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Witch's Child #2
Julia Defiant
Julia and a mismatched band of revolutionaries, scholars, and thieves have crossed the world searching for a witch. But for all the miles traveled, they are no closer to finding Ko Dan. No closer to undoing the terrible spell he cast that bound an ancient magic to the life of a small child. Casimir wants that magic will happily kill Theo to extract it and every moment they hunt for Ko Dan, Casimir s assassins are hunting them.
Julia can deal with danger. The thing that truly scares her lies within. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it s like stepping into another world. It s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her and count her as one of their own.
So . . . is Julia a girl with a monster lurking inside her? Or a monster wearing the disguise of a girl?
If she can use her monstrous power to save Theo, does it matter?
Julia can deal with danger. The thing that truly scares her lies within. Her strange ability to vanish to a place just out of sight has grown: she can now disappear so completely that it s like stepping into another world. It s a fiery, hellish world, filled with creatures who seem to recognize her and count her as one of their own.
So . . . is Julia a girl with a monster lurking inside her? Or a monster wearing the disguise of a girl?
If she can use her monstrous power to save Theo, does it matter?
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2017
29 people are currently reading
1553 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Egan
12 books210 followersMy superpowers: forward momentum, list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My weaknesses: overthinking, excessive list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My allies: My made-for-walking-in black boots, Mick, the English Language
My enemies: decaf, low blood sugar, the passage of time
My mission: the coexistence of ambivalence and joy.
My weaknesses: overthinking, excessive list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My allies: My made-for-walking-in black boots, Mick, the English Language
My enemies: decaf, low blood sugar, the passage of time
My mission: the coexistence of ambivalence and joy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 12, 2017
'Julia Defiant' is an amazing second novel in a thrilling YA fantasy series, and is one that fans of the genre definitely need to get their hands on. A lot of series start off with a great first book, only to fall short on the following books. That is definitely not the case with this one. Every single aspect of the novel was fabulous and just as fantastic as the first installment. I read and loved the first book, Julia Vanishes, so I came into this one with pretty high hopes. I'm so glad to say that it lived up to my expectations and surpassed them all. There are so many wonderful aspects to this book that I know I'm going to end up forgetting something, but I'll try to get as much as I can.
Julia continues to be a great main character. She's realistic and easy to connect with early on in the book. She has lots of positive qualities - smart, loyal, determined, kick-ass abilities, strong, brave, and more - but she has plenty of flaws too. I loved watching her become more comfortable with her powers and her role in the crew she's a part of. She grows and matures quite a bit during the story, and I liked seeing it happen. I also enjoyed watching her relationship with other characters develop on various levels throughout the novel. One huge thing for me is always the writing style. I prefer the first person point of view in most cases, and the author chose to use this for the story. I'm so happy that she did, because it just cemented my love for it even more. I love how the reader gets to really know Julia because the book is told from her perspective. We get to know her on such a personal level that it allowed me to slip inside her mind and her world right from the beginning. The writing style always seems to be a "make it or break it" situation for me as a reader - and I honestly think this was the perfect fit for the book.
The plot was awesome. It was full of adventure, suspense, action, and thrills. I was immediately hooked - from the first page - and didn't stop reading until I had finished it in one sitting. I had to keep going to see what was going to happen. Julia and the rest of the crew kept getting into tight spots with so much on the line - it definitely keeps the reader on their toes. Another aspect I adored was the extreme attention to detail throughout the book. The author uses rich descriptions and vivid imagery to bring everything to life in front of the reader's eyes. Every little part of the city was thought out and described to the smallest detail. I loved getting to know everything I could about the city, it's history, inhabitants, the magic and politics - it was all so vibrant and exciting. I wanted more and I hope we get to learn even more about it all in the next book. I very highly recommend this book - and series - to fans of YA fantasy and readers looking for a richly imagined escape into a sensational world full of danger and magic.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Julia continues to be a great main character. She's realistic and easy to connect with early on in the book. She has lots of positive qualities - smart, loyal, determined, kick-ass abilities, strong, brave, and more - but she has plenty of flaws too. I loved watching her become more comfortable with her powers and her role in the crew she's a part of. She grows and matures quite a bit during the story, and I liked seeing it happen. I also enjoyed watching her relationship with other characters develop on various levels throughout the novel. One huge thing for me is always the writing style. I prefer the first person point of view in most cases, and the author chose to use this for the story. I'm so happy that she did, because it just cemented my love for it even more. I love how the reader gets to really know Julia because the book is told from her perspective. We get to know her on such a personal level that it allowed me to slip inside her mind and her world right from the beginning. The writing style always seems to be a "make it or break it" situation for me as a reader - and I honestly think this was the perfect fit for the book.
The plot was awesome. It was full of adventure, suspense, action, and thrills. I was immediately hooked - from the first page - and didn't stop reading until I had finished it in one sitting. I had to keep going to see what was going to happen. Julia and the rest of the crew kept getting into tight spots with so much on the line - it definitely keeps the reader on their toes. Another aspect I adored was the extreme attention to detail throughout the book. The author uses rich descriptions and vivid imagery to bring everything to life in front of the reader's eyes. Every little part of the city was thought out and described to the smallest detail. I loved getting to know everything I could about the city, it's history, inhabitants, the magic and politics - it was all so vibrant and exciting. I wanted more and I hope we get to learn even more about it all in the next book. I very highly recommend this book - and series - to fans of YA fantasy and readers looking for a richly imagined escape into a sensational world full of danger and magic.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Julia Defiant is the second installment in author Catherine Egan's Witch's Child series. 16-year old Julia is an orphan who found a home among a group of criminals (Esme, Gregor, Csilla, and her own brother Benedek) after her mother was drowned in the Cleansing for being a witch. Julia and friends live in a fictitious country known as Frayne, where hunting down and drowning those suspected of practicing witchcraft is as normal as breathing. After all, if you can't burn a witch, why not drown them?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Review*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Julia Defiant is the second installment in author Catherine Egan's Witch's Child series. 16-year old Julia is an orphan who found a home among a group of criminals (Esme, Gregor, Csilla, and her own brother Benedek) after her mother was drowned in the Cleansing for being a witch. Julia and friends live in a fictitious country known as Frayne, where hunting down and drowning those suspected of practicing witchcraft is as normal as breathing. After all, if you can't burn a witch, why not drown them?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Review*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
June 16, 2017
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
I have been totally loving reading books in a series back to back. This is the summer of the binge read for me. So I decided to do that with books one and two in the Witch's Child series. So this is a combined review for books one and two in the Witch's Child series by Catherine Egan.
The first two books in the Witch's Child Series by Catherine Egan are Julia Vanishes and Julia Defiant. The books got a beautiful new cover change for the release of the second book. While I really liked the original covers, I love the new covers. I am a big fan of the cover change and now I want to get both books with matching new covers. #BookBloggerProblems lol The Witch's Child series is a really interesting one for me, because it is one of the few series that I ended up liking the second book way, way more than I liked the first book.
I found the first book, Julia Vanishes to be an interesting read, but I found it to be kind of confusing in a lot of places and kind of slow at the beginning. The book picked up a bit as it went on, but it was only an ok read for me. That was not the case at all with the second book. I really enjoyed Julia Defiant. The book takes place in a different location than the first book, which I thought was really interesting. I don't know of too many series that do that, but because of the new location, and some new characters, the whole book felt different to me. Even the writing felt fresh and different.
To be honest, I think Catherine Egan stepped up her game with Julia Defiant...big time. I liked everything about Julia Defiant so much more than the first book. I liked the writing, the setting, and it was less confusing for me because I already had some concept of the world and what kind of witches they were. But there is still so much mystery surrounding the characters that I was continually interested in their adventure. The plot and pacing also felt faster and more exciting in Julia Defiant. You do need to read these books in order, and in Julia Defiant our group of characters sets out to find someone. (I don't want to give too much away.) I really enjoyed the world in created in the witch's child series. You aren't told much, you have to piece together the magic system and who all the players are. That was the tricky, and fun, part of the first book. In this world, most witches cast their spells by writing them down, which I thought was a really cool take on a witch's powers. And witch's are persecuted heavily in this world, so they are all in hiding.
Fans of stories featuring witches and fans of European adventure stories that have a historical feel to them will really enjoy these atmospheric books. They are plot driven novels, and I have to say the second book was really really great. If you read Julia Vanishes, and you didn't fall in love with it, I would really urge you to continue on in the series because I found Julia Defiant to be a better overall story than the first book. I enjoyed it a lot!
blue3.5
Note on the rating: I gave Julia Vanishes 3 stars and Julia defiant 4 stars, which combined is a series rating of 3.5, so far. :)
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
I have been totally loving reading books in a series back to back. This is the summer of the binge read for me. So I decided to do that with books one and two in the Witch's Child series. So this is a combined review for books one and two in the Witch's Child series by Catherine Egan.
The first two books in the Witch's Child Series by Catherine Egan are Julia Vanishes and Julia Defiant. The books got a beautiful new cover change for the release of the second book. While I really liked the original covers, I love the new covers. I am a big fan of the cover change and now I want to get both books with matching new covers. #BookBloggerProblems lol The Witch's Child series is a really interesting one for me, because it is one of the few series that I ended up liking the second book way, way more than I liked the first book.
I found the first book, Julia Vanishes to be an interesting read, but I found it to be kind of confusing in a lot of places and kind of slow at the beginning. The book picked up a bit as it went on, but it was only an ok read for me. That was not the case at all with the second book. I really enjoyed Julia Defiant. The book takes place in a different location than the first book, which I thought was really interesting. I don't know of too many series that do that, but because of the new location, and some new characters, the whole book felt different to me. Even the writing felt fresh and different.
To be honest, I think Catherine Egan stepped up her game with Julia Defiant...big time. I liked everything about Julia Defiant so much more than the first book. I liked the writing, the setting, and it was less confusing for me because I already had some concept of the world and what kind of witches they were. But there is still so much mystery surrounding the characters that I was continually interested in their adventure. The plot and pacing also felt faster and more exciting in Julia Defiant. You do need to read these books in order, and in Julia Defiant our group of characters sets out to find someone. (I don't want to give too much away.) I really enjoyed the world in created in the witch's child series. You aren't told much, you have to piece together the magic system and who all the players are. That was the tricky, and fun, part of the first book. In this world, most witches cast their spells by writing them down, which I thought was a really cool take on a witch's powers. And witch's are persecuted heavily in this world, so they are all in hiding.
Fans of stories featuring witches and fans of European adventure stories that have a historical feel to them will really enjoy these atmospheric books. They are plot driven novels, and I have to say the second book was really really great. If you read Julia Vanishes, and you didn't fall in love with it, I would really urge you to continue on in the series because I found Julia Defiant to be a better overall story than the first book. I enjoyed it a lot!
blue3.5
Note on the rating: I gave Julia Vanishes 3 stars and Julia defiant 4 stars, which combined is a series rating of 3.5, so far. :)
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
June 18, 2017
Julia Defiant by Catharine Egan
(Witch’s Child #2)
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an early copy of Julia Defiant for an honest review.
Julia Defiant has mystery, magic and an emotional journey of self discovery! With a new setting and new characters introduced, we get a whole lot more to love in this fantastic series. The world is expanded and the mystery is leading us to more questions. While a new journey ends, by the end of the book a new one is about to begin.
FULL REVIEW GO TO: https://takemeawaytoagreatread.com/20...
(Witch’s Child #2)
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an early copy of Julia Defiant for an honest review.
Julia Defiant has mystery, magic and an emotional journey of self discovery! With a new setting and new characters introduced, we get a whole lot more to love in this fantastic series. The world is expanded and the mystery is leading us to more questions. While a new journey ends, by the end of the book a new one is about to begin.
FULL REVIEW GO TO: https://takemeawaytoagreatread.com/20...
February 5, 2019
Je suis vraiment partagée sur cette lecture ! Il y a beaucoup de choses que j’ai adoré et c’est vraiment un univers incroyable et très original. Il y a beaucoup d’action, on ne s’ennuie pas et je me suis bien attachée à certains personnages. Mais j’ai parfois eu du mal à suivre l’intrigue et, de manière générale, j’ai eu une impression étrange que je ne parviens pas vraiment à définir (ça vous aide hein ?). Quoi qu’il en soit, c’est une bonne lecture et définitivement une saga intéressante !
August 27, 2020
Eine interessante und spannende Fortsetzung, die mich aber leider immer noch nicht ganz abholen konnte.
Zur Geschichte:
Der zweite Band schließt nahtlos an den ersten an, wodurch mir der Einstieg sehr leicht fiel.
Die Fortsetzung ist deutlich spannender als der erste Teil. Hin und wieder zieht sich die Handlung etwas, aber dafür kann sie mit einigen unerwarteten Wendungen und Überraschungen aufwarten. Leider konnte mich die Geschichte trotzdem nicht richtig fesseln und mitreißen. Mir fehlt einfach das gewisse Etwas, das mich in seinen Bann ziehen und begeistern kann.
Zudem wird das Worldbuilding immer verworrener und uneinsichtiger. Die Idee hinter der Geschichte und Julia's Gabe finde ich total spannend, aber man muss wirklich aufmerksam und konzentriert lesen, um einen Durchblick gewinnen zu können. Ich habe oft den Faden verloren, da sich die Welt zunehmend komplexer gestaltet und immer wieder etwas Neues offenbart wird.
Zum einen lernen wir in diesem Teil ein neues Setting kennen, das mir unheimlich gut gefallen hat. Es wird detailliert und anschaulich beschrieben, sodass ich es mir gut vorstellen konnte. Der Ortswechsel hat die Handlung in meinen Augen interessanter und spannender gemacht.
Zum anderen treten so viele neue Charaktere auf, dass man schnell mal den Überblick verlierten kann. Das Glossar mit Personenverzeichnis habe ich leider erst am Ende entdeckt, es wäre während des Lesens sicher hilfreich gewesen.
Was mir an dieser Geschichte wahnsinnig fehlt ist die Romantik. Ich brauche in Fantasyromanen einfach eine Liebesgeschichte zum Ausgleich. Wenn ihr darauf verzichten könnt, wird euch dieses Buch wahrscheinlich besser gefallen als mir.
Unabhängig davon stört es mich, dass nur sporadisch Gefühle angesprochen und vermittelt werden. Im Hinblick auf Emotionalität sieht es hier wirklich mau aus.
Zu den Charakteren:
Die Geschichte wird wieder aus Julia's Sicht in der ersten Person Singular erzählt. Zusätzlich gibt es vereinzelte Einspieler aus einer fremden Perspektive, welche kursiv gedruckt sind.
Leider wurde ich mit den Charakteren immer noch nicht richtig warm. Sie erscheinen mir sehr blass und eindimensional. Ich fühle mich ihnen weder nah noch kann ich mich in sie hineinversetzen oder ihr Verhalten nachvollziehen.
Zum Schreibstil:
Bereits zu Beginn des Buches konnte ich eine deutliche Weiterentwicklung im Schreibstil der Autorin erkennen. In meinen Augen schien sie sich wortgewandter auszudrücken und einen Hauch Poesie in ihre Worte zu legen. Sie beschreibt ihre neue Kulisse anschaulich und bildlich, sodass man diese förmlich vor Augen hat. Das Buch lässt sich flüssig lesen, könnte aber gefühlvoller geschrieben sein.
Fazit:
Die Fortsetzung konnte mich zwar mehr fesseln als der erste Teil, jedoch konnte sie mich immer noch nicht vollends von sich überzeugen und mitreißen. Die Welt ist originell und interessant und die Handlung kann mit einigen unerwarteten Wendungen punkten, jedoch fehlt es mir merklich an Gefühl und an Figuren, mit denen ich mich identifizieren kann. Im Schreibstil der Autorin lässt sich eine Steigerung erkennen.
3/ 5 Sterne ⭐️
Zur Geschichte:
Der zweite Band schließt nahtlos an den ersten an, wodurch mir der Einstieg sehr leicht fiel.
Die Fortsetzung ist deutlich spannender als der erste Teil. Hin und wieder zieht sich die Handlung etwas, aber dafür kann sie mit einigen unerwarteten Wendungen und Überraschungen aufwarten. Leider konnte mich die Geschichte trotzdem nicht richtig fesseln und mitreißen. Mir fehlt einfach das gewisse Etwas, das mich in seinen Bann ziehen und begeistern kann.
Zudem wird das Worldbuilding immer verworrener und uneinsichtiger. Die Idee hinter der Geschichte und Julia's Gabe finde ich total spannend, aber man muss wirklich aufmerksam und konzentriert lesen, um einen Durchblick gewinnen zu können. Ich habe oft den Faden verloren, da sich die Welt zunehmend komplexer gestaltet und immer wieder etwas Neues offenbart wird.
Zum einen lernen wir in diesem Teil ein neues Setting kennen, das mir unheimlich gut gefallen hat. Es wird detailliert und anschaulich beschrieben, sodass ich es mir gut vorstellen konnte. Der Ortswechsel hat die Handlung in meinen Augen interessanter und spannender gemacht.
Zum anderen treten so viele neue Charaktere auf, dass man schnell mal den Überblick verlierten kann. Das Glossar mit Personenverzeichnis habe ich leider erst am Ende entdeckt, es wäre während des Lesens sicher hilfreich gewesen.
Was mir an dieser Geschichte wahnsinnig fehlt ist die Romantik. Ich brauche in Fantasyromanen einfach eine Liebesgeschichte zum Ausgleich. Wenn ihr darauf verzichten könnt, wird euch dieses Buch wahrscheinlich besser gefallen als mir.
Unabhängig davon stört es mich, dass nur sporadisch Gefühle angesprochen und vermittelt werden. Im Hinblick auf Emotionalität sieht es hier wirklich mau aus.
Zu den Charakteren:
Die Geschichte wird wieder aus Julia's Sicht in der ersten Person Singular erzählt. Zusätzlich gibt es vereinzelte Einspieler aus einer fremden Perspektive, welche kursiv gedruckt sind.
Leider wurde ich mit den Charakteren immer noch nicht richtig warm. Sie erscheinen mir sehr blass und eindimensional. Ich fühle mich ihnen weder nah noch kann ich mich in sie hineinversetzen oder ihr Verhalten nachvollziehen.
Zum Schreibstil:
Bereits zu Beginn des Buches konnte ich eine deutliche Weiterentwicklung im Schreibstil der Autorin erkennen. In meinen Augen schien sie sich wortgewandter auszudrücken und einen Hauch Poesie in ihre Worte zu legen. Sie beschreibt ihre neue Kulisse anschaulich und bildlich, sodass man diese förmlich vor Augen hat. Das Buch lässt sich flüssig lesen, könnte aber gefühlvoller geschrieben sein.
Fazit:
Die Fortsetzung konnte mich zwar mehr fesseln als der erste Teil, jedoch konnte sie mich immer noch nicht vollends von sich überzeugen und mitreißen. Die Welt ist originell und interessant und die Handlung kann mit einigen unerwarteten Wendungen punkten, jedoch fehlt es mir merklich an Gefühl und an Figuren, mit denen ich mich identifizieren kann. Im Schreibstil der Autorin lässt sich eine Steigerung erkennen.
3/ 5 Sterne ⭐️
July 16, 2017
Such a good read. I loved that we got to travel a lot more in Julia Defiant. I wasn't expecting that (maybe because I didn't read the blurb, ahah). The world-building is simply stunning. I love this story and theses characters so much. Witch's Child's series is so unique and refreshing. It's not about a princess who lost her kingdom or about a girl who's in love with some guy ; no, it's about friendship, family and magic and I love the complexity of all this. Can't wait to read the final book !
June 13, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.
Julia and the gang are back, although there are some new characters and new location. Wyn is still on the outs with Julia, but he is hanging around. Julia is searching for Ko Dan in order to get the book out of Theo.
Of course, assassins are after them because they want Theo and Julia trying to keep ahead of them. Also there has been changes with her ability to vanish, now she seems to disappear completely and appear in a hellish world in which the creatures seem to recognize her.
What does this mean? Will she be able to find Ko Dan? Will she be able to save Theo?
I was a bit disappointed in this one, I don't know if it was the length of time between reading the first one and reading this one or just the change in location, but I couldn't connect with the characters this time around. I couldn't remember who half of them were to be honest. I really enjoyed the first one, but this didn't appeal to me as much.
It dragged on without too much happening and was kind of confusing at points. Sigh I wanted to love this as much as the first one, but Julia has some bad luck in the romance department, in fact I feel like the love interests could have just been left out. I did love her relationship with Theo. That was the highlight of the book, but I did get a bit of the mother vibe from that.
There is supposed to be a book 3 so I will be interested to see how she ties this all up.
Julia and the gang are back, although there are some new characters and new location. Wyn is still on the outs with Julia, but he is hanging around. Julia is searching for Ko Dan in order to get the book out of Theo.
Of course, assassins are after them because they want Theo and Julia trying to keep ahead of them. Also there has been changes with her ability to vanish, now she seems to disappear completely and appear in a hellish world in which the creatures seem to recognize her.
What does this mean? Will she be able to find Ko Dan? Will she be able to save Theo?
I was a bit disappointed in this one, I don't know if it was the length of time between reading the first one and reading this one or just the change in location, but I couldn't connect with the characters this time around. I couldn't remember who half of them were to be honest. I really enjoyed the first one, but this didn't appeal to me as much.
It dragged on without too much happening and was kind of confusing at points. Sigh I wanted to love this as much as the first one, but Julia has some bad luck in the romance department, in fact I feel like the love interests could have just been left out. I did love her relationship with Theo. That was the highlight of the book, but I did get a bit of the mother vibe from that.
There is supposed to be a book 3 so I will be interested to see how she ties this all up.
August 29, 2017
Catherine Egan has achieved the difficult task of writing a sequel that is not only as compelling as its predecessor, but even more so. Having won this novel from Goodreads, I borrowed the first book, “Julia Vanishes”, from the library. This series is a departure from my usual genres, and I’m glad that I’ve given it a chance; I’m eagerly anticipating the third book now.
“Julia Defiant” was a more mature novel, with more depth and complexity—just as a sequel should be. An action-filled, complex plot kept the story moving swiftly along, but what really stood out was the characters. While they were introduced and given roles in book one, in “Julia Defiant” they were really fleshed out and allowed to shine. Unlike most works of fiction, the characters don’t fall easily into categories of good and bad, and this moral ambiguity keeps the reader guessing. The world building adds another layer of intricacy as things shift between the “normal” world and the place to which Julia can vanish, and Julia’s enhanced abilities take the story to a whole new level. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys well-written, intriguing fantasy with plenty of twists and turns.
“Julia Defiant” was a more mature novel, with more depth and complexity—just as a sequel should be. An action-filled, complex plot kept the story moving swiftly along, but what really stood out was the characters. While they were introduced and given roles in book one, in “Julia Defiant” they were really fleshed out and allowed to shine. Unlike most works of fiction, the characters don’t fall easily into categories of good and bad, and this moral ambiguity keeps the reader guessing. The world building adds another layer of intricacy as things shift between the “normal” world and the place to which Julia can vanish, and Julia’s enhanced abilities take the story to a whole new level. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys well-written, intriguing fantasy with plenty of twists and turns.
July 12, 2018
I must admit I did not enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. With that said I am glad I read them so close together, and still plan on reading the third ASAP.
I never would have remembered the many characters if I had not read the two books within a week of one another. This book introduces even more characters, and offers at least one everyone can connect to. I think what really kept this book afloat for me despite not being as great as the first is Julia herself. While she was occasionally annoying and emotional (as a teenage girl myself I can say that's standard) but she was refreshing as a female YA lead. I also love her brother to pieces.
The plot in this book was more complex than the original but felt like it had to many "side quests" braided in that three things off. I liked getting more insight into Julia and all the witches powers, I liked how Bianca's character developed, and I liked that there was one important plot twist I never saw coming. It was just the over abundance of stuff happening that took away that star.
I never would have remembered the many characters if I had not read the two books within a week of one another. This book introduces even more characters, and offers at least one everyone can connect to. I think what really kept this book afloat for me despite not being as great as the first is Julia herself. While she was occasionally annoying and emotional (as a teenage girl myself I can say that's standard) but she was refreshing as a female YA lead. I also love her brother to pieces.
The plot in this book was more complex than the original but felt like it had to many "side quests" braided in that three things off. I liked getting more insight into Julia and all the witches powers, I liked how Bianca's character developed, and I liked that there was one important plot twist I never saw coming. It was just the over abundance of stuff happening that took away that star.
December 3, 2017
This is not a stand alone novel and probably should not be read as such as I discovered while reading it as a stand alone novel. I won this through Goodreads Giveaways (thanks, by the way) and didn’t bother preceding it with the first in the series. My mistake. With that disclaimer, I should say that I am probably not the best person to review this book. There was a lot going in this story. A lot of characters, a lot of fantastical creatures and lands, and many interwoven story lines. It took me a long time to kinda sorta figure out what was going on. Once I did (well into the book), I did enjoy it. It was very imaginative, had some great themes, and I’m always a fan of strong female leads. I wish I had started with book one though as I would have enjoyed this one so much more. Lesson learned.
April 19, 2017
**thanks to Penguin Random for the ARC**
Gah, okay. I had high hopes for this one. The first book in this series started pretty slow for me, but really picked up in the end, so I was thinking we were going to follow that vibe into Julia Defiant. Sadly, I had the same problem read this as I did Julia Vanishes. I felt like so much of this book was just filler and nothing really progressed. Until the last 50 or so pages I felt like the plot didn't move. I enjoyed the ending and there were some great moments throughout, Egan's writing style certainly has matured. I'm invested in the story now, so I will continue on with the series. I really do enjoy some the characters, and I'm eger to see where Egan takes them. But, here's hoping the next book won't make me question why I'm reading 300 pages of filler to get to 50 pages of action and plot development.
Gah, okay. I had high hopes for this one. The first book in this series started pretty slow for me, but really picked up in the end, so I was thinking we were going to follow that vibe into Julia Defiant. Sadly, I had the same problem read this as I did Julia Vanishes. I felt like so much of this book was just filler and nothing really progressed. Until the last 50 or so pages I felt like the plot didn't move. I enjoyed the ending and there were some great moments throughout, Egan's writing style certainly has matured. I'm invested in the story now, so I will continue on with the series. I really do enjoy some the characters, and I'm eger to see where Egan takes them. But, here's hoping the next book won't make me question why I'm reading 300 pages of filler to get to 50 pages of action and plot development.
July 24, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.
Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is the sequel to Julia Vanishes and the second book in the Witch's Child trilogy. This sequel is very strong and introduces many new conflicts for Julia and her friends. As Julia begins to unravel more and more about her mysterious power, things take a very surprising turn. This series has definitely changed course since the first book, and I am excited to see where the finale will take us next.
Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is the sequel to Julia Vanishes and the second book in the Witch's Child trilogy. This sequel is very strong and introduces many new conflicts for Julia and her friends. As Julia begins to unravel more and more about her mysterious power, things take a very surprising turn. This series has definitely changed course since the first book, and I am excited to see where the finale will take us next.
February 12, 2025
3,5 ⭐
Même critique que pour le tome 1 !
La fin de ce tome par contre c'était incroyable !!!! Beaucoup de rebondissements on adore 😌
Même critique que pour le tome 1 !
La fin de ce tome par contre c'était incroyable !!!! Beaucoup de rebondissements on adore 😌
June 19, 2017
I absolutely adore this series!
I don’t want to say that Catherine Egan’s writing has improved because I didn’t have a problem with it to begin with, but everything about this novel felt so much better written. Her descriptions were lyrical and captivating, (I love, love the imagery of the wish trees!) and the plot, I thought, was well-paced--much more so than Julia Vanishes.
But what I really love about this story is the extent to which it feels unique. Okay, yes, teen girl with special power, grappling with the possibility of a dark secret in her past and struggling to understand her true nature. Buuuuttt all of that, for Julia at least, is more of a subplot. Her focus is on Theo -- on atonement and forgiveness, on the value of the life of an innocent child. Yes, she wants to know what’s up with her power, but she wants to save Theo first. She is really a well done heroine, complete with fears and flaws and admirable strengths. I continue to be completely engrossed by her voice.
And then, of course, there’s the cosmology and magical system. I don’t think I’ve really read anything quite like either, and I just love Egan’s version of witchcraft.
If there was a misstep anywhere, I’d say it’s in the romance department, as that was a subplot that could have been completely removed without any great impact to the story and felt a tad out of place. Though I suppose it amounts to character development, and I might be biased anyway.
Overall a solid and immersive series middle. Some questions were answered; some more were raised. The ending will have you screaming for next book. I, for one, cannot wait.
I don’t want to say that Catherine Egan’s writing has improved because I didn’t have a problem with it to begin with, but everything about this novel felt so much better written. Her descriptions were lyrical and captivating, (I love, love the imagery of the wish trees!) and the plot, I thought, was well-paced--much more so than Julia Vanishes.
But what I really love about this story is the extent to which it feels unique. Okay, yes, teen girl with special power, grappling with the possibility of a dark secret in her past and struggling to understand her true nature. Buuuuttt all of that, for Julia at least, is more of a subplot. Her focus is on Theo -- on atonement and forgiveness, on the value of the life of an innocent child. Yes, she wants to know what’s up with her power, but she wants to save Theo first. She is really a well done heroine, complete with fears and flaws and admirable strengths. I continue to be completely engrossed by her voice.
And then, of course, there’s the cosmology and magical system. I don’t think I’ve really read anything quite like either, and I just love Egan’s version of witchcraft.
If there was a misstep anywhere, I’d say it’s in the romance department, as that was a subplot that could have been completely removed without any great impact to the story and felt a tad out of place. Though I suppose it amounts to character development, and I might be biased anyway.
Overall a solid and immersive series middle. Some questions were answered; some more were raised. The ending will have you screaming for next book. I, for one, cannot wait.
November 1, 2024
Je ne sais pas trop quoi penser de ce second tome des Ombres de Julia. J'ai passé un bon moment et en même temps je me demande si je vais poursuivre ou pas. Un peu contradictoire mais il y a eu autant d'éléments qui m'ont plu que certains que j'ai nettement moins appréciés.
On retrouve nos héros après leur fuite pour non seulement éviter Cazmir et ses sbires mais également pour essayer de trouver une solution concernant Théo. Les enjeux sont importants et cela se ressent tout de suite dans la dynamique du récit. On ne s'ennuie pas, il y a pas mal d'action ainsi que des revirements de situation. Pour un second tome c'est assez inhabituel et j'ai trouvé que c'était une très bonne chose de ne pas faire trop trainer les choses en longueur.
Julia s'améliore aussi nettement. Et autant dans le premier tome j'avais un peu de mal avec le personnage, autant ici, on la sent plus dans l'émotion et elle est plus attachante, avec une sensation de distance très amoindrie. Un autre bon point. On commence aussi à en apprendre plus sur elle et son pouvoir. Rien de réjouissant, mais au moins, un semblant de réponse pointe le bout de son nez et cela a de quoi titiller la curiosité. La nouvelle contrée où nos héros atterrissent est aussi rafraichissant, tout comme les personnages que l'on peut rencontrer au fil du roman. le changement de décor était une bonne chose, car la Fraxe avait cette ambiance oppressante qui aurait été de trop avec ce deuxième tome des Ombres de Julia.
De très bonnes choses donc, mais il y a aussi des éléments qui m'ont un peu embêté. La répétition de situations déjà. J'avais un peu l'impression de revoir la même chose que dans le premier tome. Avec des personnages différents, mais cela reste un petit souci. Il y a aussi des événements qui se ressemblent dans la structure du récit. le manque d'évolution de certains personnages est aussi un peu enquiquinant. Cela ajoute à l'effet de répétition. Que ce soit Mme Och avec ses manigances (elle ne veut rien divulguer, fait des choses dans le dos de Julia et ne supporte pas que la jeune femme veuille des réponses… bah non désolée, ça fonctionne dans les deux sens Madame), Wyn qui est collant à souhait, Pia qui se complait dans le rôle de la méchante / victime… Bref… on piétine un peu à ce niveau-là et les personnages en deviennent antipathique à souhait. Ce qui je pense n'était pas l'effet voulu.
La fin m'a laissé de plus dubitative. J'ai horreur que des héros soient mis au pied du mur, et là… j'avoue que c'est un peu (beaucoup) de l'acharnement. Si on fait la liste de tout ce que Julia doit subir dans le dernier tiers du roman… c'est trop. Et le dernier tome ne s'annonce pas plaisant. D'où mon questionnement sur : vais-je lire ou pas le dernier tome. Je ne suis pas trop curieuse… ce qui n'est pas vraiment un bon signe. Je vais me laisser un peu de temps, je pense. Il serait dommage d'abandonner si prêt du but mais en même temps… Dilemme.
On retrouve nos héros après leur fuite pour non seulement éviter Cazmir et ses sbires mais également pour essayer de trouver une solution concernant Théo. Les enjeux sont importants et cela se ressent tout de suite dans la dynamique du récit. On ne s'ennuie pas, il y a pas mal d'action ainsi que des revirements de situation. Pour un second tome c'est assez inhabituel et j'ai trouvé que c'était une très bonne chose de ne pas faire trop trainer les choses en longueur.
Julia s'améliore aussi nettement. Et autant dans le premier tome j'avais un peu de mal avec le personnage, autant ici, on la sent plus dans l'émotion et elle est plus attachante, avec une sensation de distance très amoindrie. Un autre bon point. On commence aussi à en apprendre plus sur elle et son pouvoir. Rien de réjouissant, mais au moins, un semblant de réponse pointe le bout de son nez et cela a de quoi titiller la curiosité. La nouvelle contrée où nos héros atterrissent est aussi rafraichissant, tout comme les personnages que l'on peut rencontrer au fil du roman. le changement de décor était une bonne chose, car la Fraxe avait cette ambiance oppressante qui aurait été de trop avec ce deuxième tome des Ombres de Julia.
De très bonnes choses donc, mais il y a aussi des éléments qui m'ont un peu embêté. La répétition de situations déjà. J'avais un peu l'impression de revoir la même chose que dans le premier tome. Avec des personnages différents, mais cela reste un petit souci. Il y a aussi des événements qui se ressemblent dans la structure du récit. le manque d'évolution de certains personnages est aussi un peu enquiquinant. Cela ajoute à l'effet de répétition. Que ce soit Mme Och avec ses manigances (elle ne veut rien divulguer, fait des choses dans le dos de Julia et ne supporte pas que la jeune femme veuille des réponses… bah non désolée, ça fonctionne dans les deux sens Madame), Wyn qui est collant à souhait, Pia qui se complait dans le rôle de la méchante / victime… Bref… on piétine un peu à ce niveau-là et les personnages en deviennent antipathique à souhait. Ce qui je pense n'était pas l'effet voulu.
La fin m'a laissé de plus dubitative. J'ai horreur que des héros soient mis au pied du mur, et là… j'avoue que c'est un peu (beaucoup) de l'acharnement. Si on fait la liste de tout ce que Julia doit subir dans le dernier tiers du roman… c'est trop. Et le dernier tome ne s'annonce pas plaisant. D'où mon questionnement sur : vais-je lire ou pas le dernier tome. Je ne suis pas trop curieuse… ce qui n'est pas vraiment un bon signe. Je vais me laisser un peu de temps, je pense. Il serait dommage d'abandonner si prêt du but mais en même temps… Dilemme.
February 11, 2017
This is the second in the Witch Child Series, a sequel to Julia Vanishes, by Catherine Egan. Despite it being part of the same series and by the same author the writing style is different which is a good thing because it shows Egan stretching her literary legs proving she’s got more than the one book in her bag of tricks.
You have to love a female teenage heroine who has been created to adeptly handle what life keeps throwing at her. It’s wonderful when an author shows a girl fighting for herself rather than playing the helpless victim in need of a guy to fight all her battles. It’s even better when it’s a teenager so young girls can be reminded of the power they have inside.
It moves at a much faster pace with tons of action packed scenes so it made for a very quick read, shorter chapters also gave the illusion of blowing through it quicker than I did with the first. Her scene development is much better in this one as she has provided much more details about the world the characters live in so you get a better feel for the shape their lives take.
Even through all the positives it still has a bit of a feel of being a ‘sandwich’ book; you know kind of like Two Towers from Lord of the Rings. The early foundation has been set but you have to string some of the story along before you can get to the juicy meat of the conclusion. It’s not a bad thing because you obviously can’t appreciate the conclusion without understanding the journey.
Egan has some true writing talent by being able to juggle multiple stories and subplots but making them all feel equally important and fulfilled. Too often when authors try this there ends up being plot holes, inconsistencies or characters contradicting each other. Thankfully she managed to escape the pitfalls by writing a well thought out book.
Very much looking forward to her third book so I can see where she’s taking us on this journey full of exciting escapades, passion and secrecy.
You have to love a female teenage heroine who has been created to adeptly handle what life keeps throwing at her. It’s wonderful when an author shows a girl fighting for herself rather than playing the helpless victim in need of a guy to fight all her battles. It’s even better when it’s a teenager so young girls can be reminded of the power they have inside.
It moves at a much faster pace with tons of action packed scenes so it made for a very quick read, shorter chapters also gave the illusion of blowing through it quicker than I did with the first. Her scene development is much better in this one as she has provided much more details about the world the characters live in so you get a better feel for the shape their lives take.
Even through all the positives it still has a bit of a feel of being a ‘sandwich’ book; you know kind of like Two Towers from Lord of the Rings. The early foundation has been set but you have to string some of the story along before you can get to the juicy meat of the conclusion. It’s not a bad thing because you obviously can’t appreciate the conclusion without understanding the journey.
Egan has some true writing talent by being able to juggle multiple stories and subplots but making them all feel equally important and fulfilled. Too often when authors try this there ends up being plot holes, inconsistencies or characters contradicting each other. Thankfully she managed to escape the pitfalls by writing a well thought out book.
Very much looking forward to her third book so I can see where she’s taking us on this journey full of exciting escapades, passion and secrecy.
May 3, 2017
So good. I liked the first one but this one was much stronger; the mythology and machinations are fantastic and just get deeper and deeper. Julia is an astoundingly strong character - deeply flawed and so self aware, and I like her so much even though she's not always a good person. The ending was a whole lot of OMG and I really would like the third book now; this volume moved this series from I like to must read territory.
November 8, 2018
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
I saw that the third novel in this series was due to come out shortly, so it was a good reminder to check out this second book. Somehow the “Julia Vanishes” had slipped completely off my radar, all the more surprising for it having a few rare qualities that stand out in a sea of fantasy fiction that can be all too filled with tropes. These rarities were on display once again in this second book, and some of the quibbles I had with the first have also largely been resolved.
Several months have passed and miles have been crossed since the ending of the first book. Julia and her rather enormous cast of fellows now find themselves in a foreign land, loosely based on China, still on the search for a way to remove the magical book from the body of little Theo. Julia, in particular, is devoted to this mission in an effort to make up for her past disastrous choices with regards to Theo. But as she works towards this cause, she begins to discover more aspects of her unique vanishing ability and with these discoveries come unwelcome questions about her own history and identity.
First off, it is absolutely necessary to read the first book in this series before getting to this one. Even the several months break I had between the two lead to a longer than usual re-familiarizing period of time when I started this one. Several of the points that make this book and series so good (a large cast of characters, unique worlds, complicated histories) also make it very challenging to jump into with out refreshing oneself on the events of the past book. Beyond our cast of familiar characters, we’re also dropped into the middle of a new portion of this world with its own politics with regards to witches, its own powerful individual with whom Julia and co. must work, and new settings. After I finally felt like I had caught myself up, I greatly enjoyed this change in scenery. (It’s also noteworthy that for all of these challenges with complicated names/histories/etc., I greatly appreciated the author’s choice to trust her audience to catch up with things on their own. There were no info-dumps or clunky prologues to help with this process, but instead readers are left to put the pieces together on their own, which, with some patience, is perfectly doable.)
One of my criticisms of the first book was the fact that it felt like it had two dueling stories competing against each other, both detracting from the other. This problem has been completely handled in this book. The plotting felt much more streamlined and there was an appreciated increase in the action of the story. The book is driven by the mission to save Theo and this action is balanced by the character growth and inspection that comes through the ongoing mystery into Julia’s past and her abilities. Rather than having two plot pieces tangling together, this balance of plot and character development feel much more natural and give this book a stronger sense of natural flow.
Julia’s development is probably one of my favorite parts of this story. Her increased confidence and clever use of her vanishing powers could have opened a door for her character to lose value due to being “over powered.” But instead, the author finds ways to not only bring large questions into her magical abilities and history, but also focus in on the very human struggles that Julia is still managing. Her feelings of self-hatred with regards to her past choice to give up Theo to the enemy. Her relationship with a brother and her realization that he has lived a restricted life in an effort to support her. The ongoing fallout from her broken heart in the last book, and her realization that there are more fish in the sea.
What makes this last point stand out so well is the way the author introduces other fishes without setting any of them up as a “soul mate” or “one true love.” I loved the “Alanna” series by Tamora Pierce growing up. And I think one part that I liked then and have grown to appreciate more and more as I get older was the way that Pierce exposed Alanna to different romantic interests throughout the series until, in the end, she finally is able to recognize what is important in a partner and what she specifically needs. All to often in YA fiction, romantic interests are introduced who are A.) the protagonists first love of any kind and B.) perfect for them in every way, no questions asked. This never sits well, and I commend the author of this book for exploring a more honest take on the trials and tribulations of young love. Your first love may not be perfect for you. What’s more, your SECOND love also may not be perfect for you. But you learn things from them all. I had a hard time thinking of a similar current series that has tackled this subject as well as this book has, especially given how small a role the romantic aspects play in either book, all told.
I really enjoyed this book, even more than the first. My quibbles about the plotting where deftly handled, and this one was a quick read full of intense action sequences, strong characterization for a large cast, and solid character growth and exploration for Julia herself. Of course, as I’ve said, you have to read the first book first. But if you enjoyed that one at all, I definitely recommend this book as I think it’s even better!
Rating 8: With a realistic portrayal of the challenges of young love and an increased amount of action, “Julia Defiant” is an even better novel than the first!
I saw that the third novel in this series was due to come out shortly, so it was a good reminder to check out this second book. Somehow the “Julia Vanishes” had slipped completely off my radar, all the more surprising for it having a few rare qualities that stand out in a sea of fantasy fiction that can be all too filled with tropes. These rarities were on display once again in this second book, and some of the quibbles I had with the first have also largely been resolved.
Several months have passed and miles have been crossed since the ending of the first book. Julia and her rather enormous cast of fellows now find themselves in a foreign land, loosely based on China, still on the search for a way to remove the magical book from the body of little Theo. Julia, in particular, is devoted to this mission in an effort to make up for her past disastrous choices with regards to Theo. But as she works towards this cause, she begins to discover more aspects of her unique vanishing ability and with these discoveries come unwelcome questions about her own history and identity.
First off, it is absolutely necessary to read the first book in this series before getting to this one. Even the several months break I had between the two lead to a longer than usual re-familiarizing period of time when I started this one. Several of the points that make this book and series so good (a large cast of characters, unique worlds, complicated histories) also make it very challenging to jump into with out refreshing oneself on the events of the past book. Beyond our cast of familiar characters, we’re also dropped into the middle of a new portion of this world with its own politics with regards to witches, its own powerful individual with whom Julia and co. must work, and new settings. After I finally felt like I had caught myself up, I greatly enjoyed this change in scenery. (It’s also noteworthy that for all of these challenges with complicated names/histories/etc., I greatly appreciated the author’s choice to trust her audience to catch up with things on their own. There were no info-dumps or clunky prologues to help with this process, but instead readers are left to put the pieces together on their own, which, with some patience, is perfectly doable.)
One of my criticisms of the first book was the fact that it felt like it had two dueling stories competing against each other, both detracting from the other. This problem has been completely handled in this book. The plotting felt much more streamlined and there was an appreciated increase in the action of the story. The book is driven by the mission to save Theo and this action is balanced by the character growth and inspection that comes through the ongoing mystery into Julia’s past and her abilities. Rather than having two plot pieces tangling together, this balance of plot and character development feel much more natural and give this book a stronger sense of natural flow.
Julia’s development is probably one of my favorite parts of this story. Her increased confidence and clever use of her vanishing powers could have opened a door for her character to lose value due to being “over powered.” But instead, the author finds ways to not only bring large questions into her magical abilities and history, but also focus in on the very human struggles that Julia is still managing. Her feelings of self-hatred with regards to her past choice to give up Theo to the enemy. Her relationship with a brother and her realization that he has lived a restricted life in an effort to support her. The ongoing fallout from her broken heart in the last book, and her realization that there are more fish in the sea.
What makes this last point stand out so well is the way the author introduces other fishes without setting any of them up as a “soul mate” or “one true love.” I loved the “Alanna” series by Tamora Pierce growing up. And I think one part that I liked then and have grown to appreciate more and more as I get older was the way that Pierce exposed Alanna to different romantic interests throughout the series until, in the end, she finally is able to recognize what is important in a partner and what she specifically needs. All to often in YA fiction, romantic interests are introduced who are A.) the protagonists first love of any kind and B.) perfect for them in every way, no questions asked. This never sits well, and I commend the author of this book for exploring a more honest take on the trials and tribulations of young love. Your first love may not be perfect for you. What’s more, your SECOND love also may not be perfect for you. But you learn things from them all. I had a hard time thinking of a similar current series that has tackled this subject as well as this book has, especially given how small a role the romantic aspects play in either book, all told.
I really enjoyed this book, even more than the first. My quibbles about the plotting where deftly handled, and this one was a quick read full of intense action sequences, strong characterization for a large cast, and solid character growth and exploration for Julia herself. Of course, as I’ve said, you have to read the first book first. But if you enjoyed that one at all, I definitely recommend this book as I think it’s even better!
Rating 8: With a realistic portrayal of the challenges of young love and an increased amount of action, “Julia Defiant” is an even better novel than the first!
April 15, 2022
Julia and friends live in a fictitious country known as Frayne, where hunting down and drowning those suspected of practicing witchcraft is as normal as breathing. After all, if you can't burn a witch, why not drown them?
Want to read
February 20, 2017I received a copy of this book from Random House Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2017
**4.5 Stars**
Book 2 picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of book one, with Julia and her crew now working as body-guardish types to Mrs. Orche and her charges to try and protect baby Theo from the people looking to claim him. This is not a standalone story, but instead the second book in a fantastical series, and desperately needs to be read in order for the world building and relationship dynamics to really make sense.
I found book one to be a very slow start, taking me almost half the story before I was invested in the book, and boy did I get invested! The second half the book was am amazing supernatural adventure full of danger and surprises, so I could not wait to jump right into the second book to see what would happen next to Julia and her hodge-podge group. Well, book 2 started almost as slow as book one for me, with some more, yet different world building before the action really took off. I was afraid that I was going to have a repeat of book 1, but luckily it took only about 60 pages into the story before the tension and the action built until I just could not handle it anymore. People say that the second book in a trilogy generally suffers from a sophmore slum, but this book blew book one out of the water for me.
The world the author created was magic- and yes, the book is about witches and supernatural creatures, but I still feel like that is the best word to describe what the author created. It is another world, most similar to England in the late 1800s (add in a feudal-like China-ish land for book 2), but with witches being real and hunted down, strange "others" lurking about, making pawns out of the average man, and a secret deadly war being fought on the fringes, right under man's nose, which could destroy the world. I loved every little nuance the author created, be it unique creatures, odd special powers, an alternate scary firey reality to escape to, children who have a lost shadow inside them, spiders who recognize if a person belongs... I had no idea what to expect next and I loved that. I felt like if I put the book down, or even blinked, I would miss out on something important, even if it was just a small detail, so I ate up the story in one sitting.
I struggled with Julia in the first book, not genuinely liking her until the second half of the book, but in this story she shined for me. She was strong, determined and resolute, not letting anything stand in her way in her pursuit of what was right. She had a hard go of it, but she tried and I could not fault her for it. My favorite parts of the book were her interactions with Theo, how sweet and careful her she was with him, and her wonder at how she came to care for the impish child she had originally thought was a burden. But to be honest, I loved Theo too, so it made sense to me. She was so young to have so much responsibility thrust on her, but she had a maturity most teens could never even imagine. And the questions about who she is and where she comes from are never-ending.
The ending! Oh my geez, the ending was so surprising and left me wanting to get my hands on the last book as soon as possible! I could never have predicted where the story was going to go, and who was involved made it that much worse. Betrayal, surprise and danger, wrapped up the story, and led to the start of Julia's next journey to get revenge. This series is a must read for any fantasy lovers who are looking for an entirely new world to disappear into.
I received this title in return for my honest review.
Visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ for a chance at the blog tour giveaway
Book 2 picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of book one, with Julia and her crew now working as body-guardish types to Mrs. Orche and her charges to try and protect baby Theo from the people looking to claim him. This is not a standalone story, but instead the second book in a fantastical series, and desperately needs to be read in order for the world building and relationship dynamics to really make sense.
I found book one to be a very slow start, taking me almost half the story before I was invested in the book, and boy did I get invested! The second half the book was am amazing supernatural adventure full of danger and surprises, so I could not wait to jump right into the second book to see what would happen next to Julia and her hodge-podge group. Well, book 2 started almost as slow as book one for me, with some more, yet different world building before the action really took off. I was afraid that I was going to have a repeat of book 1, but luckily it took only about 60 pages into the story before the tension and the action built until I just could not handle it anymore. People say that the second book in a trilogy generally suffers from a sophmore slum, but this book blew book one out of the water for me.
The world the author created was magic- and yes, the book is about witches and supernatural creatures, but I still feel like that is the best word to describe what the author created. It is another world, most similar to England in the late 1800s (add in a feudal-like China-ish land for book 2), but with witches being real and hunted down, strange "others" lurking about, making pawns out of the average man, and a secret deadly war being fought on the fringes, right under man's nose, which could destroy the world. I loved every little nuance the author created, be it unique creatures, odd special powers, an alternate scary firey reality to escape to, children who have a lost shadow inside them, spiders who recognize if a person belongs... I had no idea what to expect next and I loved that. I felt like if I put the book down, or even blinked, I would miss out on something important, even if it was just a small detail, so I ate up the story in one sitting.
I struggled with Julia in the first book, not genuinely liking her until the second half of the book, but in this story she shined for me. She was strong, determined and resolute, not letting anything stand in her way in her pursuit of what was right. She had a hard go of it, but she tried and I could not fault her for it. My favorite parts of the book were her interactions with Theo, how sweet and careful her she was with him, and her wonder at how she came to care for the impish child she had originally thought was a burden. But to be honest, I loved Theo too, so it made sense to me. She was so young to have so much responsibility thrust on her, but she had a maturity most teens could never even imagine. And the questions about who she is and where she comes from are never-ending.
The ending! Oh my geez, the ending was so surprising and left me wanting to get my hands on the last book as soon as possible! I could never have predicted where the story was going to go, and who was involved made it that much worse. Betrayal, surprise and danger, wrapped up the story, and led to the start of Julia's next journey to get revenge. This series is a must read for any fantasy lovers who are looking for an entirely new world to disappear into.
I received this title in return for my honest review.
Visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ for a chance at the blog tour giveaway
August 31, 2018
When I had the chance to read an ARC of Julia Vanishes, my initial thought was that the Witch's Child series had so much potential. The kingdom of Frayne was such a terrifying, awful world. Magic was forbidden. Witches were drowned. But our understanding was limited to Julia's perspective and the information she collected while spying on Mrs. Och in her home. It was really just a taste of this dangerous fantasy world, leaving me yearning for more. So when I finished the sequel, Julia Defiant, I was really happy to see the book exceed those high hopes I had for it!
Exhilarating adventure. Higher stakes. More action and world-building. I loved everything about Julia Defiant! Sequels can be tough because sometimes they feel like filler for what's to come in the final book, but Julia Defiant expands beyond the borders of Frayne and drives our curiosity to learn more about Julia's heritage and Mrs. Och's mysterious intentions. The book picks up two months after events unfolded in Julia Vanishes, with Julia and her misfit group of thieves, witches and scholars finding themselves in the powerful empire of Yongguo.
In Yongguo, they are determined to find a witch named Ko Dan, the man who bound Theo's essence to a fragment of the powerful Book of Disruption, the oldest origin of magic in their world. Meanwhile, Casimir is still relentlessly hunting them as well, and he doesn't care if removing the magic will kill Theo or not. Julia's gift is an important asset to their mission. While her friends separate to stay in different areas of the capital city, hiding and keeping an ear out for news of Ko Dan, Julia is traveling across Tianshi and taking on the most danger.
Julia is trying to atone for her mistakes and the harm she almost brought to cute, innocent baby Theo. But while she may have turned a new leaf in some ways, Julia's still the same in others. She's still eager to learn how she can move unseen, slipping into the shadows beyond everyone else's senses. And, of course, she still loves to spy and collect secrets. She's just unsure how much she can trust Mrs. Och, who always seems to have her own agenda.
If Julia Vanishes is considered an appetizer, then Julia Defiant is definitely the main course—satisfying full and absolutely delicious. I loved reading the book! I think what I especially loved about Julia Defiant was the setting. Yongguo was very obviously East Asian-inspired, so vibrant and contrasting to Frayne; it was a place where magic was controlled, but openly accepted. I really appreciated Catherine Egan's attention to detail in the world-building. It completely brought the story to life. And now I'm excited/anxious to find out how the trilogy ends with Julia Unbound!
Exhilarating adventure. Higher stakes. More action and world-building. I loved everything about Julia Defiant! Sequels can be tough because sometimes they feel like filler for what's to come in the final book, but Julia Defiant expands beyond the borders of Frayne and drives our curiosity to learn more about Julia's heritage and Mrs. Och's mysterious intentions. The book picks up two months after events unfolded in Julia Vanishes, with Julia and her misfit group of thieves, witches and scholars finding themselves in the powerful empire of Yongguo.
In Yongguo, they are determined to find a witch named Ko Dan, the man who bound Theo's essence to a fragment of the powerful Book of Disruption, the oldest origin of magic in their world. Meanwhile, Casimir is still relentlessly hunting them as well, and he doesn't care if removing the magic will kill Theo or not. Julia's gift is an important asset to their mission. While her friends separate to stay in different areas of the capital city, hiding and keeping an ear out for news of Ko Dan, Julia is traveling across Tianshi and taking on the most danger.
Julia is trying to atone for her mistakes and the harm she almost brought to cute, innocent baby Theo. But while she may have turned a new leaf in some ways, Julia's still the same in others. She's still eager to learn how she can move unseen, slipping into the shadows beyond everyone else's senses. And, of course, she still loves to spy and collect secrets. She's just unsure how much she can trust Mrs. Och, who always seems to have her own agenda.
If Julia Vanishes is considered an appetizer, then Julia Defiant is definitely the main course—satisfying full and absolutely delicious. I loved reading the book! I think what I especially loved about Julia Defiant was the setting. Yongguo was very obviously East Asian-inspired, so vibrant and contrasting to Frayne; it was a place where magic was controlled, but openly accepted. I really appreciated Catherine Egan's attention to detail in the world-building. It completely brought the story to life. And now I'm excited/anxious to find out how the trilogy ends with Julia Unbound!
June 14, 2017
*Review posted on Page Turners Blog on 6/14/2017*
Julia Defiant is the second book in the Witches' Child trilogy and as a new reader to this series, I found myself immersed in a detailed, magical world full of sights, sounds and characters like I've never quite experienced. One of the first things I noticed was how beautifully Catherine wrote descriptive passages:
The smaller branches of the trees are wrapped in twists of paper, and some of these little slips are blowing along the street, having come loose from whatever branches they were fastened to , bearing somebody's dearest wish written out in elegant Yongwen characters. It's still odd to me, seeing customs long banned in Freyne flourishing out in the open in Yongguo -- like the little shrines to the elements along the roads, or men walking about with tattoos visible on their hands, necks even faces. I walk along the canal, which is full of narrow, painted boats, their gunwales hung with charms, everything slightly blurred by the haze of my vanishing, while the slender trees loose swirls of petals as well as wishes onto the breeze.
See what I mean? Catherine's writing has a lovely, lyrical quality that paints a perfect picture of the scene before you. Also, the worlds felt distinctly familiar. I wanted to refer to my Ancient Civilizations class for comparison. The setting felt like something I've read before in that class. It felt that real.
One of the other elements I enjoyed was the plot -- danger and surprise lurk around every page. Although to be fair, at times, the story appeared a little drawn out in tension. While its 464 pages may be average for fantasy stories these days, I have to admit that my mind did wander a few times. I think this is more symptomatic in second books of a three book series, and as a big fan of them, I've learned to be a little patient.
The lore intrigued me. It felt familiar and yet, it wasn't. Julia's powers and their growing strength were interesting to read about. I really enjoyed how Catherine explained her power to vanish and how that power grew into something more forboding.
This story is one that Marie Lu fans will thoroughly enjoy. It combines a strong heroine, a mythology that feels old-worldly and a plot that twists away from fantasy tropes just enough for you to stay interested. If you enjoyed The Rose Society series, this should be your very next read.
Julia Defiant is the second book in the Witches' Child trilogy and as a new reader to this series, I found myself immersed in a detailed, magical world full of sights, sounds and characters like I've never quite experienced. One of the first things I noticed was how beautifully Catherine wrote descriptive passages:
The smaller branches of the trees are wrapped in twists of paper, and some of these little slips are blowing along the street, having come loose from whatever branches they were fastened to , bearing somebody's dearest wish written out in elegant Yongwen characters. It's still odd to me, seeing customs long banned in Freyne flourishing out in the open in Yongguo -- like the little shrines to the elements along the roads, or men walking about with tattoos visible on their hands, necks even faces. I walk along the canal, which is full of narrow, painted boats, their gunwales hung with charms, everything slightly blurred by the haze of my vanishing, while the slender trees loose swirls of petals as well as wishes onto the breeze.
See what I mean? Catherine's writing has a lovely, lyrical quality that paints a perfect picture of the scene before you. Also, the worlds felt distinctly familiar. I wanted to refer to my Ancient Civilizations class for comparison. The setting felt like something I've read before in that class. It felt that real.
One of the other elements I enjoyed was the plot -- danger and surprise lurk around every page. Although to be fair, at times, the story appeared a little drawn out in tension. While its 464 pages may be average for fantasy stories these days, I have to admit that my mind did wander a few times. I think this is more symptomatic in second books of a three book series, and as a big fan of them, I've learned to be a little patient.
The lore intrigued me. It felt familiar and yet, it wasn't. Julia's powers and their growing strength were interesting to read about. I really enjoyed how Catherine explained her power to vanish and how that power grew into something more forboding.
This story is one that Marie Lu fans will thoroughly enjoy. It combines a strong heroine, a mythology that feels old-worldly and a plot that twists away from fantasy tropes just enough for you to stay interested. If you enjoyed The Rose Society series, this should be your very next read.
June 7, 2017
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is book two in her Witch’s Child series and like its predecessor, Julia Vanishes, it is filled with wonderful world-building and rich developed characters.
The novel takes places months after Julia Vanishes ends and ten thousand miles from Spira City, in Tianshi, capital of Yongguo. Where Julia and her crew are looking for Ko Dan, who is the only one who can help save Theo by removing the fragment of the Book of Disruption that is bound to his essence. As Julia searches for Ko Dan, she comes to realize her powers have grown and she can now slip into a fiery world filled with creatures infused with magic, known as the Kahge, at will. Soon Julia is also in search of answers on why she is able to go there and what she is.
Ms. Egan’s short chapters and detailed descriptions pull us into her world, where these two main plots run their course and collide in an action-packed climax that’ll leave you at the edge of your seat with a whopping cliff-hanger of an ending. As a second book in the series, there are some slow moments as it prepares to bridge to the next novel, but I did not find it to deterring from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
I adored Ms. Egan’s novel especially because of her attention to detail in her descriptions especially when Julia would go into Khage or when she’d vanish as she did her spying. Basically, bringing us more into the scene by giving us a more intimate picture of what was happening. I also loved how Julia is such a strong female character. Julia’s resolve and determination in the end has me excited to see what will be in store for her in book three.
Overall, Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is a great fantasy novel that is filled with excitement, danger, and very well-written. I very much recommend and can’t wait to read the next book by Ms. Egan.
(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is book two in her Witch’s Child series and like its predecessor, Julia Vanishes, it is filled with wonderful world-building and rich developed characters.
The novel takes places months after Julia Vanishes ends and ten thousand miles from Spira City, in Tianshi, capital of Yongguo. Where Julia and her crew are looking for Ko Dan, who is the only one who can help save Theo by removing the fragment of the Book of Disruption that is bound to his essence. As Julia searches for Ko Dan, she comes to realize her powers have grown and she can now slip into a fiery world filled with creatures infused with magic, known as the Kahge, at will. Soon Julia is also in search of answers on why she is able to go there and what she is.
Ms. Egan’s short chapters and detailed descriptions pull us into her world, where these two main plots run their course and collide in an action-packed climax that’ll leave you at the edge of your seat with a whopping cliff-hanger of an ending. As a second book in the series, there are some slow moments as it prepares to bridge to the next novel, but I did not find it to deterring from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
I adored Ms. Egan’s novel especially because of her attention to detail in her descriptions especially when Julia would go into Khage or when she’d vanish as she did her spying. Basically, bringing us more into the scene by giving us a more intimate picture of what was happening. I also loved how Julia is such a strong female character. Julia’s resolve and determination in the end has me excited to see what will be in store for her in book three.
Overall, Julia Defiant by Catherine Egan is a great fantasy novel that is filled with excitement, danger, and very well-written. I very much recommend and can’t wait to read the next book by Ms. Egan.
(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
March 5, 2018
Julia befindet sich mit ihren Gefährten in Yonggous Hauptstadt Tianshi. Hier suchen sie nach Ko Dan, einem berühmten Hexer, der angeblich im Shou-shu Kloster leben soll. Mit seiner Hilfe wollen sie das Fragament des Buch der Spaltung aus dem kleinen Theo entfernen, ohne das dieser bei diesem Vorgang stirbt. Die Suche erweist sich als sehr schwierig, immer wieder verfolgen sie die falschen Spuren. Außerdem stellt sich Julia immer wieder die Frage, ob sie Frau Och vertrauen kann, denn diese scheint immer wieder Dinge vor ihr zu verbergen. Julia erhofft sich in der Bibliothek von Yonggous Antworten auf ihre Fragen zu finden.
Bereits der 1. Teil dieser Reihe konnte mich völlig überzeugen. Teil 2 hat mir sogar noch etwas besser gefallen. Am Anfang hatte ich ein paar kleinere Startschwierigkeiten, aber glücklicherweise gibt es zwischendurch immer wieder kurze Zusammenfassungen der Handlung aus Teil 1. Außerdem befindet sich am Ende ein Glossar mit allen wichtigen Personen und Orten, was wirklich sehr hilfreich war. Hauptaugenmerk liegt bei der Suche nach Ko Dan. Dafür befindet sich Julia mit ihren Verbündeten in Yonggous, einer völlig anderen Gegend als Spira. Irgendwie hatte ich bei manchen Beschreibungen das Gefühl, ich befinde mich irgendwo in Asien. In Yonggous werden Hexen völlig anders behandelt als in Spira, was mich doch sehr überrascht hat. Ihr Ansehen ist hier wesentlich höher.
Besonders gut gefällt mir bei dieser Reihe, dass die Geschichte insgesamt eher etwas düster ist und es kein Schwarz-Weiß-Denken gibt. Man weiß gar nicht so richtig, wer hier eigentlich "der Böse" ist, was mich sehr fasziniert hat. Selbst Julia als ehemalige Diebin ist eher ein zwielichter Charakter, wobei sie schon eine erstaunliche Wandlung durchgemacht hat. Es gibt auf jeden Fall wieder viele interessante Entwicklungen und Überraschungen für Julia.
Ich hoffe wirklich sehr, dass der 3. Teil dieser Reihe auch übersetzt wird. Dieser erscheint aber erst in diesem Jahr im Original. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung mit voller Punktzahl.
Bereits der 1. Teil dieser Reihe konnte mich völlig überzeugen. Teil 2 hat mir sogar noch etwas besser gefallen. Am Anfang hatte ich ein paar kleinere Startschwierigkeiten, aber glücklicherweise gibt es zwischendurch immer wieder kurze Zusammenfassungen der Handlung aus Teil 1. Außerdem befindet sich am Ende ein Glossar mit allen wichtigen Personen und Orten, was wirklich sehr hilfreich war. Hauptaugenmerk liegt bei der Suche nach Ko Dan. Dafür befindet sich Julia mit ihren Verbündeten in Yonggous, einer völlig anderen Gegend als Spira. Irgendwie hatte ich bei manchen Beschreibungen das Gefühl, ich befinde mich irgendwo in Asien. In Yonggous werden Hexen völlig anders behandelt als in Spira, was mich doch sehr überrascht hat. Ihr Ansehen ist hier wesentlich höher.
Besonders gut gefällt mir bei dieser Reihe, dass die Geschichte insgesamt eher etwas düster ist und es kein Schwarz-Weiß-Denken gibt. Man weiß gar nicht so richtig, wer hier eigentlich "der Böse" ist, was mich sehr fasziniert hat. Selbst Julia als ehemalige Diebin ist eher ein zwielichter Charakter, wobei sie schon eine erstaunliche Wandlung durchgemacht hat. Es gibt auf jeden Fall wieder viele interessante Entwicklungen und Überraschungen für Julia.
Ich hoffe wirklich sehr, dass der 3. Teil dieser Reihe auch übersetzt wird. Dieser erscheint aber erst in diesem Jahr im Original. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung mit voller Punktzahl.
September 3, 2017
"Julia Defiant" is the follow up to "Julia Vanishes", the second book in Catherine Egan's Witch's Child series.
Picking up almost immediately where the first book left off, Julia and her friends/family/coworkers have just arrived in Tianshi, capital of Yongguo in search of Ko Dan to reverse the dark magic that he embedded within baby Theo. Using her unique abilities, Julia quickly uncovers new secrets that exist in Yongguo, and makes an alliance with another spy to find Ko Dan and attempt to save her own country, Franye. Quickly, the spys become the hunted, as Julia learns that Pia and Casimir have found her and her group in Tianshi, making their work even more important and dangerous.
Although I read "Julia Vanishes" over a year ago, I was able to immediately fall back in to Julia's world. The author once again manages to create an incredible fantasy world filled with such a unique type of magic. As well, the adventure is fast paced with lots of twists and turns. Once I opened this book up I couldn't put it down, and can imagine that it will be the same for others.
Despite this fantastic and engrossing plot, Julia remains the hero and best feature of this book. Julia's abilities make her strong and interesting; however, the author provides her with so many other qualities that make her such a great YA character. In this book, I continued to love the supportive relationship between Julia and Dek, and really enjoyed the way that Julia and Bianka began to trust and rely on each other. Most importantly, I LOVED Julia's rejection of Wyn- this is definitely an area where the YA genre usually doesn't excel, and I was so glad to see this storyline.
Overall, I would highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a bit of magic and for those who enjoy YA/fantasy. After this second book, I'm hooked on the series and will be sure to read the third instalment when released.
Picking up almost immediately where the first book left off, Julia and her friends/family/coworkers have just arrived in Tianshi, capital of Yongguo in search of Ko Dan to reverse the dark magic that he embedded within baby Theo. Using her unique abilities, Julia quickly uncovers new secrets that exist in Yongguo, and makes an alliance with another spy to find Ko Dan and attempt to save her own country, Franye. Quickly, the spys become the hunted, as Julia learns that Pia and Casimir have found her and her group in Tianshi, making their work even more important and dangerous.
Although I read "Julia Vanishes" over a year ago, I was able to immediately fall back in to Julia's world. The author once again manages to create an incredible fantasy world filled with such a unique type of magic. As well, the adventure is fast paced with lots of twists and turns. Once I opened this book up I couldn't put it down, and can imagine that it will be the same for others.
Despite this fantastic and engrossing plot, Julia remains the hero and best feature of this book. Julia's abilities make her strong and interesting; however, the author provides her with so many other qualities that make her such a great YA character. In this book, I continued to love the supportive relationship between Julia and Dek, and really enjoyed the way that Julia and Bianka began to trust and rely on each other. Most importantly, I LOVED Julia's rejection of Wyn- this is definitely an area where the YA genre usually doesn't excel, and I was so glad to see this storyline.
Overall, I would highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a bit of magic and for those who enjoy YA/fantasy. After this second book, I'm hooked on the series and will be sure to read the third instalment when released.
May 12, 2017
I requested this book off NetGalley not knowing it was part of the Witches Child series. I don’t generally make a habit of entering a series in the middle but honestly, I just haven’t had the time to read the first book in the series before I started this one. So unlike other reviews I have read, the extensive recaps throughout the book really did help.
I finished the book in a couple of days. Honestly… it wasn’t the greatest I have ever read but it was a good book. As I am sure you will realise my whole review is kind of MEHHHH!
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t an awful book. The characters were strong willed and believable. I love seeing female heroines fighting their own battles. I enjoyed the story line, it kept me captivated however it wasn’t particularly thrilling. I didn’t find myself thinking about it during the day, as I so often do with a great book.
There wasn’t a great deal of world building (however I understand huge amount can be found in the 1st book). Personally, I was thrilled by the lack of serious romance, I find that love stories can get in the way of a good action adventure.
However, I did enjoy the ending. I’m a little mad that I read 400ish pages for a couple of chapters of greatness, but they did their job, I can’t wait until the next book. Obviously, I don’t know about the first one but it felt although the story line was building up to something… the third book I presume.
Overall it was a strong 3 STAR read.
I finished the book in a couple of days. Honestly… it wasn’t the greatest I have ever read but it was a good book. As I am sure you will realise my whole review is kind of MEHHHH!
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t an awful book. The characters were strong willed and believable. I love seeing female heroines fighting their own battles. I enjoyed the story line, it kept me captivated however it wasn’t particularly thrilling. I didn’t find myself thinking about it during the day, as I so often do with a great book.
There wasn’t a great deal of world building (however I understand huge amount can be found in the 1st book). Personally, I was thrilled by the lack of serious romance, I find that love stories can get in the way of a good action adventure.
However, I did enjoy the ending. I’m a little mad that I read 400ish pages for a couple of chapters of greatness, but they did their job, I can’t wait until the next book. Obviously, I don’t know about the first one but it felt although the story line was building up to something… the third book I presume.
Overall it was a strong 3 STAR read.
June 20, 2017
**I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway**
First of all, Catherine Egan, how DARE you end the book like that? Gosh flipping darn it, I wanted to see Julia do her whirlwind thing NOW.
*deep breath*
I was worried starting this story, mainly because I've never read the first book in the series. But even though it would've helped to know the details of the characters' backstories, I never felt lost. The dynamic of Julia and her 'friends'/associates was wonderfully complex, and surprisingly, she didn't suffer too badly from Chosen One syndrome. Also, the romantic subplots were somehow more realistic and subdued than is common in YA fiction, and I appreciated that. I'm so over obsessive insta-love. Julia's powers were fascinating; the idea of her stepping back etc was awesome.
At times, the plot did feel a bit slow. The beginning was great (the prologue actually gave me shivers) and the ending was nothing short of explosive, but the middle dragged. I liked the politics and complexity of the different strands, but at times, all I could think was 'JUST GET ON WITH IT'. Also probably didn't help that I thought Och had a point about Theo...
But yes, overall, I loved this ride. Could've been at least 100 pages shorter, but the lovable characters and constant twisting made it worthwhile. I can't wait to read the sequel.
First of all, Catherine Egan, how DARE you end the book like that? Gosh flipping darn it, I wanted to see Julia do her whirlwind thing NOW.
*deep breath*
I was worried starting this story, mainly because I've never read the first book in the series. But even though it would've helped to know the details of the characters' backstories, I never felt lost. The dynamic of Julia and her 'friends'/associates was wonderfully complex, and surprisingly, she didn't suffer too badly from Chosen One syndrome. Also, the romantic subplots were somehow more realistic and subdued than is common in YA fiction, and I appreciated that. I'm so over obsessive insta-love. Julia's powers were fascinating; the idea of her stepping back etc was awesome.
At times, the plot did feel a bit slow. The beginning was great (the prologue actually gave me shivers) and the ending was nothing short of explosive, but the middle dragged. I liked the politics and complexity of the different strands, but at times, all I could think was 'JUST GET ON WITH IT'. Also probably didn't help that I thought Och had a point about Theo...
But yes, overall, I loved this ride. Could've been at least 100 pages shorter, but the lovable characters and constant twisting made it worthwhile. I can't wait to read the sequel.
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