Grade: C+

Callie Bates takes on a huge dramatic undertaking in her fantasy debut which centers around an assassination, a kingdom in turmoil, and the one person who is at the center of it all. Heavily character driven, Bates creates a layered and politically motivated world that revolves primarily around Lady Elanna Valtai. Taken from her family as a child, she was raised by King Erylais after her father failed to overthrow him. When the king is assassinated in another revolution, she is branded a murderer and runs only to discover her life with the king has been a lie and her fate lies with uniting a land that she has little loyalty or love for.

Waking the Land is an ambitious story coming in at over 400 pages and moving at whiplash speed with plenty of action and suspense though a large number of characters and subplots is a bit daunting. A large portion of the story watches Elanna attempt to work through her anger over what she views as her family’s abandonment after being kidnapped. Taught to hate her homeland and the magic it contains, Elanna also struggles with her own abilities which have begun to manifest themselves. A strong protagonist, Elanna has her less than stellar moments but shows growth and maturity as she plots, plans, and manipulated with the best of them. With two men at her side, there is a mild love triangle but nothing dramatic or even noteworthy in my opinion. The story ends on an interesting note, leaving readers to wonder what direction Bates will choose in book two of this trilogy.

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

2.5 stars

I was nervous about starting this book because I really wanted to like it, but I wasn't sure I was going to. I started off AMAZING! I was hooked and I was so into it, kept thinking "Why did I wait to start this one?!" only to end the book going "....really?" So, I have mixed feelings.

I absolutely LOVED the beginning the story to about....50% and then my love started waning. Why? A few reasons:
1. Elanna who knows nothing about directing a war or about her home country ACTS LIKE SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING. Then continues to contradict herself until we have to guess that she has finally made up her mind. The flip-flopping I kinda understood because she feels conflicted by how she was raised and what she thinks she knows, but over 50% into the book we still deal with this.

2.The pacing!! When I started the book as far as I knew it was a standalone--which I was excited for (still seems to be a standalone), but everything was taking so long or events kept popping up, that I had no idea how the rebels would win or how the book would end.... I swear to you, it was one of the quickest endings <i>ever</i>. One jump to the end and a bit anti-climatic for my tastes.

3. ....insta-love/ almost love triangle. *sigh* I like Jahan, he was one of my favorite characters, but that instant attraction kinda put a damper on my spirits :( It made me dislike Elanna's choices more and feel bitter for Finn, who I also liked and wanted more from.

4. There are a few events in the story that really irked me and I can't get over them.

<b> This isn't a horrible book though, there are some great aspects to it</b>.

I loved Elanna's magic and how deep it went, although I'm still confused about it a little, as well as magic in general like Jahan's magic.

The world-building is pretty good in some parts and it really brings you in. Honestly, I thought most of the writing was well done and the plot seemed thought out.

The adventure is interesting and there are exciting events to keep the reader entertained. A few plot twists which changed the story unexpectedly (until they ruined the plot twist?)

In the end, it is a decent book, one I might recommend others to try out, so I could see what they think. If this is more than a standalone, I probably won't read the rest of the series, but if this author comes out with a different book or series, I would be happy to try their work again. :)

It's hard to invoke memories of famous books like Lord of the Rings without making it feel like you ripped something off. But Bates does it flawlessly. The mountain people and Helm's Deep, the army of the ancestors... It was a joy to see that LotR had been an influence on Bates' writing, and that I wasn't likely the only one to see that! Just enough similarity to call on a memory, and different enough to feel like an entirely different concept. The plot isn't anything new, but it didn't need to be. The characters were fantastic and well-thought-out. With that, enough guesswork to make the specifics of the ending uncertain, and just the right amount of heartbreak, this was well worth the read. 4 stars.

An enjoyable YA fiction with a mix of romance and adventure. The unique world is richly detailed and the characters are deep and relatable.

he Waking Land by Callie Bates
Level of Romance: Medium

The Waking Land by Callie Bates (Amazon | B&N | Kobo) is a debut fantasy novel which examines Stockholm syndrome, family ties and the ties which bind us to the land we live in. Lady Elanna Valtai is accused of murdering the king but she didn’t do it. Fleeing from the guard who will arrest and kill her, she discovers a protector and ally in Lord Jahan, a man with strong magic who helps her awaken her own. That is not all he awakens in her, though.

He leans over and kisses his way down my arm, so lightly I just feel the brush of his lips. Then he kisses my aching stomach, my purpling thighs and knees. I dig my hands into his thick, soft hair; tears stand out in my eyes. No one has ever shown me this kind of tenderness. He leans back up, hovering over me, and brings his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck.

A tale of rebellion and hope, this fantasy adventure is a green take on Game of Thrones.

It took a little while to get into this book but once I did I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading the next installments in the series. I liked that the story wrapped up nicely but also left room to continue. The world building was a little confusing in the beginning but I understood enough to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this to people who are interested in starting a cool new series

Amazing story. Rich and varied. I loved the Irish feel of the story. Small things broke concentration and that was frustrating in that it pulled me out of the story.

**spoiler**
For example: Lady Elanna falls asleep, naked, in the woods after dancing the night away etc. Yet, when she's abruptly woken by a friend in the morning, she randomly still has a magic stone with her... How and where was she carrying that!?!?

The Waking Land is an interesting story about magic that draws you in. With revolution at hand, there is a lot of political and history in play.

For the most part I really liked Elanna. I thought it was really interesting that she displays signs of Stockholm Syndrome but it makes sense. I liked how at first she is very dedicated to the her kidnappers but then starts to see the truth of the situation. You don’t see this explored that often. Most of the time the heroine stands her ground and wants to escape. Elanna actually has affection for the King because he has taken care of her all this time. She doesn’t see herself as a political prisoner.

About 70% of the way I got really really frustrated with Elanna. I didn’t understand the, we need these people to help us, the only way they will help us is if I talk to them….I’ll just stay right here because that’s the right choice. What?? What?? It’s really only that chunk of the book that she irritated me.

Victoire is a character that I wish there was more of. She’s a great friend and strong female. I would loved to have had along for more of the story.

I really enjoyed the magic and that it has a great connection to the land. The wedding the land part was a little interesting. I wasn’t sure what I thought about how she has to wake the land. I also felt like every time they talked about it, it just seemed strange. I did like the idea of the land being a part of her and needing it as much as you need lungs to breathe.

I loved Jahan and the relationship between Elanna and him. I enjoyed their fun and cute exchanges and I liked his character. Although we do learn much about him, I still felt a little more could have been revealed.

I also find politics in Fantasy interesting because despite an author creating their own world. There still has to be rules just like any society. So it’s always interesting to learn about and explore those. I also liked learning about the old ways and how many of the people adapted to their rulers. Old customs become alter versions as they try to blend.

I liked the story, there were some things that I wasn’t completely sure about but overall I did enjoy the characters and plot.

This review will go live on The Library Ladies website on August 4, 2017.

First off, thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for providing me this book through a give away! I also read a portion of it through an e-book ARC provided by NetGalley. You know, cuz I need to be able to read the book at ANY GIVEN MOMENT and thus need copies available in every format.

Anywho! On to the review! Beyond the beautiful cover (yes, I do judge a book by its cover when it suits me, thank you very much), I was instantly intrigued after reading the story synopsis. It sounded like an appealing mix of political intrigue, manners and etiquette, and, of course, magic. And while it was all of those things, there were a few stumbling blocks along the way.

First off, the political intrigue. It became very clear early in the book that the author was drawing inspiration from the Jacobite rebellion between Scotland and England to create the history and heart of the conflict in her story. There's a two countries occupying an island nation, one has been overthrown in recent history, but still hopes to put their own choice leader on the thrown and regain independence for their portion of the country. Obviously, there's much more to it than this, but at its core, it's fairly straightforward. I was very pleased with this portion of the story. It was interesting finding similar threads to real history sprinkled within this fantasy novel, especially when those threads diverged from the path with which we are familiar.

Bates clearly had a lot of world building she was trying to pack in this novel. Beyond these tie-ins to the Jacobite rebellion, there's a complicated history that goes back centuries before it, involving not only these two nations, but another powerful nation who at conquered the entire region at one point. Detailed histories likes this make a story interesting, but they also present a challenge to authors. All too often books end up with large info-dumps presenting all of these details, which no one loves. But here, we saw the opposite side of the coin. I was a good 150 pages into this story and was still trying to work out the timeline of who conquered who when and why. At a certain point, it was so frustrating that I simply gave up trying to understand. I hesitate to recommend more info dumping, but in circumstances like this, it's probably the better option than sprinkling in details throughout a long-ish book where much of the plot revolves around the political implications of this history and readers end up just confused.

I did love the magical set up that was brought into the story. Sure there was the cool magic that Elanna was able to create, but the more interesting part was, again, the detailed framework and history behind her power. Not only are her powers needed for the rebellion, but the symbol that she represents as a corner of the tri-part governing force that traditionally ruled the land.

I had mixed feelings with regards to Elanna herself. Her history (the stolen child of a failed rebel leader being held to keep the other side in check) is one that sets her up to have many conflicting feelings and views of those around her. Things like family, friendship, and even national loyalty are all tied together in knots. She feels abandoned by one family, guilty for developing attachments to her captors, questions everyone's motives around her, questions her own loyalties. Much of this was very interesting and created a rich character arc for her to travel. Unfortunately, all too often she would perform complete 180s on a dime with very little explanation for why she changed her mind. She hates her father! She'll join her father in this rebellion! Also, while it is understandable the stress and frustration that would arise from her situation, at times she read as very unlikable and immature. I never could quite decide how I felt about her. Ultimately, I think I was more invested in the story that she was living than in her as a character on her own.

So there are my thoughts! To be summed up, I was very conflicted with this book. It had true moments of brilliance with a unique and complicated history, both political and magical, and the main character also had flashes of greatness. But I was also all too often confused by the same history and frustrated with Elanna herself. I would still likely recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical "fantasy of manners" type books based on its strengths.

I very much enjoyed Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. When I read that this story should appeal to those who liked Novik, I knew I had to read it.
I was not disappointed,
Solid world building with a wide assortment of characters, good and bad, and ambiguous.
It held my interest, especially as the ending was coming.
My only comment is that the end seemed a bit rushed after so much work had gone into the development of the rest of the story.
I can understand a feeling of rushing down a steep hill as the final scenes take place, but some of the depth seemed lacking.
None the less, this is a great read.
Will there be more?

I liked this book, it is a fantasy that incorporates ecology and various kingdoms with different views about magic. Elanna was captured as a young girl and raised by the king as his daughter. When he is murdered she is accused of the crime and escapes to her own kingdom. When wars erupt she uses her power to call forth the land to help. I found myself skimming as I got further into the story, it wasn't holding my interest as well.

When I first read the summary, I was incredibly excited to read this book. I couldn't believe my luck when I managed to snag an ARC at Yall West this year. After the first few chapters, I was sold. I was hooked on the beautiful writing, the promise of intricate world-building, and the premise for the story. Then I kept reading and the book stagnated due to pacing. The middle section was a bit of a mess and the ending was "blink and you missed it" fast. That being said, I think that Callie Bates is an incredibly talented writer and has written a very unique debut novel. I will definitely be continuing with this series, although I do hope future installments are a bit better.

Elanna, the main character, was a thoroughly unsympathetic individual. I could understand some of her feelings at first but her internal monologue was so wishy-washy, I found it difficult to connect with her. I do understand that the author was attempting to portray Stockholm syndrome but, while Elanna's thoughts may have been consistent with that idea, her actions weren't. I also felt as if she were willfully ignorant of politics and made some decisions out of spite rather than common sense. Additionally, the love interest just did not click for me at all. It was insta-love and was never explored in-depth. Plus the whole wed to the land scene was a little weird (it could have used a lot more explanation and less romantic intimacy). Had the other secondary characters been better, I might have forgiven the poor romance storyline. However, I frequently got them confused and very few of their roles were clearly laid out or well-explained. The villains were pretty much one-dimensional, which was a shame. Overall, the characters themselves were definitely the weakest link.

While there are negatives to this book, there were also many things that were done well. The world-building and concept were so unique and I liked the magic system. The writing was beautifully done in parts and it was a very easy book to read. Some parts of the book were so well-written that the world came alive for me. The plot had the potential to be amazing and, had there been better characters and not so much of a focus on Elanna's inner dialogue, I think it would have lived up to that promise. The pacing was a little off but I think that was due to the fact that the author explained what Elanna was thinking at each step, elongating parts that otherwise would have been quite brief.

I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone but if you're looking for a unique fantasy novel with political intrigue and an interesting plot, consider checking this one out. This book wasn't perfect but it was still an enjoyable read. I do plan on continuing with the series.

I couldn't get a hold of this book fast enough after reading the synopsis and perhaps that was a bit too much excitement because I ultimately found it to be a a less than average read.

The Waking Land follows in the steps of the epic fantasies before it, but with a young adult twist (and the cliches that come with it). I enjoyed a step back into the familiar territory of fictional worlds steeped in magic and rich histories. But all of these features are barely mentioned. Like I knew they existed but the world wasn't explained enough to really give it the depth that it could have had. 

I started out liking Elanna as a protagonist. Then she got on my nerves. Back and forth, she was quite indecisive to the point that it was annoying. I began losing interest in her successes and failures. Her attitude sucked and made me dislike her even more. And I'm not even going to mention the romance because I didn't find it worthwhile. Insta-love and all that business. 

As I said, the book isn't stellar, and a lot of that comes from the plot. It moved a bit too sluggishly for my tastes and was fairly predictable at that. I don't usually mind predictability in fantasy if the characters are interesting but, as I mentioned, I wasn't a fan of the protagonist.

Now granted, I finished the book. It wasn't the worst thing I've read and honestly there was potential in the story but it was a bit too messy, a bit too cliched, for me to really enjoy it and rate it higher. At the end of the day, I didn't even have enough to say about it for a full review. I don't see myself reading further in the series down the road, but may give the author's future work a chance.

I honestly was going to give it a 1 star rating and then thought that even though the book was entirely not for me, it at least was written well for what it was. Hence, the 2 star rating. This book unfortunately put me into a huge reading slump. If I didn't receive this book for a review, there's no way I would have finished it and I hardly ever leave books unfinished. The first quarter of the book felt entirely like a history lesson except more boring because they were all names and places I've never heard of. The last 75% of the book felt like a non-stop battle. It was constant scheming and talk about strategy and extreme detail about battle. If that's not your thing, Don't read this book. The main character goes back and forth so much with her views I feel like my head is going to fall off. The "plot twists" if you want to call them that did not catch me off guard. Maybe that's because ultimately I didn't' care about any of the characters. It felt like too many people went back and forth between being allies and traitors then allies...I just stopped caring. Especially since most of what you learn about characters are from a tactical and political standpoint and nothing really about them personally. The magic in this book...could have been good but I feel like the explanation was drawn out and... well, boring. The magic was confusing even to the characters themselves at first. I like magic in books to have fake science in it that at least gets explained even if it's not technically possible in real life, it doesn't seem so far off. I did not feel like the magic in this was like that at all. The character seems to understand the magic in the end but it was not explained in a satisfying way to the reader. Plus, I feel like the author just drew on the main character's magic too much where it just got boring. Like, I get it, I know what she can do. What happens next? Don't even get me started on the love aspect in this book. Who Elanna marries? Just....No. As I've said, I would have given this a 1 star if it wasn't written well for what it was. Several times throughout this book I just did not want to pick it up again and just wished for it to end. Never a good feeling for a 400 page book.

First of all, The Waking Land by Callie Bates has one of my favorite covers EVER. I'm a vintage romantic, and the green scene within the silhouette reminds me of vintage wallpaper and I. AM. OBSESSED. Seriously such a pretty cover that actually seems to fit the book. I haven't seen it in real life yet, but I want it on my bookshelf – just so I can stare at it.

This book has some interesting magic and I'm really intrigued by it. I loved the magic coming from the land and actually wielding the land as a weapon was cool too. I really wanted to see more of her experimenting with her magic and actually seeing what she could do. I'm one of those readers that isn't really into battle scenes.... so once the book started getting battle heavy, I started to get bored. But again, I think that was more about my taste than anything to do with the writing.

I think the book did get a bit bogged down with kingdoms, names and politics that didn't have much bearing on the book. I wanted more to do with her magic, and Jahan... and less to do with the other stuff. Especially the other kingdoms that we never actually see during the course of the book. That being said, I would completely be in for another book. It seemed to get set up well for a sequel/series and I will be reading it if it does.

This was a masterpiece. Going into it I wasn't quite sure what to think, but the history and world building just brings its to life. As the battle rages for who will take control and what powers will be revealed, this book will keep you on your toes! I couldn't put it down. What an amazing book and I'm hoping there's another after this!

I love the story, I could not put it down! The characters pull you in into their story!

I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this - the author brought an interesting twist to the "brave girl leads revolution" story by adding what I think is a more believable story arc - she is hugely conflicted, after being essentially a hostage most of her life. But, a hostage who's treated much like a beloved member of the family - so she has bought into the narrative told her there. When circumstances force her into a situation opposing that ruling family, she doesn't immediately buy into the change. Stockholm syndrome - but, to me, that felt real - having been treated pretty well since she was 5 years old, it would seem normal that she wouldn't just flip a switch and change all her long-held beliefs.

Unlike many fantasy books, there was - gasp - more than one strong female character, and they were much more developed than is often the case. I have read that this is planned to be the first in a trilogy and I'll definitely get the next book if/when it comes out - it will be fascinating to see where the author goes with these characters and how they develop.