The Waking Land

The Waking Land had potential to be a captivating novel, and though I did enjoy reading parts of it, my interest waned in the last quarter. Despite a strong opening, I had some difficulty getting into it due to being written in first person present tense, but I did find Elanna's internal war with herself added some interesting dimension to the protagonist and mainly kept reading because of that.

However, it was a fairly standard, predictable story in the end, and I did not find the prose, characters, and world compelling enough to make it a memorable novel.

My Rating: 5/10 - It's ok

Full Review on My Website

Elanna was taken from her family when she was a small child. She has grown up as the king's ward. He is like a father to her. When the king is murdered, she is the one accused. She must flee or die. She must go home to the family she hasn't seen in years. She must learn to use magic forbidden by the king. She must free her homeland. I liked this book, some of the characters, and the magic. It was just a bit slow in spots. I received a copy from Net Galley.

Meh...I really wanted to love this book. I was fascinated by the concept of the female protagonist being connected to the land but was disappointed in the story overall. The characters were not fleshed out and the story, even though it moved quickly, didn't really capture my interest. 2.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital advance review copy of this book.

The Waking Land follows Elanna Valtai, a young woman who has grown up as a hostage in a foreign court since the age of 5. She is now 19, and as that court destabilizes she finds herself adrift and on her way back to the homeland she barely remembers. She must embrace the powers she has suppressed most of her life and decide who she truly is if she is to have any hope of saving the lands and people she holds dear. This book is a refreshing fantasy perfect for the often neglected late teens/early twenties age group, and anyone who enjoys strong female characters. The world-building draws heavily on existing cultures (Scottish/Celtic, French, Greek), but that makes it relatable. All in all, an enjoyable read.