Hardcover: 368 pages
Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.Review
In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.
Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry. (Source)
BRIGHTLY WOVEN, by Alexandra Bracken, was an epic fantasy tale that will weave its way into your heart from the first page. The new world that Bracken created was intricate and imaginative. And the characters that lived there were genuine especially in their magical abilities. Bracken definitely did her homework and made this world believable in every aspect.
I really loved this book. The story was unlike anything I have ever read and my imagination was stretched to this wonderful and dangerous world that Bracken illustrated. Her specific concept of magic in this world was unparalleled. Sydelle was extremely special and a joy to read. The way weaving took over her soul was breath-taking. And I liked how she was intelligent and always asked questions. Sometimes her independence turned into stubbornness, but she had the perfect amount of sass and finesse to keep me drawn into the story.
The relationship between Sydelle and North was dynamic. Forced together by magical circumstances, these two gained each other's trust and love gradually. Bracken put these two characters into dangerous situations which amplified their bond. They were both selfless and would do anything to protect the other. These two make a memorable pair.
The magic itself was its own character. I liked how there were many different types of magic that each wizard could perform. I liked the rules that were created for magic. It was very thoughtful that wizards had to be ranked, trained, etc. to perform magic. This created a interesting dynamic in creating the good versus evil in the story.
This book definitely stands out. The world that Bracken created was stunning and once of a kind. I hope there is a sequel in the future!
