Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken 

June 1, 2010

EgmontUSA

Synopsis:
When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever.

My Review:
High fantasy at its core, BRIGHTLY WOVEN is sure to delight lovers of the genre! Full of magic and myths galore, I couldn't put it down for even a second! I fell in love with Sydelle and North and their adventures. I am so sad that it took me this long to dive in! It is a fantastic YA debut and a must read for all YA fans.

Sydelle's life is anything but eventful. She lives in the dreary and dry Cliffton that hasn't seen rain in a long, long time. While out with her friends on a seemingly normal day, her life is thrown into chaos. It rains! But along with the rain comes North, a wizard that brings terrible news to her little town and spurs her and North on a long journey to save the country.

North isn't much better off than Sydelle. He doesn't have a real home and has a deadly secret about himself that he hides from the world. The battle between him and Doran ignites off the pages and fuels the story on. On the romantic side, North's journey with Sydelle causes his heart to open and accept someone new into his life who may be just as special, if not more, than he is.

Bracken truly has a way with words. Sydelle and North come to life off the pages and I felt as if I was on their journey right alongside them. Her vivid descriptions create gorgeous images that I can picture perfectly! There is plenty of action to keep you entertained, even if the story does lull in a few scenes. But besides the few pauses in the story, I have no other complaints!

Bracken has proven herself to be a well-versed and lyrical author with BRIGHTLY WOVEN. Don't hesitate to pick this one up!

My Rating: