Truthwitch by Susan Dennard Spoiler-Free Review

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

* I recieved the first 15 chapters of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

Ok. I don't even know where to start. I am literally staring at my computer screen, mind completely blank. Ok. So you know those books that you pick up-not really expecting much from them- and then two hours later you realize you're addicted and need help? Yes? Well I'm just going to say that this Truthwitch has got me feeling that way.

So as mentioned above, I had only gotten a portion of the novel; just the first couple of chapters to introduce me to the story. Now, we all know that the worst part of any book is the beginning, as it typically centres around setting the scene which can be boring at times. So therefore what surprised me is how interesting the first portion of Truthwitch is. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of the who, where, what, when....stuff, but the book immediately starts off with the two main characters in a 'situation', which to me tells a lot more about their world and personalities than an outright exclamation. The best way to learn about people is to put them in situations and observe their reactions, which is exactly what is done to the main characters, Safi and Isuelt. Safi and Isuelt are best friends, it's that simple. However, they are what is referred to as 'friendship goals'. They balance eachother out; Safi is impulsive and goes by what she feels at the moment, while Isuelt functions by reason. They care for eachother and are willing to risk themselves to make sure the other is well. This is important. In many modern day YA novels, love and support are often provided in the form of a romantic relationship between a male character and a female one. Truthwitch is one of countable novels in which that kind of loyalty is not between two lovers, but between two best friends. That in itself is an important reason of why this book is precious.

In the world of Truthwitch, there are different types of witched created to perform different tasks. There are Firewitches made to create and control fire, Windwitches, created to control all things encompassing wind, and there are other types of witches. Safi is a truthwitch, meaning that she can always tell when someone utters a lie. Although this is an asset of Safi's, it also proves to be a liability. If others were to know of her abilities, which had been unheard of for a long time, they would start hunting her down to keep as their own. Rightfully so, as having a Truthwitch in your court would obviously make your kingdom rise above the others. This is why Safi must keep her powers a secret, and she does so by the help of Isuelt and other people she trusts.

Aside from Safi and Isuelt, there are many other cool and exciting characters present. Personally, my favourite would have to be Prince Merik. He is hardheaded and stubborn, two attributes shown the first time we meet him when he is at the lunch with others from different monarchies. He isn't all foo-foo like is expected from a prince, and seems to not be entertained by the extravagant pleasantries that are present within the room while his people are suffering. He is practical and aware of his duty as the prince, which are two reasons why I enjoyed reading his scenes.

Another character whom I liked is another prince, Prince Leopold- Polly- from Cartorra. He is one of Safi's childhood friends, who happens to be a boy. I admired him as he seemed laid back, but my fascination did seem to falter with each chapter he was present.

There are many other supporting characters to the story, some of which affected me and some that I did not care much for. There is Uncle Eron, Safi's uncle, who proves that he's worth more than he looks, as well as Safi's trainer Habim. Also, a character who appears to have a massive impact in the future is Merik's sister and future queen, who's already showing signs of causing trouble. There are also Isuelt's mother, Gretcheya, as well as her mother's apprentice, Alma. They help Isuelt escape from a near-death experience. Finally, there is Aeduan, a bloodwitch who is set on finding and confiscating Safi as well as Isuelt.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. At times I was slightly confused, and that was always during court scenes as I don't know much about monarchies and such. The wording of the novel was simple and precise; the author didn't try to throw in big words to make herself sound smarter or such. The storyline is clear and exciting, and the characters are relatable and fresh. All in all, I definitely loved reading Truthwitch, and will for sure be heading out to my nearest bookstore to buy the full version when it comes out on January 5.