The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet

The Unwilling (Barrier Lands, #1)

by Kelly Braffet

Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Robin Hobb and George R.R. Martin

She has no name and no history, but she has a power greater than the Empire has ever known.

Thanks to her special gift Judah has enjoyed a privileged life, being raised alongside Gavin, the son and heir to Lord Elban's vast empire. But as they grow Judah comes to realise that while Gavin is being groomed for his future role, she has no true position, and no hope of ever travelling beyond the castle walls. Lord Elban has plans for Judah - for all of them - but to him, she's nothing but a pawn. And he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

But he's not the only one with plans. Outside the castle wall - in the starving, desperate city - is a healer with his own secret power and his own plans for the empire . . . and Judah.

The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon uncover more to her story than she ever imagined.

An epic tale of greed and ambition, cruelty and love, this deeply immersive novel is about bowing to traditions and burning them down. ___________

What people are saying about The Unwilling:

'Fantasy at its most sublime' ERIN MORGENSTERN

'An epic fantasy novel with ingenious, thrilling twists and turns' KELLY LINK

'Brilliantly executed. The Unwilling is about sharing joy, and sensing fear and cruelty, and caring beyond ourselves' VANITY FAIR

'Suspenseful: magical, wonderfully written and never predictable . . . An essential addition to the all epic fantasy collections' BOOKLIST

Reviewed by tweetybugshouse on

4 of 5 stars

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Four children two born to rule, one sold off to the highest bidder, and one bound forever to feel and endure what the other does and vice versa. Judah is bound to Gavin by an unquestionable bound that allows them to feel each other's emotions and pain. If Gavin goes on a drunken bender then Judah will also suffer the hangover. In the first part of the book we learn all about how the might Lord Elban had tested to see just how far this curious bond went. I almost stopped reading why would i want to read a story about someone who has to suffer so much abuse by those who have taken her in.
I continued on all the way to end cause eventually i had to know how things were not only going to play out for Judah and Gavin but for the others as well. Gavin is the eldest and at several moments in the first part of the book he is meant to kill his brother. Seconds sons command the armies. Though Theron is in now way suited to this task. He has a brilliant mind and i loved how even as things grew worse for him he still tried to communicate some of that brilliance. Gavin is bound to Judah and eventually they become so entangled that his farther constantly makes threats to end on or both there lives. Then we come to poor Eleanor who has been sold to marry Gavin and at one time Lord Elban.
This story weaves the tale of these four as they strive to survive and understand what the bond means. Their two story lines inter woven you have the political one of Lord Elban and him maintains a hold on his city and what transpires once he looses it. You also have the story of Judah and the magus Nate and what his mission is in regards to undoing the bond between Gavin and Judah.
This is a very long tale and i not sure i totally happy with the ending nor am sure I understand what exactly happened. It a different tale and i think it worth a read but maybe a second read or a third to really get all the details that are interwoven.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 February, 2020: Finished reading
  • 7 February, 2020: Reviewed