that though the two main characters are guys the girls are a force within themselves as well. There are a lot of strong women in the witchlander community and can flex their power. What I loved the most though were the characters, especially Falpian. He has a tender heart but throughout the story we see him grow into himself.
I could probably write so much more to explain why I loved this book so much but I'll just say when I finished reading this I could tell I had read a quality story, and I for one am awaiting a sequel. Please let there be a sequel.
This book, goodness..., it was just great. Ok I need to do better than that *shakes head*. I haven't read any hardcore fantasy in a while but this book rekindled my love for it. It has excellent world-building, complex characters, complex problems, and a sense of an epic quest. All the ingredients needed for a well-told adventure.
We have two main players in this book, Ryder and Falpian. The two leading males could not be more different. Ryder is a strong young man who lives in the witchlander territory. He has the responsibility of a family and their farm since their Fa died, and has to watch over his troubled mother and two younger sisters. He basically resists the whole idea of magic being real. Falpian on the other end is a privelged young man from Baen (enemy of the witchlander country), and has recently suffered the death of his twin. He has been exiled to pay grievance for his brother's death. Magic has been shoved down his throat since he can remember, and despite that he hasn't able to do much of anything dealing with magic. These two young men's storylines and perspectives will intertwine in the most surprising and intriguing way. They both will play a key role on what is happening between their two lands, and will find out the reason behind all these attacks on Ryder's home turf.
The actual mastermind/villain behind the whole thing isn't revealed right away and I'm surprised to say that this hasn't been the case for the books I've been reading lately. Part of the fun of reading a fantasy book is finding out who is behind the turmoil, and follow how the characters in the book find out for themselves. I could also visualize the world so clearly, and it felt believable and the explanation of how the magic works makes actual sense. This book concentrates on the "bromance", there is only a teensy eensy inkling of a romance that could develop with one of the main characters and a withclander. I have to say this gave the book more kudo points because though I love my romance it's always nice to see a change. And I also like the fact that though the two main characters are guys the girls are a force within themselves as well. There are a lot of strong women in the witchlander community and can flex their power. What I loved the most though were the characters, especially Falpian. He has a tender heart but throughout the story we see him grow into himself.
I could probably write so much more to explain why I loved this book so much but I'll just say when I finished reading this I could tell I had read a quality story, and I for one am awaiting a sequel. Please let there be a sequel.
dani_bugz's review against another edition
1.0
I usually don't go for books rated below 3.8-3.9, as generally I have been disappointed ( with some few exceptions; e.g. Talon by Kagawa and Everneath by Ashton). But, Witchlanders looked like an intriguing book, promising rich magic, deep characters and a plot filled with twists and turns, so I decided to give it a go. It did not deliver.
Ryder, our MC, was very wishy-washy and undecided, a massive whiner and had the depth of a teaspoon. I had hoped that, after the first few boring chapters, he would grow and show a bit more oomph, but he was just such a 2D character and I didn't care about him. Now if I thought our MC was 2 dimensional, our secondary characters weren't even passable. They were just there so stuff could happen, they didn't actually add anything.
On top of our mediocre cast of characters, the pace was incredibly slow (except for the end), the plot was not super well done and quite frankly I was just bored and annoyed by the whole thing. The one and only positive I have about Witchlanders was that it did have some pretty decent worldbuilding, and the author must have spent a fair bit of time there.
On the whole though, I would not recommend this book for adults; it may get by for pre teens, but anyone older than 12 should steer clear.
Ryder, our MC, was very wishy-washy and undecided, a massive whiner and had the depth of a teaspoon. I had hoped that, after the first few boring chapters, he would grow and show a bit more oomph, but he was just such a 2D character and I didn't care about him. Now if I thought our MC was 2 dimensional, our secondary characters weren't even passable. They were just there so stuff could happen, they didn't actually add anything.
On top of our mediocre cast of characters, the pace was incredibly slow (except for the end), the plot was not super well done and quite frankly I was just bored and annoyed by the whole thing. The one and only positive I have about Witchlanders was that it did have some pretty decent worldbuilding, and the author must have spent a fair bit of time there.
On the whole though, I would not recommend this book for adults; it may get by for pre teens, but anyone older than 12 should steer clear.
sneakyawe's review against another edition
3.0
Surprisingly simple and a good read. The cover really doesn't do the story justice!
I like that there are two male main characters, and that they have a connection that neither of them want. The fact that they are so different is also rather appealing, but it took almost 1/4 of the book for their bond to show up so it was a little frustrating...
Anyways, I look forward to book two!
I like that there are two male main characters, and that they have a connection that neither of them want. The fact that they are so different is also rather appealing, but it took almost 1/4 of the book for their bond to show up so it was a little frustrating...
Anyways, I look forward to book two!
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
Magic is a powerful thing in the Witchlands. The magic and the lands themselves are protected by witches who are mysterious and dangerous, creatures with little time for villages like Ryder’s.
That is if the witches are even real, which Ryder still doubts. After all, he has seen no evidence of them save the relics from her mother's time as a witch and her addiction to the flowers that she insists will call the witches to her.
When the witches do finally show up to answer his mother’s call Ryder is forced to reconsider everything he thought he believed about the witches, the Witchlands, and his own role in the prophecies his mother has been seeing in Witchlanders (2011) by Lena Coakley.
Witchlanders is classic high fantasy with a unique magic system and detailed world building. It's also an excellent standalone in a genre that is often over-saturated with trilogies or longer series.
The story follows two boys on opposite sides of a years-long war as they try to understand their growing magic and the bond that seems to be drawing them inexorably together. Chapters alternate between their points of view as they are drawn across the Witchlands to confronting shocking revelations about their pasts, their futures, and their own connections.
While Coakley's world is fascinating, her characters often suffer in comparison with a lack of dimension. Witchlanders is decidedly free of romance but remains a solid testament to the power of friendship as its own kind of magic.
Possible Pairings: Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow, The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima, The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, Black Wings Beating by Alex London, The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
That is if the witches are even real, which Ryder still doubts. After all, he has seen no evidence of them save the relics from her mother's time as a witch and her addiction to the flowers that she insists will call the witches to her.
When the witches do finally show up to answer his mother’s call Ryder is forced to reconsider everything he thought he believed about the witches, the Witchlands, and his own role in the prophecies his mother has been seeing in Witchlanders (2011) by Lena Coakley.
Witchlanders is classic high fantasy with a unique magic system and detailed world building. It's also an excellent standalone in a genre that is often over-saturated with trilogies or longer series.
The story follows two boys on opposite sides of a years-long war as they try to understand their growing magic and the bond that seems to be drawing them inexorably together. Chapters alternate between their points of view as they are drawn across the Witchlands to confronting shocking revelations about their pasts, their futures, and their own connections.
While Coakley's world is fascinating, her characters often suffer in comparison with a lack of dimension. Witchlanders is decidedly free of romance but remains a solid testament to the power of friendship as its own kind of magic.
Possible Pairings: Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow, The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima, The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, Black Wings Beating by Alex London, The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
mlottermoser's review against another edition
5.0
Witches, magic, adventure, and family. The main character is a young boy tasked with keeping his family alive on their small farm. Little dos he know that magic will intervene and change his life forever.
No romance - means no love triangles. Yay!
No romance - means no love triangles. Yay!
asalters's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this story. It wasn't my normal type of witch book which totally made it interesting. I think the storyline was good but underdeveloped in some areas. The ending boggles my mind and I definitely finished it with a "What just happened?" type of thought. I think the ending needs a little something extra to it which is why the 3 stars...
tynga's review against another edition
4.0
The inhabitants of the Witchlands (Witchlanders) and the Bitterlands (Baens) have been at war for a few decades now and the spirits are heating up. Like looming war isn’t worry enough, the main characters (one boy from each faction) are also facing their own grieves and challenges. Will war destroy more lives than it already did or will the worst of it be avoided?
I truly liked Lena Coakley’s YA debut because she delivers such an original tale. Witches are feared and respected, and by their ability to Throw the Bones (literally), they can predict the future. Baens masters the ability to sing and each song has it’s own destructives rhythms. They can stop a man’s heart with just a few notes. In the middle of this magical battle, Falpian and Ryder are struggling.
The alternative narration between the two boys made wonders to deepen the story and improve our understanding of each of their reality. Also, the fact that they are male characters stands-out and shines bright like a lighthouse in a sea of female heroine in YA paranormal literature.
The plot was rather slow at first, I must admit, but picks-up when Falpian & Ryder finally meet. Their relationship is intricate and interesting on so many levels. They will fight side by side, but also against each other, struggling with their respective beliefs, trying to accomplish the right thing, even thought they both aspire to opposite outcomes.
I’ve never read anything like the Lore Lena offers to her readers, and it was quite frankly my favorite aspect. Different, magical and gripping, Witchlanders will swipe you off your feet and draw you in a fantastic and dangerous world where bedtime monsters are out to get you. The end is a killer cliffhanger and I can’t wait to know what comes next.
Beware, I find the cover somewhat misleading because a girls face is on it. It’s pretty yes, but could disappoint readers expecting a girl’s tale. The frosty feels of it is meaningful though.
In the end, all I have to say is Kudos to Lena Coakley for a job well done!
I truly liked Lena Coakley’s YA debut because she delivers such an original tale. Witches are feared and respected, and by their ability to Throw the Bones (literally), they can predict the future. Baens masters the ability to sing and each song has it’s own destructives rhythms. They can stop a man’s heart with just a few notes. In the middle of this magical battle, Falpian and Ryder are struggling.
The alternative narration between the two boys made wonders to deepen the story and improve our understanding of each of their reality. Also, the fact that they are male characters stands-out and shines bright like a lighthouse in a sea of female heroine in YA paranormal literature.
The plot was rather slow at first, I must admit, but picks-up when Falpian & Ryder finally meet. Their relationship is intricate and interesting on so many levels. They will fight side by side, but also against each other, struggling with their respective beliefs, trying to accomplish the right thing, even thought they both aspire to opposite outcomes.
I’ve never read anything like the Lore Lena offers to her readers, and it was quite frankly my favorite aspect. Different, magical and gripping, Witchlanders will swipe you off your feet and draw you in a fantastic and dangerous world where bedtime monsters are out to get you. The end is a killer cliffhanger and I can’t wait to know what comes next.
Beware, I find the cover somewhat misleading because a girls face is on it. It’s pretty yes, but could disappoint readers expecting a girl’s tale. The frosty feels of it is meaningful though.
In the end, all I have to say is Kudos to Lena Coakley for a job well done!