I really wanted to read this book as I enjoyed the Twisted Tree books so much. However, the book I won from Readers First never arrived, and so I ended up buying it for myself. It was well worth the price.
Waking The Witch by Rachel Burge is a thrilling YA fantasy steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.
The book follows 17-year-old Ivy for whom life is finally looking pretty good. She now has her ideal job, working among butterflies and sharing her love and knowledge of the fascinating creatures with the public. Not only that, but after years of searching for her mother who abandoned her at birth, Ivy has finally tracked her down living on a remote Welsh island.
Her mother warns her not to visit, but Ivy ignores her and in doing do uncovers a dark secret about her past. An ancient evil power begins to stalk Ivy, and she has to dig deep within herself and to her roots in order to survive.
I really like Ivy as the lead character. She was very well written and I think readers will relate to some of her life such as dealing with a horrible boss and her growing friendship with Tom. As she enters the new chapter of her life and finally begins to feel as though she belongs somewhere, again readers might be able to empathise. While I doubt many (any?) will bond with a group of witches, there are many other ways in which we can feel welcomed and part of a new family.
The island setting really adds to the mystical atmosphere of the book. Burge’s effective descriptions brings such sinister suspense to the book I was on the edge of my seat many times, holding my breath to see what happened next.
Overall a brilliant book about a young woman learning her true self intertwined with myth, legend and folklore.
Waking The Witch by Rachel Burge is a thrilling YA fantasy steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.
The book follows 17-year-old Ivy for whom life is finally looking pretty good. She now has her ideal job, working among butterflies and sharing her love and knowledge of the fascinating creatures with the public. Not only that, but after years of searching for her mother who abandoned her at birth, Ivy has finally tracked her down living on a remote Welsh island.
Her mother warns her not to visit, but Ivy ignores her and in doing do uncovers a dark secret about her past. An ancient evil power begins to stalk Ivy, and she has to dig deep within herself and to her roots in order to survive.
I really like Ivy as the lead character. She was very well written and I think readers will relate to some of her life such as dealing with a horrible boss and her growing friendship with Tom. As she enters the new chapter of her life and finally begins to feel as though she belongs somewhere, again readers might be able to empathise. While I doubt many (any?) will bond with a group of witches, there are many other ways in which we can feel welcomed and part of a new family.
The island setting really adds to the mystical atmosphere of the book. Burge’s effective descriptions brings such sinister suspense to the book I was on the edge of my seat many times, holding my breath to see what happened next.
Overall a brilliant book about a young woman learning her true self intertwined with myth, legend and folklore.