Creature Feature Review: Witchlanders

It's Witchy Wednesday at Starting the Next Chapter, meaning that today is all about witches. To start things off, I have a witch-centered book review for you all, Witchlanders by Lena Coakley. Granted, witches aren't creatures per say, BUT they do play a huge role in the supernatural figures most often thought of during Halloween. I hope you will all join me later today to welcome Nikki from Books Most Wanted, who will be dropping by to speak up in favor of witches for the Bump in the Night Brawl.

Witchlanders

by Lena Coakley
publisher: Atheneum
date of publication: August 30, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 400
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

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.

What I Thought

Prior to reading it for myself, I had heard great things about Witchlanders. When I commenced my adventure with Ryder and Falpian, I was concerned that I was going to have a difficult time in enjoying it, myself. However, as things progressed I began to see what others were talking about and soon grew more and more immersed in the fascinating world that Lena Coakley constructed in this book. Though heavy on the details, Witchlanders is written in such a way that makes you feel as though you share knowledge right along with the main characters. As you realize just how much of a foundation the initial information at the beginning of the book created, it becomes much easier to understand its purpose. What results is a tantalizing, mystical world where nothing is quite what it seems.

At first, I wasn't sure exactly where the plot was going to go. It begins with the detailing of Ryder's immense frustrations with his life and with Falpian's low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It wasn't until more information was garnered with regard to the great war between the Witchlanders and the Baens that I began to unravel the line the plot was taking. At that point, I was caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, danger, and fear. The descriptions of the magic that swirls throughout this book are almost lyrical, which is very fitting due to how it is performed. As Ryder and Falpian get to know each other better and begin working together, more is revealed that left me astounded and truly speechless. Ms. Coakley certainly knows her way around a plot twist!

Ryder was a bit difficult to get to know as a character, at first. He came off as a very conflicted person, as well as a reserved and bitter one. This made him a little difficult to connect with, but once he began to come out of his shell and began to realize some things, he became much more easy to relate to. As for Falpian, he seemed to be a somewhat weak character, at first. He seemed to be all bark and no bite when he first encountered Ryder. As he began to realize the true depth of his own power and his budding friendship with Ryder, he became a much more dynamic character, one which I preferred most out of the two.

The setting for Witchlanders is one of the most intriguing parts of this book. The forests and the mountain seemed to be very breath-taking, and the network of caves that the witches utilize is mysterious, eerie, and awe-inspiring. It seemed that every turn uncovered something new for Ryder and Falpian to discover, which I absolutely loved.

Witchlanders is a wonderfully imaginative story with elements of high fantasy and an epic adventure. Though it doesn't seem to have been announced yet, the end is left wide open for a sequel or even a series. If so, I look forward to reading more by Ms. Coakley in the future. This is a great book for fans of fantasy fiction to try out, as well as for those who enjoy stories surrounding witches and magic. Kudos to Ms. Coakley!