Nocturnal Book Reviews: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley early review

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley early review

Saturday, August 06, 2011 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

Egalley thanks to Simon & Schuster

Synopsis from Goodreads
High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future. It’s all a fake.
At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?
But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.

Publication date 30/08/2011.

* * *

First of all this is a very misleading synopsis, so I suggest you disregard it.

This book is pure fantasy YA, there is no love story here. The "beautiful and silent witch" mentioned is not even a secondary character, and she sure as hell doesn't hold any of Ryder's secrets! Sorry, bad descriptions make me a little bit angry...

The language is very lively and simple but beautiful. The story is a bit naive and more for middle grade than adult YA. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed it.

This is coming of age story of a Witchander, Ryder and Falpian, a boy from Baen. These two connect in unexpected ways, led together by series of circumstances and prophesies.

Ryder is a sceptic, who is trying to do his best by his land and save his people, so when his half-crazed mother, high on Maiden's woe (a hallucinogenic herb) and prophesies sees his future and tells him to find Baen otherwise his lands will be in great danger, that's what he does.

Falpian's twin brother just died and all his dreams of becoming a powerful magician and making his father proud die too. Now he is grieving on the edge of Baen territory and waiting for his father to send back for him.

When Ryder and Falpian meet they naturally act with distrust and almost prerequisite hatred of warring nations. But everything changes when they discover one thing in common and have to face a common enemy...

It was a very easy and enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the continuation of the story which ended with the promise of great adventures.

* * *

Очень, очень даже неплохое фэнтэзи YA. Это конечно не Graceling, но сама идея мира и различных методов использования волшебства в нём оказалась достойной.

Слог простой и немного наивный, главные герои 2 парня из враждебных стран, никакой любовной линии нет, что заставило меня вздохнуть с облегчением.

Райдер - 15-летний фермер витчландер, который не очень то верит в силу Богини и управляющего его землями ковена ведьм. Его мать - бывшая ведьма, которая разочаровалась в своей вере и ушла из ковена. После смерти его отца она стала есть наркотические цветы и пророчествовать о беде, которая надвигается на страну. Она предупреждает Райдера об опасности и просит его найти Баена - из враждебной им территории.

Фалпэйн - молодой тощий Баен школяр из богатой семьи и неудавшийся волшебник. В Баене волшебством могут заниматься только мужчины, и чтобы его творить они поют. Их ноты могут даже остановить сердце врага. Фалпэйн живёт на границе Земель Ведьм и ожидает указаний от своего отца.

Здесь Райдер, пытающийся предовратить опасность, о которой говорила его мать, и Фалрэйн и встречаются. Начинаются типичные недоверие и ненависть, что можно ожидать от врагов, но скоро всё это меняется перед лицом общей опасности и когда обнаруживается, что Райдер тоже может петь как маги Баена...

Очень живые описания и неплохой сюжет. Будем ожидать продолжения.

8/10

Tags: 8/10, fantasy, lena coakley, magic, YA, магия, фэнтэзи

1 comments:

cat said...: A few of us were discussing this book at the Montreal Book Blogger meet up- we agree, the synopsis AND cover are misleading. (why is there a girl on the cover? Is that the mysterious witch girl who really had nothing to do with the story?) Other than that, we enjoyed it! ;); 7 August 2011 04:15