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Woven
Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself.
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2015
39 people are currently reading
2898 people want to read
About the author
Michael Jensen
1 book95 followersMichael Jensen is a bestselling YA and MG author of the acclaimed fantasy novel Woven, released in the United States by Scholastic Press and internationally by Editora Arqueiro and Ravensburger. Michael got his BFA in musical theater, and taught voice at Brigham Young University before establishing his own vocal instruction studio. In addition to being an imaginative storyteller, Michael is an accomplished composer and vocalist as well as a frequent panelist at regional writing and fan conventions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
December 18, 2023
When I was very young, I was in 4-H. There were projects. Mine: sewing. Always, sewing. Much to my chagrin, we did not live on a farm. Sewing was difficult. And frustrating. At first. But, I learned. I realized this brand-new way to create and express myself. Also, a pretty handy skill. Like magic!
Imagine my delight (many years later) upon discovering Woven, the rare, needle-in-a-haystack book to spotlight sewing as actual magic. Brilliant concept. Mr. Jensen and Mr. King weave a wondrous yarn, spinning back to a time when royalty and peasants were distinctly different and most certainly did not mingle. On the outside, each class is separate and easily identified. Underneath, unseen…some souls are stitched together; hierarchy be damned.
It’s easy to envision everyone’s enchantment and immediate empathy. The authors unravel overt appearances; the true characters of the noble peasant boy and the prim, proper, petulant princess are displayed. Your heart may feel a tug here and there. Unapologetically honest and open-minded, Nels is as refreshing as an arctic breeze on a sticky-hot summer day when his bafflement turns to frustration as he hears prejudices against the traveling, gypsy-esque Vagas. He flatly informs everyone: “You can’t blame a whole people for one crime.”
And.
(Yes, there’s more.)
Woven is a ghost story. Also, an adventure with wonderful wrestling matches, smashing swords, and an epic quest to free two kingdoms, right countless wrongs and save their own lives. I found Woven to be happy and hopeful without being determinedly cheerful, sickening sweet. It hooked me and carried me along, weaving me right into the fabric of this fantastic and fanciful tale.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Imagine my delight (many years later) upon discovering Woven, the rare, needle-in-a-haystack book to spotlight sewing as actual magic. Brilliant concept. Mr. Jensen and Mr. King weave a wondrous yarn, spinning back to a time when royalty and peasants were distinctly different and most certainly did not mingle. On the outside, each class is separate and easily identified. Underneath, unseen…some souls are stitched together; hierarchy be damned.
It’s easy to envision everyone’s enchantment and immediate empathy. The authors unravel overt appearances; the true characters of the noble peasant boy and the prim, proper, petulant princess are displayed. Your heart may feel a tug here and there. Unapologetically honest and open-minded, Nels is as refreshing as an arctic breeze on a sticky-hot summer day when his bafflement turns to frustration as he hears prejudices against the traveling, gypsy-esque Vagas. He flatly informs everyone: “You can’t blame a whole people for one crime.”
And.
(Yes, there’s more.)
Woven is a ghost story. Also, an adventure with wonderful wrestling matches, smashing swords, and an epic quest to free two kingdoms, right countless wrongs and save their own lives. I found Woven to be happy and hopeful without being determinedly cheerful, sickening sweet. It hooked me and carried me along, weaving me right into the fabric of this fantastic and fanciful tale.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
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October 30, 2017I'm probably a little biased, but I love this story. Scholastic did an incredible job with the its production!
July 25, 2013
King and Jensen are bright new flames to the fantasy genre. Full of adventure and romance, Woven has all the right elements to capture readers' minds and ensnare their hearts.
November 2, 2015
4.5/5 Stars
A unique story that has the nostalgic feeling of a beloved fairytale. I was immediately sunk into this book from page one. There is comedy, romance, adventure, action, magic, ghosts, what's not to love? If that doesn't sound like a great book to you, you are dead wrong. I read it so fast that it felt short but it's a decent size novel. I just fell so in love with the plot and the characters, I just wasn't ready for it to be over. It's amazing. There was never a dull moment, and I don't mean it was wall-to-wall action, I mean that in 344 pages I never got bored. I guess what I'm saying is that I love this book and I would highly recommend it to all of you.
To see my full review, you can go to my blog here.
A unique story that has the nostalgic feeling of a beloved fairytale. I was immediately sunk into this book from page one. There is comedy, romance, adventure, action, magic, ghosts, what's not to love? If that doesn't sound like a great book to you, you are dead wrong. I read it so fast that it felt short but it's a decent size novel. I just fell so in love with the plot and the characters, I just wasn't ready for it to be over. It's amazing. There was never a dull moment, and I don't mean it was wall-to-wall action, I mean that in 344 pages I never got bored. I guess what I'm saying is that I love this book and I would highly recommend it to all of you.
To see my full review, you can go to my blog here.
November 29, 2014
4.5/5 (I round up)
Loved loved loved it! Not the most beautiful or smooth of writing styles, but it told the story just fine. Not sure if there will be a sequel as there was a big question that was left unresolved, but overall very satisfying. Tyra frustrated me a lot but I also never really hated her, so that's good. I think I read a query for this for feedback during writeoncon a few years ago so it's thrilling to see fellow authors succeeding!
Loved loved loved it! Not the most beautiful or smooth of writing styles, but it told the story just fine. Not sure if there will be a sequel as there was a big question that was left unresolved, but overall very satisfying. Tyra frustrated me a lot but I also never really hated her, so that's good. I think I read a query for this for feedback during writeoncon a few years ago so it's thrilling to see fellow authors succeeding!
August 3, 2013
Awesome! Was able to read it before publication - wonderful story and a new kind of magic! Can't wait to get the printed book in my hands and read it again!
December 3, 2014
Wonderfully well written, this story was a delight to read. There was a bit of something for every book lover: intrigue, romance, action, and suspense. There are ghosts, sorcerers, and secrets blended together to keep you turning the pages. It's a story of young Nels. A boy who grew up common with big dreams of being a knight. When he sneaks into the festival and challenges the realm's best knight in a competition, he is supposed to win a kiss from the princess. It seems the outcome of this event binds their fates together. They will be forced to begin a quest that will alter the course of their lives and shake up all the realms in the kingdom.
November 10, 2014
A refreshingly original fantasy, WOVEN was an enjoyable read full of adventure, romance, and unforgettable characters. I really liked the sewing/textile based world and metaphors...so creative. And I can honestly say this is the first time I've had a literary crush on a ghost--I LOVE Nels. :) Well done.
January 5, 2015
Okay, so I've known David for quite a while now, and he sent me an arc of "Woven" in November (for the first time in my life, I actually felt like I knew somebody important--thank you, David!), and I basically read all 365 pages in three days. Woven is the kind of rare, original fantasy that I was thirsting for. In a way, I felt like a man that hasn't had a drink while attempting to cross the Sahara desert on foot and is about to collapse with exhaustion and dehydration when suddenly there's this oasis with Palm Trees and a Four Seasons hotel.
"Woven" came along at just the right time (kinda like a 90-minute massage at the Kura Door spa in Salt Lake City), it's fingers kneading my jaded temples back to life with respect to a genre that I think has grown stale with copycats and nerds who all played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid and decided they'd write stories about their characters and expect people to read about them. Woven is free of magic schools and universities! It is free of hipsters and man-scaped spornosexuals that bounce between the real world and the world where magic, fairies, and vampires are real! It's free of "fantasy bloat" (which is how I describe pretty much any of the Wheel of Time books). It's free of the narcissistic author: the writer that sets out to dazzle and horrify you with his epic-ness because no one has ever thought of anything as epic as weirdly-named epic monsters and epic labyrinths and epic seasons that last ten years and epic walls and epic power struggles and epic descriptions of food and epic battles and the epic idea that killing off beloved epic characters makes the story epic, dammit! Hell, I don't even know what "epic" means anymore since it has become as useless in describing things as the word "very."
Much like its cover, Woven is simple and that makes it beautiful. Let's look at the cover for a moment. It features a ring and a needle, both of which are important for the story. The ring is something Tyra gets from Gleesel (the coolest goat witch ever), and it isn't The One Ring. However, it does allow the wearer to distinguish between truth and lies. I'd love something like that. As for the Needle? It's a bit more on the cool side of things. It's called the Needle of Gailner, and it has the ability to alter reality in the same way that a weaver can alter a pattern on a loom.
Woven is also clever. Nels is a strapping lad that's had his "thread" woven together with that of a beautiful princess named Tyra (when they were babies). The idea of "arranged marriage" is very medieval (I didn't really like this part but understand that for the majority of history, arranged marriages are how things got done). I do like how it is essential to the story, because without it Nels would have stood no chance at all.
Because Tyra's "thread of life" was woven together with Nels, she could always find him even in death. As romantic as that seems to Notebook lovers everywhere, each possesses a personality that's like a cheese grater with respect to the other, and this is mined to great effect by the authors for comedy. As expected, circumstance (and the fact that they are both gorgeous people) pretty much ensures that they grow to love each other (which ends up being something even more powerful than the most powerful artifact in the world, a.k.a. the Needle).
The engine behind the whole story is the diabolical Rasmus who is a powerful magician bent on destroying Nels because, as Shakespeare wrote in the Merchant of Venice, "The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children." Rasmus is a well-developed villain, having been the apprentice of Ickabosh (a master fabricator/sorcerer) and a person that's willing to do anything in the grasp for power, even if it means murdering lots of people and using his magic to impersonate them once their dead.
Although I've never met Michael Jensen in person, from what I know about him, the idea of Woven's magic system came to fruition in his mind over the course of ten years. Forgive me, Mr. Jensen, if I get that wrong. But in reading this book, and thinking of the hard work both of these authors did, I can say that all that time and dedication shows in the pages. Woven is a polished jewel among books. It deserves it's Big Five publishing contract hands down, because this thing is a masterpiece. The pacing in Woven is perfect, every single character has a purpose, every place the characters journey to moves the story forward, and "fabrication" is probably the most original and elegant magic system I've encountered in books since David Eddings introduced me to the Will and the Word in the Belgariad over thirty years ago.
Woven is a book whose peers are Stardust by Neil Gaiman, the Belgariad by David Eddings, the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny, and the Prydain chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. It's a book that can be read and enjoyed by all ages, and I hope it gets made into a big budget movie. Disney are you listening? I own your stock so making this into a movie would make us shareholders happy :).
Anyway, for clarity's sake (and for that old Amazon bone), I give Woven five stars out of five, and it's honestly one of those books that had I known something was going to be this good, I might have rated other books lower in comparison. Alas, these are the challenges in life I must face when it comes to reviewing books.
I hope you all stop by David Powers King's website, congratulate him on Woven, mark it "Want to Read" on Goodreads, buy the book when it's out, and shout out some love for #teamScholastic (they brought you such fun stories as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and now, well...Woven). Please stop by on January 30th of this month when I'll be honored to be an official stop on the Woven blog tour! Let's hope that Mr. King and Mr. Jensen's literary agent and publicist don't mind the interview questions I sent them (and answer them) because they are some pretty good ones. But if they don't get answered, well that's what twitter (and sequels) are all about.
"Woven" came along at just the right time (kinda like a 90-minute massage at the Kura Door spa in Salt Lake City), it's fingers kneading my jaded temples back to life with respect to a genre that I think has grown stale with copycats and nerds who all played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid and decided they'd write stories about their characters and expect people to read about them. Woven is free of magic schools and universities! It is free of hipsters and man-scaped spornosexuals that bounce between the real world and the world where magic, fairies, and vampires are real! It's free of "fantasy bloat" (which is how I describe pretty much any of the Wheel of Time books). It's free of the narcissistic author: the writer that sets out to dazzle and horrify you with his epic-ness because no one has ever thought of anything as epic as weirdly-named epic monsters and epic labyrinths and epic seasons that last ten years and epic walls and epic power struggles and epic descriptions of food and epic battles and the epic idea that killing off beloved epic characters makes the story epic, dammit! Hell, I don't even know what "epic" means anymore since it has become as useless in describing things as the word "very."
Much like its cover, Woven is simple and that makes it beautiful. Let's look at the cover for a moment. It features a ring and a needle, both of which are important for the story. The ring is something Tyra gets from Gleesel (the coolest goat witch ever), and it isn't The One Ring. However, it does allow the wearer to distinguish between truth and lies. I'd love something like that. As for the Needle? It's a bit more on the cool side of things. It's called the Needle of Gailner, and it has the ability to alter reality in the same way that a weaver can alter a pattern on a loom.
Woven is also clever. Nels is a strapping lad that's had his "thread" woven together with that of a beautiful princess named Tyra (when they were babies). The idea of "arranged marriage" is very medieval (I didn't really like this part but understand that for the majority of history, arranged marriages are how things got done). I do like how it is essential to the story, because without it Nels would have stood no chance at all.
Because Tyra's "thread of life" was woven together with Nels, she could always find him even in death. As romantic as that seems to Notebook lovers everywhere, each possesses a personality that's like a cheese grater with respect to the other, and this is mined to great effect by the authors for comedy. As expected, circumstance (and the fact that they are both gorgeous people) pretty much ensures that they grow to love each other (which ends up being something even more powerful than the most powerful artifact in the world, a.k.a. the Needle).
The engine behind the whole story is the diabolical Rasmus who is a powerful magician bent on destroying Nels because, as Shakespeare wrote in the Merchant of Venice, "The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children." Rasmus is a well-developed villain, having been the apprentice of Ickabosh (a master fabricator/sorcerer) and a person that's willing to do anything in the grasp for power, even if it means murdering lots of people and using his magic to impersonate them once their dead.
Although I've never met Michael Jensen in person, from what I know about him, the idea of Woven's magic system came to fruition in his mind over the course of ten years. Forgive me, Mr. Jensen, if I get that wrong. But in reading this book, and thinking of the hard work both of these authors did, I can say that all that time and dedication shows in the pages. Woven is a polished jewel among books. It deserves it's Big Five publishing contract hands down, because this thing is a masterpiece. The pacing in Woven is perfect, every single character has a purpose, every place the characters journey to moves the story forward, and "fabrication" is probably the most original and elegant magic system I've encountered in books since David Eddings introduced me to the Will and the Word in the Belgariad over thirty years ago.
Woven is a book whose peers are Stardust by Neil Gaiman, the Belgariad by David Eddings, the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny, and the Prydain chronicles by Lloyd Alexander. It's a book that can be read and enjoyed by all ages, and I hope it gets made into a big budget movie. Disney are you listening? I own your stock so making this into a movie would make us shareholders happy :).
Anyway, for clarity's sake (and for that old Amazon bone), I give Woven five stars out of five, and it's honestly one of those books that had I known something was going to be this good, I might have rated other books lower in comparison. Alas, these are the challenges in life I must face when it comes to reviewing books.
I hope you all stop by David Powers King's website, congratulate him on Woven, mark it "Want to Read" on Goodreads, buy the book when it's out, and shout out some love for #teamScholastic (they brought you such fun stories as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and now, well...Woven). Please stop by on January 30th of this month when I'll be honored to be an official stop on the Woven blog tour! Let's hope that Mr. King and Mr. Jensen's literary agent and publicist don't mind the interview questions I sent them (and answer them) because they are some pretty good ones. But if they don't get answered, well that's what twitter (and sequels) are all about.
February 13, 2015
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
MY TAKE
I got a chance to read the traveling ARC to my hubby, and we both immensely enjoyed this book. In fact, hubby kept asking, "Can we read some more now?" The writing is beautiful. My husband is very much an audio listener, and he visualizes so much more than I do--which is why he usually enjoys having books read to him. The words brought this world alive.
The characters were engaging, and I love the gradual way Nels and Tyra came to be more than reluctant partners on the quest. Each had a fun character arc and grew a lot. And I loved how they grew together.
The whole "woven" premise was interesting and unique. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep us on the edge of our seats. If you enjoy YA fantasy, you'll want to consider this one!
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
MY TAKE
I got a chance to read the traveling ARC to my hubby, and we both immensely enjoyed this book. In fact, hubby kept asking, "Can we read some more now?" The writing is beautiful. My husband is very much an audio listener, and he visualizes so much more than I do--which is why he usually enjoys having books read to him. The words brought this world alive.
The characters were engaging, and I love the gradual way Nels and Tyra came to be more than reluctant partners on the quest. Each had a fun character arc and grew a lot. And I loved how they grew together.
The whole "woven" premise was interesting and unique. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep us on the edge of our seats. If you enjoy YA fantasy, you'll want to consider this one!
January 11, 2015
Woven is a young adult story, but it will appeal to any age group. Set in a magical world where everyone's life is threaded and woven with the world, the authors send two young people on a quest that will lead to great discovery.
I struggled to connect with Princess Tyra, but Nels is very likeable. He's an average young man thrust into incredible circumstances who gets by with his wits and generous heart.
Woven is compelling. The more you read, the more you want to know what happens next, all the way to the end.
I struggled to connect with Princess Tyra, but Nels is very likeable. He's an average young man thrust into incredible circumstances who gets by with his wits and generous heart.
Woven is compelling. The more you read, the more you want to know what happens next, all the way to the end.
December 31, 2014
This is easily the best book I've read in 2014. It's a gripping story with amazing characters. Think The Princess Bride meets Ghost (the movie), with a little hint of The Matrix in there.
Woven has it all: action, adventure, magic, romance, and such a great story that will suck you in immediately. I read this book in one day, and I NEVER do that.
Woven has it all: action, adventure, magic, romance, and such a great story that will suck you in immediately. I read this book in one day, and I NEVER do that.
February 18, 2015
I'm clearly biased, being one of the authors. This book was an absolute joy to write and it's even better to read. It has everything I've ever wanted in a fantasy ghost story that I was never able to find elsewhere. And I LOVE ghost stories! Scholastic did a wonderful job producing this book.
June 12, 2016
Woven is a book I've known of since the inception of its writing. At times I was unsure it would be published and at others I was positive, but after the authors' skirmish with Cedar Fort I knew It'd be picked up. In less than 3 months, Scholastic will be publishing this unique story, and I'm sure in a few years, movie rights will be optioned.
Woven by Jensen and King is about a ghost and a princess who go on an epic quest to retrieve a needle that will sew the ghost back to life. A phenomenal idea, in my opinion, executed in the most unexpected and best way.
Though Woven begins at a slow pace, the writing is fluent enough to keep you interested through the first fifty pages. After that, the novel is one heck of a ride. Filled with humor, terror, drama, magic and well-developed characters, relationships, and story-arcs, it is a book that you'll definitely desire to finish.
The magic system, based on sewing, is the most clever and finely-developed magic system I have ever come across. I doubted that Jensen and King could reveal a believable, plausible reason as to why our princess Tyra is the only one able to see our ghost Nels. But they did it.
The highlight of this book, I think, is the last eighty pages. Phenomenal. Truly phenomenal.
For their first novel, Jensen and King managed to write an easily-read and entertaining story. Though their writing sometimes does not blend well, I believe with another book or two, these two authors' writing will be amongst the greatest on the bookshelves.
An incredible story with amazing characters, Woven is a book you should not miss.
5/5
Woven by Jensen and King is about a ghost and a princess who go on an epic quest to retrieve a needle that will sew the ghost back to life. A phenomenal idea, in my opinion, executed in the most unexpected and best way.
Though Woven begins at a slow pace, the writing is fluent enough to keep you interested through the first fifty pages. After that, the novel is one heck of a ride. Filled with humor, terror, drama, magic and well-developed characters, relationships, and story-arcs, it is a book that you'll definitely desire to finish.
The magic system, based on sewing, is the most clever and finely-developed magic system I have ever come across. I doubted that Jensen and King could reveal a believable, plausible reason as to why our princess Tyra is the only one able to see our ghost Nels. But they did it.
The highlight of this book, I think, is the last eighty pages. Phenomenal. Truly phenomenal.
For their first novel, Jensen and King managed to write an easily-read and entertaining story. Though their writing sometimes does not blend well, I believe with another book or two, these two authors' writing will be amongst the greatest on the bookshelves.
An incredible story with amazing characters, Woven is a book you should not miss.
5/5
September 23, 2014
Woven is phenomenal, one of those rare books that captivates you from the beginning and you do not want the story to end. The characters, the fantasy, the romance and the adventure unite in a magical story that will stay in your head and heart long after you have read the last page.
January 15, 2015
A fun, entertaining, engaging story! I enjoyed the interactions of the characters, loved the original take on the magic system, and the unique quest made for a lot of solid fantasy fun. I finished the book with a smile on my face! I think this will particularly appeal to younger readers eager for an entertaining fantasy world.
November 10, 2014
The characters in this book were so enjoyable, and felt so real-- even the secondary characters. I was rooting for them every step of the way! It had such a clever, inventive magic system, and I loved delving into the intricacies of how everything worked. Loved it!
January 11, 2015
Epic adventure, sweet romance, and intrigue woven together in this seamlessly exciting tale!
February 6, 2016
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A thoroughly enjoyable read about thwarting death using the magic of fabrication.
Opening Sentence: Dust tickled the side of Kettle’s nose, but he did not bother to scratch it.
The Review:
The basis of this fantasy is that everyone’s threads are woven into a giant life tapestry. Even when a single thread is altered, entire lives can be affected. But what is torn can be mended, if you have the right tool at hand.
“Uh-huh,” Nels said. “You’re an odd old man, you know that?”
“A few weaves short of a basket, perhaps – but still useful.”
I found it very easy to get sucked into this book. Nels is the perfect protagonist; a poor boy brought up by one overprotective mother. Nels is the golden boy of the village, always rescuing people, and it’s his dream, but his mother’s worst nightmare, to become a knight of Avërand. We soon discover that the reason his mum despises the royal family and anyone associated is because Nels’ father died in service to the king and she doesn’t want the same for her son.
“What’s with your mother? She’s so prim and proper-she never lets you do anything.” Jilia scrunched her small nose. “My father lets me do whatever I want, and I turned out fine!”
Nels’ love/hate relationship with the princess was funny and sweet at times, but it was characters like Ickabosh the eccentric tailor, and the goat-witch that made this story a delight to read. Ickabosh’s odd and cryptic personality introduced the element of magic seamlessly (pun intended). If someone had told me that magic relied on one’s ability to sew, I would have thought they were delusional, but Bosh made it all seem so real that I didn’t doubt the magic of fabrication at all! This quote perfectly describes my thoughts:
Magic based on the fundamentals of sewing and weaving? Nels never would have imagined such a thing.
At the same time, it made a great deal of sense.
“Would you understand if I called myself a sorcerer?”
Tyra scoffed as she folded her arms. “And everyone’s calling me mad.” She looked at each of them in turn. “FIrst a ghost, and now a sorcerer. How do I find you people?”
“We often fund what we seek when we do not search for it,” Bosh said.
Rasmus was an excellent villain and so crafty that I feared his master plans would succeed, especially since the weapon they were all looking for (a giant magical needle!) was virtually impossible to locate. Without giving too much away, this is a happily-ever-after story, but there are so many narrow escapes with the characters slipping into the realms of death and back.
This was my first fun read of 2016 and I’m looking forward to many more from Michael Jensen and David Powers King.
Notable Scene:
Threadbare cleared his throat. “Everyone is equal in death, Princess.”
FTC Advisory: Scholastic Press provided me with a copy of Woven. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A thoroughly enjoyable read about thwarting death using the magic of fabrication.
Opening Sentence: Dust tickled the side of Kettle’s nose, but he did not bother to scratch it.
The Review:
The basis of this fantasy is that everyone’s threads are woven into a giant life tapestry. Even when a single thread is altered, entire lives can be affected. But what is torn can be mended, if you have the right tool at hand.
“Uh-huh,” Nels said. “You’re an odd old man, you know that?”
“A few weaves short of a basket, perhaps – but still useful.”
I found it very easy to get sucked into this book. Nels is the perfect protagonist; a poor boy brought up by one overprotective mother. Nels is the golden boy of the village, always rescuing people, and it’s his dream, but his mother’s worst nightmare, to become a knight of Avërand. We soon discover that the reason his mum despises the royal family and anyone associated is because Nels’ father died in service to the king and she doesn’t want the same for her son.
“What’s with your mother? She’s so prim and proper-she never lets you do anything.” Jilia scrunched her small nose. “My father lets me do whatever I want, and I turned out fine!”
Nels’ love/hate relationship with the princess was funny and sweet at times, but it was characters like Ickabosh the eccentric tailor, and the goat-witch that made this story a delight to read. Ickabosh’s odd and cryptic personality introduced the element of magic seamlessly (pun intended). If someone had told me that magic relied on one’s ability to sew, I would have thought they were delusional, but Bosh made it all seem so real that I didn’t doubt the magic of fabrication at all! This quote perfectly describes my thoughts:
Magic based on the fundamentals of sewing and weaving? Nels never would have imagined such a thing.
At the same time, it made a great deal of sense.
“Would you understand if I called myself a sorcerer?”
Tyra scoffed as she folded her arms. “And everyone’s calling me mad.” She looked at each of them in turn. “FIrst a ghost, and now a sorcerer. How do I find you people?”
“We often fund what we seek when we do not search for it,” Bosh said.
Rasmus was an excellent villain and so crafty that I feared his master plans would succeed, especially since the weapon they were all looking for (a giant magical needle!) was virtually impossible to locate. Without giving too much away, this is a happily-ever-after story, but there are so many narrow escapes with the characters slipping into the realms of death and back.
This was my first fun read of 2016 and I’m looking forward to many more from Michael Jensen and David Powers King.
Notable Scene:
Threadbare cleared his throat. “Everyone is equal in death, Princess.”
FTC Advisory: Scholastic Press provided me with a copy of Woven. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
January 19, 2015
If you like fantasy books that are chock-full of magic, you will most likely enjoy Woven.
I'm going to do something I rarely do. I'm going to post the description from Amazon:
Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself.
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person -- his only hope for understanding what happened to him -- the kingdom's heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
Thoughts:
I knew going in that this really wasn't my kind of book. There are just too many fairy tale elements. There are witches and ghosts. Almost every item has magical properties. There's a sewing box that can get you out of almost any scrape. Magical rings and necklaces. Gargoyles that talk. People die but aren't really dead. Every obstacle encountered is easily overcome with some sort of magic.
If you like fairy tales, Woven is a good one. The world is interesting. Adhering to the normal fairy tale tropes, there is a kingdom with a princess. And then there's the villagers feeling very far apart from the royalty. The lore is based on the notion that reality is really a tapestry. The Great Tapestry, cared for by the taylor, that can become unraveled. The magic is called Fabrication. The book is full of sewing references -- stitching, binding, seam rippers, weaving, loose threads. As a person who enjoys sewing as a hobby, it was entertaining.
Tyra is a spoiled brat. I got frustrated with her lack of growth, even after this long journey where she has to overcome all these obstacles. And it's obvious she couldn't do it without Nels.
And speaking of that long journey, Woven really lagged in the middle. The journey just got too long. But that may be because I became unimpressed with the next encounter with some horrible magical creature and the constant use of more magic to escape. Like I said, just not my thing.
Woven is well written, and easy to read. I would recommend Woven to the middle school crowd who like a descriptive fairy tale set in a unique magical environment.
I'm going to do something I rarely do. I'm going to post the description from Amazon:
Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself.
All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.
But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.
Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person -- his only hope for understanding what happened to him -- the kingdom's heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.
Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.
Thoughts:
I knew going in that this really wasn't my kind of book. There are just too many fairy tale elements. There are witches and ghosts. Almost every item has magical properties. There's a sewing box that can get you out of almost any scrape. Magical rings and necklaces. Gargoyles that talk. People die but aren't really dead. Every obstacle encountered is easily overcome with some sort of magic.
If you like fairy tales, Woven is a good one. The world is interesting. Adhering to the normal fairy tale tropes, there is a kingdom with a princess. And then there's the villagers feeling very far apart from the royalty. The lore is based on the notion that reality is really a tapestry. The Great Tapestry, cared for by the taylor, that can become unraveled. The magic is called Fabrication. The book is full of sewing references -- stitching, binding, seam rippers, weaving, loose threads. As a person who enjoys sewing as a hobby, it was entertaining.
Tyra is a spoiled brat. I got frustrated with her lack of growth, even after this long journey where she has to overcome all these obstacles. And it's obvious she couldn't do it without Nels.
And speaking of that long journey, Woven really lagged in the middle. The journey just got too long. But that may be because I became unimpressed with the next encounter with some horrible magical creature and the constant use of more magic to escape. Like I said, just not my thing.
Woven is well written, and easy to read. I would recommend Woven to the middle school crowd who like a descriptive fairy tale set in a unique magical environment.
July 3, 2018
Changing my rating from 3 stars to 5 starts because, really, there’s nothing bad about this book. I give it all my love.
January 17, 2015
You know the old saying...the ties that bind. Well, this book takes that to a whole new level. There are strong magical threads that connect the characters together in ways they couldn't have dreamed. And where there is magic, there is always someone looking for ways to use it for other than honorable purposes.
When a tragedy strikes a young peasant, he finds that the most unlikely person has been fated to be his hero. There is nothing like having your fate entwined with someone that is currently self involved.
There was so much about this book that I liked. The characters were well developed, the plot was unique, and the world they created was fascinating. I look forward to reading more about Tyra, Nels, and their adventures.
When a tragedy strikes a young peasant, he finds that the most unlikely person has been fated to be his hero. There is nothing like having your fate entwined with someone that is currently self involved.
There was so much about this book that I liked. The characters were well developed, the plot was unique, and the world they created was fascinating. I look forward to reading more about Tyra, Nels, and their adventures.
February 22, 2024
This was such an amazing story. Knowing that it all started with a dream. The first half was a bit slower than the second half, but that was for the sake of character development. The second half is very exciting. The mysterious magic of Fabrication is a bit hard to understand but that adds to the mystical nature of the magic. I am hoping that this is the first book of a series. I want to learn more! This would make an amazing movie for sure.
Want to read
June 28, 2014I'm glad the author found a new publisher for this book! I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this novel!
It sounds promising as hell!
It sounds promising as hell!
July 14, 2014
Great book! This beautiful story has been stuck in my head since I read it. Love Tyra and Nels's relationship. And the Vagas have a really cool society. Can't wait for more from these authors.
July 1, 2017
I just really didn't care for any of the characters. Tyra doesn't deserve the crown and Nels is just annoying especially in the beginning.
February 24, 2015
100% awesome read" couldn't be better. David and Michael hit it right on the mark.
Loved it!
Loved it!
January 18, 2017
"Se você se move depressa demais sua luz se apaga. O que você vai aprender se passar depressa demais pela vida?"
January 27, 2015
Nels, known where he lives as the ‘Knight of Cobblestown’, is always trying to lend a hand. His lifelong dream is to become a knight for the Kingdom of Avërand. After winning a wrestling match with the favored Knight of Avërand, Arek, the Princess refuses to hand over the ‘prize’–a kiss to the winner. When a mysterious stranger murders Nels later that evening, it turns out that Princess Tyra is the only one that can see him. Yes, young Nels comes back as a ghost. Clearly, there is unfinished business that needs to be taken care of, and that includes finding out what exactly bonds these two young people together.
I wasn’t too fond of Princess Tyra at first. She was too much of a spoiled brat for my taste, compared to Nels and his chivalrous and courageous nature. He pleads with her to help him until he has no choice but to follow her around and prank her (think Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost) :D until she agrees. (Eventually she wins me over). They eventually join forces to find out exactly what happened to Nels and the evil force trying to unravel him. The quest includes searching for a magic needle that will help tie up loose ends from ties nearly severed years ago. There are many obstacles to overcome and battles they will fight.
The world building is phenomenal; there is even a map included to give the reader an idea of area locations. I love the idea that a ‘Tapestry’ intertwines the world and everyone in it and that fate is sometimes changed by the choices made. Readers will notice many references to sewing in this book: thimbles, threads, weaving, seams, etc. The characters were well fleshed out and three-dimensional, with their own distinct personalities. The story flowed well, although it did lag slightly in the middle. I noticed no spelling or grammatical errors in this draft.
If you like stories with ghosts, sorcerers, knights, magic, witches, and spells mixed with a healthy dose of adventure, action, fantasy, and a touch of romance, then I highly recommend this novel.
I wasn’t too fond of Princess Tyra at first. She was too much of a spoiled brat for my taste, compared to Nels and his chivalrous and courageous nature. He pleads with her to help him until he has no choice but to follow her around and prank her (think Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost) :D until she agrees. (Eventually she wins me over). They eventually join forces to find out exactly what happened to Nels and the evil force trying to unravel him. The quest includes searching for a magic needle that will help tie up loose ends from ties nearly severed years ago. There are many obstacles to overcome and battles they will fight.
The world building is phenomenal; there is even a map included to give the reader an idea of area locations. I love the idea that a ‘Tapestry’ intertwines the world and everyone in it and that fate is sometimes changed by the choices made. Readers will notice many references to sewing in this book: thimbles, threads, weaving, seams, etc. The characters were well fleshed out and three-dimensional, with their own distinct personalities. The story flowed well, although it did lag slightly in the middle. I noticed no spelling or grammatical errors in this draft.
If you like stories with ghosts, sorcerers, knights, magic, witches, and spells mixed with a healthy dose of adventure, action, fantasy, and a touch of romance, then I highly recommend this novel.
June 29, 2017
Wow, this book was INCREDIBLE. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't sure I was going to like it and almost didn't even read it but I'm so glad I did! This book is about Nels, who is in an in between state (not dead but not alive either) and he recruits the help of Princess Tyra. Together, they journey across a fantasy land in search of a way to save Nels. As their journey progresses, the characters learn that not only is Nel's life at stake, the entire fabric of the world will unravel if they do not succeed. Along the way, they run into various roadblocks and interesting characters, who aren't always as they seem. This book had a well developed plot with a creative magical concept called fabrication. I would really like to know how the authors came up with such a unique concept.
The characters were very likable. Princess Tyra did get on my nerves a bit at the beginning, but as the novel progresses, she learns to care for others rather than only herself. By the end, she becomes quite the heroine. By the end of the novel, I had decided she was my favorite character.
Overall, if you're a fan of fantasy and fairytales, I would recommend this book. I personally don't prefer high fantasy, but I loved this book! It didn't go overboard with the sword and knight stuff like some high fantasy books do, and as for the world building, and it wasn't too harsh and brutal on the characters like some of the other high fantasy novels also can be (which I also don't prefer in my fantasy books).
It kind of reminds me of an older and more mature version of the middle grade novel, Half Upon a Time. Highly recommended!
The characters were very likable. Princess Tyra did get on my nerves a bit at the beginning, but as the novel progresses, she learns to care for others rather than only herself. By the end, she becomes quite the heroine. By the end of the novel, I had decided she was my favorite character.
Overall, if you're a fan of fantasy and fairytales, I would recommend this book. I personally don't prefer high fantasy, but I loved this book! It didn't go overboard with the sword and knight stuff like some high fantasy books do, and as for the world building, and it wasn't too harsh and brutal on the characters like some of the other high fantasy novels also can be (which I also don't prefer in my fantasy books).
It kind of reminds me of an older and more mature version of the middle grade novel, Half Upon a Time. Highly recommended!
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