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A Wilted Willow: Revised & Updated Edition
Day one in fifteen-year-old Mira Miller’s new home, and a strange man steps through a door that should lead to nowhere. Informing her that a nation from another world needs help defeating a tyrant king with an insatiable taste for power, he presents her a choice: come with him and help, or stay behind and miss out on a chance for adventure.
Cadmus Clark, a quiet boy her age who’s more than happy sitting at home all day, reluctantly agrees to join Mira’s escapade after she arrives in his world. Faced with training for battle, a magical assassin, and worst of all, extended time with bossy Mira, Cadmus is certain he’ll regret his choice to help her.
Mira has a new skill to master. Cadmus has a stubborn girl to deal with. And together they have a war to win. They might just be in over their heads.
. . . But Mira would never admit that.
Cadmus Clark, a quiet boy her age who’s more than happy sitting at home all day, reluctantly agrees to join Mira’s escapade after she arrives in his world. Faced with training for battle, a magical assassin, and worst of all, extended time with bossy Mira, Cadmus is certain he’ll regret his choice to help her.
Mira has a new skill to master. Cadmus has a stubborn girl to deal with. And together they have a war to win. They might just be in over their heads.
. . . But Mira would never admit that.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published June 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Julia Witmer
4 books25 followersJulia Witmer is the Christian fantasy author of "The Ophelia Brown Series", a whimsical middle grade fantasy filled with mysterious creatures, hidden worlds, and magic masked in the everyday. Raised in Chiang Mai, Thailand, she grew up surrounded by vibrant cultures and stories, sparking a lifelong passion for writing about magical encounters and complex worlds. Follow along on her writing journey to explore tales of hope-filled whimsy with a dash of darkness.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 8, 2020
I first found out about this book on personal recommendation by the author, before the updated version was announced. I tore through it and enjoyed the whole thing, but I wanted more. I felt like I hadn't had enough of a chance to truly feel something for any of the characters or situation, and that made me feel hesitant to review it. After the author contacted me with the blog tour opportunity, though, I loved what I'd read enough to say, "Sign me up!" and enter Mira's world a second time.
After reading through it again, this time with the newly added scenes, I can truly say that all of it is a masterpiece. Every page, every word is polished to perfection, and gave me that "more" I had been looking for. I found myself smiling, chuckling, and filled with wonder as I kept living through Mira and Cadmus' eyes. And, in my opinion, all of the updated parts made the anticipated end so much more moving and powerful.
If you're looking for a well-done, thoughtful, and stay-up-'till-midnight-to-finish fantasy, you'll find it in "A Wilted Willow". Maybe, like me, you'll latch onto the characters' perspectives, drinking every second of it in and never wanting it to end. And hopefully, through taking a step into Nother World, you'll find more meaning and purpose in yours.
To read my full review of "A Wilted Willow", including an exclusive interview with the author, click here:
https://steppingstonesbookreviews.blo...
After reading through it again, this time with the newly added scenes, I can truly say that all of it is a masterpiece. Every page, every word is polished to perfection, and gave me that "more" I had been looking for. I found myself smiling, chuckling, and filled with wonder as I kept living through Mira and Cadmus' eyes. And, in my opinion, all of the updated parts made the anticipated end so much more moving and powerful.
If you're looking for a well-done, thoughtful, and stay-up-'till-midnight-to-finish fantasy, you'll find it in "A Wilted Willow". Maybe, like me, you'll latch onto the characters' perspectives, drinking every second of it in and never wanting it to end. And hopefully, through taking a step into Nother World, you'll find more meaning and purpose in yours.
To read my full review of "A Wilted Willow", including an exclusive interview with the author, click here:
https://steppingstonesbookreviews.blo...
December 9, 2020
I was privileged to be able to read an ARC of this book, and though a positive review was NOT required, I have one to leave anyway :) Spoiler-free.
I could talk about this book for a long time. I enjoyed so much of it, but to narrow things down, the three main things I loved were the characters, the plot twists, and the story world.
The characters are my favorite part about this novel. There is a vast variety of ‘cast-members’ that make their way through the story, and I enjoyed the relatability and unique-ness of each of them.
From the feisty heroine to the loyal allies to the fuzzy companions (not human, but still characters!), I rooted for them from the start. I love books that make me smile, and between the dialog and the engaging dynamics, I was smiling a lot. The banter between the two main characters is amusing and realistic.
Though he definitely did not make me smile, the villain is another excellently crafted character. In any given book, I expect a lot from villains, and Julia’s did not disappoint. His cool, collected method of achieving his sinister goals glued me to every page he appeared on.
Again, no spoilers, but this book kept me on my toes. Just when I felt confident that I knew where the rest of the story was headed, the plot threw a massive curveball – and the story is 100% better for it.
Julia has done an excellent job crafting a YA fantasy that delivers on genre expectations, while still managing to put her own unique spin on clichés and stereotypes, and keep readers guessing until the very end. The longer I read, the more engrossed I became in the developing plot line.
The entire story setting of Nother World intrigued me from the beginning. Its cities, creatures, geography… Julia obviously has a clear grasp of the story world, and it shows. I was especially fascinated by the way she approached and explained the fantasy aspect; i.e. magic system. The balance between predictable and mysterious was just right for me.
My only qualm with the entire book is that I would have loved to see even more exploration of the characters, story world, and backstories. Being a shorter book, the story moved very quickly, and there were times I wanted to slow down and learn more. I like diving deep into the nitty gritty details of a fantasy.
But that being said, the story’s shorter length and straight-forward, easy-to-read writing style, makes it a perfect book for younger audiences, as well as an enjoyable one for older readers as well. It’s an amazing, engaging read with meaningful themes and enjoyable characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Wilted Willow. It engaged me, amused me, glued me to the entire second half, and left me with some profound truths to consider in my own life. The characters were superb, the story world intriguing, and the plot interesting and unique. I will definitely be reading it again!
I could talk about this book for a long time. I enjoyed so much of it, but to narrow things down, the three main things I loved were the characters, the plot twists, and the story world.
The characters are my favorite part about this novel. There is a vast variety of ‘cast-members’ that make their way through the story, and I enjoyed the relatability and unique-ness of each of them.
From the feisty heroine to the loyal allies to the fuzzy companions (not human, but still characters!), I rooted for them from the start. I love books that make me smile, and between the dialog and the engaging dynamics, I was smiling a lot. The banter between the two main characters is amusing and realistic.
Though he definitely did not make me smile, the villain is another excellently crafted character. In any given book, I expect a lot from villains, and Julia’s did not disappoint. His cool, collected method of achieving his sinister goals glued me to every page he appeared on.
Again, no spoilers, but this book kept me on my toes. Just when I felt confident that I knew where the rest of the story was headed, the plot threw a massive curveball – and the story is 100% better for it.
Julia has done an excellent job crafting a YA fantasy that delivers on genre expectations, while still managing to put her own unique spin on clichés and stereotypes, and keep readers guessing until the very end. The longer I read, the more engrossed I became in the developing plot line.
The entire story setting of Nother World intrigued me from the beginning. Its cities, creatures, geography… Julia obviously has a clear grasp of the story world, and it shows. I was especially fascinated by the way she approached and explained the fantasy aspect; i.e. magic system. The balance between predictable and mysterious was just right for me.
My only qualm with the entire book is that I would have loved to see even more exploration of the characters, story world, and backstories. Being a shorter book, the story moved very quickly, and there were times I wanted to slow down and learn more. I like diving deep into the nitty gritty details of a fantasy.
But that being said, the story’s shorter length and straight-forward, easy-to-read writing style, makes it a perfect book for younger audiences, as well as an enjoyable one for older readers as well. It’s an amazing, engaging read with meaningful themes and enjoyable characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Wilted Willow. It engaged me, amused me, glued me to the entire second half, and left me with some profound truths to consider in my own life. The characters were superb, the story world intriguing, and the plot interesting and unique. I will definitely be reading it again!
December 5, 2020
Well, that was quite the adventure.
I love a good portal fantasy, so /A Wilted Willow/ is right up my alley. Add to that that I know the author and love her writing, and yeah, I definitely needed to read this. :P
The character banter and arcs were probably my favorite parts of this story. Julia does an amazing job writing dialogue and banter, and I found myself chuckling several times. The character arcs are wonderful. And while I was not expecting the ending those arcs took, I understand it. (But I still need a sequel. XD)
~I received a free copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.~
I love a good portal fantasy, so /A Wilted Willow/ is right up my alley. Add to that that I know the author and love her writing, and yeah, I definitely needed to read this. :P
The character banter and arcs were probably my favorite parts of this story. Julia does an amazing job writing dialogue and banter, and I found myself chuckling several times. The character arcs are wonderful. And while I was not expecting the ending those arcs took, I understand it. (But I still need a sequel. XD)
~I received a free copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.~
November 21, 2020
Okay, so I usually give books that upset me a low rating, but it’s hard to argue with this one.
There’s a lot of great about this book. It’s portal fantasy, but not told in a way you’ve probably ever read before. It has a super interesting twist that I can’t tell you because spoilers. The descriptions are vivid and the characters were all very interesting. (The fact that I’m upset tells you first and foremost how invested I was). I love Cadmus. At first, I hated his reluctant, awkward hero vibes, but he’s brave and awesome underneath, and it’s great. Mira is also great and they have a fun relationship.
The pacing was a little weird, but in some ways it worked. (A bit like the Disney Nutcracker movie). There could have been loads more development, and there really are a lot of things left not-quite-explained (and/or frustrating). Also, the author’s writing is a tad inexperienced (but absolutely loads better than a lot of stuff I’ve read), and it's a bit melodramatic at one point. At times is was a bit didactic—like, I think the message was super good and super important, but maybe a little too obvious? Also, haha, it’s not a comfortable message—but there were moments when it was inspiring.
So, if you’re looking for some clean, easy to read YA for students, family, whoever, with a nice dramatic pull this is a great option. (3 stars is good from me).
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a lot of great about this book. It’s portal fantasy, but not told in a way you’ve probably ever read before. It has a super interesting twist that I can’t tell you because spoilers. The descriptions are vivid and the characters were all very interesting. (The fact that I’m upset tells you first and foremost how invested I was). I love Cadmus. At first, I hated his reluctant, awkward hero vibes, but he’s brave and awesome underneath, and it’s great. Mira is also great and they have a fun relationship.
The pacing was a little weird, but in some ways it worked. (A bit like the Disney Nutcracker movie). There could have been loads more development, and there really are a lot of things left not-quite-explained (and/or frustrating). Also, the author’s writing is a tad inexperienced (but absolutely loads better than a lot of stuff I’ve read), and it's a bit melodramatic at one point. At times is was a bit didactic—like, I think the message was super good and super important, but maybe a little too obvious? Also, haha, it’s not a comfortable message—but there were moments when it was inspiring.
So, if you’re looking for some clean, easy to read YA for students, family, whoever, with a nice dramatic pull this is a great option. (3 stars is good from me).
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
If you want to see my review on this, click the link here (plus this review includes an author interview):
https://ribbonash.blogspot.com/2020/1...
https://ribbonash.blogspot.com/2020/1...
November 15, 2020
This was such a sweet, short, and poignant read by Julia Witmer! My favorite part was the character personalities, especially the brother-sister-like relationship between Cadmus and Mira! Cadmus was by far my favorite character. I felt I understood and sympathized with him more than Mira, especially with his quiet, reluctant-for-adventure, yet fiercely protective personality. Some of my favorite lines in the book are: “She was fifteen. No older than him. And the world was resting on her shoulders. How could he let her carry it alone?” I think this really shows how he takes care of Mira. He’s the steady calm to her fiery personality and someone she can always depend on. And of course, I loved the bantering and teasing between Mira and Cadmus. It added a nice light-heartedness to the story!
The worldbuilding was another strong point. The magic system was unique and intriguing, and Julia did a great job gradually adding more pieces to the puzzle. The idea of pouring liquid magic into the grooves to open the portal door was very interesting. I also found the worldbuilding details unique, especially the clothing and weapons in Nother World. Julia’s descriptions, while not entirely vivid, were interesting and imaginative, especially in comparing the city to the bottom of a shoe.
The plot was well-written, and I loved the mid-story twist. The ending was probably the most well-written part of the book. The bitter-sweet ending made the story more memorable than if it had ended completely happily. The themes of relying on God as our only hope and trusting His will even when we don’t have all the answers were well-developed and really added depth to the story.
There were a few problems I had with the story. I would have appreciated a little more character and backstory development, especially of Mira. I felt that I couldn’t really get inside any of the characters’ heads and understand their motivations and fears. Also, some of the prose was a little dry. I couldn’t always clearly envision the action and occasionally the humor felt forced. I had trouble getting into the book as the first part was rather slow. However, I was pleased to find that the second part was much better written, better paced, and overall more interesting!
By far my biggest problem with the book was the unanswered questions. It struck me as strange that Mira immediately accepted the quest without any hesitation and without any explanation of how she was supposed to help Nother World. Her magical powers happened to appear later on. Also, everyone in Nother World seemed to accept her without question, as though they knew something the reader didn’t, although the author never explains what that is. The queen’s reaction especially seemed unrealistic. She doesn’t ask how Mira can help her country (Mira only mentions her magical abilities as an afterthought), and the only concern she brings up is Mira’s young age. Finally, why does no one act surprised when Mira reappears ten years later? No one even questions why she suddenly left, much less act betrayed or angry at her disappearance. Unfortunately, this is one area where the reader is left hanging.
But, despite the unanswered questions, the story itself was interesting enough that I couldn’t stop reading, especially toward the end! If you’re looking for a short, clean fantasy read, this is the book for you!
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
The worldbuilding was another strong point. The magic system was unique and intriguing, and Julia did a great job gradually adding more pieces to the puzzle. The idea of pouring liquid magic into the grooves to open the portal door was very interesting. I also found the worldbuilding details unique, especially the clothing and weapons in Nother World. Julia’s descriptions, while not entirely vivid, were interesting and imaginative, especially in comparing the city to the bottom of a shoe.
The plot was well-written, and I loved the mid-story twist. The ending was probably the most well-written part of the book. The bitter-sweet ending made the story more memorable than if it had ended completely happily. The themes of relying on God as our only hope and trusting His will even when we don’t have all the answers were well-developed and really added depth to the story.
There were a few problems I had with the story. I would have appreciated a little more character and backstory development, especially of Mira. I felt that I couldn’t really get inside any of the characters’ heads and understand their motivations and fears. Also, some of the prose was a little dry. I couldn’t always clearly envision the action and occasionally the humor felt forced. I had trouble getting into the book as the first part was rather slow. However, I was pleased to find that the second part was much better written, better paced, and overall more interesting!
By far my biggest problem with the book was the unanswered questions. It struck me as strange that Mira immediately accepted the quest without any hesitation and without any explanation of how she was supposed to help Nother World. Her magical powers happened to appear later on. Also, everyone in Nother World seemed to accept her without question, as though they knew something the reader didn’t, although the author never explains what that is. The queen’s reaction especially seemed unrealistic. She doesn’t ask how Mira can help her country (Mira only mentions her magical abilities as an afterthought), and the only concern she brings up is Mira’s young age. Finally, why does no one act surprised when Mira reappears ten years later? No one even questions why she suddenly left, much less act betrayed or angry at her disappearance. Unfortunately, this is one area where the reader is left hanging.
But, despite the unanswered questions, the story itself was interesting enough that I couldn’t stop reading, especially toward the end! If you’re looking for a short, clean fantasy read, this is the book for you!
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
February 3, 2024
I fell in love with the characters! I loved how it jumps straight into the action and stress. I couldn't wait to finish it! Cadmus...what a sweetie💜
November 17, 2020
I will be back with a more thorough review, but for now I'll just say that I really enjoyed this book. A short, fun, and interesting read with likable characters, a fascinating world, meaningful themes, and a touching (albeit bittersweet) ending. I'm looking forward to purchasing a copy of my own, and to reading more from Julia Witmer.
* I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own, and honest.
* I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own, and honest.
October 9, 2021
This book was really inspiring and beautifully written. The characters were so fun. The story was easy to hook onto. Highly recommend for anyone that loves fantasy. There is so much wisdom hidden so deep in this book. Love the writer and this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews