Brightly Woven

Quick & Dirty: A beautifully woven story with dangerous magic and deadly wizard duels.

Opening Sentence: The day the rains finally came was like any other, with blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness.

The Review:

Brightly Woven is an entertaining and enchanting read. There’s no denying that Ms. Bracken is a talented writer. Her prose is simply beautiful. Ms. Bracken was successful in crafting a cast of deeply layered characters. These believable and dynamic characters breathe life into this wonderfully magical story. Ms. Bracken cleverly infuses a bit of humor, action, suspense, intrigue, and betrayal that will have readers racing to the finish.

Sydelle Mirabel is a gifted weaver living a simple life in her small village, show more Cliffton. Ravaged by a long drought, Cliffton struggles to survive. But there is far more at stake than Sydelle’s village. Political intrigue in the capital threatens to plunge the Kingdom of Palmarta into war with its neighbors. Events unfold that forces Sydelle to leave Cliffton accompanied by the rogue wizard, Wayland North. She’s furious with him for taking her away from her home and soon comes to realize that he isn’t what he seems.

I really enjoyed the understated love story that unfolds between Sydelle and North. Their relationship is given time to develop and as a result is very realistic. Sydelle grows throughout the book and will surprise readers with her bravery and willingness to sacrifice herself. She has a fiery spirit and speaks her mind. The somewhat irresponsible and arrogant North, is far more complex than he first appears. Despite her inexperience, Sydelle knows how to handle him. I loved North. I thought that his personal struggles were well developed and his history very complicated. He certainly lived up to my expectations with one exception – BATHING. I mean it’s imperative that a character actually takes a bath. That being said, with all of his quirkiness, secrecy, and the mystery of his past, he’s an honorable man. On a side note, I have a few minor issues with the villain in this story. He never really felt particularly evil. Selfish, unstable and annoying – absolutely. While the villain had a few tricks up his sleeve, I always had the feeling that he was more about playing games of cat and mouse than actually unleashing a torrent of hell. Sydelle’s and North’s antagonist is a little unworthy of such great heroes.

Overall, Brightly Woven is a great read, especially as it comes to us from a debut author. Ms. Bracken captures your attention from the start with this dangerous and adventurous story. The reader is introduced into a world that holds deadly magic, treachery, and wizard duels. Well developed characters, fantastic world building, action-packed fight scenes and political intrigue make for an exciting debut. You won’t want to miss this wonderfully written book.

Notable Scene:

There was something graceful about the way North pulled his cloaks up in wide, sweeping circles. If the pace of the fight picked up, he would have only a moment to grasp the colored fabric in this hand, or to wrench it up to shield his face. At first glance, it all seemed effortless.

FTC Advisory: Egmont USA provided me with an ARC of Brightly Woven. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. 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

Here are three words to sum up my feelings on this book: I loved it! The writing was simplistic and beautiful, the world and its magical elements were exquisitely crafted, and the characters were well developed and likeable. This book is packed full of adventure, magic, and even some romance. It has certainly been awhile since I got this engaged in a story, and I really did not want it to end.

My favorite thing about this book has to be the characters. I respected and liked Syd and completely fell for the (magical) charms of North. Sydelle, or Syd, is one of the best female MC I have come across, and I appreciated how steadfast, willful, and intelligent she was. In fact, Syd is the epitome of what I believe is a ‘strong’ female show more character. When under pressure or faced with a problem, she has a hard time protecting herself when the fight gets physical being slight, so she uses her wit. Syd is smart, and I like how she uses her intelligence to get out of some sticky situations. While girls who love to kick butt, live for insulting men and their manly parts, and sport brass knuckles are awesome, I like seeing a character being able to fall back on their wit. The mind is mightier than the sword! (I may have tweaked the saying a little bit to suit my prerogative…) Regardless, knowledge never fails!

And then there is North. Oh, North, North, North. I have developed a new (or another) literary boy crush in North. Here is a wizard who is both cursed and plagued by the past, has a rather snarky demeanor, can be cowardly at times, and even gets drunk occasionally. He is far from prefect, yet he is kind and protective, and he treats Syd with nothing less than respect. I cannot even begin to express how much I adore him. It is so refreshing to finally have a male lead that is not being referenced to Adonis/some Greek god or having angel-like beauty (*bats eyes* Did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?). North is not infallible, he does not make all women swoon at the sight of him, and Syd has to fight with him constantly to get him to open up. In other words, he resembles what an ‘actual’ guy is like, and I cannot help but love him.

I loved the chemistry and relationship between Syd and North. Their relationship had me giggling randomly, and it left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end. Syd detests the wizard in the beginning for taking her from her family, but as she comes to discover some of his secrets and grows to understand him more, her feelings and view of him changes. They had some rough patches, and there were even moments when Syd was not sure she could trust North, but they overcame them all and started a nice (romantic, but not in a sappy way) relationship. They really care for one another, and I just adored their steadily progressing relationship.

I have to admit, I am at a bit of an impasse. I loved this book, and I think the ending was beyond perfect. Part of me wants a sequel, while the other part of me wants to leave everything as is. There are a few loose ends begging to be tied (such as North’s curse and if a cure was ever discovered), but readers can interpret for themselves what happened. However, even though I have enough information to make my own conclusions, I want more of this magical world and more of North and Syd. What can I say? I guess I am a selfish person! Either way, Brightly Woven now has its own place on my favorites shelf. This is definitely a book you should look into if you have not read it yet. Bracken has another book coming out on December 18, 2012, and it is entitled The Darkest Minds. You can bet I will be reading it when it comes out! show less

The only life Sydelle has ever known is life in her small desert town on the border of her country. Until the wizard Wayland North arrives and whisks her away, just before the bordering country’s army invades her home. Sydelle always wanted to leave and see her country, but following a wizard – who has no sense of direction and doesn’t seem to bath – all the way to the capitol is not really what she had in mind. On the run from Wayland’s enemy and experiencing freak storms and a lack of money, Sydelle and Wayland reach the capitol only to have things continue to go wrong, including some interesting news and a trip to Auster (the country declaring war on Sydelle’s country of Palmarta).

I loved Wayland North. He’s such a show more unique character. A wizard who works alone, likes his ale a bit too much and an aversion to bathing. He seems rough, brash and abrupt at times, but he has a good and kind heart. He genuinely wants to do the right thing, he just has to learn that actually telling people what’s going on might get them to agree with him rather than fight him the whole way. Which Sydelle does. Sydelle is a very confident young woman. She’s smart and capable, and doesn’t let Wayland walk all over her. She has her moments of temper tantrums – which lead to more trouble than they should, but that way leads to spoilers – and naivety (she’s from a very remote town, after all) but overall Sydelle is a strong, likeable character.

The draw to this book for me was the adventure. Above all else, the story is Sydelle’s journey from small town girl, to larger than life, during a crazy adventure across country. Yes, there’s a bit of romance but it’s not the focus of the story. The novel is very plot and character driven and I was sucked right in. The detail given to each place Sydelle and Wayland stopped, and to the people they met, was wonderful. The history and culture that Alexandra Bracken put into her world really brought it to life. It was never an information dump, and there weren’t pages devoted to this new world. Rather, we are given the information to understand as Sydelle thinks it and lives it. It was definitely the right way to go about it.

BRIGHTLY WOVEN weaves a wonderful tale of adventure, magic, friendship and romance with well-written characters fueling the story. show less