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Witherward #2
Мятеж
Лондон, который вы не могли и представить!
Добро пожаловать в Уизерворд, город-копию Лондона, не похожий ни на что другое. Биг-Бен? Тут он не нужен! А как же Букингемский дворец? Тоже без надобности! Здесь люди превращаются в животных, а магия наводняет улицы.
Уизерворд населяют шесть народов — чародеи, метаморфы, призраки, телепаты, оракулы и мастера душ. Кассии семнадцать лет, из которых семь она была чародейкой и десять — метаморфом… при этом по-настоящему не принятой никем.
Двери общества молодых одаренных магов для нее закрыты. Пока однажды девушка случайно не пробуждает древнее заклинание. Теперь в ее руках судьба всего города.
Олливан, старший брат Кассии, пребывающий в изгнании, замышляет захватить власть. Однако заклинание, которое он наложил на куклу в надежде сокрушить своего врага, сработало совсем не так, как было задумано.
Теперь девушка и мстительный маг должны работать вместе на благо будущего города. У внуков верховного чародея есть только одна попытка, чтобы спасти жителей от неминуемой гибели.Лондон, который вы не могли и представить!
Добро пожаловать в Уизерворд, город-копию Лондона, не похожий ни на что другое. Биг-Бен? Тут он не нужен! А как же Букингемский дворец? Тоже без надобности! Здесь люди превращаются в животных, а магия наводняет улицы.
Уизерворд населяют шесть народов — чародеи, метаморфы, призраки, телепаты, оракулы и мастера душ. Кассии семнадцать лет, из которых семь она была чародейкой и десять — метаморфом… при этом по-настоящему не принятой никем.
Двери общества молодых одаренных магов для нее закрыты. Пока однажды девушка случайно не пробуждает древнее заклинание. Теперь в ее руках судьба всего города.
Олливан, старший брат Кассии, пребывающий в изгнании, замышляет захватить власть. Однако заклинание, которое он наложил на куклу в надежде сокрушить своего врага, сработало совсем не так, как было задумано.
Теперь девушка и мстительный маг должны работать вместе на благо будущего города. У внуков верховного чародея есть только одна попытка, чтобы спасти жителей от неминуемой гибели.Лондон, который вы не могли и представить!
512 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
35 people are currently reading
1444 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Mathewson
6 books177 followersHannah Mathewson was born in Cambridge, UK. Her untamed creative streak led her through acting, music, drawing, and a decade-long desire to make films, before she narrowed in on writing in her teens.
She studied Film and Television at the University of East Anglia, and worked in various jobs in cinemas, libraries, and archives while pursuing writing. She currently lives in Oxfordshire.
She studied Film and Television at the University of East Anglia, and worked in various jobs in cinemas, libraries, and archives while pursuing writing. She currently lives in Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 30, 2022
I think I might have enjoyed this book more if it hadn't felt so jarring. This is technically book 2 in the WITHERWARD series, though it happens before it, but it honestly feels like it comes from an entirely different world.
If I were to describe WITHERWARD it would be as a portal fantasy about a divided (not-)London on the brink of civil war. Thus I'd expected WAYWARD to have the same feel about it, but it just does not. This is a story about a monumentally stupid decision and some drama that comes from it because the central family has awful interpersonal dynamics.
There is pretty much nothing about the city tensions in WAYWARD, and barely anything about the rest of the city, save as a periphery thing that has no effect on it, and absolutely no "our" London. This all made this feel like it was a story that had been dreamt up in another world and then painted over to this world in order to sell as the same series. Particularly as I'd just re-read WITHERWARD before hand.
Not to mention that WITHERWARD ends in such a way like it's setting up a clear sequel - there are prophecies about the future and so so so many unresolved plot threads. That is the story I wanted, and to have an entirely different story that didn't even fit into world that had previously been created just made it so hard to get into the book because it was like trying to relearn everything I already knew about the world and characters.
As I said, this is set before WITHERWARD. How far, I don't know. I imagine it has to be several years as Cassia seems so much younger than she did in the first book. This extreme youth/immaturity made this whole book feel very YA when combined with her arc of dealing with a personal issue in order to overcome her magical block. The first book feels very much like it's in the adult category.
I do think that, had it been sold differently, I would have enjoyed it more, because it's a story about siblings and magic going spectacularly wrong. Those are elements I like, and also Ollivan is scheming and I like that too. But it just felt so off from what I'd expected, what defined this world for me.
There was also a fair bit of jumping about in time (by a few hours or days) between Ollivan and Cassia's chapters at time. Some were signalled. Some were not. It was really confusing keeping track of what was happening because you had to work out when this all was happening. This is because the book was strictly swapping between POVs each chapter. If that pattern had broken, it could have all been linear, and then I might have not got muddle (which of course made it even harder to get into the book.)
If I were to describe WITHERWARD it would be as a portal fantasy about a divided (not-)London on the brink of civil war. Thus I'd expected WAYWARD to have the same feel about it, but it just does not. This is a story about a monumentally stupid decision and some drama that comes from it because the central family has awful interpersonal dynamics.
There is pretty much nothing about the city tensions in WAYWARD, and barely anything about the rest of the city, save as a periphery thing that has no effect on it, and absolutely no "our" London. This all made this feel like it was a story that had been dreamt up in another world and then painted over to this world in order to sell as the same series. Particularly as I'd just re-read WITHERWARD before hand.
Not to mention that WITHERWARD ends in such a way like it's setting up a clear sequel - there are prophecies about the future and so so so many unresolved plot threads. That is the story I wanted, and to have an entirely different story that didn't even fit into world that had previously been created just made it so hard to get into the book because it was like trying to relearn everything I already knew about the world and characters.
As I said, this is set before WITHERWARD. How far, I don't know. I imagine it has to be several years as Cassia seems so much younger than she did in the first book. This extreme youth/immaturity made this whole book feel very YA when combined with her arc of dealing with a personal issue in order to overcome her magical block. The first book feels very much like it's in the adult category.
I do think that, had it been sold differently, I would have enjoyed it more, because it's a story about siblings and magic going spectacularly wrong. Those are elements I like, and also Ollivan is scheming and I like that too. But it just felt so off from what I'd expected, what defined this world for me.
There was also a fair bit of jumping about in time (by a few hours or days) between Ollivan and Cassia's chapters at time. Some were signalled. Some were not. It was really confusing keeping track of what was happening because you had to work out when this all was happening. This is because the book was strictly swapping between POVs each chapter. If that pattern had broken, it could have all been linear, and then I might have not got muddle (which of course made it even harder to get into the book.)
August 28, 2022
I really love these books, they’re so immersive. Hoping for a third book following on from the first!
June 2, 2022
Firstly the story is set in an alternative London, which is kind of a parallel universe to the real London. It has a Victorian feel to it, and reminds me of A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab with it's different Londons. Being a massive fan of Schwab, it was this that drew me to Wayward.
It is very well written and has some intriguing plot lines that are keeping me hooked. I was particularly invested in the Violet storyline and I felt for sure from the start that she had a huge part to play in things to come. The characters are interesting and it is great to explore a sibling relationship for a change, as opposed to a romantic relationship.
The characters in the book are teenagers, however they feel much more mature and so I would recommend giving it a go even if you wouldn't normally read a young adult book. This story feels slightly dark and slightly gothic with a well constructed world and magic system.
It is very well written and has some intriguing plot lines that are keeping me hooked. I was particularly invested in the Violet storyline and I felt for sure from the start that she had a huge part to play in things to come. The characters are interesting and it is great to explore a sibling relationship for a change, as opposed to a romantic relationship.
The characters in the book are teenagers, however they feel much more mature and so I would recommend giving it a go even if you wouldn't normally read a young adult book. This story feels slightly dark and slightly gothic with a well constructed world and magic system.
January 13, 2024
2.5. Oh, selecting this as my first read of 2024 was a positively rotten choice. With my goal for 2024 being 50 books, I have to finish one book a week to keep up. This book took almost two - 13 days to be precise - because it was so utterly boring. Cassia as a main character was a miscalculated move, as the release of Witherward was so long ago, I had entirely forgotten about her existence. I still remembered the universe of Witherward good enough to keep pace with the story. Ollivan and the gang-gang, as they should most amply be called, were far more interesting to read about. On another note, the entire political sphere confused me. It felt entirely over-complicated and ruined the magical base layer of the book. The entire book is about magicians, and yet, they hardly cast spells or talk about spells. Instead, the majority of the book presents the political conflicts and the several different leadership sphere within each magical fraction. Plainly speaking, I am disappointed in Mathewson with the second book in the Witherward universe, and I sincerely hope that there is no third book in production. There was simply no unfinished story - a third book is simply not needed.
June 14, 2022
Wayward is a magical journey in a unique and mystical world.
Hannah Mathewson has developed a huge, detailed version of London full of distinct characters, races and environments. This London felt to me like a steampunk world of magic and relationships teetering on the edge of a knife.
Hannah has a very clever way with words and fantastic expressive prowess wrapped in an imaginative, explanatory mind. The world building in Wayward is phenomenal, each aspect of the story is described in the utmost detail allowing the reader to form a clear and personal picture of the environment the characters are living in.
The characters themselves are very deep, fulsome in their personalities. From the adolescent innocence and bravery of Cassia to the arrogant, cockiness of Ollivan. Hannah makes sure that each of her subjects are given ample focus in order to support the terrific story being formulated.
Wayward takes you on a other-worldly ride through mystic London. Fans of the latter Harry Potter books (the darker ones) will surely enjoy this book but if that doesn’t describe you, you should also find a place within this story. Hannah’s skills as an author ensure an enjoyable ride.
Hannah Mathewson has developed a huge, detailed version of London full of distinct characters, races and environments. This London felt to me like a steampunk world of magic and relationships teetering on the edge of a knife.
Hannah has a very clever way with words and fantastic expressive prowess wrapped in an imaginative, explanatory mind. The world building in Wayward is phenomenal, each aspect of the story is described in the utmost detail allowing the reader to form a clear and personal picture of the environment the characters are living in.
The characters themselves are very deep, fulsome in their personalities. From the adolescent innocence and bravery of Cassia to the arrogant, cockiness of Ollivan. Hannah makes sure that each of her subjects are given ample focus in order to support the terrific story being formulated.
Wayward takes you on a other-worldly ride through mystic London. Fans of the latter Harry Potter books (the darker ones) will surely enjoy this book but if that doesn’t describe you, you should also find a place within this story. Hannah’s skills as an author ensure an enjoyable ride.
May 17, 2022
This was a solid YA read, and I loved being back in the world that we first encountered in Witherward.
It was great to see the focus on a sibling relationship rather than putting romantic relationships at the forefront, and the characters felt well-rounded.
For some reason that I can’t put my finger on, I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book - but will still be looking forward to seeing what the author puts out next!
It was great to see the focus on a sibling relationship rather than putting romantic relationships at the forefront, and the characters felt well-rounded.
For some reason that I can’t put my finger on, I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book - but will still be looking forward to seeing what the author puts out next!
January 8, 2023
This book was wonderful and painful with how close to the vest it hits but it sported an array of lovely strange characters. It's turns were at times completely unpredictable.
July 21, 2022
[A free copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review]
Wayward is a magical rollercoaster and a great prequel to Witherward.
Wayward gives us the backstory of Cassia, a character already established in Witherward, but who always seemed a bit of an odd one out within the cast of Witherward. Giving Cassia her own book, and her own backstory, makes her character so much more interesting.
Once again the London of Witherward swept me away. I loved the characters, the different types of magic (great to see some more of Sorcerer magic, after the Changeling magic from Witherward!), and the politics. I really hope future books will have some more of the newly introduced characters as well, as I got quite attached to some of them.
Wayward did miss a bit of the wonder that Witherward had. Despite it being a prequel, I’d definitely recommend reading Witherward first, to get to know the world through a stranger’s eyes. Other than that, this was a solid installment in the series, and I’m looking forward to any future books.
Wayward is a magical rollercoaster and a great prequel to Witherward.
Wayward gives us the backstory of Cassia, a character already established in Witherward, but who always seemed a bit of an odd one out within the cast of Witherward. Giving Cassia her own book, and her own backstory, makes her character so much more interesting.
Once again the London of Witherward swept me away. I loved the characters, the different types of magic (great to see some more of Sorcerer magic, after the Changeling magic from Witherward!), and the politics. I really hope future books will have some more of the newly introduced characters as well, as I got quite attached to some of them.
Wayward did miss a bit of the wonder that Witherward had. Despite it being a prequel, I’d definitely recommend reading Witherward first, to get to know the world through a stranger’s eyes. Other than that, this was a solid installment in the series, and I’m looking forward to any future books.
May 23, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley & Titan Books for my ARC.
When I first requested this I thought it was a sequel to Witherward so when i realised it was a prequel featuring Cassia as our MC, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
This book is set (i think) a couple of years before the events in Witherward, and mostly within the Sorcerer district. Cassia has gone back to her family home to try and improve her magic, but her family are distant and her Grandfather is a tyrannical leader of their faction.
At the same time as Cassia is trying to improve her magic, her brother has found a way out of his banishment from the Otherworld.
The book then follows dual POV of Cassia and her brother, Ollivand. As they learn how to trust each other and get to know one another having been separated for most of their lives.
It took me a bit to get into this book but I genuinely really enjoyed it. I always wanted to see more of Cassia after reading Witherward so was glad of that opportunity. In the context of the whole Witherward series it didn't necessarily need to be written and could easily be a standalone in it's own right, but I enjoyed it.
I appreciated getting to know Cassia and Hester more, as well as having more of a deep dive into the politics of the other factions and all the corruption.
I really love the world building and magic systems that Mathewson has created within the Witherward series and very much look forward to the next installment.
CW: injury, fire, torture, death
When I first requested this I thought it was a sequel to Witherward so when i realised it was a prequel featuring Cassia as our MC, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
This book is set (i think) a couple of years before the events in Witherward, and mostly within the Sorcerer district. Cassia has gone back to her family home to try and improve her magic, but her family are distant and her Grandfather is a tyrannical leader of their faction.
At the same time as Cassia is trying to improve her magic, her brother has found a way out of his banishment from the Otherworld.
The book then follows dual POV of Cassia and her brother, Ollivand. As they learn how to trust each other and get to know one another having been separated for most of their lives.
It took me a bit to get into this book but I genuinely really enjoyed it. I always wanted to see more of Cassia after reading Witherward so was glad of that opportunity. In the context of the whole Witherward series it didn't necessarily need to be written and could easily be a standalone in it's own right, but I enjoyed it.
I appreciated getting to know Cassia and Hester more, as well as having more of a deep dive into the politics of the other factions and all the corruption.
I really love the world building and magic systems that Mathewson has created within the Witherward series and very much look forward to the next installment.
CW: injury, fire, torture, death
July 27, 2023
I took this book to read on a holiday really hoping I wouldn’t regret it and it did not disappoint. From the first chapter I was hooked with the interesting plot and Cassia’s relatable struggles. What really impressed me was the way in which it was a sequel to Witherward but still maintained independence in plot and other introduced characters. I wasn’t sure about a sequel after Witherward’s ending but this book clearly proved me wrong.
Cassia was definitely one of my favourite characters after the first book but I think I love her even more now. Like the character development was insane?? I was literally cheering for her the whole way as she navigated the expectations pressed upon her and figuring out what she wanted for herself.
I also did not expect myself to be so invested in a doll but Violet added so much intrigue to the story and honestly lifted it so much. It was really well written in a way that almost had me sympathising with her. Almost.
Overall 4.5/5, would recommend if you enjoyed Witherward or low fantasy in general. Hoping for a third book in the series!!
Cassia was definitely one of my favourite characters after the first book but I think I love her even more now. Like the character development was insane?? I was literally cheering for her the whole way as she navigated the expectations pressed upon her and figuring out what she wanted for herself.
I also did not expect myself to be so invested in a doll but Violet added so much intrigue to the story and honestly lifted it so much. It was really well written in a way that almost had me sympathising with her. Almost.
Overall 4.5/5, would recommend if you enjoyed Witherward or low fantasy in general. Hoping for a third book in the series!!
June 28, 2022
2.5 stars. It's a book where not a lot happens. The main character, Cassia, is super annoying and immature. If you skip to the Ollivian parts it's bearable. I didn't read Witherward but that sounds much better from the reviews of Wayward. This definitely strikes a very YA tone but wasn't marketed that way. The writing is good, but the characters and the plot falls short.
June 8, 2023
I enjoyed this book way more than the first one. Witherward mentally exhausted me with all the rules and magic talk so I couldn’t t wait to finish it. But with Wayward, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and how it played out.
There so so much more under the surface and many betrayals and secrets were revealed.
There so so much more under the surface and many betrayals and secrets were revealed.
July 16, 2022
Thank you to titan books for sending me a copy of this to review! :)
Being back in the world of ‘witherward’ was magical, we learn more about characters that weren’t originally in the spotlight. Beautiful romance and connections between characters, and great character development.
The mc cassia is a young sorcerer who is struggling to prove her magical worth. Her older brother ollivan who was banished has returned, which causes a stir between the families and friends. A magical spell that he produced years ago has come back to haunt him, and is released upon the world.
Ollivan and cassia must come together to prevent a magical civil war.
I really liked reading the adventure in this book, I definitely recommend this series!
Being back in the world of ‘witherward’ was magical, we learn more about characters that weren’t originally in the spotlight. Beautiful romance and connections between characters, and great character development.
The mc cassia is a young sorcerer who is struggling to prove her magical worth. Her older brother ollivan who was banished has returned, which causes a stir between the families and friends. A magical spell that he produced years ago has come back to haunt him, and is released upon the world.
Ollivan and cassia must come together to prevent a magical civil war.
I really liked reading the adventure in this book, I definitely recommend this series!
June 26, 2022
Absolutely loved this! Second in the series, I got lost in the world of the Witherward once again. I was a bit confused on the timeline, and whether it takes place before the first in the series, and also didn’t expect it to not follow on from the first, but overall thoroughly enjoyed. I love the world Mathewson’s created. Cannot wait for the next one!
August 26, 2022
I was so impressed with this! I hadn't read the previous (next? as this is a prequel) book before this but I saw online that you can read this one without any prior knowledge so I went with it, and now I'm soooo keen to read Witherward. I loved the world and the characters and the pacing of it all, I liked the two protagonists and their character arcs and how things developed with them and the people around them. The magic system is intricate without being complicated, yet still mystical and exciting to read about. In fact, I'm so keen to read the next one I've just bought it even though I'm really low on money this month. I don't even care I'm hooked!!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan for the free review copy!!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan for the free review copy!!!!
May 23, 2022
I'm writing this about an hour after finishing, and less than 48 hours before my first A Level exam. After all, who cares about British politics when you could be immersing myself in the high-stakes fictional political dramas of the Heart? Not me, that's for sure.
I'm gonna be real: when I first found out that Wayward was a prequel and not a direct sequel to Witherward, my heart sank. Witherward left off with loose threads: Eliot, Cogna, and Hester being the main ones (MORE ON HESTER LATER), and I (still!) desperately wanted them resolved. So to say that I came into Wayward with a bit of a grudge would be an understatement. I mean, Cassia POV? Really?
Well, that fabric in my mouth is my hat, because I am eating it. Wayward is a triumph; technically it can be read as a standalone, but for me where it really shines is in comparison to its predecessor. I'm not trying to disparage Witherward here, don't get it twisted, but it's a delight seeing how Mathewson's style has evolved - whether that's through the snippets of second-person flashbacks (I LOVE THESE. I really love these; they're so clever and heartwrenching and it kind of makes me wish there was a whole Cassia second person POV novella, which means a lot when the idea of Cassia's POV was what made me so hesitant about this book in the first place), or the alternating POVs between Cassia and Ollivan. Wayward isn't split up into parts, either, like Witherward was - possibly because the Sorcerers don't lend themselves as easily to fun animal metaphors, I don't know. But I think my favourite thing about Wayward is - drumroll - the way it forces you to re-evaluate Hester.
Quoi? If you've read Witherward (and you should!), you'll remember Hester as a spiteful, unlikeable figure; the protagonist of that novel, Ilsa, dislikes her from the offset, and so do us readers. But Witherward kept hinting that there had been more to Hester before the attack that broke her back and robbed her of her magic, and Wayward delivers. It's difficult, at times, to square the Hester in Wayward to the one we already know in Witherward - to reconcile the woman who Cassia respects and trusts with the woman we see in Witherward's closing chapters. More painful yet is the reminder that these are the same person: you're forcefully reminded of it every time Cassia repeats Hester's mantra of "when all else fails, spite", which is certainly more reminiscent of the Hester we all know and love (to hate). Everyone in the Witherward is an unreliable narrator, and never is it clearer than in Wayward.
(Gedeon, however, is very consistent with what we know from Witherward. He doesn't actually show his face, but there are multiple mentions of him basically pissing off to go and do his own thing, which...tracks with what Hester says about him in Witherward. I love him, but he needs a good smack in the face. Cassia, babe. You are too good for him.)
I love Cassia and Ollivan as narrators, and I particularly love how different their perspectives are; they come from wildly different places (at least in the beginning), and yet it's easy to sympathise with both of them. I was slightly wary that Ollivan would just be a mediocre Eliot - tall, dark, and brooding - but colour me pleasantly surprised! In any case, Cassia definitely has a lot more going on below the surface than I thought she did; a lot of her behaviour in Witherward makes more sense now (particularly her love of guns, lol), and I'm tempted to reread Witherward just for that alone. A criticism a friend of mine had about Witherward was that it felt a little bit like it should've been written in first person, instead - I can see where he was coming from, but I certainly don't feel that way about Wayward. The voices are distinct and fresh, and I think the way Mathewson likes to toy with unreliable narration works a lot better with two different narrators to bounce off of.
Anyway, shoutout to new side characters Lev, Virgil, Sybella and Delphine; I would die for all of them, particularly Lev, and I once again welcome Mathewson's decision to include casual LGBT rep in a Victorian-inspired setting. Plot-wise, this is slightly more straightforward than Witherward, although the ending is still that complicated mess of bittersweet happiness that I suspect is a Mathewson staple; this woman hates uncomplicated happy endings, and I RESPECT THAT, HANNAH, I DO, but it hurts very much. I gotta be real, there are still a few unanswered questions I have from Witherward that I hoped would be answered here (e.g ), and I desperately wish there were more cameos from the original Witherward cast (please Hannah, may I have some Eliot???), but on the whole Wayward left me way more satisfied than I expected.
Overall: 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 just because I think Hannah Mathewson deserves it as a treat and also in the vain hope that flattery WILL get me somewhere, and that that place will be to a third book in the Witherward universe. I wrote before in my original review of Witherward that good YA is tropey and fun, and Wayward is much the same - but more distinctly Mathewson, and, thus, better. Do yourself a favour and read Wayward - just make sure you stop by Witherward first.
I'm gonna be real: when I first found out that Wayward was a prequel and not a direct sequel to Witherward, my heart sank. Witherward left off with loose threads: Eliot, Cogna, and Hester being the main ones (MORE ON HESTER LATER), and I (still!) desperately wanted them resolved. So to say that I came into Wayward with a bit of a grudge would be an understatement. I mean, Cassia POV? Really?
Well, that fabric in my mouth is my hat, because I am eating it. Wayward is a triumph; technically it can be read as a standalone, but for me where it really shines is in comparison to its predecessor. I'm not trying to disparage Witherward here, don't get it twisted, but it's a delight seeing how Mathewson's style has evolved - whether that's through the snippets of second-person flashbacks (I LOVE THESE. I really love these; they're so clever and heartwrenching and it kind of makes me wish there was a whole Cassia second person POV novella, which means a lot when the idea of Cassia's POV was what made me so hesitant about this book in the first place), or the alternating POVs between Cassia and Ollivan. Wayward isn't split up into parts, either, like Witherward was - possibly because the Sorcerers don't lend themselves as easily to fun animal metaphors, I don't know. But I think my favourite thing about Wayward is - drumroll - the way it forces you to re-evaluate Hester.
Quoi? If you've read Witherward (and you should!), you'll remember Hester as a spiteful, unlikeable figure; the protagonist of that novel, Ilsa, dislikes her from the offset, and so do us readers. But Witherward kept hinting that there had been more to Hester before the attack that broke her back and robbed her of her magic, and Wayward delivers. It's difficult, at times, to square the Hester in Wayward to the one we already know in Witherward - to reconcile the woman who Cassia respects and trusts with the woman we see in Witherward's closing chapters. More painful yet is the reminder that these are the same person: you're forcefully reminded of it every time Cassia repeats Hester's mantra of "when all else fails, spite", which is certainly more reminiscent of the Hester we all know and love (to hate). Everyone in the Witherward is an unreliable narrator, and never is it clearer than in Wayward.
(Gedeon, however, is very consistent with what we know from Witherward. He doesn't actually show his face, but there are multiple mentions of him basically pissing off to go and do his own thing, which...tracks with what Hester says about him in Witherward. I love him, but he needs a good smack in the face. Cassia, babe. You are too good for him.)
I love Cassia and Ollivan as narrators, and I particularly love how different their perspectives are; they come from wildly different places (at least in the beginning), and yet it's easy to sympathise with both of them. I was slightly wary that Ollivan would just be a mediocre Eliot - tall, dark, and brooding - but colour me pleasantly surprised! In any case, Cassia definitely has a lot more going on below the surface than I thought she did; a lot of her behaviour in Witherward makes more sense now (particularly her love of guns, lol), and I'm tempted to reread Witherward just for that alone. A criticism a friend of mine had about Witherward was that it felt a little bit like it should've been written in first person, instead - I can see where he was coming from, but I certainly don't feel that way about Wayward. The voices are distinct and fresh, and I think the way Mathewson likes to toy with unreliable narration works a lot better with two different narrators to bounce off of.
Anyway, shoutout to new side characters Lev, Virgil, Sybella and Delphine; I would die for all of them, particularly Lev, and I once again welcome Mathewson's decision to include casual LGBT rep in a Victorian-inspired setting. Plot-wise, this is slightly more straightforward than Witherward, although the ending is still that complicated mess of bittersweet happiness that I suspect is a Mathewson staple; this woman hates uncomplicated happy endings, and I RESPECT THAT, HANNAH, I DO, but it hurts very much. I gotta be real, there are still a few unanswered questions I have from Witherward that I hoped would be answered here (e.g ), and I desperately wish there were more cameos from the original Witherward cast (please Hannah, may I have some Eliot???), but on the whole Wayward left me way more satisfied than I expected.
Overall: 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 just because I think Hannah Mathewson deserves it as a treat and also in the vain hope that flattery WILL get me somewhere, and that that place will be to a third book in the Witherward universe. I wrote before in my original review of Witherward that good YA is tropey and fun, and Wayward is much the same - but more distinctly Mathewson, and, thus, better. Do yourself a favour and read Wayward - just make sure you stop by Witherward first.
June 7, 2022
Wayward is the loose sequel to last year's Witherward, a fantasy story that takes readers to an alternate, hidden London attached to our own in the Victorian era, where magic rules supreme. Instead of following on from the previous book directly, Hannah Mathewson has chosen to jump forward in time a few years, and to follow a minor character from the first novel in a new setting. As such, Witherward is a sequel that fans of the first will enjoy, but also a perfect jumping on point for brand new readers.
The story focuses on two siblings, Cassia and Ollivan. Both of them are the grandchildren of the High Sorcerer, the leader of the Sorcerer's region in London. Cassia spent several years growing up in 'the Zoo', the part of London run by the Changelings (and where we met her in the first novel). Since returning to her people a few years previously, she's been studying to use her Sorcerer gifts and wield magic; hoping that she can prove herself and join an illustrious club, the Successors, for important Sorcerer families. Ollivan, the older of the two siblings, has spent the last year banished from the Witherward, forced to live amongst regular, non-magical humans in the other London. Having been accused of murdering a member of the Wraith faction, Ollivan was banished from his world by his grandfather, but has a plan to return home.
When Ollivan stages a daring scheme to have himself elected as the new president for the Successors using hidden promises, underhand dealings, and half forgotten bylaws, he's able to return to the Witherward for the duration of his term. This allows Ollivan two years in which to find a way to convince his grandfather to let him stay. However, before that happens he need to disarm a dangerous magical artefact he left behind before his exile; a weapon that he left to ensnare the person who caused his exile. Unfortunately, Cassia has the item in her possession; and if Ollivan can't disarm it the entire city could be at risk.
As someone who reads a lot of books each year I really do appreciate it when authors return to the worlds that they've created, but aren't relying on you to remember everything. When you've read close to two hundred books between the first and the sequel it can be hard to remember every character and every plot point, so having the sequel be almost a stand-alone story in its own right is absolutely my kind of thing. Not only that, but Mathewson really expanded the world she created by leaving the group of characters we followed in the original and taking a look at another part of that universe. We got to see how a different group of people live, how a different part of that society operates, and it led to some great expansion.
Wayward does assume that you've read the first book in some ways. Where the first one had a character being introduced to this other, magical version of London this one doesn't. Both of our POV characters grew up there, they understand the rules and the way the world works. We don't get as in-depth a breakdown of what this other version of London is like. But, I never felt like it was skipping over things, or that new readers could get lost. The book dropped in the background details as they became important, allowing the reader to learn things as they happened organically, rather than giving big info-dumps or explanations that could slow the action down.
One big difference here, over the first book, is that we follow two characters, rather than having the one lead. Cassia and Ollivan are very different types of people, and jumping between their perspectives lets the reader see the same scenarios in very different ways. Cassia is more reserved and introverted. She doesn't really have any friends, she feels slightly uncomfortable in the Sorcerers part of London thanks to growing up with the Changelings, and her magic isn't as strong or well honed as she wants it to be. Ollivan is a huge contrast to this. Despite having been accused of murder and exiled he managed to keep some strong friendships, he's outgoing and tends to be a smooth talker, he walks around with confidence and believes himself to be the smartest person in the room, and his magic is powerful.
The narrative switches between the two of them at various points, and Hannah Mathewson does a good job at picking the right moments to do so. We will see events from the point-of-view of one of them, seeing several plot points unfold, leading us to come to certain conclusions about what's happening; then the point-of-view will change and we either get more information that gives further context, or we learn something that completely changes what we thought we saw. Mathewson uses this to great effect, with the two perspectives working together to build on each chapter, either building a bigger and more developed world, or giving us a twist or two.
I also really liked that because our two leads were siblings we don't really get the romance sub-plot that books in this genre have. Yes, there are romances in the book, including wonderfully healthy queer relationships that aren't treated as anything but normal, but these aren't the main thrust. Instead, the book is about family. It's about the people that you don't choose to love, but are obligated to because you're related to them. And sometimes those relationships aren't great, you might not particularly like each other. This is what Wayward makes the focus. I think most readers will have someone in their family who they don't always see eye-to-eye with, who might even drive you to the end of your patience at times, so I think a lot of readers will be able to relate to Cressia an Ollivan to a certain degree.
The threat in Wayward is also a lot more straight forward than the first book. The first novel had mystery to be solved, hidden goals and secret plots. It was complex in a lot of ways. Wayward, in comparison, is much more straight forward. There's a threat that becomes apparent, and the heroes have to find a way to stop it. And I don't mean simple in a bad way, there's still a lot of layers here and stuff to uncover, but the threat is definitely more overt. I loved this approach, and found the threat to be a really cool and even creepy opponent.
I really enjoyed Wayward, I liked that this wasn't just another story with the same characters, that Mathewson didn't try to come up with more adventures that might have felt like it changed the way things ended in the first book. Instead, we got a book that expanded the universe, that went to new places and did some exciting new things to the mythology that's just making this series all the more exciting. I hope that this is the way this series is going to go with future entries, that we'll be getting new characters and new places each book; and if it is, I can't wait.
The story focuses on two siblings, Cassia and Ollivan. Both of them are the grandchildren of the High Sorcerer, the leader of the Sorcerer's region in London. Cassia spent several years growing up in 'the Zoo', the part of London run by the Changelings (and where we met her in the first novel). Since returning to her people a few years previously, she's been studying to use her Sorcerer gifts and wield magic; hoping that she can prove herself and join an illustrious club, the Successors, for important Sorcerer families. Ollivan, the older of the two siblings, has spent the last year banished from the Witherward, forced to live amongst regular, non-magical humans in the other London. Having been accused of murdering a member of the Wraith faction, Ollivan was banished from his world by his grandfather, but has a plan to return home.
When Ollivan stages a daring scheme to have himself elected as the new president for the Successors using hidden promises, underhand dealings, and half forgotten bylaws, he's able to return to the Witherward for the duration of his term. This allows Ollivan two years in which to find a way to convince his grandfather to let him stay. However, before that happens he need to disarm a dangerous magical artefact he left behind before his exile; a weapon that he left to ensnare the person who caused his exile. Unfortunately, Cassia has the item in her possession; and if Ollivan can't disarm it the entire city could be at risk.
As someone who reads a lot of books each year I really do appreciate it when authors return to the worlds that they've created, but aren't relying on you to remember everything. When you've read close to two hundred books between the first and the sequel it can be hard to remember every character and every plot point, so having the sequel be almost a stand-alone story in its own right is absolutely my kind of thing. Not only that, but Mathewson really expanded the world she created by leaving the group of characters we followed in the original and taking a look at another part of that universe. We got to see how a different group of people live, how a different part of that society operates, and it led to some great expansion.
Wayward does assume that you've read the first book in some ways. Where the first one had a character being introduced to this other, magical version of London this one doesn't. Both of our POV characters grew up there, they understand the rules and the way the world works. We don't get as in-depth a breakdown of what this other version of London is like. But, I never felt like it was skipping over things, or that new readers could get lost. The book dropped in the background details as they became important, allowing the reader to learn things as they happened organically, rather than giving big info-dumps or explanations that could slow the action down.
One big difference here, over the first book, is that we follow two characters, rather than having the one lead. Cassia and Ollivan are very different types of people, and jumping between their perspectives lets the reader see the same scenarios in very different ways. Cassia is more reserved and introverted. She doesn't really have any friends, she feels slightly uncomfortable in the Sorcerers part of London thanks to growing up with the Changelings, and her magic isn't as strong or well honed as she wants it to be. Ollivan is a huge contrast to this. Despite having been accused of murder and exiled he managed to keep some strong friendships, he's outgoing and tends to be a smooth talker, he walks around with confidence and believes himself to be the smartest person in the room, and his magic is powerful.
The narrative switches between the two of them at various points, and Hannah Mathewson does a good job at picking the right moments to do so. We will see events from the point-of-view of one of them, seeing several plot points unfold, leading us to come to certain conclusions about what's happening; then the point-of-view will change and we either get more information that gives further context, or we learn something that completely changes what we thought we saw. Mathewson uses this to great effect, with the two perspectives working together to build on each chapter, either building a bigger and more developed world, or giving us a twist or two.
I also really liked that because our two leads were siblings we don't really get the romance sub-plot that books in this genre have. Yes, there are romances in the book, including wonderfully healthy queer relationships that aren't treated as anything but normal, but these aren't the main thrust. Instead, the book is about family. It's about the people that you don't choose to love, but are obligated to because you're related to them. And sometimes those relationships aren't great, you might not particularly like each other. This is what Wayward makes the focus. I think most readers will have someone in their family who they don't always see eye-to-eye with, who might even drive you to the end of your patience at times, so I think a lot of readers will be able to relate to Cressia an Ollivan to a certain degree.
The threat in Wayward is also a lot more straight forward than the first book. The first novel had mystery to be solved, hidden goals and secret plots. It was complex in a lot of ways. Wayward, in comparison, is much more straight forward. There's a threat that becomes apparent, and the heroes have to find a way to stop it. And I don't mean simple in a bad way, there's still a lot of layers here and stuff to uncover, but the threat is definitely more overt. I loved this approach, and found the threat to be a really cool and even creepy opponent.
I really enjoyed Wayward, I liked that this wasn't just another story with the same characters, that Mathewson didn't try to come up with more adventures that might have felt like it changed the way things ended in the first book. Instead, we got a book that expanded the universe, that went to new places and did some exciting new things to the mythology that's just making this series all the more exciting. I hope that this is the way this series is going to go with future entries, that we'll be getting new characters and new places each book; and if it is, I can't wait.
Want to read
July 26, 2022I thought this was a sequel to Witherward. I feel so cheated :(
November 26, 2022
I couldn’t have been more bored with the tropes in this story, but then again Cassia was the least interesting character in Witherward. I had high hopes, shame.
July 4, 2025
I wanna nuke something.
February 10, 2023
Finished reading: February 9th 2023
“Just because something is dead, it doesn't make it worthless.”
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
May 30, 2022
3.5 stars
In a city where the strength of your magic determines your worth and the intention behind each spell could be the difference between success and failure, two siblings attempt to write a wrong.
Wayward, in short, is a gripping, fast-paced, and charming YA fantasy read.
While it’s set in London, this London is filled with magic. The magic in this world isn’t rigid. It’s free-flowing and whimsical, with an almost Alice in Wonderland vibe.
You can create spells to do any number of things based on the intention behind them. The more specific the intention, the better or more likely the spell is to work. It's an interesting magic system and one that has a huge amount of possibility for future books.
I love a good character-focused story, and this one hit the mark. Both main characters are quirky, self-aware, well-rounded, and yet still have a lot of room to grow.
I really enjoyed their sibling dynamic and saw parallels between it and my own. Seeing that progress throughout the story was a lot of fun.
We switch between them throughout the book, seeing events from each of their perspectives. This is done smoothly and is honestly really easy to read.
Having said all this, the plot feels slightly too short for the size of the book. I felt like it needed something extra, an additional element to add to the intrigue. That way, slightly less time could be spent in dialogue-heavy chapters, and slightly more time could be spent on the action.
The book is slightly unsure of which part of the story it wants to focus on. The overarching magic politics and larger story, or the magic went wrong part of the story. Both do come together, but not quite as smoothly as they could have.
This book demonstrates what it's like to be an underestimated young woman. The story is charming and an adventure. The world is one you could get lost in, especially because the possibilities of the magic system are endless.
Thank you, Titan Books, for giving me a free advanced reader copy of this book. I have written this review voluntarily.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel
In a city where the strength of your magic determines your worth and the intention behind each spell could be the difference between success and failure, two siblings attempt to write a wrong.
Wayward, in short, is a gripping, fast-paced, and charming YA fantasy read.
While it’s set in London, this London is filled with magic. The magic in this world isn’t rigid. It’s free-flowing and whimsical, with an almost Alice in Wonderland vibe.
You can create spells to do any number of things based on the intention behind them. The more specific the intention, the better or more likely the spell is to work. It's an interesting magic system and one that has a huge amount of possibility for future books.
I love a good character-focused story, and this one hit the mark. Both main characters are quirky, self-aware, well-rounded, and yet still have a lot of room to grow.
I really enjoyed their sibling dynamic and saw parallels between it and my own. Seeing that progress throughout the story was a lot of fun.
We switch between them throughout the book, seeing events from each of their perspectives. This is done smoothly and is honestly really easy to read.
Having said all this, the plot feels slightly too short for the size of the book. I felt like it needed something extra, an additional element to add to the intrigue. That way, slightly less time could be spent in dialogue-heavy chapters, and slightly more time could be spent on the action.
The book is slightly unsure of which part of the story it wants to focus on. The overarching magic politics and larger story, or the magic went wrong part of the story. Both do come together, but not quite as smoothly as they could have.
This book demonstrates what it's like to be an underestimated young woman. The story is charming and an adventure. The world is one you could get lost in, especially because the possibilities of the magic system are endless.
Thank you, Titan Books, for giving me a free advanced reader copy of this book. I have written this review voluntarily.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel
June 5, 2022
trigger warning
Cassie, one of the two grandchildren of the High Sorcerer, is working on her presentation for the induction to the society of young sorcerers, but despite knowing that in theory, she's capable to do magic, nothing works. But at least this distracts her from the fact that her brother was exiled a year ago, for murder.
Since nothing ever works out like it should, Cassie doesn't succeed and her brother returns from the magic less world where he was exiled, and all of that after Cassie unknowingly unleashed powerful, ancient, dangerous magic on the city of London.
As I started, I had the famous "oh no, is this part of a series?" moment, but it turns out this is a prequel and you need no prior knowledge. I had none and it worked out fine for me.
The world-building is intriguing, it seems to be Victorian London, but the city is parted in seven groups with borders that do see fights, and everybody should stay in their part or risk a breach of the Principles, the rules the current High Sorcerer helped to develope to get them out of constant war times. It's a fragile peace, both between different fractions and within them, as people are vying for power.
Each fraction has their own magic, which is passed down to decendants. Each person has only one. I won't go into detail about what the magic systems are, since figuring it out is part of the fun, but our protagonists are sorcerers, as you can guess by their grandfather being "High Sorcerer". They can do what we associate with wizards: Cast spells, enchant items. Wave hands, use big words. Make things go poof.
It felt at all times like a whole world that is ready to be explored. You're dropped into it, there are past things to figure out while waiting for what the future holds - as the best books are supposed to do.
I am not sure how this relates to the other book in the same world, but I am determined to find out. While I think that I have heard enough about Olliwan and Cassie, as I said, the world is fascinating and I am here for it.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Cassie, one of the two grandchildren of the High Sorcerer, is working on her presentation for the induction to the society of young sorcerers, but despite knowing that in theory, she's capable to do magic, nothing works. But at least this distracts her from the fact that her brother was exiled a year ago, for murder.
Since nothing ever works out like it should, Cassie doesn't succeed and her brother returns from the magic less world where he was exiled, and all of that after Cassie unknowingly unleashed powerful, ancient, dangerous magic on the city of London.
As I started, I had the famous "oh no, is this part of a series?" moment, but it turns out this is a prequel and you need no prior knowledge. I had none and it worked out fine for me.
The world-building is intriguing, it seems to be Victorian London, but the city is parted in seven groups with borders that do see fights, and everybody should stay in their part or risk a breach of the Principles, the rules the current High Sorcerer helped to develope to get them out of constant war times. It's a fragile peace, both between different fractions and within them, as people are vying for power.
Each fraction has their own magic, which is passed down to decendants. Each person has only one. I won't go into detail about what the magic systems are, since figuring it out is part of the fun, but our protagonists are sorcerers, as you can guess by their grandfather being "High Sorcerer". They can do what we associate with wizards: Cast spells, enchant items. Wave hands, use big words. Make things go poof.
It felt at all times like a whole world that is ready to be explored. You're dropped into it, there are past things to figure out while waiting for what the future holds - as the best books are supposed to do.
I am not sure how this relates to the other book in the same world, but I am determined to find out. While I think that I have heard enough about Olliwan and Cassie, as I said, the world is fascinating and I am here for it.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
May 29, 2022
Wayward, Hannah Mathewson
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy
I struggled a bit at the start, I was expecting more of the Changelings and Ilsa, Gideon, Fyfe etc and instead it was Cassia and a whole new group. Once past that though I was pulled into another riveting story.
I did feel though that as part of a trilogy ( or series? I think trilogy) it feels only very loosely connected to book one and I would have liked to know what was happening in the changeling world over these two years.
One thing that surprises me each time its mentioned is how young these characters are. They don't feel like teens, act like teens, and I think that's why this has such a broad appeal, its not written to appeal purely to teens and YA, their ages are irrelevant, its the story, plots and actions that make it such fun.
I love this alternate London with its scary magics and characters, with the usual power struggles and abuses that factor in real life. Even in fiction human nature rules, with some being empathetic and others rule bound, or who see rules as for others, not them and power as an entitlement not a privilege.
I loved that the characters have flaws, are not perfect, suffer petty jealousies, irrational dislikes, and react from them. I felt one way about them, then things happened, I understood more and changed view and then even more came up and I was “ what now??”
I did really struggle at the start because I was waiting for the connection to last book, to see more of those characters not just Cassia, and it stopped me from really enjoying the story for itself. Once I put that expectation away I really got to enjoy this book for itself. Its a story that kept me guessing how it would end, who would come out on top, but I'm really glad it looks like we may be back with the changelings next book, they're still my favorites.
Stars: Four and a half, that rocky start knocked off a five but that's all.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
June 18, 2022
Back to the world of Witherward, I thought this book was going to be a sequel, but it's instead a sort of prequel centred around the characters of Cassia and her brother Ollivan. I was surprised by this choice, but nonetheless delighted by it: Cassia has always been the character to intrigue me the most, and having the opportunity to know more about her and to "witness" her growth and her acceptance of who she is was very satisfying. She has always given me the vibe of a strong woman, so it was nice to see here a more fragile and insecure side of her.
Compared to the previous book, which captured my attention mostly thanks to the intricate web of relationships between its characters, this one is more action-packed, with lots of events that leave you almost breathless as if you were part of them: Cassia's struggle to find a place amongst the Sorcerers and her meeting with Violet, the arrival of Ollivan and all its consequences and last but not least the fight to save London from an horrific experiment gone wrong.
It may lack the sense of mystery and of truth-discovery of Witherward, but it has gained a more mature style and plot, with the abandonment of certain clichés that had made the plot of the previous book way too predictable and with the insightful exploration of two apparently opposite characters that are actually moved by the same will of redeeming themselves from prejudices and faults that are not really their own and by a sense of resistance against all kinds of injustices.
Overall, it was a thrilling read that left me excited for what might come next in the Witherward world.
Compared to the previous book, which captured my attention mostly thanks to the intricate web of relationships between its characters, this one is more action-packed, with lots of events that leave you almost breathless as if you were part of them: Cassia's struggle to find a place amongst the Sorcerers and her meeting with Violet, the arrival of Ollivan and all its consequences and last but not least the fight to save London from an horrific experiment gone wrong.
It may lack the sense of mystery and of truth-discovery of Witherward, but it has gained a more mature style and plot, with the abandonment of certain clichés that had made the plot of the previous book way too predictable and with the insightful exploration of two apparently opposite characters that are actually moved by the same will of redeeming themselves from prejudices and faults that are not really their own and by a sense of resistance against all kinds of injustices.
Overall, it was a thrilling read that left me excited for what might come next in the Witherward world.
December 8, 2022
I must admit that I have only the vaguest recollections of the first book in this series, and none of them feature any of the characters from this one. But I think that might actually have served me well?
I liked both Cassia and Ollivan (and - apparently contrary to a lot of reviewers? - found them both very sympathetic), and I really liked the complexities of their sibling relationship. I do wish they’d started understanding each other and working together earlier in the book though - maybe it was just my mood, but I found the dysfunctional family dynamics overall to be a little over the top and unsubtle? This book is definitely much darker than Witherward, with deeper themes of power and corruption and rebellion.
The worldbuilding felt much more coherent in this one though: tonally there’s much less of the steampunk whimsy than in the first book, but I think the balance between the different magics was better. In Witherward, there was just enough on each type of magic for me to start having questions that were never answered, but in this one, while the other five were mentioned enough to flesh out the world, the focus was really on making Sorcery make sense, and that worked a lot better!
CW: emotional and physical abuse; violence
I liked both Cassia and Ollivan (and - apparently contrary to a lot of reviewers? - found them both very sympathetic), and I really liked the complexities of their sibling relationship. I do wish they’d started understanding each other and working together earlier in the book though - maybe it was just my mood, but I found the dysfunctional family dynamics overall to be a little over the top and unsubtle? This book is definitely much darker than Witherward, with deeper themes of power and corruption and rebellion.
The worldbuilding felt much more coherent in this one though: tonally there’s much less of the steampunk whimsy than in the first book, but I think the balance between the different magics was better. In Witherward, there was just enough on each type of magic for me to start having questions that were never answered, but in this one, while the other five were mentioned enough to flesh out the world, the focus was really on making Sorcery make sense, and that worked a lot better!
CW: emotional and physical abuse; violence
Read
August 11, 2022Wayward isn’t a bad book, but it doesn’t live up to the shine of its predecessor Witherward - a book which plunged us into a murderous, magical and cut-throat alternate London. Wayward feels much smaller in scope, since we spend 90% of the time in the sorcerers’ quarter of “magical” London. I found Wayward took a while to get going - as a standalone prequel it had to re-cover the worldbuilding and lore presented in Witherward, but in a way that felt less organic because the story focused on the “insiders” this time around who already knew this stuff. There were regular flashbacks that tied the book in to Witherward, but they felt a bit out of place since they had scant bearing on Wayward’s plot.
Still, things I liked included a believable enemies-to-allies sibling relationship; an ancient, sentient magical building (the scenes that took place in that building were highlights of the story) and a unique spin on a malevolent evil adversary. Cassa’s struggles to fit in felt realistic, and the supporting cast of young sorcerers were engaging.
Will still keep a candle burning for a proper Witherward sequel, though.
Still, things I liked included a believable enemies-to-allies sibling relationship; an ancient, sentient magical building (the scenes that took place in that building were highlights of the story) and a unique spin on a malevolent evil adversary. Cassa’s struggles to fit in felt realistic, and the supporting cast of young sorcerers were engaging.
Will still keep a candle burning for a proper Witherward sequel, though.
January 4, 2023
Maybe this is because I read "Witherward" in roughly one sitting in June 2022, but I had no idea when this book was happening, and it kind of mildly frustrated me throughout? I'm assuming prequel but do not quote me on that. I accept responsibility for my actions and acknowledge that not super remembering the details of what happened in the first book maybe did not lead to the best reading experience.
However, there were plenty of other things that I did not like about this book! I truly did not give a shit about any of the characters, except Ollivan for like the first 9 chapters, and then he wore off. I think it was just too slow? I simultaneously had no idea what was going to happen next, and it seemed to take forever to get there. The plot summary does a massive disservice to the book, because I thought it was going to be more about political intrigue and similar, but it really wasn't. I picked this up in the adult section of a bookstore, and it really really really should have been in YA.
I'm a bit sad, because this was what made me pick up Witherward in the first place, and I so deeply wanted to like it, but alas, it was not to be.
However, there were plenty of other things that I did not like about this book! I truly did not give a shit about any of the characters, except Ollivan for like the first 9 chapters, and then he wore off. I think it was just too slow? I simultaneously had no idea what was going to happen next, and it seemed to take forever to get there. The plot summary does a massive disservice to the book, because I thought it was going to be more about political intrigue and similar, but it really wasn't. I picked this up in the adult section of a bookstore, and it really really really should have been in YA.
I'm a bit sad, because this was what made me pick up Witherward in the first place, and I so deeply wanted to like it, but alas, it was not to be.
September 10, 2024
It was an interesting choice to have the second book in a duology as a prequel to the first. Luckily the story is interesting enough that it just about works. Unfortunately Cassia, the character you know the most about going into this book, is probably one of the least interesting characters. I wasn't even that interested in her backstory after reading Witherward. She's a good supporting character, she just isn't quite main cast material. I am glad the chapters alternated between Cassia and Ollivan, it added a bit of intrigue to the novel and kept it interesting. I think pacing was an issue again, too many pages of not too much happening and then everything happening in the final third of the novel. I don't think it would be such an issue if certain secrets and events weren't constantly alluded to in the build up to the reveal. These things were mentioned so often that I got a little bored of waiting for them to happen. Overall, a decent duology, I probably would read any further books in the series but I wouldn't necessarily be excited for them.
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