Witchlanders

Jan 14, 2012 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of high fantasy

Shelves: 2011, male-protagonist, fantasy, awesome-covers

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 b...more 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.
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Mar 23, 2013 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

One of the best YA books I've read in ages and one of only a handful of novels I've read recently and didn't skim.* But there's not much to skim here: no extraneous details, no pointless action, no characters who don't actually advance the plot. Instead, there's an original, interesting story, well and concisely told.

There are enough well-placed clues about where things are headed that readers can feel smart for figuring things out, but there are also some very nice surprises, so that it's actu...more One of the best YA books I've read in ages and one of only a handful of novels I've read recently and didn't skim.* But there's not much to skim here: no extraneous details, no pointless action, no characters who don't actually advance the plot. Instead, there's an original, interesting story, well and concisely told.

There are enough well-placed clues about where things are headed that readers can feel smart for figuring things out, but there are also some very nice surprises, so that it's actually rewarding to watch the story unfold. For me, the experience of grasping the central conflict at the novel's heart mimicked what the characters felt as they grasped it too: discovering something so old it feels new, comprehending a myth so forceful it feels like obvious fact.

I really liked that while the two view-point characters were male, this was a book that takes female power and female suffering really seriously. The epigraph to part three reads

Cursed are those who believe in a Goddess, who cannot see that a world created by a woman would be a backward place, that rivers would run uphill, animals would rule over humans, the sun would give off darkness instead of light.

But worse still is the Baen woman who tries to sing. Remove her from the company of other women. Cut out her voice, and fill her mouth with mud.

Make her be silent.

The book explores the longterm legacy of those attitudes--which really are not so different from the attitudes of traditional mainstream Christianity. There's a philosophical inquiry into the nature of difference: how different are light and dark, male and female, music and silence, and what is the power of each? When is the other not the Other but a part of yourself?

If I ever were to base a religion on something in a novel, it just might be this novel, with its foundational belief that the world is a living thing that communes with the creatures on it; the premise that prayer is not just words but a yoga-like ritual of disciplined, embodied metaphor requiring and cultivating flexibility and strength; the exploration of the power of patriarchy and the terrible cost of misogyny; and the richly developed goddess religion administered by both priestesses and priests--with plenty of warning thrown in about religion's general ability to corrupt its adherents.

My biggest complaint about the book is really nit-picky: there's a character named Pima, which is the name of a Native American people in southern Arizona where I grew up. It's also the name of a county (Tucson is in Pima County), a town, and a variety of long-staple premium cotton grown in the American southwest. The world in "Witchlanders" is northern European in flavor--the Baen, whose massive ships have tall, carved masts and are powered by rowers in addition to/instead of sails, are basically fair-skinned, dark-haired Vikings. Finding a character named Pima in a setting like this is as jarring as if there were a character named Dakota or Cheyenne. It just doesn't fit.

*Yeah, I've turned into a skimmer. NEVER used to do that--if I read a book, I read every word, which is probably why I gave up on a lot of books. But now I want to list them as read on Goodreads, so I skim the crappy ones to the end.(less)

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Jun 16, 2011 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist marked it as to-read

Shelves: simon-schuster, own, all-kinds-of-fantasy, mc-guy

Reasons why this book looks amazing

1. It sounds like the MC is a guy! I ALWAYS love those in fantasies! :D
2. It sounds like it's a high fantasy! Don't see enough of those!
3. witches and magic in a non-boarding school setting - immediate WIN!
4. there is a freaking SWORD on the cover. LEGIT!

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Jun 20, 2011 Kaye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, galley-grab, pre-release, summer-2011

I was really fortunate to notice this title in this month's S&S Galley Grab. Definitely one of the more enjoyable books I've had occasion to peruse this year, and one that I highly recommend. I hope that there will be a sequel.

Ryder has a lot on his plate - a farm that he has to tend alone after the death of his Fa, a so-called witch mother addicted to the maiden's woe that both incurs visions and an early death...and the dreams. There is a Baen in his head, that he is sure of - an enemy wit...more

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May 19, 2013 Brooke Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

--- unfinished ---

Last week, I went to the library and got the novel "Witchlanders" by Lena Coakley, on pure impulse. When I started it I didn't fancy it as much, but I persevered and ended up enjoying it. It's about A boy, Ryder, having to look after his two sisters and their farm after their father died. Their mum was a witch, and so is addicted to a drug-like flower provided by the witches, so she is unable to help. The novel follows the story of Ryder, and the war between the Witchlanders an...more

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May 15, 2013 Rowell rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 90

Did we really need another one of these books? Stop me if you've heard this one before: the protagonist is a stupid little child in all the ways other than his age. I don't think I have ever encountered a more unlikable and infuriating lead in a novel before.

This isn't related to the actual content, but the terrible overuse of stock photography and photoshop filters for the book cover is just a kick in the shins for me. I think i've spent at least an hour just staring at the book cover for Witc...more

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Apr 03, 2013 G rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: au, ancient-fantasy

This was...one of the absolute strangest books I've ever read. The cover did NOT do it justice, and I was kind of put off by the description, leading me to believe it would be stale, overdone, and cliché. Prophecies about the skeptic male protagonist? Grilling some silent girl for info?

This was NOT the case.

Ryder (despite his name...I can't quite figure out what's going on with that) is a very, very strong character - one of the strongest I've ever read. Falpian believes he is a very weak person...more This was...one of the absolute strangest books I've ever read. The cover did NOT do it justice, and I was kind of put off by the description, leading me to believe it would be stale, overdone, and cliché. Prophecies about the skeptic male protagonist? Grilling some silent girl for info?

This was NOT the case.

Ryder (despite his name...I can't quite figure out what's going on with that) is a very, very strong character - one of the strongest I've ever read. Falpian believes he is a very weak person. They're talat-sa. Twins in spirit. They feel each other's presence and thoughts through their mental link (so much more satisfying than Eragon) and recognize people through each other's knowledge, which creates awkward moments that were delightful to read about.

Falpian and Ryder's relationship is one of the best I've ever seen - even knowing each other for a very short time, they are extremely close, on opposing sides, and unpredictable. It should not have worked, and described, it sounds wrong. However, when plunged into Lena Coakley's world of the Witchlands and Bitterlands, still struggling over a war and their hatred for each other, it becomes all too believable.

The in-cover description leads one to believe that much of the book revolves around "Aata's Right Hand," a girl called Marisat who left her family to be a boneshaker and has taken a vow of silence. It is *SO* refreshing when the total of three interactions Ryder has with her reveal her to be a normal girl who lied about her prophecies and wanted more than anything to be really magic.

There are twists, too, rivaling that of Sirius Black's "change of sides." There are very specific things in this book that make it perfect - "the witches are in their reds," and a peculiar weather anomaly in which instead of the first frost of the season, clouds of ice descend upon the valley.

There were a few strange things that made this book even better - the point of view, for instance, changes from Ryder to Falpian in a way that is addicting - it doesn't alternate but rather *shifts* irregularly.

Everything about this book screams BEAUTIFUL.

Pick it up.(less)

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Feb 14, 2013 Nick rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fantasy

Really a 2 1/2 star book. I bumped it up from 2 because the dog was such a good character.
Different parts of this novel were at different levels of quality, to the point where it became very frustrating. By the time it all came together, it was almost too late to keep my interest. What kept me going was the question of whether the main characters could get over their vast cultural divide and actually achieve something. By the end of the book, I'm still not sure.
One of the difficulties for me was...more Really a 2 1/2 star book. I bumped it up from 2 because the dog was such a good character.
Different parts of this novel were at different levels of quality, to the point where it became very frustrating. By the time it all came together, it was almost too late to keep my interest. What kept me going was the question of whether the main characters could get over their vast cultural divide and actually achieve something. By the end of the book, I'm still not sure.
One of the difficulties for me was that both cultures came across as being not worth saving. The only non-evil human characters in the story seemed like rare exceptions, in a land filled with religious bigots, liars, drug addicts, frauds and murderers. At a couple of points, previously sympathetic characters were willing to commit murder, just because a religious leader said to.
Also, the world-building was very minimal. Apparently, there are two adjacent, hostile cultures and...absolutely no mention of a world around them. None.
Even the land where the story took place didn't feel fleshed out, although the basic adventure was exciting and interesting. The apparent fact that the culture of the Witchlanders was regressing was never explained. I mean, they no longer even recognized the concept of writing, even though they had interacted with it for centuries? They could no longer repair statues within their own country? Why? How? There were hints that all of the artisans of the land were from the culture that they had chased out, during the last war, but that didn't quite make sense based on revelations near the end of the book. I wanted to know these things, in order for the story to make sense.
The culture of the witches just didn't work. Devoting a fourth of the land's agriculture to supporting a religious hierarchy which did absolutely nothing? And why was their magic failing? If it was on moral grounds, then the magic of their neighbors deserved to fail, as well.
The culture of their neighbors was even less clear. They have some kind of spellsinging magic which can do whatever the writer needs it to do, and have huge, vicious war hounds who are smarter than the human characters, apparently, and much nicer. Actually, the dog was the best character in the book, for much of the story, and he really did seem to be the only one who knew what was going on. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Dorine White rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Story-
Ryder has spent his whole life in the village, paying tithing to the red witches who supposedly protected them from their enemies, the Baen. Ryder's mother used to be a red witch, but left for unknown reasons and started a family. Terrifying times are coming to the village, and though Ryder's mom left magic behind, it didn't leave her. She has visions of utter destruction and war. Ryder thinks it is all a crock, and wants to leave village life.

Falpian is a Baen in exile. He is a magic...more

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Nov 10, 2012 S.J. Wist rated it 4 of 5 stars

Falpian and Ryder are the classic example of the unstoppable force versus the unmovable person. They give witches a new twist from their different religious perspectives and upbringing. This is both an adventurous and fun read, with plenty of danger along the way to keep these two guys occupied when they aren’t fighting each other.

Ryder’s mother has foreseen the future, and Ryder is a part of it in stopping an assassin. It leads him to Falpian and this is where their destinies become intertwined...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Ravenous Biblioworm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rating: 4.5/5

This isn’t your typical modern interpretation of witches. There’s no chanting rhymes here or potions, wands, brooms, and salt circles. The witches here are more archaic, older than medieval. They are bone throwers who watches bones for prophecies. They are Ryder’s world. Then there are the Bean who have a different magic power source: their voices, able to sing and squeeze the life from a person with a single note. Ryder’s world is torn when his mother makes a horrible prophecy and...more Rating: 4.5/5

This isn’t your typical modern interpretation of witches. There’s no chanting rhymes here or potions, wands, brooms, and salt circles. The witches here are more archaic, older than medieval. They are bone throwers who watches bones for prophecies. They are Ryder’s world. Then there are the Bean who have a different magic power source: their voices, able to sing and squeeze the life from a person with a single note. Ryder’s world is torn when his mother makes a horrible prophecy and he’s thrown on path making him do things he never thought he would ever be doing.

What I enjoyed about this book was the characterization. We have Ryder who annoyed me from the start and as the book went I grew to like him. The pacing were slow in some areas at the beginning of the book, but Coakley still held the tension with looming vision Ryder’s mother had seen. I have come to the assessment that books who develop slower in the beginning tend to end up as better books. Why? Because they spend the time to develop the characters. We get to understand Ryder and the life he leads. The reasons why he dislikes the witches and their belief. Without this build up, the moments between him and Falpain would have come across as forced and stiff. But this story wasn’t force or stiff because the proper time was spent to give readers the time to get to know Ryder.

Falpain is Bean, enemies of the Witchlanders. His story, too, is nicely weaved into the story. We experience the betrayal and self-doubt he experiences. The burden he carries from being a privileged pedigree, the expectations of the title and of what everyone thought he was (along with his brother). The meeting between Ryder and Falpain was nicely done. Their relationship grew quickly and was believable. Ryder’s change in perception of witches were only acceptable because Coakley spent the beginning of the book to unveil his character. Without it, I think the book would have been one of those “this happens because it needs to happen and because the author says so”… none of that here - it felt natural.

The myth and world building was neatly done. I liked the world and the rivalry between the two countries. I would have liked to see more of the world but that would have been aside the point and irrelevant to the story. Ryder has never strayed from his village nor had any interest. It wouldn’t be right to talk of the world outside his world. Readers get enough of his world and the lore in which his people believed in. The Bean’s culture though were second to the Witchlanders, also came through vividly.

Coakley did well in giving a refreshing tale to the YA genre. With likable and unlikable (with reason) characters, Witchlanders became a real world. Even the simple characters character had something human about them: Skyla’s need and want to be a witch, Dassen’s loyalty to Ryder and his family, Visser’s fanatical hold on her beliefs.

Overall, this book was a great read. A good mix of great story telling and characters. That said, there were moments I felt the tension could have been driven further, places where the characters emotions and feeling could have been clearer and more griping (like Falpain’s moment in the dark cave or the morning of Bron’s mission).

Verdict: I’m glad I bought this book.

Check Out my book Review Blog at ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Julie Witt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magic, reviewed, ya

I loved this book!! I am a new fan of Lena Coakley's and will definitely be reading anything she writes! Her writing is flawless, the pace of the book was perfect, and talk about character development! Even the secondary characters, which are as well fleshed out as the main characters, grew over the course of the book! There was enough action to keep you reading from the first page to the last, and I actually read it in 2 days because I couldn't put it down! The author describes the surroundings...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ncbla

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was drawn to this fantasy title by its cover with frozen tree limbs almost obscuring the face of a young girl with braids, head down, and a sword lying across red material. Although the cover is rather cool, it's also misleading since the two main characters in this title are males, not females. The author leaves it up to readers to figure out how their different storylines will come together, which was a bit disconcerting at first since I wasn't clear if this were Ryder's story or Falpian's....more I was drawn to this fantasy title by its cover with frozen tree limbs almost obscuring the face of a young girl with braids, head down, and a sword lying across red material. Although the cover is rather cool, it's also misleading since the two main characters in this title are males, not females. The author leaves it up to readers to figure out how their different storylines will come together, which was a bit disconcerting at first since I wasn't clear if this were Ryder's story or Falpian's. With this sort of book, I like to know how important a character is going to be before I invest too much emotion in caring about him/her. After I got all that sorted out, I found that I liked both characters and Bod the loyal dreadhound. The start of the story was also a bit clunky for me too--Ryder awakens to the realization that his mother has once again been eating maiden's woe and trying to see the future. Again, it took a bit of time to figure out what was happening, making my read of this title move in fits and starts just as the book itself does. I liked the premise that two groups, the Baen and the Witchlanders, who have been at odds for so long actually have more in common than they ever realized, and I also loved the idea of magic being given voice through song, which became even more powerful when issued from two different throats. It was interesting to sort out whether the witches were good or evil or simply taking advantage of gullible peasants. Some of the passages such as the description of the separate journeys through the caverns are exquisitely creepy because of the horrors that lie within them. Since there are many loose ends and Falpian still needs to confront the father who commanded his assassination, there will surely to a follow-up to this title, which will enable readers to follow the growth of all the characters. What sets this one apart from many other recently published fantasies is the lack of romance (!) and the main characters' imperfections. This was a good read once I settled into the story's rhythm. (less)

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Feb 09, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

First there is Ryder, a Witchlander, whose father has recently died and whose mother has fallen into an addiction to maiden's woe. He doesn't believe that the witches who worship the Goddesses, foretell the future, and keep the villages safe deserve the tithes he and the other villagers have to pay.

Then there is Falpian, a Baen--enemy to the Witchlanders, whose twin brother has recently died and whose father has sent him far from home to mourn. He should have magical abilities; he should be able...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Maiga rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gosh. This book was frustrating. I wanted to like Witchlanders so much better than I actually did. It had all the makings of a very enjoyable read; good premise, interesting world history, compelling character interactions and a super secretive witch coven. Sounds cool, right? Unfortunately it never came together for me.

I felt like the description for this book was awfully vague, so I didn’t really know what it was about when I started. From reading the jacket description you would never even kn...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Lesley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Yay for some good old-fashioned fantasy set in a made-up magical world with no romance of the instant, eternal, or triangular kind! In fact, no romance at all, although it could certainly provide fodder for homoerotic fanfic. Lots of things to like: the writing, lots of exciting action scenes, interesting descriptions of how magic works, plus two different kinds of magic (I think) and religion thrown in as well.

There's also lots of good world-building, but most of my complaints lie in that depa...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Witchlanders was a really interesting read, and very different from a lot of the books that I’ve read recently. First of all, no romance. (Thankfully, that means no love triangles, either. Am I the only one getting tired of them?) Secondly, no weird paranormal beings popping out of nowhere. (Well, okay, there are witches. But I mostly meant there are no vampires or werewolves. I’m kind of sick of those too.)

I found both the cover and summary to be a bit… lacking. First of all, as pretty as the c...more Witchlanders was a really interesting read, and very different from a lot of the books that I’ve read recently. First of all, no romance. (Thankfully, that means no love triangles, either. Am I the only one getting tired of them?) Secondly, no weird paranormal beings popping out of nowhere. (Well, okay, there are witches. But I mostly meant there are no vampires or werewolves. I’m kind of sick of those too.)

I found both the cover and summary to be a bit… lacking. First of all, as pretty as the cover is, it displays a girl. Ryder is clearly not a female, so I’m going to assume that she is supposed to be one of the witches (probably the one in the description).

Also, the description didn’t mention anything about the other main character, Falpian. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the entire book alternates between Ryder and Falpian’s perspectives — I was definitely confused at first. Not because the actual switching was pulled off badly; it was pretty seamless, actually. But for some reason I kept thinking that Falpian was going to be some dude who we would get a little backstory on before being killed off or something, because he wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the description.

I really appreciated that Lena Coakley didn’t weigh us down with a ton of backstory. We were dropped right into the middle of Ryder’s world without too much description, and it was nice to learn more about his world as the story progressed. Personally, I can’t stand when authors spend like the entire first chapter describing the setting/telling us everything we could possibly want to know about a different world — it’s too much information at once and very boring. The author doesn’t do that here, all the backstory is on a need-to-know basis, which is way more interesting. Thumbs up for that.

What I also appreciate — this is a full, standalone story. We aren’t left at the end with someone smashing Ryder in the back of his head and his world fading into darkness, or a mysterious door being opened and we don’t know what’s inside. There’s a finite beginning, middle, and end, and even though there’s space for a sequel (or more), you aren’t left with a stupid cliffhanger. I do hope there is a sequel, though, because I think this storyline has a great deal of potential!

Just a note: if you’re looking for romance, this book isn’t for you. I could see the potential for it in later books, but this one has none. Nada. Zilch.

However, if you’re looking for bromance, you will find it in here! That was kind of fun. Although I did find myself wondering if Ryder and Falpian would have a thing. I’m going to chalk it up to reading too many mushy YA romance books recently, because I definitely have.

Find more of my reviews at Dannabella.com :)(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Cinnamon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, e-book

Imagine two points of action, like the ends of a string, fluttering around in a breeze and slowly drawing together. Suddenly they meet with fireworks, explosions, and huge bursts of color. For me, that just about sums up the POV within WITCHLANDERS by Lena Coakley.

Unlike the cover of the book might lead one to think, the main POV in WITCHLANDERS is not a female, but a male. More to the point, it's actually two different males. We switch back and forth between the stories of Ryder and Falpian, en...more Imagine two points of action, like the ends of a string, fluttering around in a breeze and slowly drawing together. Suddenly they meet with fireworks, explosions, and huge bursts of color. For me, that just about sums up the POV within WITCHLANDERS by Lena Coakley.

Unlike the cover of the book might lead one to think, the main POV in WITCHLANDERS is not a female, but a male. More to the point, it's actually two different males. We switch back and forth between the stories of Ryder and Falpian, enemies by birth and yet unlikely allies by the time their "strings" finally meet. While the POV switch could be confusing if not worked well, Ms. Coakley obviously put a lot of energy into making sure that they meshed well. I've read books (as I'm sure we all have) where the POV switches can really kill a story. I'm happy to say that in this case, they add to WITCHLANDERS instead of detract.

About this time I always try to consider what my favorite part of the story was. In this case, I'm having a hard time picking one aspect as my favorite. The characters, their struggles, and the conflict between them is done wonderfully and truly builds the story. The world and the history of the Witchlanders and Baen add a fantastical element that keeps the reader engaged and wondering what's going to happen next. If I had to pick one thing, however, I think I would pick the scenery of the story as one of the aspects that really made this book memorable for me. Ms. Coakley did an excellent job building her landscapes and creating a place where the reader could jump in and experience the story along with the characters. Although I've come across many stories that I love, it's not as often that I find a book where I find myself wishing that I could see the scenery for myself and experience the colors, sights, sounds, and smells there. Ms. Coakley creates such a story.

Although WITCHLANDERS didn't seem to have a huge romance emphasis, I think fans of many genres will find something to love here. It has a touch of a high fantasy feel, a bit of romance, and a ton of adventure. Family and personal conflict abounds, hooking the reader and developing into a story that is very difficult to put down until the last page is turned. I highly suggest WITCHLANDERS and, if you haven't done so already, suggest you go find a copy and settle in for some good reading.(less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Angel Charms rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to S&S Galley grab for the ARC.

The tale of Witchlander's surprised me when I first started reading it. I assumed the story would be told from a female POV (since a girl is on the cover) but it is told from not one, but two, different male's POV which definitely made it interesting to me. I think the author did a wonderful job identifying with her characters (Falpian and Ryder) even though they are very different and male. Not only did this story get my attention but it kept it. The ro...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Melissa Railey rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, I had no clue what this book was about when I picked it up. My sister had seen it at the library and asked me to pick it up when I went back because she thought it looked good. And it is a very pretty book. It's got a nice subtle cover that is amazing in it's quietness. After I got it home, I read the inside flap cover and decided that I had to read this book immediately.

It's a fantasy novel through and through. It follows Ryder - a teenager that lives in the Witchlands. Their village is pro...more

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May 20, 2013 Melody rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-supernatural, ya

While the dust jacket introduces us to our main protagonist, there are two boys at the heart of this story. Ryder does not believe in the witches. He is more practical than that. While he has always been such, at the start of the novel he has also taken on the responsibility of his family after his father’s death. He has given up his own big dreams in order to keep the family farm afloat. Falpian is in mourning for the loss of his twin brother, and wants nothing more than to prove himself to his...more While the dust jacket introduces us to our main protagonist, there are two boys at the heart of this story. Ryder does not believe in the witches. He is more practical than that. While he has always been such, at the start of the novel he has also taken on the responsibility of his family after his father’s death. He has given up his own big dreams in order to keep the family farm afloat. Falpian is in mourning for the loss of his twin brother, and wants nothing more than to prove himself to his father.

The fact that these two boys play such a prominent role in the novel raises an issue I have with the cover design. At first appearance the cover appears to be a frigid winter landscape. A second glance reveals the profile of a young woman. There has been a lot of press lately about the idea of gendered covers, and how such books are perceived. I for one am fine picking up a book regardless of it has a “masculine” or “feminine” cover. Unfortunately, this is easier for women to do than men. For some reason there is a stigma against men reading “girly” books. This cover seems like a small, inconsequential issue. Or, something I wish desperately was a non-issue. Regardless, I fear that the design of this cover might prevent some boys from picking up this book. That is a shame. The main characters are men, something it can be difficult to find in young adult fantasy right now. Additionally, the story explores some really interesting ideas of beliefs, expectations, and coming-of-age.

Within the story itself, the land dispute and the Witchlanders forcing the Baens in their territory into the Bitterlands after the war present parallels to the Israel/Palestine conflict to me. I’m not trying to say that the book offers any specific commentary on that situation or bashes one over the head with one point of view; rather, that even fantasy is based in some sort of fact. Granted, the connections I draw are filtered through my own experiences (“experiences” here being a class on the Israel/Palestine conflict). These parallels may also help explain some of the Baen’s backwards ideas about women. We open an entire section with the idea that in the Baen women are not allowed to practice magic, while Falpian also informs us of the fact. However, this also establishes that differences between the two people are cultural as well. Coakley also describes racial differences between the two people. Those made me uncomfortable, and I do not know if it was my own conflict-aversion, PC world, or that I felt it was unnecessary with the other elements.

At times the world can seem cramped. I get that Ryder wants to protect his family, primarily his sisters, but at times the stakes feel off. For most of the book I have no real concept of the Witchlander’s world. I think the third part of the book does the best at painting a vivid picture of where we are, but I’d like to see that throughout. Overall, I was happy to see a fantasy that tackled some of these big themes. I think that it could have been fine tuned a bit. I also think the jacket summary and cover could have reflected the tone and themes of the book better.

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Apr 17, 2013 Whitley Birks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, bait-and-switch-ending, ya-fantasy

Confession time: I picked up this book expecting it to be bad. But, you know, one of those enjoyable bad books that people love to snark at. I WAS WRONG. IT WAS AWESOME. Despite a cover that looks like it’s going to be all about a sad witchy girl finding love in the middle of winter and ignoring the plot, it’s actually about two boys from different sides of a building war and romance isn’t anywhere to be seen.

THE GOOD
Really! Romance is nowhere to be seen! Now, I like me a bit of romance, really...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut-authors, 2011-100-book-challenge, 2011-release, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, books-i-own

Witchlanders is an intriguing, unique fantasy with a richly detailed world that gives the story a early century feel to it. Leno Coakley's creates a strong, believable world that centers on magic, various religious beliefs and fascinating creatures that all tie back into the story's in-depth history with the Ryder's family, the Witchlanders. Mixed into this is an on going war between them and the Baen people, is an incredible journey for two unlikely characters who's paths are brought together t...more Witchlanders is an intriguing, unique fantasy with a richly detailed world that gives the story a early century feel to it. Leno Coakley's creates a strong, believable world that centers on magic, various religious beliefs and fascinating creatures that all tie back into the story's in-depth history with the Ryder's family, the Witchlanders. Mixed into this is an on going war between them and the Baen people, is an incredible journey for two unlikely characters who's paths are brought together through destiny. These two hold the answers that will hopefully end an on going feud between their people. I really liked the way Lena alternates the two different points of view between Ryder and Falpian. I felt I got to understand both guys better, and I liked the way their stories were told.

Ryder is on a journey he never wanted to take, but his quest to have his questions answered leads him to some surprising, shocking answers. Unknowingly, he's the one will be able to save his people, too bad he's spent most of his life not believing in the Witchlanders or his mother's prophecies. He's had to grow up fast and has been responsible for being the man of the house, harvesting the food for his family before the chill comes, taking care of his two younger sisters and dealing with his mother who's erratic behavior and addiction to a power flower has her gift for seeing the future falling onto deaf ears. It's not hard to sympathize with Ryder, his doubts and his unbelief.

Falpian the Baen plays an interesting role in Witchlanders. This spoiled boy has had a life of luxury and while mourning the death of his brother, he's sent to live on his people's border in a quant little mountain cottage. On top of that he has a father who despises him and he's grown up feeling completely inadequate, because he lacks the magic that runs in his family. It's a fascinating twist when Ryder and Falpian are unexpected drawn together with a bond that's held sacred with Falpian's people. Falpian and Ryder are complete opposites in every sense of the word, and even their upbringings have taught them to despise each other, so it's really surprising when they form an unique bond.

There's a lot of great elements that Lena touches on in her debut such as prejudices, acceptance, the aftermath of war, addiction, magic, deception, family dynamics, love, sacrifice and brotherly love. You know the type that you'd do anything for the person you're fighting beside in battle, because you've created an undeniable bond and trust with this person. That's what Lena creates between Ryder and Falpian. With each element that is entriwinted within the pages of Witchlanders, it helps create more twists, reveals unexpected answers and gives way to more surprises.

Witchlanders is unlike any book I've read before and I commend Lena on the way she incorporates so many different elements and themes into her story. This is a book that fans of fantasy, witches and adventure will enjoy. There's magic, battles, character journey's and much more found within the pages of WITCHLANDERS. I'm curious to see what Lena will do with this book, if she'll leave it as a stand alone or create a series around her unique mythology. This is a book I'd recommend to teens and older YA readers. (less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

First - high concept fantasy novel without submersing the reader in heavy backstory and world building, while maintaining the integrity of the lands and people created? AMAZING.

Second - male main character written by a female writer who sounds 100% believable and free from stereotypes? Anyone - boy or girl - can read and love this book? FABULOUS.

I loved this book; ate it up, left wanting for more every time I had to put it down. WITCHLANDERS is rich without the burnt taste of superfluous voice....more

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Jul 26, 2011 Zoë Marriott rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Synopsis:

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his villa...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Beneath the Jacket

There are two reasons I had fun reading Witchlanders:
1. It had not one but TWO male narrators, which is very rare in YA fiction today.
2. It had an older style feel to it and it reminded me of the fantasy I read as a teen.
Those are really the only two reasons why I liked Witchlanders. Otherwise, I found the book to be just okay.

Actually, you know what, I lied. I also really liked the prose of the book and the story wasn't half bad either. Also, Ryder and F...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Cecelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love.

That word doesn’t reference the content of this book, but instead how I feel about it. In particular, I am in love with the world of the Witchlands, with its red zanthia trees, its fields of hicca, the verdant valley and the mountainous backdrop. Lena Coakley has imbued the setting in her debut novel with something magnetic and deep, full of possibilities and beauty and peopled with flawed, courageous and mad characters. I am so very happy I read this book!

Witchlanders is, without a doubt,...more Love.

That word doesn’t reference the content of this book, but instead how I feel about it. In particular, I am in love with the world of the Witchlands, with its red zanthia trees, its fields of hicca, the verdant valley and the mountainous backdrop. Lena Coakley has imbued the setting in her debut novel with something magnetic and deep, full of possibilities and beauty and peopled with flawed, courageous and mad characters. I am so very happy I read this book!

Witchlanders is, without a doubt, high fantasy. It is exactly what I’ve been craving in a story – strong world-building, mysteries upon mysteries, tensions running high among characters who may or may not have the motivations they claim aloud. It is also a feast for the imagination.

There were descriptive passages of Witchlanders where the mention of stark music and magic made me think of nothing so much as Adele’s raw and powerful song Someone Like You. I don’t know if I’ve ever matched a song and a story so closely in my head before, but the bittersweet lament seemed to fit the mood. I think you may see what I mean when you read Witchlanders for yourself.

The setting, of course, is not the only consideration. Let’s talk characters.Ryder is sure of himself and stubborn in it – he won’t accept a new reality until it’s forced on him. That immovability was so like my brother Peter’s personality that I accepted it immediately (you know you know someone like this. trust me). After all, it’s a standard convention that the stubborn ones need to be knocked over by magic before they’ll believe in it, right?

The story’s two small weaknesses, if they can be called that, were in the opening pages and the rushed pacing at the end. The opening of the book was the larger of the two, because I think it could turn less persistent readers away. I’ll just put it out there: the first bit, in Ryder’s home? Confusing. Partially because he’s confused, and partially because he is dealing with an unstable person, and the rest because everyone’s name is unusual and unfamiliar at that point. If you can push past this and acclimate to the world Coakley has created, you’ll get sucked into the story and its striking landscape.

Recommended for: fans of fantasy (and especially high fantasy), those who can appreciate the ordinary magic of a landscape, appreciators of complexity of life, and anyone who has ever thought that singing is a sort of enchantment which never seems to get its due.(less)

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Sep 22, 2011 Linda Cat added it

Review originally posted at www.books4hearts.com

Hello there, epic like complicated fantasy novel, a variety of book I almost always seem to fall for. “Witchlanders” is fantasy, people. The fantastical world within is amazing; reminiscent of the worlds “Eragon“, ‘Narnia‘, or “The Lord of the Rings“, and I totally loved those. No one is flying dragons, there’s no talking lion, and there aren’t any hobbits to be found, but it’s the feeling. A whole different world, with magic and its varied abiliti...more Review originally posted at www.books4hearts.com

Hello there, epic like complicated fantasy novel, a variety of book I almost always seem to fall for. “Witchlanders” is fantasy, people. The fantastical world within is amazing; reminiscent of the worlds “Eragon“, ‘Narnia‘, or “The Lord of the Rings“, and I totally loved those. No one is flying dragons, there’s no talking lion, and there aren’t any hobbits to be found, but it’s the feeling. A whole different world, with magic and its varied abilities, a broad sense of imagination where you never know what’s going to happen next-- what character will discover their magical ability or what new creature will appear. It makes you want to know more, more about what their magic is, what the singing is, what’s up with the witches shrinking coven, what is going on with Ryder and Farien? Main character Ryder is excellent too. I was kind of confused about Ryder; he’s a great main character and I really liked him but the cover has a girl (I presume his sister, Skyla, but not sure), and I don’t know I just expected the protagonist to be a girl for some reason. I’m entirely okay with it being Ryder though, he was really interesting, and determined.

An interesting thing I noticed throughout the book, is that some things, especially the characters, aren’t physically described much. At the beginning that actually annoyed me, but then as I read on, I unintentionally formed my own picture in my head and it was crystal clear. I don’t know if this was intentional on Lena Coakley’s part or not but it was brilliant and I’m guessing it was. The pace was good overall also, it did seem a bit slow at times but I think that happens in all fantasy books…

I’m also not sure if there’s going to be a sequel to this one or not, but I hope there is! It didn’t really seem like a stand-alone with the ending, but more importantly; I want more of the world in Witchlanders and Ryder’s adventures!
Thank you Simon&Schuster for the opportunity to review this book.
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Jul 20, 2011 Tynga rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 abili...more 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!
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Nov 08, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that hooked me in by the cover alone. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw. There is something quite ethereal about it that draws you in. On seeing the cover, I dashed off to find out what the book was about and knew instantly I had to read it.

The book is split into three parts. In the first part we are introduced to Ryder and Falpien who come from opposing sides in a war that has continued for many years. They have been born to be enemies. Their lifestyles and hist...more This is one of those books that hooked me in by the cover alone. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw. There is something quite ethereal about it that draws you in. On seeing the cover, I dashed off to find out what the book was about and knew instantly I had to read it.

The book is split into three parts. In the first part we are introduced to Ryder and Falpien who come from opposing sides in a war that has continued for many years. They have been born to be enemies. Their lifestyles and histories differ greatly from each other and you find yourself wondering how they will ever come together in the book.

Your question is then answered in the second part, where their two worlds collide creating an instant dislike of each other. Though Bo knew they should be friends and willed them to get along. As time progresses, the begin to realise they need each other.

In part three, we find the coming together of two very powerful voices and a lot of past events are revealed. It becomes apparent that the a certain race have not been telling the truth about recent events.

Ryder was such a strong character, who rebelled against the way of life he had grown up with. He was resentful of the Witchlanders and his anger built as disasterous events occurred.When the Witchlanders attempted to ridicule his mother and her predictions and made her out to be the perpetrator, he just loses control and vows to avenge his mother's reputation. His friendship with Fabien definitely had elements of a love/hate relationship. It was as if the Gods truly had been cruel and played a trick on them which left them needing each other when all they could do was hate each other.

The witches made me mad! I wanted to shake some sense into them. I couldn't help but feel they were being narrow minded and needed to seek out the truth. They just wouldn't listen to reason and I couldn't work out why until I got near the end of the book and everything became apparent.

I have to say Bo was one of my favourite characters. If ever I get another dog, I want one like him! He is a dreadhound, one of the most dangerous dogs going and all I want to do is put my arms around him and let him give me a big sloppy dog kiss.

Certain parts of this book had an Indian Jones feel to it. There are some rather creepy tunnels where certain spiders might scare you a little, so be warned. The plot was excellent, leaving me surprised at the way the events turned out. There are a few red herrings throughout the book which will leave you surprised. I certainly didn't see them coming at all. The ending was also unexpected and I do hope that there will be a sequel so I can find out what happens next.

For a debut author, I think this book is just amazing. The author blends traditions with dangerous journeys bringing two cultures back together again. She shows how easily the truth can be hidden and forgotten over time so that no one really knows what the truth is anymore. The magic in the book sparks into the life from the first page and just grows with each new development throughout the story.
I really loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Lena Coakley in the future. (less)

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Kismet Book Touring : Witchlanders on tour in August	18	7	Sep 09, 2011 03:19am

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