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The Witches of Wyldeden Chronicles #1
The Mark of Things Unwanted
Surrender your heart to this queer, dark fantasy!
"Grim, moody, and yet somehow heartwarming at the same time."
Cinn will never die. It should have made him powerful. It didn't.
On the run, being hunted by a cruel princess trying to discover the secrets of his immortality, and chased by wild beasts that want to feast on him for eternity, Cinn would do anything to be safe. Including allying himself with a band of dangerous witches.
Like Eaon. Touched by a death that lingers on his skin, a danger to the people he loves and abandoned by his community, Eaon is slowly losing himself to the dark power within.
In the depths of a whispering forest, a family is forged and, together, they will change the world.
"Grim, moody, and yet somehow heartwarming at the same time."
Cinn will never die. It should have made him powerful. It didn't.
On the run, being hunted by a cruel princess trying to discover the secrets of his immortality, and chased by wild beasts that want to feast on him for eternity, Cinn would do anything to be safe. Including allying himself with a band of dangerous witches.
Like Eaon. Touched by a death that lingers on his skin, a danger to the people he loves and abandoned by his community, Eaon is slowly losing himself to the dark power within.
In the depths of a whispering forest, a family is forged and, together, they will change the world.
- GenresFantasy
418 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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April 21, 2021https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/04...
The Mark of Things Unwanted is the debut book by author Alex Clifford, and wow, is it one hell of a debut. I finished this book a while ago, but I felt like I needed to let it simmer a bit before I wrote a review of it. You see, there’s a lot going on here, and Clifford both weaves a fantastic tale with all of these events, and knows just how to keep readers engaged.
The Mark of Things Unwanted took a little bit of time to really gel for me, but I will say I’m an epic fantasy reader, and taking time for books to really gel for me is something I’m pretty accustomed to. The start of the book is where the author is building their world, and setting their story up. For readers who aren’t really used to this time needed, it might feel like the book is starting slow, but I honestly do feel like, with the complexities in this story, the author genuinely needed this time to set her players on the board, and establish the parameters of the world in which they live.
As a result, I felt the world was extremely well built, and very vivid, and the story had some strong legs to stand on as events really got rolling. The world here is sort of European-esque, with royalty and princesses and the like, but there is enough thrown in that is distinctly Clifford’s to keep any of it from feeling stale. There are witches and immortals as well, which was interesting. Steeped in magic and danger, I found the world to be both exceptionally balanced, but also crafted in such a believable way, it really made the book come alive.
There are a lot of characters, places, and names, and in that beginning bit of the book, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. There’s a map which helped a lot, and once the story reached that point where everything sort of clicked, the names and characters fell into place easily enough. My one regret with this novel is I felt like, perhaps, there was so much going on at the start, some of the events that mattered may not have been given the time and space they needed to breathe, and really solidify in my mind.
The characters were interesting as well. The book starts with the escape of Cinn, who is a kinner, or an immortal being hunted for his immortality. On the other hand, we have the witches Eoan and Eavha, recently excommunicated from their home land, having to learn to navigate the complexities of the outside world. Then we have Aisling, a princess of a city to the south, and her second, Nora. There are numerous side characters and while there are three different major plotlines, it’s interesting to see how they all slowly entwine and impact each other as the book progresses. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and unexpected events and peoples impact the larger whole in surprising ways.
Perhaps my one regret with the characters is, I would have enjoyed more background to understand them better.
I loved the representation in this book, not just of LGBTQAI+ characters, but of disabilities as well, which is near and dear to my heart. The representation was done really well, and was part of the characters but did not define who they were. Furthermore, I loved how this book explored numerous kinds of relationships, from friendship, to family, kinship, and romantic. Without pigeonholing anyone, the characters all stayed unique and complex, lifelike.
The writing was beautiful, very polished and descriptive, which I love. There was so much happening, I did feel as though the plot got a little frenzied at times, but other than that, the prose were great at bringing the world, characters, and plot to life in my mind as I read, and made this book a joy to read not just to enjoy the prose, but for the story itself. The ending was a perfect setup for the next book in the series.
All in all, The Mark of Things Unwanted was a great start to a unique new series. Powerful storytelling, diverse characters, and a fantastically built word work together to make this an unforgettable book.
The Mark of Things Unwanted is the debut book by author Alex Clifford, and wow, is it one hell of a debut. I finished this book a while ago, but I felt like I needed to let it simmer a bit before I wrote a review of it. You see, there’s a lot going on here, and Clifford both weaves a fantastic tale with all of these events, and knows just how to keep readers engaged.
The Mark of Things Unwanted took a little bit of time to really gel for me, but I will say I’m an epic fantasy reader, and taking time for books to really gel for me is something I’m pretty accustomed to. The start of the book is where the author is building their world, and setting their story up. For readers who aren’t really used to this time needed, it might feel like the book is starting slow, but I honestly do feel like, with the complexities in this story, the author genuinely needed this time to set her players on the board, and establish the parameters of the world in which they live.
As a result, I felt the world was extremely well built, and very vivid, and the story had some strong legs to stand on as events really got rolling. The world here is sort of European-esque, with royalty and princesses and the like, but there is enough thrown in that is distinctly Clifford’s to keep any of it from feeling stale. There are witches and immortals as well, which was interesting. Steeped in magic and danger, I found the world to be both exceptionally balanced, but also crafted in such a believable way, it really made the book come alive.
There are a lot of characters, places, and names, and in that beginning bit of the book, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. There’s a map which helped a lot, and once the story reached that point where everything sort of clicked, the names and characters fell into place easily enough. My one regret with this novel is I felt like, perhaps, there was so much going on at the start, some of the events that mattered may not have been given the time and space they needed to breathe, and really solidify in my mind.
The characters were interesting as well. The book starts with the escape of Cinn, who is a kinner, or an immortal being hunted for his immortality. On the other hand, we have the witches Eoan and Eavha, recently excommunicated from their home land, having to learn to navigate the complexities of the outside world. Then we have Aisling, a princess of a city to the south, and her second, Nora. There are numerous side characters and while there are three different major plotlines, it’s interesting to see how they all slowly entwine and impact each other as the book progresses. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and unexpected events and peoples impact the larger whole in surprising ways.
Perhaps my one regret with the characters is, I would have enjoyed more background to understand them better.
I loved the representation in this book, not just of LGBTQAI+ characters, but of disabilities as well, which is near and dear to my heart. The representation was done really well, and was part of the characters but did not define who they were. Furthermore, I loved how this book explored numerous kinds of relationships, from friendship, to family, kinship, and romantic. Without pigeonholing anyone, the characters all stayed unique and complex, lifelike.
The writing was beautiful, very polished and descriptive, which I love. There was so much happening, I did feel as though the plot got a little frenzied at times, but other than that, the prose were great at bringing the world, characters, and plot to life in my mind as I read, and made this book a joy to read not just to enjoy the prose, but for the story itself. The ending was a perfect setup for the next book in the series.
All in all, The Mark of Things Unwanted was a great start to a unique new series. Powerful storytelling, diverse characters, and a fantastically built word work together to make this an unforgettable book.
January 31, 2021
#SpoilerWarrior
There is....a LOT going on in this book. And it took awhile to really get locked into reading it and understanding what was happening and all of the different tribes/gods/lands.
Do yourself a favor and reference the map. A LOT.
But it was fantastic.
The world building was really well done.
I cannot wait to read the next one.
There is....a LOT going on in this book. And it took awhile to really get locked into reading it and understanding what was happening and all of the different tribes/gods/lands.
Do yourself a favor and reference the map. A LOT.
But it was fantastic.
The world building was really well done.
I cannot wait to read the next one.
January 3, 2021
3.5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Alex for an honest review (thanks Alex!) - so I will be writing my thoughts here. There are spoilers below.
I was really drawn into the characters and their relationships with one another. I loved how they communicated - their interactions were generally very realistic and raw, they spoke their minds, and in each conversation the characters got straight to the point. I don't see enough books that do this, and it was a very refreshing change. I especially loved the explorations of familial, romantic and platonic relationships - it was unlike other books that I had read as it explored all of these things in a realistic manner. The story also didn't shy away from exploring a range of issues, which were done well. I also loved how the story explored mental health, LGBTIQ+ relationships and had a cast of diverse, unique characters!
However, I believe that I would have loved to see more exploration of certain characters and have more insight into their thoughts, feelings and backstories. Sometimes certain chapters felt a little short and rushed - and I would have liked to have seen more interactions between certain characters. For example, I was intrigued by Aisling's character but felt that her horrific actions towards Cinn were at odds with how she acted during the rest of the book, as I did not see her as particularly ruthless or cruel during most interactions with others - but maybe that is because most of her interactions were with Nora - whom she obviously was close with.
I would absolutely love to see more backstory in the next books into Cinn's, Eaon's, Nora's and Aisling's pasts to get an idea of their characters more! I believe that Cinn and Eaon were very interesting, complex characters, but that I did not get a full picture on what Eaon dealt with mentally in his past and during the events of the book - which I would love to see explored in the rest of the books.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, I will definitely be reading the others and look forward to when they are released!
I was really drawn into the characters and their relationships with one another. I loved how they communicated - their interactions were generally very realistic and raw, they spoke their minds, and in each conversation the characters got straight to the point. I don't see enough books that do this, and it was a very refreshing change. I especially loved the explorations of familial, romantic and platonic relationships - it was unlike other books that I had read as it explored all of these things in a realistic manner. The story also didn't shy away from exploring a range of issues, which were done well. I also loved how the story explored mental health, LGBTIQ+ relationships and had a cast of diverse, unique characters!
However, I believe that I would have loved to see more exploration of certain characters and have more insight into their thoughts, feelings and backstories. Sometimes certain chapters felt a little short and rushed - and I would have liked to have seen more interactions between certain characters. For example, I was intrigued by Aisling's character but felt that her horrific actions towards Cinn were at odds with how she acted during the rest of the book, as I did not see her as particularly ruthless or cruel during most interactions with others - but maybe that is because most of her interactions were with Nora - whom she obviously was close with.
I would absolutely love to see more backstory in the next books into Cinn's, Eaon's, Nora's and Aisling's pasts to get an idea of their characters more! I believe that Cinn and Eaon were very interesting, complex characters, but that I did not get a full picture on what Eaon dealt with mentally in his past and during the events of the book - which I would love to see explored in the rest of the books.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, I will definitely be reading the others and look forward to when they are released!
July 11, 2022
Sit down and buckle up because I have a lot of emotions about this.
What we have here is some gay shit. Like the only words this book knows is LGBTQ.
Im not going to explain the plot because there's literally a blurb up top but what I will discuss is Daddy D, Daddy O, Death Dude, Mr. Cinnamon Roll and Miss I-Dont-Take-No-For-An-Answer.
This isn't explicitly a romance so beware when you're coming in. But the relationship dynamics between the characters are amazing.
Daddy D (Dearmead): man, I was rooting for him. A lot. Super stupid and in LOVE CLEARLY. He is the highlight right now and I need more of him in book 2.
Daddy O (Owen): also very stupid. Also need more. Also very in love.
Death Dude (Eaon): I literally LOVE THIS MAN. Also very stupid. Also very in love. Has the best relationship dyanmic with a certain someone and it broke my heart the entire time. I find it really hard to establish an emotional connection with tragic characters but Eaon was the perfect blend of sad, snappy, and stupid.
Mr Cinammon Roll (Literally, Cinn): but he could kill you. I thought it would be difficult reading a mute character but I found it super easy to connect with Cinn. I was pleasantly surprised to see his resolve and strength, considering he was also set up as a tragic character. Absolutely feral for him. I can't wait to see him grow in book 2, he deserves the world.
Miss I-Dont-Take-No-For-An-Answer (Eavha): not going to lie, she started off a little annoying and I think that was a really great starting point because watching her become fierce and feral throughout was such a pay off. I can see how powerful she is going to become and its a little scary.
Very character driven and the plot flowed perfectly, I kept getting slapped with different twists and it was making me stress not knowing who I could trust lol.
What we have here is some gay shit. Like the only words this book knows is LGBTQ.
Im not going to explain the plot because there's literally a blurb up top but what I will discuss is Daddy D, Daddy O, Death Dude, Mr. Cinnamon Roll and Miss I-Dont-Take-No-For-An-Answer.
This isn't explicitly a romance so beware when you're coming in. But the relationship dynamics between the characters are amazing.
Daddy D (Dearmead): man, I was rooting for him. A lot. Super stupid and in LOVE CLEARLY. He is the highlight right now and I need more of him in book 2.
Daddy O (Owen): also very stupid. Also need more. Also very in love.
Death Dude (Eaon): I literally LOVE THIS MAN. Also very stupid. Also very in love. Has the best relationship dyanmic with a certain someone and it broke my heart the entire time. I find it really hard to establish an emotional connection with tragic characters but Eaon was the perfect blend of sad, snappy, and stupid.
Mr Cinammon Roll (Literally, Cinn): but he could kill you. I thought it would be difficult reading a mute character but I found it super easy to connect with Cinn. I was pleasantly surprised to see his resolve and strength, considering he was also set up as a tragic character. Absolutely feral for him. I can't wait to see him grow in book 2, he deserves the world.
Miss I-Dont-Take-No-For-An-Answer (Eavha): not going to lie, she started off a little annoying and I think that was a really great starting point because watching her become fierce and feral throughout was such a pay off. I can see how powerful she is going to become and its a little scary.
Very character driven and the plot flowed perfectly, I kept getting slapped with different twists and it was making me stress not knowing who I could trust lol.
July 4, 2021
It had been at least a year since I read a new book when I decided to give 'The Mark of Things Unwanted' a go. From the book's description, I was intrigued, but I didn't exactly expect the story to stand out much from all the other incredible fantasy books out there. For the most part, I thought the book would be a basic but interesting fantasy story that would make for a good re-entry into the fantasy genre. Having finished, I am now happy to say that this book easily makes it into my top three favorite books ever. I've never read a story that appeals so perfectly to my personal taste. I've also never left a book review before, but I knew I needed to make an exception for this criminally underrated story because the world honestly needs more of the kind of happiness 'The Mark of Things Unwanted' brought me. I wouldn't expect that a book interwoven with difficult, heavy topics and struggles could also become my favorite comfort read, but then again, there are plenty of things about this book that I wouldn't expect. I think a flaw of the fantasy genre is that books in this category tend to lean too heavily on either borderline saccharine escapism or overly gritty, dark cynicism, but Alex Clifford strikes a good balance in between. The cast goes through some incredibly dark moments, but the book is by no means a painful read thanks to the authenticity of the connections these characters build and share throughout the story. If you're a fan of character-driven plot, familiar yet enticing worldbuilding, genuinely surprisingly plot twists, and a unique, relatable cast of characters, then I would encourage you to give 'The Mark of Things Unwanted' a chance.
December 30, 2020
Wow, wow, wow! This was amazing. I’m so glad I reached out to Alex for this e-arc, because I enjoyed every page of this book.
This review will also be non-spoilery, since the book isn’t out yet. It comes out on January 5th, 2021, and I highly recommend checking out this book.
The Mark of Things Unwanted tells the story of many, many characters, the main trio being Eaon, his sister Eavha, and Cinn, a newly escaped Kinner who is being hunted for his immortality. The siblings have been excommunicated from Wyldeden, their land, and now have to navigate the strangeness of the outside world.
So right off the bat, the characters were all likable to me. The writing style was easy to get through and was incredible when it came to describing scenes of action, powers, emotion, or the world around the characters.
This book is enchanting, and I was drawn in very fast. Even when the POV changed from the main trio of characters, I never became disinterested in the story. It was still very intriguing, which was great!
This is Alex’s debut and I’m so, so excited for the next book in the series, and for what else she writes. This was absolutely fantastic for a debut.
5/5 stars!
This review will also be non-spoilery, since the book isn’t out yet. It comes out on January 5th, 2021, and I highly recommend checking out this book.
The Mark of Things Unwanted tells the story of many, many characters, the main trio being Eaon, his sister Eavha, and Cinn, a newly escaped Kinner who is being hunted for his immortality. The siblings have been excommunicated from Wyldeden, their land, and now have to navigate the strangeness of the outside world.
So right off the bat, the characters were all likable to me. The writing style was easy to get through and was incredible when it came to describing scenes of action, powers, emotion, or the world around the characters.
This book is enchanting, and I was drawn in very fast. Even when the POV changed from the main trio of characters, I never became disinterested in the story. It was still very intriguing, which was great!
This is Alex’s debut and I’m so, so excited for the next book in the series, and for what else she writes. This was absolutely fantastic for a debut.
5/5 stars!
November 28, 2020
I have to say, this is a beautiful story !
I immediately liked the universe. There is more or less three storylines at the beginning of the novel. The first one is the storyline of an immortal character called only « the kinner ». You meet this character while he is escaping from prison.
The second one is about two witches (you use « witch » even for men), Eavha and Eaon. They are siblings and she is exceptional for her talent with magic while he is singled out because of his loss of magic. They live protected in the Boat, a domain where their clan lives peacefully, when events come and shake up this tranquility.
The third one is about Aisling, a princess governing a city in the South of the continent (there is a map ! I love maps), and Nora, her Second, but I don’t want to tell too much because I don’t want it to become spoilery !
I really liked the writing style, very fluid and with the right amount of lengths to let the reader take a pause. Most of the characters are endearing but not as soon as the book begins. I liked learning to like them. Plot twists worked really well !
A very good read that I recommend !
I immediately liked the universe. There is more or less three storylines at the beginning of the novel. The first one is the storyline of an immortal character called only « the kinner ». You meet this character while he is escaping from prison.
The second one is about two witches (you use « witch » even for men), Eavha and Eaon. They are siblings and she is exceptional for her talent with magic while he is singled out because of his loss of magic. They live protected in the Boat, a domain where their clan lives peacefully, when events come and shake up this tranquility.
The third one is about Aisling, a princess governing a city in the South of the continent (there is a map ! I love maps), and Nora, her Second, but I don’t want to tell too much because I don’t want it to become spoilery !
I really liked the writing style, very fluid and with the right amount of lengths to let the reader take a pause. Most of the characters are endearing but not as soon as the book begins. I liked learning to like them. Plot twists worked really well !
A very good read that I recommend !
April 25, 2021
I loved, loved, LOVED this book. It had everything I’d ever wanted in a book and more. I won't dare spoil it, but it was intelligent and sophisticated, yet it retained the spunk of the protagonists in the wonderfully crafted dialogue, and the complicated and layered antagonists. I fell in love with this book from the first page, and I continued to devour it from there. I screamed, I laughed, I cried. It was one hell of a ride, one of which I’ll sadly never take again with fresh eyes. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to lovers of high fantasy, LGBTIQA+ and POC representation, and those who like to read on the edge of their seat. This book will always be my favourite in the entire world, and I will treasure it forever. Thank you so much, Alex Clifford, for this absolute gift of a novel, and for taking me on this wonderful journey with you. I can tell you put your very heart and soul into each carefully crafted word, and I cannot wait to see what you do next with this series and beyond.
December 3, 2020
Brilliant debut novel
I absolutely loved this book!
The world building is amazing! From the very first page you are catapulted to another place and into a crazy and dangerous story. The whole time I was reading, wanting to read quicker to find out what happened but cursing myself because it was almost finished.
I loved the way language was used in this story.. I won't say how here because I don't want to give spoilers..
The character development was great, each and every character was interesting and as the story went on you got to see their growth.
This book hasn't even released and I want the next book!!
Brilliant debut novel. Definitely will be impatiently waiting for the next instalment of this amazing new series!
I absolutely loved this book!
The world building is amazing! From the very first page you are catapulted to another place and into a crazy and dangerous story. The whole time I was reading, wanting to read quicker to find out what happened but cursing myself because it was almost finished.
I loved the way language was used in this story.. I won't say how here because I don't want to give spoilers..
The character development was great, each and every character was interesting and as the story went on you got to see their growth.
This book hasn't even released and I want the next book!!
Brilliant debut novel. Definitely will be impatiently waiting for the next instalment of this amazing new series!
December 7, 2020
This book is truly exceptional. It is expertly crafted, with a captivating narrative and remarkable world-building. The characters are diverse and distinctive, each grappling with their own personal challenges as they embark on this enthralling journey. Notably, it is one of the few books I am aware of that features disabled characters as central figures rather than relegating them to supporting roles. I highly recommend this book; you will not regret the decision to read it.
January 12, 2021
I received this book yesterday and could hardly put it down; I haven’t been this hooked by a book in ages. Such an immersive world, believable characters, a perfect amount of detail and a well paced story. Alex has huge talent and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
February 13, 2021
Great read with plenty of character development. Did at times find the storyline a little erratic when it came to character interactions at crucial segments, but all in all was a heavily descriptive story that has set it self up beautifully for a seemless follow up in book two.
April 19, 2021
Fantastic book. I was hooked from the first page. Please hurry up with book two!!!
May 8, 2021
Just...wow! Review to come.
June 24, 2021
An engaging young adult fantasy. Well-written plot development. World building was a bit piecemeal in places, but I prefer that over being bogged down in detail.
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