My Rating: 3 StarsDescription: Selling stories is a deadly business
Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.
During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.
My Thoughts: I kind of hate being one of the first to review this story and not give it a four or higher rating. With so many readers and reviewers stating that they adored this book, I entered in expecting to be swept away in a magical narrative that made me forget my own time and place. However, while I was entertained, I was not captivated the way many others were.
The story follows Tanwen, a girl who is able to weave and solidify story, which is a beautiful concept full of vivid imagery. Every story strand is different, some coarse and others fine, vibrant or nearly invisible. And hers is the only art which follows this form, as there are also singers and colormasters (painters) who can weave colors into their art and make ideas come to life— sometimes in actuality.
However, this magic system (as well as a diverse cast) were all that I could really see which set this story apart. Once again, there is a girl who grows up as a peasant orphan, seeking more than she has, who only learns once the story picks up that she is actually the child of someone important. Through deliberate withholding of information by nearly everyone around her, it is not until close to the end of this tale that Tanwen learns anything about who she is. And a kind-of-sort-of love triangle only confuses her more throughout.
I still enjoyed the story. There were some creative and unique lines, an amazing magic system, and a little bit of a mystery which Tanwen is able to solve. Yet I am not a fan of stories where the conflict and tension is driven, or at least instigated, by the unnecessary withholding of necessary information. There were a few other things which bothered me, such as the ridiculous renaming of very real animals, but suffice it to say that this story was good... but not great.
I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy through JustRead tours.
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