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The First Wordweaver: A Ryvenlock Trilogy Prequel
A new age dawns. You must seek the phoenix in the mountains, in the darkness of the earth. There, you must face the shadows and return worthy to be called king.
When 18-year-old Vilden receives a prophecy telling him to travel north to become worthy of ruling his people, he has no choice but to obey. With only a rival warrior and a seer as his companions, Vilden sets out on a journey to become king. But it takes more than milage to make a ruler. Vilden will have to face a dangerous wilderness, foreign hunters, and a life-changing sacrifice before he can fulfill the prophecy—though the outcome may not be exactly what he expects.
When 18-year-old Vilden receives a prophecy telling him to travel north to become worthy of ruling his people, he has no choice but to obey. With only a rival warrior and a seer as his companions, Vilden sets out on a journey to become king. But it takes more than milage to make a ruler. Vilden will have to face a dangerous wilderness, foreign hunters, and a life-changing sacrifice before he can fulfill the prophecy—though the outcome may not be exactly what he expects.
- GenresFantasy
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2023
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Waldburger
3 books7 followersWhen not moonlighting as a writer, I daylight as a middle school teacher who talks about writing. In my limited spare time, I enjoy reading, drawing portraits, learning languages, and trying to convince myself that I can be a gardener. I live in Wisconsin with my amazing husband, two wild children, two clingy cats, and a houseful of dying plants.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 15, 2023
The First Wordweaver by Rachel Waldburger
YA Fantasy
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💫 Scandinavian/Viking Inspired
💫Norse Mythology
💫Enemies to Friends
💫Chosen One
💫Prophocies and Quests
The First Wordweaver is a prequel/standalone novella for the Ryvenlock Trilogy releasing in Spring of 2024. The story is from the POV of the MMC Vilden.
First of all, pronunciation guide! This made me so happy to see, I believe all books should have them, especially if they include other languages. Worldbuilding is great and the characters are very well developed.
I highly recommend it and I'm very excited for the next one.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.
YA Fantasy
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💫 Scandinavian/Viking Inspired
💫Norse Mythology
💫Enemies to Friends
💫Chosen One
💫Prophocies and Quests
The First Wordweaver is a prequel/standalone novella for the Ryvenlock Trilogy releasing in Spring of 2024. The story is from the POV of the MMC Vilden.
First of all, pronunciation guide! This made me so happy to see, I believe all books should have them, especially if they include other languages. Worldbuilding is great and the characters are very well developed.
I highly recommend it and I'm very excited for the next one.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.
October 8, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Blurb*
The First Wordweaver is a viking-inspired fantasy about a reluctant young heir, a stalwart young protector, and a no-nonsense young seer. After a mysterious vision, the trio go on a quest that doubles as a journey of self discovery. Together they find new land, encounter new people and culture, and uncover a hidden magic. The trio soon learns that there is more to the vision than they thought. Although the journey is not a long one, all three young people grow into themselves and find family where before there seemed to be only strife.
***
*Review*
This is one of the best short fantasies I've read in a while. Even within such a small amount of pages compared to most fantasies, we get a complete journey and we get to know the main three characters so well.
*
Vilden, the son of the chief, is usually preoccupied with noting the flora and fauna and drawing in his journal. He is socially awkward, does not see his own value, questions his role in the new society, and often comes off as arrogant due to his inability to articulate his thoughts and emotions.
*
Brann is the outsider who was brought into the Andreveien clan when he was a young boy. He learned anything he could from the chief, and he makes himself invaluable as a fighter and protector. He is everything that Vilden is not, which naturally leads to some conflict.
*
Grye has reluctantly accepted her role as soer (seer), but that doesn't stop her from being strong-willed or speaking her mind. She is not afraid to tell her companions how she feels and what she thinks. However the lack of true communication between her and Vilden leads to some misunderstandings and negative emotions.
*
This little found family captured my heart. Sometimes I wanted to shake Grye for just completely missing things, but I also loved her feistiness. Brann is such a golden retriever, I just want to hug him. Vilden is so relatable. I am no psychiatrist, but I immediately noticed he displays a lot of characteristics of neurodivergence. I saw myself in him at times.
*
I loved reading the story from Vilden’s perspective. If it had been told from Grye’s perspective, for example, I think the reader would have hated Vilden for a bit and not understood the meaning to so many things that happened. With Vilden’s inner monologue we get to understand him. He is riddled with self doubt and a sense of worthlessness, yet has such a strong love for nature and discovery. He just wants to draw and take notes in his journal, not be responsible for an entire nation!
*
The world building that Waldburger achieves with only 157 pages is impressive. The reader gets a good sense of the setting, but it doesn't feel like show and tell. This is achieved by Vilden's obsession with drawing and noting things in his journal, so it flows with the story.
*
I also loved the little bit of romance that was included. There was no spice, but it wasn't needed either. This felt similar to a Sanderson fantasy with the romance in that Waldburger so effortlessly weaves the relationship together.
*
I would recommend this book if you like fantasy stories with found family, a little magic, and journeys of self discovery. You might also like this book if you like novels with a reluctant hero, novels with a story of sacrifice for the greater good, or novels about adventure in a new place. I would also recommend this book if you like quick reads with a comforting ending. This is also apparently a prequel to a series the author is working on!
*Blurb*
The First Wordweaver is a viking-inspired fantasy about a reluctant young heir, a stalwart young protector, and a no-nonsense young seer. After a mysterious vision, the trio go on a quest that doubles as a journey of self discovery. Together they find new land, encounter new people and culture, and uncover a hidden magic. The trio soon learns that there is more to the vision than they thought. Although the journey is not a long one, all three young people grow into themselves and find family where before there seemed to be only strife.
***
*Review*
This is one of the best short fantasies I've read in a while. Even within such a small amount of pages compared to most fantasies, we get a complete journey and we get to know the main three characters so well.
*
Vilden, the son of the chief, is usually preoccupied with noting the flora and fauna and drawing in his journal. He is socially awkward, does not see his own value, questions his role in the new society, and often comes off as arrogant due to his inability to articulate his thoughts and emotions.
*
Brann is the outsider who was brought into the Andreveien clan when he was a young boy. He learned anything he could from the chief, and he makes himself invaluable as a fighter and protector. He is everything that Vilden is not, which naturally leads to some conflict.
*
Grye has reluctantly accepted her role as soer (seer), but that doesn't stop her from being strong-willed or speaking her mind. She is not afraid to tell her companions how she feels and what she thinks. However the lack of true communication between her and Vilden leads to some misunderstandings and negative emotions.
*
This little found family captured my heart. Sometimes I wanted to shake Grye for just completely missing things, but I also loved her feistiness. Brann is such a golden retriever, I just want to hug him. Vilden is so relatable. I am no psychiatrist, but I immediately noticed he displays a lot of characteristics of neurodivergence. I saw myself in him at times.
*
I loved reading the story from Vilden’s perspective. If it had been told from Grye’s perspective, for example, I think the reader would have hated Vilden for a bit and not understood the meaning to so many things that happened. With Vilden’s inner monologue we get to understand him. He is riddled with self doubt and a sense of worthlessness, yet has such a strong love for nature and discovery. He just wants to draw and take notes in his journal, not be responsible for an entire nation!
*
The world building that Waldburger achieves with only 157 pages is impressive. The reader gets a good sense of the setting, but it doesn't feel like show and tell. This is achieved by Vilden's obsession with drawing and noting things in his journal, so it flows with the story.
*
I also loved the little bit of romance that was included. There was no spice, but it wasn't needed either. This felt similar to a Sanderson fantasy with the romance in that Waldburger so effortlessly weaves the relationship together.
*
I would recommend this book if you like fantasy stories with found family, a little magic, and journeys of self discovery. You might also like this book if you like novels with a reluctant hero, novels with a story of sacrifice for the greater good, or novels about adventure in a new place. I would also recommend this book if you like quick reads with a comforting ending. This is also apparently a prequel to a series the author is working on!
November 14, 2023
The First Wordweaver is a lighthearted and well-paced debut YA novella by newcomer Rachael Waldburger, with some of the classic fantasy earmarks that made me first fall in love with the genre as a teen. For me, when I open a new book and the first thing I find is a pronunciation guide with meanings in three different fantasy languages, I happily start brewing another pot of coffee and cozy in.
The First Wordweaver doesn’t disappoint in the worldbuilding department. For such a short book, the author does a wonderful job of introducing us to Vilden’s world. The Scandinavian and Viking-inspired setting is apparent but not too similar, and the balance between familiar and new/fantastical is good. The Wordweaving magic system itself is also intriguing. We don’t get many answers to the extent of the magic in this book, but it’s obvious that The First Wordweaver is setting up the magic system for the following trilogy - so it will be interesting to see how powerful Wordweaving can actually be in the later books.
The First Wordweaver is a prequel to the Ryvenlock Trilogy (which is set to release in spring 2024). The story is told from the POV of Vilden, the son of a chief whose people have just landed in a new, unsettled land. After a prophecy declares Vilden will become king of this new land, Vilden sets out on a quest to find a phoenix and prove that he’s worthy to take the crown. He’s joined on his search by Grye, a strong-willed and sharp-tongued seer (who the book calls a soer), and Brann, a young warrior who Vilden slightly resents.
While I haven’t read a story told entirely from a MMC perspective in a while, I very much enjoyed the story through Vilden’s eyes. I didn’t realize until I started The First Wordweaver that I desperately needed a break from the dark past, snarky/sarcastic female POVs I’ve been reading lately – and the change was refreshing. Vilden is flawed, but he knows it, and he wrestles with self-doubt throughout the book without being cliché or woe-is-me. Waldburger’s MCs are well-written. In the case of the FMC, Grye, she was so well-developed that I found myself thoroughly annoyed with her for the first half of the book. She ended up being my favorite character by the end of the book, and her arc was particular satisfying.
I was also particularly pleased with the fact that The First Wordweaver doesn’t have any spice. There was romance between two of the MCs, but all age appropriate. “Spice” has been taking the YA fantasy genre by storm lately, so parents will be happy to find that The First Wordweaver is safe to hand to their teen readers without having to vet it first.
The First Wordweaver doesn’t disappoint in the worldbuilding department. For such a short book, the author does a wonderful job of introducing us to Vilden’s world. The Scandinavian and Viking-inspired setting is apparent but not too similar, and the balance between familiar and new/fantastical is good. The Wordweaving magic system itself is also intriguing. We don’t get many answers to the extent of the magic in this book, but it’s obvious that The First Wordweaver is setting up the magic system for the following trilogy - so it will be interesting to see how powerful Wordweaving can actually be in the later books.
The First Wordweaver is a prequel to the Ryvenlock Trilogy (which is set to release in spring 2024). The story is told from the POV of Vilden, the son of a chief whose people have just landed in a new, unsettled land. After a prophecy declares Vilden will become king of this new land, Vilden sets out on a quest to find a phoenix and prove that he’s worthy to take the crown. He’s joined on his search by Grye, a strong-willed and sharp-tongued seer (who the book calls a soer), and Brann, a young warrior who Vilden slightly resents.
While I haven’t read a story told entirely from a MMC perspective in a while, I very much enjoyed the story through Vilden’s eyes. I didn’t realize until I started The First Wordweaver that I desperately needed a break from the dark past, snarky/sarcastic female POVs I’ve been reading lately – and the change was refreshing. Vilden is flawed, but he knows it, and he wrestles with self-doubt throughout the book without being cliché or woe-is-me. Waldburger’s MCs are well-written. In the case of the FMC, Grye, she was so well-developed that I found myself thoroughly annoyed with her for the first half of the book. She ended up being my favorite character by the end of the book, and her arc was particular satisfying.
I was also particularly pleased with the fact that The First Wordweaver doesn’t have any spice. There was romance between two of the MCs, but all age appropriate. “Spice” has been taking the YA fantasy genre by storm lately, so parents will be happy to find that The First Wordweaver is safe to hand to their teen readers without having to vet it first.
November 15, 2023
The First Wordweaver by Rachael Waldburger is a Viking-inspired YA fantasy novella that keeps the reader intrigued. The character depth and world development are detailed and add to the storyline in a wonderful manner. Waldburger also includes a pronunciation guide/dictionary at the beginning to aide understanding and to help delve deeper into the novella.
Vilden, Erlendr, Brann, Grye, and a group of Andreveien people arrive at the shore of a new land after traveling by sea for a fortnight. Upon landing, Grye has a vision that has a possibility of forever changing the future of the landing party. Vilden, Brann, and Grye work together to explore all that the new land offers and to unravel the mystery of Grye's vision. Vilden is the arrogant son of the chief (Erlendr) who has serious misgivings about his role in the new Andreveien community. Brann is the stalwart companion who seems to do everything right at exactly the right time. Grye's visions have helped her people and have helped shape her cutting wit and the strength of her willpower. All three adventurers mature and become better people throughout their short travels.
Waldburger creates a wonderful entry point for this world for YA and adult readers alike. This is just the beginning for Vilden and his people. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this group of intrepid adventurers.
I received an ARC from the author, and this review is honest and voluntary.
Vilden, Erlendr, Brann, Grye, and a group of Andreveien people arrive at the shore of a new land after traveling by sea for a fortnight. Upon landing, Grye has a vision that has a possibility of forever changing the future of the landing party. Vilden, Brann, and Grye work together to explore all that the new land offers and to unravel the mystery of Grye's vision. Vilden is the arrogant son of the chief (Erlendr) who has serious misgivings about his role in the new Andreveien community. Brann is the stalwart companion who seems to do everything right at exactly the right time. Grye's visions have helped her people and have helped shape her cutting wit and the strength of her willpower. All three adventurers mature and become better people throughout their short travels.
Waldburger creates a wonderful entry point for this world for YA and adult readers alike. This is just the beginning for Vilden and his people. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this group of intrepid adventurers.
I received an ARC from the author, and this review is honest and voluntary.
January 18, 2024
Review: Ahhhh...the epic story of a young man on a journey to find his true self....This one was easy enough to read, I did so in two sittings. From the beginning of the story you get the impression that Vilden does not want to become future king, that he would much rather be looking for new lands, botanics & birds-- not exactly the picture of a what you'd expect a future king to be. Coupled by his companions, a seer (Grye ; the one who gives the prophecy) and a warrior (Brann; someone Vilden isn't comfortable with) he sets off to find the phoenix so he can become king upon his return. The journey makes the man just not in the way he expected. Each character is on this journey for a reason-- the characters develop as the story unfolds. Each has challenges that interwine with the other -- as they make their way which ultimately change the expected ending! Looking forward to future installments of this series to see where Vilden's story lies and what his purpose is or if he will truly find it.
April 13, 2024
The First Wordweaver is written by Rachael Waldburger and tells the tale of a young Viking destined to be a future king. There is only one problem – he doesn’t want to be king. He would rather spend his time studying and engaging in other scholarly pursuits. When he is tasked by his father to search for land to build this future kingdom, he is less than thrilled, and it shows in his attitude. On this journey, Vilden is forced to come face to face with his attitude and the resulting choices. Can he be the king he was predicted to be?
Personally, I prefer books with more dialogue between the main characters and a little bit more action. However, if you are a fan of stories with introspective dialogues and Viking-esque settings, check out this book. The quality of writing was easy and enjoyable to read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See what other books I've enjoyed: https://reading4fun.blog/
Personally, I prefer books with more dialogue between the main characters and a little bit more action. However, if you are a fan of stories with introspective dialogues and Viking-esque settings, check out this book. The quality of writing was easy and enjoyable to read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See what other books I've enjoyed: https://reading4fun.blog/
November 11, 2023
Vilden is not yet fit to be chieftain, yet the prophecy told to him by Grye suggests he may be more than anyone before him... If he can seek the phoenix, find the shadows, and return alive. With Brann and Grye beside him, he ventures into unknown land to a new destiny.
The ending is better than you'll hope for, and perfectly demonstrates the development of each character.
Clashes between the characters feel realistic and engaging, and you can see from everyone's perspective. Grye is the perfect person to call Vilden out on his bullshit, while Brann really brings out Vilden's personality and encourages him to change.
I love the inclusion of the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book! Especially because it also acts as a glossary for the world.
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
The ending is better than you'll hope for, and perfectly demonstrates the development of each character.
Clashes between the characters feel realistic and engaging, and you can see from everyone's perspective. Grye is the perfect person to call Vilden out on his bullshit, while Brann really brings out Vilden's personality and encourages him to change.
I love the inclusion of the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book! Especially because it also acts as a glossary for the world.
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
November 5, 2023
This was a creative and entertaining novella, a prequel to Ryvenlock trilogy series.
It's a YA adventure fantasy set in a Viking era with charming characters, and a theme of self discovery and proving yourself.
There's friendships formed, sacrifice, loyalty, sarcastic banter, and magic, it's an enjoyable read from start to finish.
This looks to be a promising YA series of adventure and magic, excited to read more.
(And the cover is stunning)
It's a YA adventure fantasy set in a Viking era with charming characters, and a theme of self discovery and proving yourself.
There's friendships formed, sacrifice, loyalty, sarcastic banter, and magic, it's an enjoyable read from start to finish.
This looks to be a promising YA series of adventure and magic, excited to read more.
(And the cover is stunning)
November 8, 2023
What a creative new world. Three unique and opposite characters embark on a journey of self discovery and proving oneself. This novella has snarky banter, mistakes made, friendships formed, loyalty forged, and magic of the Phoenix. Very relatable characters and great worldbuilding. It was entertaining to read and I was surprised at the twist in the ending. This looks to be a promising new YA Fantasy series.
January 28, 2024
This was a cute, pretty cozy fantasy! Well written and edited, you can tell the writer put a lot of work into not only this book but this world. The dialogue and characters made sense and the plot progression kept me reading.
I felt the characters achieved their goals too easily, so the emotional impact and stakes weren't very strong for me. I like to see characters suffer, but that's just me.
All in all, a great easy read with morning coffee!
I felt the characters achieved their goals too easily, so the emotional impact and stakes weren't very strong for me. I like to see characters suffer, but that's just me.
All in all, a great easy read with morning coffee!
October 26, 2024
The First Wordweaver is a beautifully crafted novella that pulled me in from the very first page. The writing is captivating, and the author skillfully builds a world that feels both vast and deeply mysterious. Vilden’s journey is intense and filled with layers of meaning, exploring themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the cost of leadership. I loved watching his growth from a reluctant son of the chieftain to someone grappling with what it truly means to be king.
The author balances action with introspection perfectly, keeping the pace steady while allowing room for Vilden’s internal struggle to shine through. The setting, from shadowed forests to treacherous mountains, is immersive and thrilling—an ideal backdrop for Vilden’s transformation.
I’m eager to continue with the series to see where this tale goes next! If the rest of the series is anything like this prequel, it’s going to be an unforgettable journey. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and coming-of-age tales!
The author balances action with introspection perfectly, keeping the pace steady while allowing room for Vilden’s internal struggle to shine through. The setting, from shadowed forests to treacherous mountains, is immersive and thrilling—an ideal backdrop for Vilden’s transformation.
I’m eager to continue with the series to see where this tale goes next! If the rest of the series is anything like this prequel, it’s going to be an unforgettable journey. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and coming-of-age tales!
November 14, 2023
I was immediately drawn in by the characters and eagerly followed them through their exciting quest. The fast-paced story-line flows smoothly and we feel as though we are right there with the characters as they face challenges both internally and in their external environment. This book sets the stage and I can't wait to follow the story further as it develops through the series.
November 13, 2023
What a magical, creative and well written novella! The world building, characters, and friendships in the story are just a few of many great things in this book. I’m so excited for the next ones in the series! Highly recommend reading this.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews