Saturday, 14 January 2017

WINDWITCH - MY FIRST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2017

Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that Truthwitch was one of my favorite reads last year and main protagonists Safiya & Merik even made it to my top favorite ships of 2016. To say that I was super excited to read sequel, would be an understatement. I simply could not wait to get my hands on Windwitch. So imagine my disappointment when it did not meet my expectations at all...

Windwitch (The Witchlands #2)

Written by: Susan Dennard

Published by: Tor Teen

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release date: January 10th 2017

       
           
Sometimes our enemies are also our only allies…

After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.

When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her—yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?

After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge—especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands. 

MY REVIEW:


Almost everything that I loved in the first book (Safi/Iseult interactions, Safi/Merik banters and chemistry, fast paced storyline) was completely missing in this instalment. There was nothing to make my heart beat faster, nothing to evoke a passion in me. Windwitch definitely suffers from "second book syndrome" and I'm hugely disappointed!

The only positives when comparing Windwitch to Truthwitch were that we got (a) more Aeduan+Iseult scenes and (b) plenty of Merik's POV (this guy is breaking my heart and he is definitely my favorite character in this series).

Usually, I don't have a problem with multiple POVs but in this case all those plotlines and POVs didn't work in the favor of the book as a whole. Safi's storyline was the least exciting one, even boring at times (pointless I dare to say). Which is sad since her POV was my favorite one in the first book. Same goes for new POV. Vivia's POV just did not touch the right buttons for me and I didn't care much about her.

Even though pacing and flow of the story were weird, world-building and writing itself was still strong and I look forward to third instalment which hopefully will bring more of what made me fall in love with this series in the first book.

Meanwhile, I'm going to think about this book as a filler, unnecessary evil to get the plot going to the right direction of another awesomeness to come. Because you simply CAN NOT create chemistry like Safi and Merik shared in Truthwitch and then just PUFF... let it completely disappear like it never happened. (I refuse to believe that this series will lose its potential so early in and throw away everything that made it special to me).



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Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing

Lucia is 29 years old passionate reader and reviewer who enjoys talking about all bookish things. Currently she lives in Prague, works in business industry and dreams of starting her own publishing company. Her weakness? She can never say no to cake, coffee or good novel.

Comments (12)

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I was worried about this exact same thing. I'm so bummed to hear that it's disappointing, especially all the boring Safi scenes. And also the lack of romance. I'm going to wait until the last book is out to make sure Safi & Merik are going to be end-game, because I can't handle anything else.
Thanks for the great review, Lucia!
1 reply · active 428 weeks ago
I had so much fate in this book so my disappointment is huge. Now I wish I hadn't preordered a copy and waited for reviews because what author did to Safiya and Merik truly disappointed me. It is still salvageable but...who knows what direction will author take it? I still hope for the best but now I am not so sure.
Plus it was all so boring when Safi and Iseult were never together. It was a wise step to wait, Nick!
I haven't read the first one yet - but sad to hear this second one was a flop for you. Think I'm going to wait and see what people think of the trilogy as a whole before I give these books a go. Thanks for sharing!
1 reply · active 427 weeks ago
If it was only first book, I would say go for it and read it. But now after reading the sequel I am not so quick on recommending it :/ better wait until next book is out...
Aww, I'm sorry for you! I actually really didn't like the first book, so I can imagine the pain of loving that one and then being disappointed by this! Maybe book 3 will pick up again for you? *crosses fingers*
1 reply · active 427 weeks ago
Yeah, I remember your review on Truthwitch :) at least you avoided this disappointment with sequel...but maybe you would like it since it had completely different feel than first book LOL
This is why I prefer to binge read series. This way I have more information and can decide if a series is worth my time. I’m sorry this installment didn’t live up to your expectations, Lucia. Fingers crossed next one work better if you decide to continue.
1 reply · active 425 weeks ago
True. I prefer binge reading as well when it comes to series. But I got tempted by Truthwitch last year and now I am in the middle of series and have no idea where author will take me and I am a bit affraid since this second instalment turned out not so well for me... LOL the problems of book worms :)
Bummer, I never got around to reading book one last year but it was still on my TBR. Ill wait to see what Nick thinks of this too before I decide to read or skip this :)

Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
1 reply · active 425 weeks ago
If it was only first book, I would say go for it and read it. But now I am not so sure, jury is apparently still out on this series after this sequel :/
Great review, Lucia! I agree with so many things you said! I loved Aeduan's and Iseult's chapters, but neither Safi's nor Vivia's and (sadly) Merik's did anything for me in this book, which was so disappointing. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to read the third book but it's Aeduan's book, so... I probably must ;)
1 reply · active 424 weeks ago
Thanks, Nina :) I think I will read book #3, because I still have hope to experience the intense chemistry between Merik and Safiya and fats-paced plot again. But if third book does not deliver, I am out :/

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