Review - Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Brightly Woven

When rain finally falls, in Alexandra Bracken's debut novel, Brightly Woven, sixteen year old Sydelle Mirabel finds herself sent away with the mysterious wizard, Wayland North.  Thus begins a long and tiring journey both physically and mentally exhausting for Sydelle.  They travel from city to city and meet person after person on their trip to save the kingdom. Sydelle soon learns that finding comfort in her weaving may mean something more to her as she realizes things are not what they seem with her traveling companion.  What is Wayland North hiding and can Sydelle find it within herself to not only save him, but also the kingdom and people she loves?  You definitely want to find out for yourself in Alexandra Bracken's new novel, Brightly Woven.

Honestly I can say, that this is one of the best novels I have read so far this year.  Alexandra Bracken has created an amazing and fascinating world in Brightly Woven. I love that she starts her readers out in a very small world and as Sydelle and North continue on their travels, their world grows and grows.  Bracken skillfully introduces us to this world she's created and masterfully adds in characters and experiences along the way.  She's taken a common concept of wizardry and fantasy and made it something completely new and exciting. Her ideas and concepts are refreshing and a nice break from the fluffy and predictable that I've been finding recently in this genre.  I was fascinated by the depth and length that her setting possessed.  She didn't just place her characters in one place and leave them there.  They travel far and wide and ever place they go is new and exciting.  She used the ideas of knights, villages, and kingdoms, but she made them something different and exhilarating.  I completely without a doubt loved this novel and I sincerely hope that the story of Sydelle and North continues in the future.  Alexandra Bracken has written a masterpiece that I expected from a writer on her fourth or fifth novel, not her first.  She has amazing talent and is someone to I'll follow for years to come.

I submitted this review over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Egmont USA. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”