The Waking Land (The Waking Land, #1)

by Callie Bates

'Jump on the wagon now, because I think Bates is an author well worth watching' Robin Hobb

It's been fourteen years, since King Antoine took Elanna hostage. Fourteen years since her father's rebellion failed. Fourteen years spent being raised by the man who condemned her people to misery. A man she's come to love as a father.

Now 20, Elanna is about to be taken prisoner once again... but this time by her father's mysterious righthand man.

Her father wants to reignite his rebellion, this time using Elanna as figurehead. He will tell his followers she is the legendary Wildegarde reborn, a sorceress who could make the very earth tremble.

But what no one knows is that magic really does flow through Elanna's veins. Now she must decide which side she's on, and whether she'll use her powers for mercy... or revenge.

A bold and gorgeous fantasy featuring a brilliant heroine on the cusp of womanhood, The Waking Land is the first of a trilogy that will delight fans of The Red Queen, Six of Crows, and Court of Thorns and Roses.

~*~*~Wildegarde came bearing a flame in her heart and her hair crowned with the pale light of stars. Where she placed her feet, the earth trembled. Where she raised her hand, mountains moved.~*~*~

• ISBN10: 1473638720
• ISBN13: 9781473638723
• Publish Date: 29 June 2017 (first published 27 June 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

There was a lot more than the land waking in this tale. This was a story of a young woman awakening from years of imprisonment to realize that she had been peddled lies, and that she had a legacy which she needed to fully embrace.

This book was not perfect, but I liked a lot of things about it.

The earth magic - I found Elanna's link to the land quite interesting and Bates' descriptions had me fully enthralled. I still have some questions regarding this magic, Jahan's as well, and I hope to learn more in the next installment.

The history and the old ways were also very intriguing. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Alanna's power and the history of the Caveadear and the kingdoms. I hope more will be revealed in subsequent books to fill in those gaps regarding the Caerisian people.

Elanna's squad was filled with many complex and appealing characters. The females were all quite empowered, and definitely played a huge role in her growth over the course of the story. But there was so much more to this group of people brought together by a revolt. I loved their dynamic and found the bond that grew between them quite special.

I always love the romance in a book, so it was no surprise to me that I loved Elanna and Jahan so much. The push and pull as they tried to resist each other, and the way Elanna struggles with her obligation to Caeris and the wants of her heart. I was totally on board this ship.

Elanna was a characters with quite a few flaws. At 19, everything she believed had been shattered. She was then asked to put her life on the line to protect people she believed betrayed her many years ago. She did make some poor choices and some mistakes, but these were the missteps that shaped her and helped her grown into the woman and leader that was needed for this revolution.

Overall: a good beginning to a promising series.

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[chymerra]

The Waking Land is one of those books that pull you in from the explosive first page and will not let you up for air until the intense end. A book with vivid writing, memorable characters and a storyline that will stir your imagination.


I was very impressed with the world building that this author did. It was fantastic and it definitely brought more to the story. In any other book, it might have come across as heavy but in The Waking Land, it worked. The author took her time with the back story, which honestly, a lot of authors don’t do. She took the time to explain the history of Elanna’s people and the people who raised her. She also took the time to explain, but not in-depth, how the countries across the ocean operated. Everything was explained and had a back story, which again might but some people off but I loved it. I need to know everything about everyone in a book and when stuff is left unexplained, it turns me off the book.

The character building in this book was just as good as the world building. Every character was like an onion (and yes, I know I have used this term before) and when one layer came off, another was revealed. Again, like I said above, a flushed out, relatable character is what makes the book. Personally, if I read a book where the character is one-dimensional and lacks in personality, then I will not give that book a high rating. Even if the storyline is great. Because the characters make the book and I won’t be lying when I say that these characters absolutely make the book.

Elanna was such a complex character. She had been taken from her parents by the king and was held hostage to make sure her father and his cohorts would not attempt another attempt to overthrow the throne. So, it was believable that she became completely loyal to the king in the 14 years that she had been away from her parents. Completely believable because she was indoctrinated against the country that she came from. Which was sad, considering what she was to that country. She was totally against them, thanks to being told that they were beneath her for years. But, I liked reading her gradual change of heart towards her countrymen. Starting with being helped by Hugh, Finn, and Alistair while on the run, her change of heart was gradual but after events that had her mother imprisoned and herself scheduled for death, it was complete.

The magic she wielded was insanely powerful. I really didn’t understand how powerful until the end of the book. To be perfectly honest, I really thought that she would be more of a figurehead in the revolution than to actually wield powerful magic and basically win the war against Loyce. So seeing Elanna wield her magic after awakening it was powerful.

The relationship between Jahan and Elanna did keep me guessing for a bit. I couldn’t tell if he was into her or if he was using her to get information. It really bugged me too because they were so similar. He was a sorcerer and she had magic that I can’t even begin to explain.

Elanna’s relationship with her parents was very complex and I can’t even begin to describe it. All I can say is that relationship is the catalyst for the last half of the book. You have to read the book to actually find out how complex it is.

The end of the book was great. All of the storylines were wrapped up but I did detect an opening for a 2nd book? I do hope that there is a 2nd book. There are some questions about the kingdoms over the sea that I would like answered.

How many stars will I give The Waking Land: 4

Why: Awesome storyline with great characters.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen

Why: Sex and violence

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

[Beth C.]

Ripped from her family at gunpoint at the age of five, Lady Elanna has been raised by the king who took her. She has been treated more or less as a daughter, and she has no desire to remember the parents who let her go or the homeland she came from—nor the mysterious power she has always had. When the king dies, seemingly murdered by the very plant Elanna has been studying, she is accused of regicide—and so she flees…ending up for the first time back in the homeland from which she was taken. As her power grows, so do the threats against her, and Elanna finds herself the figurehead of a rebellion against the only place she has ever called home.

The Waking Land has a distinct Celtic feel to it, from the people all the way to the lands they call home. Even some of the language rings as though it may have come from Eire herself. However, the world within the book is a creation of Bates’, and she did a wonderful job evoking the lush feel of the forests, as well as the sometimes stifling feel of a city. The descriptions of the various settings within the story are so vivid that picturing them, and feeling the emotions tied to them, comes easy. Standing stones are a very important piece of the puzzle in this land, and Bates managed to create a plausible reason for them, within the magic structure she wrote. They are not just stones, but they are alive—and they guard those who live within the land.

The characters are just as well written, their lives flowing off of the page like the magic that Elanna has. While she may be the main character, she truly is surrounded by a cast of characters who all help the story come to life, from the King, all the way down to the stableboy who finds himself in over his head. However, it is Elanna who truly carries the book. She is strong, determined, and absolutely refuses to let the circumstances of her life dictate who she must become. She makes her choices, and is prepared to stand by them. Elanna also does a lot of growing up in the book—from a girl who grew up in court, to a girl in charge of a rebellion—and she truly figures out who (and what) she is.

Overall, I simply enjoyed The Waking Land far more than I anticipated. It’s a coming-of-age novel, though done far better than so many others. The writing is beautiful, and the story is one I keep coming back to in my head. While it is a stand-alone novel (from what I have been able to determine), I would be thrilled if Bates wrote another book set within these magical lands—and even more so if she wrote a sequel. As this is also her debut novel, I look forward to following her work in the future!