Silverwitch by Tamara Grantham
Crimson Tree Publishing (c) 2016
ARC e-book
Fantasy
Reviewed by Leah
Pretty, pretty cover!
Summary:
Olive has saved Faythander quite enough. So what's one more stop-the-world-from-ending quest? It's more than she bargained for.
Taking refuge in Earth Kingdom after the unexpected ending of the bloodthorn, Olive has been dealing with a lot. Which is why she has avoided returning to the place of her birth for so long. There are secrets she would rather not share, and realities she would just as like to avoid.
All of which comes crashing down when Fan'twar, her dragon step-father and Sky King of Faythander, knocks on her door and requests that she go on an Arthurian-type quest for a magick weapon.
There's just one problem with that request. The weapon they need is guarded by Silvestra, the silverwitch dragon. In a race against the elves, Olive and co. will be hard pressed to retrieve the weapon and make it out alive.
At least Olive is used to desperate times and even more desperate measures.
Initial Thoughts:
Olive has the worst luck. I mean, really, she does. This poor girl. On the plus side? More adventures for us in Faythander! I'm game.
Characters:
Olive is still an emotional wreck. This time it has nothing to do with Kull, and everything to do with an evil Goddess invading her consciousness. With visions of her destiny taunting her, it's all Olive can do not to push away those who care about her, while still clinging to the hope that she will prevail. This new adventure only adds to her worries, however, as she faces a dragon with a penchant for riddles and the daily reminder that she could lose everyone she loves.
Kull is King, and he's got problems. The stability of the Wult Kingdom is fracturing as the conflict with the elves grows closer and his own people begin to turn against him. All the while the poor guy is just trying to help his girlfriend save the world. Again. But new realities settle into him this round and a true fear takes root inside of him. Thanks to the Silverwitch, Kull changes right before our eyes, and it's heartbreaking.
Also, Heidel has her own things to work through in this storyline, that we thankfully get a closer up view of in the novella Goblinwraith. I encourage you all to go forth and read it.
Plot & Setting:
We get to see a lot more of Faythander this time as we're dragged around by light rail to the desert country known for nefarious deeds. We're also uncomfortably aware of our imprisonment in the Silverwitch's castle. Oh, and a brief glimpse of the much-changed-since-we-first-saw-it capital of the elves. Lots of hopping around here, and it's all as fantastic as the previous books have led us to expect.
That being said, there's not a lot I can give you about the plot without spoiling all of it. However, I was pleased. It was fast-paced. Olive's luck is awful. Kull's works desperately to balance it out. And heartbreak occurs. All as we've come to expect.
Writing Style:
I will say it with absolutely no shame that I am in love with Ms. Grantham's writing. Her characterization is always spot on and she keeps true to the reactions her characters have for the situations they find themselves in. I'm also never given a moment to take a breath as her pace keeps pushing us forward, looking to overcome the next obstacle. It is a style that I appreciate a lot in my fantasy and why I keep coming back to her books time and again.
Overall Opinion:
Silverwitch kept digging claws into all of the sensitive parts of me, and I enjoyed it. These books make you endure everything Olive is going through, and they feel no qualms about taking your emotions along for the ride. In this one, it introduces new fears to our beloved characters as well as to the readers. Olive's destiny is drawing closer, and everyone is looking to change it.
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