Truthwitch

Publisher's Summary

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a "witchery", a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble - as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It's a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially among the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her - but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi's hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship's captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

©2016 Susan Dennard (P)2016 Listening Library

Amazing story, not my favorite voice acting

I loved the story, but the voice actor's accents weren't my favorite. It felt like an awkward combination of middle eastern and Russian. It also bugged me that the narrator's voice is so "normal" sounding compared to everyone else's accents. I wish she either always had the accent or never did. The flip flipping was a little distracting.

As for the story itself, it was wonderfully written and draws you in. It drops you into the world and you learn more as the story develops. I can't wait to learn more about the magic of the world and to meet other types of witches. I literally just finished that book and I'm itching for more. I need it! This will definitely be a read again for me, but maybe with a physical copy. I think I'll enjoy it more that way.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

A great book.

Although I read some comments saying that the book was jumbled and didn't offer at least a chapter of back story to explain the world. If you're smarter than these people and don't wish to have the entire plot and background thrown at you in the first two chapters, then you'll like this book because it does a great job at leading you into the world and explaining it's self throughout the book in a way that keeps it entertaining. I'm definitely going to get the new book when it comes out. Also if you don't like fantasy YA novels then I don't recommend reading this, but if you are into it or want to try it out, then this isn't a bad place to start but I'd recommend the 'Throne of Glass' series.

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Narrotator Gives all Characters the Same Accent and Voice

If all the characters have the same accent, that's cool, but I cannot discern who is who based on the narrators performance. It's a shame ... seems like it would be a great story. I just wish the narrator would give characters a MUCH better definition ... like changing her voice a lot more ... I've heard it done by others. Seems pretty routine.... totally ruined the book for me.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Story is clearly a vehicle for characters

...but it's still enjoyable. Parts of the plot that a lot hinge on are either confusing or seem unsuitably minor for their central roles, but it's still a decent read. The narrator and her bizarre accents are hit-or-miss for me. I wish she had done the whole production without them, but they weren't un-listenable. I would recommend you listen to this, but don't expect too much.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great story!

Couldnt stop listening. Enjoyed the story. didnt like the fake accent and isolde & sophie ran together during storytelling. too little distinction from character in voices.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good series

This is an exciting new series. I had to read/listen to the first few chapters over to get an understanding to the magic of the characters. Many people are fine with learning a new world as it unfolds. For me it leaves to many questions. I still do not know what the cleaved are and how that happens.

In spite of that, it became an engrossing story that had action, characters, and story line that kept my interest. It is a cliff hanger, which I don’t like. This is a world that is on the verge of a catastrophic world that involves two girls who are thrown into a prophecy.

They deny and deny they are the ones in the prophecy. They are both furious at the seemly betrayal of the people they love. Of course, much of the conflict centers around them not doing the things they are told so they stumble into situations, which presents the conflicts.
Their magic is not outstanding where it gets them out of situations. It is their outstanding fighting ability that saves their lives. I would not have normally read this book because it is for young teens. Since the second book is not rated as a teen and they both received excellent reviews, I took the chance and I am glad I did.

Cassandra Campbell is one of my favorite narrators and her voice was a factor in me staying with the story.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Pleasantly Surprised

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is entertaining with a great cast of characters and especially kick ass females.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Truthwitch?

The author does a great job weaving together a story from various points of view. Information from one character may not seem important at the time, but further down the road you realize that it means everything. It was great waiting fora ll the puzzle pieces to fall into place.

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Campbell – was your favorite?

Isolde was my favorite character. She has the most potential for a complex development. She doesn't know who she is exactly or to what extent her powers can go. She has a road of discovery ahead of her in the next book.

Any additional comments?

The Assassin's Creed-esque picture made me hesitant and think that this book would be a caricature of the series. I have never been happier to be wrong. I was very pleased with the book from start to finish. It is well paced, entertaining, and, most importantly, it answers only one portion of the big mystery so that I am curious enough to continue with the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Well Worth a Read/Listen

Wonderful story telling, satisfying world building, intriguing characters, and excellent narration. I enjoyed every moment of Truthwitch and cannot wait for Windwitch.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

totally worth it!

I've listened to this twice now. it was amazing both times! even the narration is one of the better I've heard.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fast-Paced

I ended up really liking this book. Other reviewers are right that it is a little hard to follow at first. I feel as though there needed to be more backstory. Because of this, I almost lost interest. There are a bunch of things I don't understand and things that could have been described better. I don't understand thread stones/ thread sisters, or heart threads at all. What do these look like, what makes someone thread family or a heart thread? I don't get that. I'm hoping as the books go on there will be more/ better world building.

When I was about to give up on this book it started getting interesting. I slightly began to catch on to little things here and there. My favorite part about this book is how fast-paced it is. There are no long drawn out chapters explaining boring pointless details, each event comes right after the other. No matter where you are in the book there is always something interesting building or going on. No lulls in the plot whatsoever. I feel like this book could have been 10 chapters longer and it still would have been just as good.

Cassandra Campbell did a wonderful job narrating. Other reviewers said they couldn't understand the thick accents she did, but I disagree. I thought it was beautifully done and not annoying like some readers make Russian accents sound.

Love the characters and can't wait for the next one!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great

Really engaging story, fantastic narration. hope there's a sequel /more by this author /narrator :)

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

weird female voices

I really enjoyed the book story not exactly what you'd expect so was pleased with that. I really like the softness of the narrators voice but it took a while to enjoy her female voices but it's worth it to keep going as you do slowly get used to it.
I hope the next book is out soon 😊

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Unuputdownable!

This book was so good I was unable to stop listening and it therefore caused me a sleepless night as I just had to keep listening until I heard it all the way through in one sitting! It has a gripping storyline and the characters are well drawn, the narration is well done and on the whole I cannot find a single fault!
I am desperate to know what happens next in the lives of the characters as they have become 'real' to me and I feel as interested in them as I am in my neighbours. What a fantastic author!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good story but quite complex for an audiobook

I liked the story but as an audio book I found it quite a complex story line that might have been better as a written book. I was a bit dissapointed that the book didn't have more of a proper ending but it's obviously written to be one of a series. I found it odd that all the characters had a weird type of Russian accent and sometimes it was hard to know which character was speaking or thinking each time. It takes a while to get used to the book jumping between characters all the time but you get used to it eventually. I would listen to the next one but I need something a bit lighter first!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not good

Cannot get into this story. It starts as if you missed chapter one and over explanation of unimportant things. Narator is not too bad.

Not much of a story

Mostly wierd words and inner monologs about feelings and impressions about one or another character. twelve hours in and I barely know what the story is about, but I know exactly what each character think of each other...

not bad

this was a slow start. but ended well. left me wanting to pick up book 2. so not bad.

awful voice

hate when the reader has such a dissapointing voice totally ruins the whole experience and you can become involved with the story.
sge souds almost.Like a machiene, no hate to her personally of course
but i cant listen to this at all

Humour is lost

This book could've had good characters with funny lines, but the narrator had no comedic timing.
This didn't read as anything overly original to me, but it was nice that it put importance into friendship as well as romance.