Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)

by Susan Dennard

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Truthwitch through BookishFirst in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Truthwitch is the first novel in the Witchlands series. So far there are three books in the series (if you count Bloodwitch, which isn’t out yet) as well as an illustrated novella, Sightwitch (it’s 2.5 in the series, for those that want to read everything in order). Based on the Goodreads listing I’d guess that there are at least two more books intended in the series. This couldn’t make me happier, as even though I’m only one book in I’m not ready to let go of this series just yet.
Truthwitch exists in a world that has magic. It’s not quite like the magic you might be used to seeing in other series, but it is magic regardless. More than that though, everyone (at least the witches) have threads. Those threads show their emotions, their magic, and their ties to other people. There are Threadwitches that can read these threads.
Likewise, because of the ties threads form, you can have family that isn’t biological. The main characters for this novel (Safiyah and Iseult) are threadsisters. There are also threadbrothers and heartthreads. I’m assuming that there’s even more than that, but that’s all I’ve seen so far. The whole idea is rather romantic, and I think that’s why I enjoy the concept so much.



This novel caught me up right from the start. The very first chapter drew me in and held me enchanted right until the last page. I’m really not exaggerating either. I got so cranky every time I was forced to put this book down. It’s comical now, but at the time I wasn’t happy with the interruptions.
I adore both Safi and Iseult. They’re both very different from one another, but they get along so well and work perfectly together. I really do feel like they are the perfect example of threadsisters, which may have been the point. Their dedication to each other is heartwarming, and I look forward to seeing them in future books together (okay, I’m making an assumption there, but I refuse to consider the idea of them not being together).
While the title implies that it’ll be about a truthwitch (Safi), there was still plenty of room left to introduce other characters as well. Iseult is a threadwitch, as mentioned above, but there are also windwitches, bloodwitches, voicewitches, and so so much more. I’m sure I didn’t even see a tenth of the types that exist.
Admittedly Safi probably gets the most attention in the book. She’s also the driving force between some of the main plots and politics going on. Speaking of, I absolutely adore the politics we’ve been shown in this novel. It makes total and complete sense that people would want to get their hands on a truthwitch, and I can so easily see how that would get abused (and likewise how the truthwitch wouldn’t want to get stuck in a life like that).
I was pleasantly surprised by the romantic subplot. Maybe I should have expected one, but it was a nice surprise. It also was not too heavy handed either, and I liked the implications about their threads and everything tied in there (I’m trying to be a bit vague here for sake of spoilers).
I can’t wait to get started on the next book in the series, Windwitch. I already have a strong suspicion of who that book will be predominantly focused on, and I honestly can’t wait to see what will happen.


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