Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!! Bloodwitch released today and OH. MY. GOODNESS. Writing this without spoilers, is slightly a challenge, but at the same time you all need to know how amazing this series is. If you aren’t caught up you can check out my reviews for Truthwitch, Windwitch, and the novella (book 2.5) that blew my freaking mind Sightwitch. Seriously I’d just go read them. 

Let me start with I cried. And screamed, and yelled, and had to set the book down for bit to just BREATHE. Sooz has packed you the tightest plot, full of details, information, action, drama, and so many twists and turns I don’t know how she condensed it into a single novel. I always appreciate her writing, but this is one of the most beautifully woven pieces of craft I’ve read.

Sooz is able to pack more nuanced character interaction, snippets of the impending catalyst, tantalizing hints of backstory, and romantic tension. Something that never ceases to amaze me is the absolute fluidity in which five different points of view are woven together. Not only how clear each voice is, and how they each have their own story and role to play, but Bloodwitch kicks the character growth up about 10 notches. You know she has to do this through hardship and different circumstances that teach lessons, and our poor cinnamon rolls are rather put through the ringer. This book made me so proud of Vivia, Merik, Safi, Iseult, and Aeduan.

Team, the strands are finally starting to come together. All the build up we’ve been getting, you can see the hint of an outline. This means that yet again, I am blown away by the amount of worldbuilding. You would think that by book four, there wouldn’t be much more about the world, the magic, the politics that can be exposed. You would be wrong.

I’ve said before that Sightwitch took my blinders off to the deep complexities within the Witchlands, and Bloodwitch continued with that fact. The momentum that was building toward the War has taken on a new shape, and the players pulling the strings are brilliant in their manipulations. This has been done with such care, that it is beyond apparent how real each character within the book is, and how important they are to the overall plot line.

All of this just highlights the level of detail, and brilliance that took to create this world. I enjoy complex books, and Sooz’s Witchlands have utterly stolen my heart. Not only can she deliver a complex and mysterious plotline, with fantastical world building, but she gives you flawed and lovable characters tied up with the perfect amount of humor, and sprinkled with drama. Her writing keeps you flipping pages–or tapping the screen–until you run out of words. 

I without a doubt of hesitation hope you dive in to this series. It’s easily one of my favorites of all time, and I hope it becomes one of yours too.  

You can get Bloodwitch here through Bookshop.org, which supports local independent bookstores!

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