The Witchlands series by Susan Dennard - Reading from 'Windwitch (The Witchlands #2)' from March 7th 2019

[Tati]

"On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch."

Feel free to join!

[Twila]

So it's Feb 4th and not the 6th?
Just want to make sure.

[Tati]

Sorry, my mistake, it's the 6th

[CallMeSensei]

oooooh! I want in! :D

[Tati]

I've read the first chapter and it's pretty intriguing so far! Looks like it's going to be fast paced!

[Twila]

I've also read the first chapter and I have to agree with you Tati! Lots has happened already :D

[Tati]

15%

I liked the prince! (view spoiler)[ and I wonder where the girls' magic fits in the elemental magic (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

I don't think I love the prince, but I guess I like him too. But that dance! Whoa xD
I think Iseult's storyline is my favourite so far. Her past seems like it's more interesting than Safi's.

[Twila]

I can't put it down!

[Tati]

Yeah, it's pretty good!!

The other prince, Leopold, also has his moments! And the Bloodwitch is not that bad either

[Twila]

The bloodwitch isn't that bad at all. Also, I thought I might have seen the possibility of a romance between Iseult and himself. Or was that just me?

[Tati]

Nope, I saw it as well! Hope it happens

[Twila]

After everything he's done, I don't know how it can happen. But I hope so too!

[Tati]

I'm at 86% and (view spoiler)[ maybe the other Monk will smash some sense into him? (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

I'm only at 65%
(view spoiler)[I really loved the entire scene with the sea foxes. It was really exciting and I was sitting on the edge of my seat xD (hide spoiler)]
I really want to continue reading, but I've got homework :(

[Gillian]

may i join I'm i just started it today and am at chapter 18 :)

[Twila]

Of course Gillian!

[Gillian]

im really enjoying this book there is so much going on and i agree there is a possibility of romance between the bloodwitch and Iseult (view spoiler)[ she is the only one he cannot smell after all there has to be something in that (hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

chapter 28 (view spoiler)[ the sea foxes are real they were fierce and smart.
Despite them realising it they are becoming a tight little group.
This thread witch that is in Iseult's head is a worry now she is trying to get Iseult to pull away from Safiya I'm sure that would be a bad idea these girls are obviously meant to be together you can feel it when they fight together as one. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

They are quite the group, huh? :)
But yeah Gillian, I really love the bond that's between Iseult and Safi. I don't see this type of companionship and trust often enough in YA. It's nice.

[Gillian]

85% done OH NO!!! (view spoiler)[ they getting a bit frisky now. phew they got interrupted, almost ruined a good book thank goodness for the drums (hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

all done, great book looking forward to the next book as this story is far from finished it has only really just begun.

[Twila]

I loved this book! I'm glad you enjoyed it too Gillian :)

[Abi]

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Reading from the 4th of March 2016

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[Rachel]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ enjoying this so far - but I have no clue how to pronounce Iseult's name!! Interested to learn more about the types of witches! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ the cleaving thing was really strange! Organs falling out, black pustules...eww! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ I'm finding this quite slow going, it is interesting but the pacing is difficult for me. Im interested to know what's been happening in Iseult's camp while she's been gone (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed this, but the pacing was a bit slow for me. The friendship between Safi and Iseult was one of my favourite things - I think that friendship is something more YA books need, especially fantasy. The romance wasn't too heavy - I would have liked to see it develop a bit more. I'm guessing that something will happen between Iseult and the bloodwitch in the next book. Overall I liked this and I'm looking forward to the next book (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 9th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Kelly]

Is it April 6th or 9th? It says 9th here, but is the 6th in the April Buddy Reads thread.

Thank you!

[These Violent Delights]

I may join you guys for this BR!

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

I believe Anna's also buddy reading this one and we're going 5 chapters per day. You guys can do that with us if you want or go at your own pace.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapters 1-5: (view spoiler)[ I really like the Safi and Iseult. Both brave and could easily stand on their own. But I like their sisterly bond even more. I like Merik. For once, the prince is hot headed and does what he wants instead of playing into politics and obeying his King's orders. I hope that quality of his stays that way. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Just read first chapter-exciting start.

[Katherine]

Hey. About to start this book.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

You guys want to join our 5 chapters a day read? You can also read at your own pace.Totally up to you.

[Karen]

Just read first four chapters. Can't wait to see how the three characters are going to meet/get on.

[[deleted user]]

Chapters 1-5: (view spoiler)[ I love Safi and Iseult and how they're introduced, straight into action. I had a little trouble differentiating them, as they're so similar, but once I did, I loved their chemistry. Their relationship, their bond, is great. I love how comfortable they are with each other, and how clever and badass they are.

Really happy about how they're explaining everything. We're given the information we need. The fight with the Bloodwitch was great! They're so great and in-sync!

Still not sure about Merik, though I agree with what @Nicole says. Especially I like that he doesn't see eye to eye with his sister, and he isn't quiet about that. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

First nine chapters done. Don't want to put it down. Intriguing. Loving Iseult.

[Kelly]

I am about to start Chapter 12, and I'm still unsure how I feel regarding this book.

I like that there are two bad-A female characters leading the show, and I love the description of the fight scenes. At the same time though, I feel lost in this world. I'm waiting for a character to info-dump and explain to me why certain people are important and WTH a domna is. Also, there are antagonists coming from every direction; so much so, that I don't really care about any of them, or their fights with the main characters.

In short, I wish the story could be narrowed down a bit, with more thorough explanations.

[[deleted user]]

Kelly wrote: "I am about to start Chapter 12, and I'm still unsure how I feel regarding this book.

I like that there are two bad-A female characters leading the show, and I love the description of the fight sc..."

I'm at chapter 7 yet but I feel what you say. I really like the two girls, and the action scenes and even though at the beginning I appreciated that all the world-building was not dropped at the same time, now it's confusing because they keep using terms that we're not familiar with. We can assume their meaning, but we're just assuming, not knowing.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ Honestly I'm a little bored. The world building is great but it's jumping around too much. We're already almost 100 pgs in and I'm failing to see what or where the plot is. I like all the butt kicking but the moment it gets there, the scene cuts off and goes somewhere else. I hope it gets better (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Kelly I think s domna is a duke or duchess. Basically someone who governs a city or district but not equal to a queen or king. Does that make sense?

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 8-10: (view spoiler)[ Okay it's definitely picking up. I'm sorry for being negative and for my language but where is the damn plot?!? Looks like the romance is going to be between Merik and Safi. Things are getting interesting in Iseult's side. But still...am I the only one not seeing the plot? If I am then please enlighten me. I'm curious about where the story's going to take the bloodwitch in this. I'm predicting that he's going to end up helping the girls, maybe even becoming Iseult's love interest. But maybe I'm reaching and that I'm letting my romantic side do the talking. Guess we'll have to see. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 8-10: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I feel the same way about the plot. I am enjoying the fights but I need something more. When the Bloodwitch appeared for the first time, I thought about him being Iseult's love interest too! (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Anna I really hope that's where the bloodwitch. I mean it can't just be safi that's lucky lol.

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[I knew they wouldn't greet Iseult as if nothing had happened. Do you think she is the Puppeteer?
Also, I like Alma, even though Iseult doesn't. (hide spoiler)]

@Nicole Exactly. And maybe I'm a romantic too but I liked Safi and Merikr's dance scene, and their conversation before that. I hope, as you said in a comment above, that Merik's attitude doesn't change. At the beginning, when we were introduced to Merik and Kullen, I assumed that they both were the romantic interests.

[Karen]

Chapter 17 - agree, there are some words I'm assuming mean a certain thing and don't know if I'm right but I'm not feeling it's impeding my enjoyment of the book too much. Wondering just how Merik's aunt came to be involved with Iseult as a younger girl. Would like to know a little more about the world and how it came to be this way, but the recurring appearance of the Bloodwitch suggests there's something more to these characters than we've seen so far.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Karen wrote: "Chapter 17 - agree, there are some words I'm assuming mean a certain thing and don't know if I'm right but I'm not feeling it's impeding my enjoyment of the book too much. Wondering just how Merik'..."

I'm honestly more curious about the bloodwitch more than anything else going on in the book right now.

[Karen]

Up to chapter thirty. Things have slowed down a little, so hope it'll pick up a bit. Merik and Safiya seem like they'll make a great couple. Also curious to know more about the Bloodwitch and how he fits into events.