Review - Crewel

by Gennifer Albin
publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
date of publication: October 16, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 368
source: the author

From Goodreads:

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Prepare yourselves, because when it comes to this book, I'm barely going to be able to contain myself.  You know I'm not usually one to outright gush, but Crewel is a book that deserves copious amounts of it.  When I got the chance to read it this spring, I'm pretty sure I may have hurt my husband's ears in my excitement.  When I actually read it, however, I was rendered speechless.  How do I even begin to describe all that is spectacular about Crewel?  I'll do my best, but please pardon me if I use too many exclamation marks.

First, I simply must get this off my chest: Adelice is a freaking awesome character!  Even though it gets her in trouble, her sardonic sense of humor and biting retorts make her a character that keeps you on your toes.  Also, I have to give it up for kick-ass redheads!  Ahem.  One moment while I put on my "I'm a proud, nerdy redhead," shirt.  Moving on!  Adelice is a compelling character in so many ways besides those I already mentioned.  From her refusal to be bought by the trappings of Spinster life to her determination to help those around her, Adelice is a character you can't help but connect with.  Just wait until you learn about her abilities.  That is seriously some mind-bending stuff.

When it comes to world-building, Gennifer Albin amazes me.  From the setting to the politics to the people, Arras is so far beyond imagining.  The construct of this world is intricately woven (you know I had to go there) and has so much to reveal to readers.  The make-up of society is also very well done and becomes very alarming at times.  As for the people, let me just say that the commonalities between many of the people involved serve to highlight just how special Adelice is while they each still maintain their own personal spark that makes them recognizable when it comes to personality.  I found much to appreciate all through this book and I can't wait to find out even more.

Crewel remains one of my favorite reads of 2012.  With its fabulous characters, amazing setting, and harrowing challenges, Crewel is a story more than capable of keeping its readers ensnared and entertained.  If you're looking for a dystopia with a little something fresh and new, you should definitely check out Crewel.  This is simply an amazing book that I imagine I will be recommending for a long time to come.  Expect to see it on my top 10 list this year!

Buy Crewel at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the author. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Special Note
Be sure to come back to Starting the Next Chapter on Friday for a guest post from Gennifer Albin.  It's all part of the Crewel Blog Tour, so stop by for a great post and even a giveaway!