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Wench
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A funny, fiercely feminist YA epic fantasy—following the adventures of a tavern wench
Tanya has worked at her tavern since she was able to see over the bar. She broke up her first fight at 11. By the time she was a teenager she knew everything about the place, and she could run it with her eyes closed. She’d never let anyone—whether it be a drunkard or a captain of the quee ...more
Tanya has worked at her tavern since she was able to see over the bar. She broke up her first fight at 11. By the time she was a teenager she knew everything about the place, and she could run it with her eyes closed. She’d never let anyone—whether it be a drunkard or a captain of the quee ...more
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Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Published
January 19th 2021
by Amulet Books
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The Written Review
September Tier List Video is up! Check it out for all my September reads!
Tanya the Tavern Wench has always known where life would take her.
Her guardian has been training her from the moment she was informally adopted to taking over the tavern.
And honestly? She's loved it.
There's nothing more satisfying than a well-ran tavern - the food served hot an' fresh, the ale cool an' delicious, the barfights entertaining but nondamaging...she could go on (and on) (and on).
But ...more

This book is surprisingly promising debut and there are too many positive attributes made me enjoy it mostly.
Here are the things which truly attracted my attention:
Tanya is strong, brave and adamant character you proudly call her a real heroine! She earned the trust of her guardian with her hard work and after he suddenly passes away without leaving a will pointing the next proprietor of the tavern, she is determined enough to talk with Queen to change things because she has every right and ev ...more
Here are the things which truly attracted my attention:
Tanya is strong, brave and adamant character you proudly call her a real heroine! She earned the trust of her guardian with her hard work and after he suddenly passes away without leaving a will pointing the next proprietor of the tavern, she is determined enough to talk with Queen to change things because she has every right and ev ...more

Apr 21, 2020
Candace Robinson
added it
This one was fun with a great main character!

Setting aside at 53%.
This book had a lot of promise, but sadly the pacing and flow were too bizarre for me. So much happens and so many characters were introduced in the first half that just as I would get accustomed to what was happening, it would go in a different direction. This made the story less engaging and the characters difficult to connect with.
That being said, the world and magic of this story are fun, so it might just be that this book isn't for me right now. You might enjoy it if y ...more
This book had a lot of promise, but sadly the pacing and flow were too bizarre for me. So much happens and so many characters were introduced in the first half that just as I would get accustomed to what was happening, it would go in a different direction. This made the story less engaging and the characters difficult to connect with.
That being said, the world and magic of this story are fun, so it might just be that this book isn't for me right now. You might enjoy it if y ...more

On my blog.
Actual rating 3.5
Rep: bi mc, wlw li, gay side characters
CWs: magic involving self harm
Galley provided by publisher
If I wanted to compare Wench to any other fantasy novel, I would choose to compare it to The Princess Bride. It has that same sort of irreverence and light-heartedness to it, but with a darker undercurrent. And that is primarily what I loved about it.
In the story, we follow Tanya, a tavern wench, whose guardian dies suddenly and then she loses her tavern when the Queen ...more
Actual rating 3.5
Rep: bi mc, wlw li, gay side characters
CWs: magic involving self harm
Galley provided by publisher
If I wanted to compare Wench to any other fantasy novel, I would choose to compare it to The Princess Bride. It has that same sort of irreverence and light-heartedness to it, but with a darker undercurrent. And that is primarily what I loved about it.
In the story, we follow Tanya, a tavern wench, whose guardian dies suddenly and then she loses her tavern when the Queen ...more

Jan 10, 2021
Bertie (LuminosityLibrary)
marked it as dnf
dnf - 35%
I wanted to enjoy Wench a lot more than I did. The premise was excellent, the cover was fun, and I'm always up for an unapologetically feminist story! Unfortunately, the strange pacing of the book prevented me from connecting with the characters and plot.
Tanya could have been a fun main character. The motivation of going on a quest to save her tavern was one that I was excited to read. Instead, I found it lacking. Her caretaker dies in the first scene, and pretty soon she's on her adve ...more
I wanted to enjoy Wench a lot more than I did. The premise was excellent, the cover was fun, and I'm always up for an unapologetically feminist story! Unfortunately, the strange pacing of the book prevented me from connecting with the characters and plot.
Tanya could have been a fun main character. The motivation of going on a quest to save her tavern was one that I was excited to read. Instead, I found it lacking. Her caretaker dies in the first scene, and pretty soon she's on her adve ...more

Cover > Book.
The premise for Wench was a good one, but unfortunately the book didn’t live up to expectations.
I was expecting something akin to perhaps Daughter of the Pirate King, but this one lacks that level of cleverness and the humor misses most of the time.
The magical system is fine, nothing special, nothing atrociously bad. But the story, which could have been a fun, rip-roaring adventure, is more of a dull slog peppered with moments of obnoxiousness.
Part of the problem is that the heroi ...more
The premise for Wench was a good one, but unfortunately the book didn’t live up to expectations.
I was expecting something akin to perhaps Daughter of the Pirate King, but this one lacks that level of cleverness and the humor misses most of the time.
The magical system is fine, nothing special, nothing atrociously bad. But the story, which could have been a fun, rip-roaring adventure, is more of a dull slog peppered with moments of obnoxiousness.
Part of the problem is that the heroi ...more

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wench by Maxine Kaplan is a fun younger YA feminist fantasy that follows a character type that we rarely ever get to see lead their own story in the genre. Tanya is a tavern wench. She may not be the chosen one, a princess, an assassin, or a thief, but she is very good at what she does and finds herself on an unexpected adventure to see the queen anyway when her guardian, the tavern's proprietor, dies without a will and without na ...more
Wench by Maxine Kaplan is a fun younger YA feminist fantasy that follows a character type that we rarely ever get to see lead their own story in the genre. Tanya is a tavern wench. She may not be the chosen one, a princess, an assassin, or a thief, but she is very good at what she does and finds herself on an unexpected adventure to see the queen anyway when her guardian, the tavern's proprietor, dies without a will and without na ...more

I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. The concept of the fantasy world was cool, but I didn't really like the characters and found the story overly confusing for the most part. While twists and turns in a plot are fun, this wasn't so much twists and turns as it was a zigzag.
...more
...more

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I thought I would really enjoy this book but there was just way too much going on and not enough interesting characters.
The magic in this book was interesting enough but I never really found myself getting curious about it and wanting to know more. The plot was packed with too much and I felt like I simultaneously slogged and raced through it. None of the characters were memorable and I didn't rea ...more
I thought I would really enjoy this book but there was just way too much going on and not enough interesting characters.
The magic in this book was interesting enough but I never really found myself getting curious about it and wanting to know more. The plot was packed with too much and I felt like I simultaneously slogged and raced through it. None of the characters were memorable and I didn't rea ...more

Nov 14, 2018
Katya de Becerra
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
fav-authors,
most-anticipated-in-2020
YES! A THOUSAND TIMES YES!

This sounds SO GOOD!!
It's also got Big Hostess Quickly Vibes, which I'm so here for! ...more
It's also got Big Hostess Quickly Vibes, which I'm so here for! ...more

I received a free copy from Amulet Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a foundling, Tanya is taken in by Froud who offers her a roof and a purpose. Tanya’s purpose becomes the running of the tavern, the Smiling Snake, particularly as Froud’s health declines. But when Froud dies, Tanya finds that the Smiling Snake has not been willed to her and the Queen’s corpsmen offer a writ of ownership that takes away the tavern while all of her supplies are reappropriated. Tanya sees ...more
As a foundling, Tanya is taken in by Froud who offers her a roof and a purpose. Tanya’s purpose becomes the running of the tavern, the Smiling Snake, particularly as Froud’s health declines. But when Froud dies, Tanya finds that the Smiling Snake has not been willed to her and the Queen’s corpsmen offer a writ of ownership that takes away the tavern while all of her supplies are reappropriated. Tanya sees ...more

What a delightful book! Wench is a classic heroine's quest freshened with feisty, feminist values. I look forward to recommending this to the children I work with.
...more

First of all, thank you to Amulet Books and Net Galley for an eARC of this!
Wench follows Tanya, a tavern wench who has nothing but the Snake. When the Queen's Guard shows up and comandeers it, she goes with them in hopes of asking the queen for the tavern back, but is pulled into a fantastical journey full of magic.
This book wanted to be a feminist journey for a young wench who knew what she wanted from the world, but the magic wasn't full explained, and it was difficult to enjoy the character ...more
Wench follows Tanya, a tavern wench who has nothing but the Snake. When the Queen's Guard shows up and comandeers it, she goes with them in hopes of asking the queen for the tavern back, but is pulled into a fantastical journey full of magic.
This book wanted to be a feminist journey for a young wench who knew what she wanted from the world, but the magic wasn't full explained, and it was difficult to enjoy the character ...more

Thanks to Edelweiss+ & ABRAMS for providing an advanced copy of Wench in exchange for an honest review.
Wench was such a fun read. I've been reading a lot of fantasy-adventure YA stories recently but Wench still manages to stand out with a unique magic system I've never seen anything even remotely similar too. My main concern going into a book claiming to be feminist looking to flip the script on stereotypical fantasy bar wenches was that making the MC appear strong would come at the cost of ster ...more
Wench was such a fun read. I've been reading a lot of fantasy-adventure YA stories recently but Wench still manages to stand out with a unique magic system I've never seen anything even remotely similar too. My main concern going into a book claiming to be feminist looking to flip the script on stereotypical fantasy bar wenches was that making the MC appear strong would come at the cost of ster ...more

3.5 stars
Wench is a funny, magical, feminist novel that hooks you right from the first sentence. I love the day-in-the-life style opening of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Kaplan’s world building and the strong independent nature of the novel’s heroine.
GOOD STUFF:
- Jana (even though she’s not the heroine) is so freaking cool I want to be her, I want to meet her. The first time we truly meet her she is humming, swinging a sword, and dancing around a bunch of hostages. That image perfectly enca ...more
Wench is a funny, magical, feminist novel that hooks you right from the first sentence. I love the day-in-the-life style opening of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Kaplan’s world building and the strong independent nature of the novel’s heroine.
GOOD STUFF:
- Jana (even though she’s not the heroine) is so freaking cool I want to be her, I want to meet her. The first time we truly meet her she is humming, swinging a sword, and dancing around a bunch of hostages. That image perfectly enca ...more

You can see my full review, favorite quotes, and an interview with the author on my blog We Write at Dawn!
The first half of this book is amazing. I couldn't put it down and kept pushing myself to read one more chapter because I had to know what was going to happen next! As the plot progressed though, things started to fall apart for me though I love how the book ended!
Tanya is a take no sh*t, tough girl who just wants one thing - not to lose her tavern and her home. This leads her on a journey a ...more
The first half of this book is amazing. I couldn't put it down and kept pushing myself to read one more chapter because I had to know what was going to happen next! As the plot progressed though, things started to fall apart for me though I love how the book ended!
Tanya is a take no sh*t, tough girl who just wants one thing - not to lose her tavern and her home. This leads her on a journey a ...more

To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I loved the idea of a feminist fantasy. I loved that the MC was a tavern wench. I loved so much about the idea of this book. When I saw it was labeled as queer, I needed it.
The issue is this book is SO SLOW. It took me about two weeks to read it. I kept falling asleep on my kindle. I kept distracting myself from picking it back up again. I liked the idea of the book more than I liked the book itself. The plot meanders in a w ...more
I got an ARC of this book.
I loved the idea of a feminist fantasy. I loved that the MC was a tavern wench. I loved so much about the idea of this book. When I saw it was labeled as queer, I needed it.
The issue is this book is SO SLOW. It took me about two weeks to read it. I kept falling asleep on my kindle. I kept distracting myself from picking it back up again. I liked the idea of the book more than I liked the book itself. The plot meanders in a w ...more

Jan 26, 2021
Brandy {The Review Booth}
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
tbrandbeyondtours,
2021-goodreads-challenge
I enjoyed the magic in Wench – the simple fact that it was fraught with amateur magicians made it laughable and believable. I particularly liked the side-effects of practicing magic without knowing the consequences is known as junkoff. If you cast a spell to procure an item (gold, water, food, etc.), it has to come from somewhere – the junkoff is the consequence of the magician not planning that part out. That is precisely what Tanya excels at (besides running an efficient tavern) – organization
...more

“Whoever bears that quill is bound to be very important in this court…. Are you ready to be important, Tanya of Griffin’s Port?”
Tavern wench Tanya has been running her tavern since she was tiny and could do it with her eyes closed. When her guardian dies, Tanya expects to take over ownership of the tavern and for everything else to remain the same. But without signed papers that leave the tavern to her, Tanya could lose it all. So she does what any self-respecting tavern wench would: she embarks ...more
Tavern wench Tanya has been running her tavern since she was tiny and could do it with her eyes closed. When her guardian dies, Tanya expects to take over ownership of the tavern and for everything else to remain the same. But without signed papers that leave the tavern to her, Tanya could lose it all. So she does what any self-respecting tavern wench would: she embarks ...more

A detailed review for the book is present on Musing Of Souls
Thank you so much Amulet Books, Netgalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours for giving me an opportunity to read this wonderful book!
With much complex plot and so many different characters, that too, all perfect, Wench did not disappoint me at all. Tanya has been a Tavern Wench since she could notice the world around but when the owner dies, she is to become the proprietress of 'The Smiling Snake'. But, when the Queen's corpsmen take away h ...more
Thank you so much Amulet Books, Netgalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours for giving me an opportunity to read this wonderful book!
With much complex plot and so many different characters, that too, all perfect, Wench did not disappoint me at all. Tanya has been a Tavern Wench since she could notice the world around but when the owner dies, she is to become the proprietress of 'The Smiling Snake'. But, when the Queen's corpsmen take away h ...more

3.5- Tanya, a courageous tavern wench, is shocked when her guardian dies and hasn’t left a will naming her as the tavern proprietor. The tavern is promptly repossessed and Tanya sets out on a journey to see the Queen in hopes that she might grant her the building’s deed. However, the pathway to the castle is anything but smooth. In her travels, Tanya discovers a strange magical object that just might give her the leverage she needs. Undaunted by challenges, Tanya encounters suspicious characters
...more

DNF @ 29%
Nothing wrong with this one, but for now it failed to keep my attention.
I loved the setup of Wench and Tanya, the no-nonsense protagonist who is determined to get her tavern back at all costs.
From the very beginning the plot was fast-paced, and scenes, moods and allegiances changed quickly. It was not particularly funny or surprising, but while I did find it entertaining, somehow I was not especially deeply invested. I think ultimately things just happened a little too fast, and I didn ...more
Nothing wrong with this one, but for now it failed to keep my attention.
I loved the setup of Wench and Tanya, the no-nonsense protagonist who is determined to get her tavern back at all costs.
From the very beginning the plot was fast-paced, and scenes, moods and allegiances changed quickly. It was not particularly funny or surprising, but while I did find it entertaining, somehow I was not especially deeply invested. I think ultimately things just happened a little too fast, and I didn ...more

dnf @ 18%
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
rep: bisexual protagonist, wlw love interest, gay side characters
cw: magic involving self harm
There's nothing really wrong with this book; it's more a case of "right book, wrong time" because I'm just really not in the mood for a book that feels like it's going to meander towards its goal. The writing is good, and the book itself seems to be shaping u ...more
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
rep: bisexual protagonist, wlw love interest, gay side characters
cw: magic involving self harm
There's nothing really wrong with this book; it's more a case of "right book, wrong time" because I'm just really not in the mood for a book that feels like it's going to meander towards its goal. The writing is good, and the book itself seems to be shaping u ...more

Thank you to Netgalley and Abrams Kids for the opportunity to read and review this book. Hmmmmmm..... what can I exactly say about this book?? Well its very unique and fascinating yet conniving and twisty all at the same time. Trigger warnings for self-harm, violence, and verbal abuse. This is a standalone (from my understanding) and I will be honest there were moments that things seemed out of order and if not out of order too long. The magic systems are very unique and fascinating and the endi
...more

May 17, 2020
Kat // Novels & Waffles
marked it as did-not-finish
*I received a digital ARC of this book (via Edelweiss) from its publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
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