Brightly Woven

Every once and awhile, I read a book that completely takes over my mind. I think about it at night while I’m trying to sleep and I contemplate what’s going to happen next constantly as I go about my day. It basically manages to squeeze into every thought I have until I’m able to pick it back up again. Brightly Woven is a perfect example of said mind-control.

The story has a wonderful balance of adventure, magic and self-discovery. I would’ve never imagined a young adult novel possible of holding all three with such addiction, but Alexandra has certainly done it.

The journey between the two main characters, Sydelle and North, was kept the main priority throughout the entire story. There was no floating away from the plot to sneak show more in bits of romance- the author managed to do that without straying. I also enjoyed the small yet cleverly created magical elements- such as the rover beetle, an insect that keeps track of somebody- that made the story so much more unique.

I was impressed with the characters as well. Instead of acting as a damsel in distress, Sydelle was a kick-ass heroin who was always thinking of ways to get back up after she was knocked down. North, though he doesn’t bathe enough, got some laughs and swoons out of me. I particularly enjoyed reading his intoxicated scenes. It was nice to have the occasionally humor with all the gasping and squealing I was doing.

Filled with beautifully written magic, battles, a stinky-yet-charming wizard and a well-plotted journey, Brightly Woven has officially managed to snag a spot on my all-time favorite list. show less

The flaws in this novel that have already been brought up--some of the issues are left unaddressed, and a protagonist that is more than a little egocentric--are valid points. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book a great deal, in large part to the developed characters.

Our protagonist, Sydelle Mirabel, is given a chance to display her flaws and her strengths. Too many teen female protagonists are either too antagonistic in an effort to be "edgy" or too perfect to be believable, and rarely do we get the chance to meet one that exhibits both. Sydelle is yanked out of her hometown by the wizard Wayland North. Because of that, she's understandably pretty angry at him for about the first quarter of the novel. Here, we get to see her negative show more traits--she's whiny, she's demanding, and she's bitter. As the book progresses, though, she and North develop an actual connection, and we get to see the better side to Sydelle. She learns of his illness and begins researching possible potions, and takes an interest in the way he performs magic.

Much like Sydelle, North is a complicated character. He essentially kidnaps Sydelle, has a serious drinking problem, and tends to blurt out whatever pops into his head. He's also concerned about Sydelle's welfare, spends whatever money he has to make sure she has a bed to sleep in, and risks his life more than once to save her. Despite myself, I found that I genuinely liked both of them by the end of the book.

The plot itself is good, though again, there are several issues left up in the air at the end. I honestly would've expected there to be a sequel in the works, but apparently the author has no plans to write one at this time. In the end, it's the characters that made this book stand out to me, and it's the characters that make me want to return to read it again. show less

I didn't like Brightly Woven as much as I was hoping to. It's a neat idea, well-written, and lord knows I love heroines who make things, but I never felt the chemistry between Syd and North. I was put off by some of North's early behavior, which I might have forgiven since he is supposed to be a "disagreeable young wizard", but there were too many times when he was perfectly charming (albeit a little too schmaltzy for my taste). The pacing seemed a little off, and at times I had trouble following the action.

Whether or not you like the characters, they are distinct, and Bracken's writing style is pleasantly visual. It's a fun, quick read - I started & finished it on the course of a 3 hour plane ride - it just wasn't what I was hoping show more for. show less

First, let me give a shoutout to all you 1987 babies out there! Best year ever. (I'm biased, so what?) I haven't had the opportunity (that I'm aware of) to read a YA book written by someone my age. Not that I discriminate based on age - it's just that the majority of my peers are still pretending like they're in college with the bar hopping on Tuesday nights. And when I read that Ms. Bracken began writing this novel at the age of 19, can I just say..I was seriously impressed.

Okay, so yes the cover was what attracted me - like how all relationships start out. It was pretty so I was interested (hehe). However, the inside (whether it be a person or a book!) can turn you away just as quick as the outside drew you in. This was not the case show more here.

For me, this book was about the relationship between Sydelle and North. Yes, there were many things going on around them (bad guy coming to get them, bad weather, etc) but when it came down to what I was interested in most, it was the two of them.

If I'm being honest, North irritated me for about half of the book with his drunkenness and inability to act like an adult (yes yes I know he's only 18 but come on!). Then he really made me mad three-quarters of the way through the book. (Seriously, how did Sydelle put up with him?) Were his intentions good or was he just being selfish and unfair to Sydelle? I'm not so sure I know the answer. I'm all for 'protecting' the people you care about but was that really what he was trying to do? I feel like Sydelle was giving him the benefit of the doubt because don't we all believe that the people who we love have good intentions for us?

Seriously, come on North..quit holding out on Sydelle. Honesty is the best policy, you know..

Now, now..I'm not saying that I didn't like North - I really did like him..eventually. I'm just saying that he made me mad for much of the book. You can like someone and still get irritated with them (Isn't that basically what Owain had said to North about Sydelle?).

And there is a MAP in the beginning of the book. She had me at hello. For me, it's all about the visualization of the setting. Can I see it in my mind? Where are they traveling? How are they getting there? Just how far do they have to go? It was nice to see the world come to life! Especially since Sydelle frequently referred to their map during their journey and though it was North's map, he never looked at it..and got lost much of the time. What is it with men and directions? :) show less

I had high hopes for this one--the cover blurb insists that it belongs alongside Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Tamora Pierce's Alanna books. But I found it to have more in common with Twilight than either of them.

Brightly Woven definitely reads like a first novel. Much of the action hasn't been thought through--it's too convenient, poorly justified, or doesn't advance the plot. The "jinx" revelation was dropped like a 16 ton weight. I also thought it would have been, you know, cool if there was even one character in the book who wasn't white. (Bracken describes Sydelle's home as resembling the American Southwest--maaaaaybe Sydelle's village could have been Pueblo, Apache, or Navajo.) But mostly, I found North profoundly, irredeemably show more unpleasant. The message I really got out of his presence is that if you find an alcoholic who shouts at you, treats you like an idiot, and drags you around without your permission, you should totally stick with him! In fact, it's your responsibility to "fix" him!

The biggest problem for me (which was not actually the biggest problem with the book) was the weaving. I'm a knitter, spinner, and occasional weaver, and I love when fiber arts feature in books. But you know what I love more? When authors DO THEIR RESEARCH. Sydelle carries her loom around for a good chunk of the book and makes cloaks which she just starts weaving of an evening. This is impossible. A loom of the size required to weave cloaks takes about 8 hours to warp before you can start weaving. It's also too big to sling over your back and carry all over the country. Most of Bracken's weaving terminology is inaccurate, too.

I'm not sure what you should read after Pierce, McKinley, and Cashore, but seriously, it's not this one. show less

Gratuitous fawning ahead! If that type of thing insults your senses you probably don’t want to read my review. You were warned ;)

This beautifully written book caused me to feel something that has only happened a few times during my reading adventures. As soon as I reached the last page I wanted to flip to the beginning and start again. This book was that amazing! That is the number one symptom that I have fallen into book love ♥

Brightly Woven is packed full of colorful characters, evil villains, and an amazing world for them to dwell in. Wayland North is a wizard, and the classic damaged hero. I spent half the time hating him, and the rest wanting to kiss him. Sydelle Mirabil, while naive, is also one of the most fearless female show more characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Neither were without faults at the beginning of the story. Even by the end they weren’t perfect, but both had changed for the better because of the trials they faced. The author handled the growth of both main characters so skillfully. It was gradual, seamless, and truly perfect. I was so engrossed in Sydelle and North's adventures, that I felt a pang of grief when I came to the final page. The ending has left me with the hope we may see a sequel. Ms. Bracken if you're listening, this reader would love more adventures with Sydelle and North.

This is a book that will satisfy even the most picky fantasy fan, and lovers of epic adventures. It is one of the rare books I know I'll want to read again and again. It now claims one of the coveted spots on my shelf of keepers.

This book does contain some violence, but otherwise I’d consider Brightly Woven family friendly. show less

So, I don't know about you guys, but lately my life has been tragically devoid of high fantasy, and that just won't do! In order to remedy this dreadful oversight on my part, I tracked down one of the first novels that came to mind when I thought about reading in this genre: Brightly Woven. It was better than I remembered. I bought this book on a whim last March because the synopsis hooked me, and the cover is just so lovely. It was an impulse buy, and I usually pay dearly for those. This time I was heavily rewarded with a read filled with rich romance, beautifully crafted worlds, and endearing characters. I cannot convey how dearly I adore this book! It is just such a fun, fast-paced read.

Sydelle, the protagonist, is an interesting show more and complex character. I found her very relatable and real, mostly because of her faults. She makes mistakes, she gets angry, she's endearingly annoying, she throws fits on occasion. She is also headstrong, brave, and compassionate. She is beautifully flawed, and all the more real for it. Swept up into a action-filled journey with the dark, brooding wizard named North, Syd struggles to find out who she is and how exactly she fits into North's plans. North himself is a delicious character, filled to the brim with mysterious secrets and brooding, rakish appeal. He's exactly the type of love interest I enjoy reading about! I enjoyed the character growth between Syd and North as well, and I loved seeing their romance progress and transform into something very powerful.

I found the plot to be very entertaining with a great flow. Bracken's pacing was just slow enough to savour and just fast enough to have me on the edge of my seat! I really enjoyed exploring the world she has crafted. On another note, I love love love the fact that Bracken wrote this novel for a friend's birthday. I mean, how completely awesome is that?! That is the sort of tidbit that makes me love the author even more. Probably the only complaint I can find about this book is the fact that there isn't a sequel! It would be so wonderful to read more about these characters and explore their world a little bit more.

CONCLUSION:

Filled with romance, action, mystery, and magic, Brightly Wound will take you on a fast-paced journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this, and spreading the love. show less