Torn is the first book in a series. It follows a commoner seamstress, Sophie, who gets most of her work from the nobility. Sophie is also a charm creator. She enchants her clothing items with charms, such as luck, love, etc. Her brother, Kristos, is a laborer and is unhappy with the nobles. He feels as though the nobles take advantage of the lower class and wants to fight back. So he helps create a laborer union called the Red Caps. Sophie doesn't want any part of it. Her business depends on the nobles. Kristos gets kidnapped and Sophie has a choice to make. Does she side with the laborers and curse the king to save her brother or does she side with her business?

I really enjoyed the idea of being able to embroider charms into clothing. I was disappointed in the book though. It was mostly about politics. The magic is an afterthought. This was the authors intent though. I would have liked more magic and less politics. Overall, the book was good. I liked the strong female leads. It was well written. Just not my cup of tea.

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
DNF @ 24%

I was so excited for this one. Magic, political intrigue, rebellion/revolution... I was so ready, but this book just didn't hit me right.

It was a bit slow for my preferences. I tend to like a faster pace, so this is something some people won't mind. Definitely a slow build. By 24% the potential romance is hinted at (this is kinda liked--it isn't over the top, subtle), but the bad guy isn't even in the picture. Sure, there is conflict: potential revolution on the horizon and the MC doesn't want anything to do with it, since she will probably lose her job, but we still have no idea what the book is truly moving towards.
At this point, I looked at other reviews -- many super positive, but I learned more about the villain and I wasn't impressed, I'm assuming things do not pick up, so no thanks.

The magic is somewhat interesting. The main character doesn't know much about it, no one is formally taught it, so we the readers do not know much about it either. Learning about the magic would be interesting, I'm sure, but at this point I'm not even sure if it would be a major part of the story, which is a bummer.

I also wasn't able to connect to the characters, the biggest killer for me. I can't explain why I wasn't interested in them :/ I'm assuming others will be able to and it seems to be written well, so I'm sure this is a book many will enjoy.

When I first started reading this book I thought it was another epic fantasy story wherein the heroic working poor rise up against the oppressive nobility. The classic freedom fight. A story I have read a number of times, yet the magic system sounded cool so I thought to give it a try. I'm SO glad I did.

Yes, it is indeed the story of the poor working class rising up against the oppressive nobility. However, Miller approaches this classic story arc with a unique magic system, compelling characters and a bit of social commentary thrown in for flavour.

I LOVED our main character, Sophie! I liked that she was older (as a woman in my thirties it is refreshing to read fantasy that doesn’t revolve around teenagers). She owns an established business and has ambitions that have nothing to do with the revolution. I also enjoyed that this is a largely female cast. Characters include women from various situations, from lowly apprentices, to wise matrons, to a queen. Women are shown as being intelligent and aware of the situation around them, with their own ideas about what sort of reform is necessary.

It was the magic system that drew me to this book initially. It did not disappoint. Sophie has the ability to sew charms (for good luck, protection, etc) into fabric. It was interesting to see how this ability shapes her relationships with the people around her.

My one major complaint with this book is the love story. I still like the couple! I just think it went too fast. It was not instalove but it was not far off either. Especially given that this is intended to be a series. I thought that Sophie’s willingness to change her goals so suddenly based on romantic love to be out of character.

While this book is high fantasy, it reads more like historical fiction. Torn would be an excellent bridge book for someone new to the genre. In the way of most epic fantasy, this book is slow to get started, time is spent laying the groundwork. That said, I read the last 60% in one sitting. Every time I went to put it down something else would happen!

It ended up not being the book I thought it would be based on the beginning and teaser page. Those implied a more political, feminist fantasy looking at what a worker's revolution in the industrial era left behind (women, immigrants, other underprivileged) and instead it was more straightforward assassination plots and both sides have flaws story, which was still enjoyable, I just couldn't stop comparing it to the book I wanted based on the opening.

The characters are probably the book's strongest point, all well developed and believable, including the villains.

This is a speculative fiction novel written for someone who thinks that they'd never enjoy the genre. The magical element is important but never intrusive, and the writing is simply exemplary. The characters are well-plotted and as real as you or I, and I felt a special kinship with Sophie in that I am also a seamstress!

I loved the revolutionary aspects of the book, especially from the POV of a character that got both sides of said revolution-type thing. And despite Sophie's trepidation on choosing sides, we understood what she had at stake and what would have happened if either side condemned her.

The romantic aspect felt just a smidgen rushed, but I still enjoyed it overall. The relationships in this novel are spectacular, and are the reason that this book is as good as it is; without the real portrayal of sibling relationships, this novel probably wouldn't have made such an impact.

All in all, a stellar read.

3.5 stars

I'm very glad I didn't see the "for fans of The Queen of the Tearling" line in the blurb, because if I had, I'd never have read Torn. I am pleased to say, however, that even if you hated Tearling (like I did), you can still really enjoy Rowenna Miller's debut (also like I did)!

Torn has a very historical fantasy feel to it, which I happened to love. The worldbuilding was strong for me, and I definitely got a strong feel of the politics, culture, art, religion, etc. of this world, even though we only ever spend time in Galitha. The French Revolution vibes are definitely strong with this one, with the rumblings of revolution, but I felt like you could also draw possible connections to the Bolsheviks, as well. All in all, I thought the world was great!

I also really enjoyed the characters, especially Sophie. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed the first-person narration, which usually isn't my cup of tea. But Rowenna Miller gives us an MC who's very unlike most fantasy heroes, in that at heart, she's a traditionalist, someone who doesn't want to rock the boat. She's surrounded by the stirrings of revolution, but she's frightened by what that could mean for her business and the life she's built for her and her brother. As she's slowly dragged deeper into the thick of revolution and resistance, she manages to keep a level head and see the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Which brings me to another element I liked: the theme of Torn was very balanced. At the end of the day, it feels like neither the revolution nor the nobility are truly in the right. While Sophie can see the problems in the political system, she doesn't approve of the radical tactics the revolutionaries are starting to employ. Overall, I found Torn very refreshing in this area, as most fantasy novels are about one extreme or the other: (1) sparking revolution or (2) maintaining the status quo. In contrast, Torn manages to walk the tightrope between the two in a way that feels both more realistic and relatable.

All this positive, so why not a higher rating?

Ultimately, while I enjoyed the characters and especially the theme, I just couldn't get excited about the plot. Torn is a very character-driven novel, and if I were being a little more critical, could be classified as slow-moving. Not a lot actually happens. There are hints that things WILL happen and threats of what people WANT to happen, but actual events? Few and far between. Mostly, the book consists of Sophie sewing, long conversations about politics, and Sophie learning how to cast curses, as well as charms.

Normally, I like my books to move quick. I like action. So the fact that Torn managed to hold my interest despite the lack of action definitely speaks well of the other elements. But in the end, I needed a little bit more excitement and intrigue, rather than waxing poetic about economics, to bump this up to a higher rating.

Still, I'd definitely recommend this book! It's very different than a lot of other fantasy novels, which really made it stand out for me. It features a diverse cast of strong women who are normally forgotten in SFF: those who might not be revolutionaries or princesses, but who still play an important role in history.

*E-galley provided by publisher via NetGalley

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own**

I'm not really sure where to begin with this book. Overall, it was really good. The ideas and the history put into the story were extremely good. It started off a bit slow, so I wasn't sure if I'd actually get through it, but I stuck with it and made it to the end.
The main character was very strong-minded, which created a really strong female lead for this story. The little bit of magic and the romance on the side wrapped together nicely.
The problem I ran into a lot was the constant and repeated political debates, if you will, that constantly occurred throughout the book. I always felt that the characters were constantly repeating themselves, which got a little boring at times.
I'm not hugely disappointed with the book. It was very good, could do a little work on the repetition for sure. I can't wait to see how the series continues!

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

torn (Rowenna Miller)
Title: torn
Author: Rowenna Miller
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publication Date: TODAY!! (Paperback/E-Book)
ISBN: 9780316478628
Source: NetGalley

Upon reading the synopsis, I thought this novel would float me boat. But I just could not finish it and had to abandon ship at 80%. Why ye ask? Well for a myriad of reasons:

- Sophie - She is the main character and at first I really liked her. She was hard-working, dedicated, driven, intelligent, and fun. But basically she is a character who waffles forever, makes the wrong choices every time, is extremely selfish, and doesn't use her brain. People DIE because of her stupidity and yet even that doesn't help her decide. By doing nothing (but lying) she creates a situation that could have been solved in the very beginning just by turning the bad man into the police. I kept waiting for her to fix her own mistakes and instead (at 80%) she FINALLY makes a decision and then runs to a man to whine and ask for help. That was the point where I had to stop reading. Ugh.

- The Magic - Sophie is a seamstress who sews magic into clothing with her stiches. This aspect of the novel was awesome. It just really didn't get used to its potential. I wanted to see more of the magic in action, not just hear about some of the small things it could do as an aside.

- The Love Story - Sigh. Insta-lust turned into love in a couple of weeks. She is a commoner. He is a noble. Star-crossed lovers that ye be supposed to cheer for. But I didn't really.

- The Love Interest - Okay so despite disliking the insta-lust, I did like a couple of things about Sophie's man. He is a botanist and a violinist. He has an eye for artistry. He is strong and intelligent. But oh so naïve. The "commoners live like this?" and "well yes we are so rich but we have responsibilities that are given to us by birth and oh it's so hard" kinda crap. Sophie of course opens his eyes to the common folk problems while he wines, dines, and seduces her with his charm and riches.

- The Brother - Sophie's brother is frankly an ass. Everything she does is because her brother always gets his way and she loves him. Is civil war worth saving yer selfish idealistic stupid brother. Ummm apparently yes. And then the plot twist happens and Sophie sees the truth! Well it was apparent to this pirate Captain from the beginning.

- The Bad Guy - He seemingly wants to bring down society in flames because of revenge. But his sister was spurned! Her reputation was ruined! So isn't it justice? No it's because he doesn't feel important enough and no one realizes his superiority and intelligent. Bah!

- The Hired Help - I actually loved the girls working in the shop with Sophie. But in her selfishness she really treats them like crap and they deserved better. I wanted to see more of the good aspects of the friendships that were hinted at the beginning of the novel.

- The Pacing - It took forever to get into the story and was rather repetitive. We had to hear about brother's beautiful writing, the anger of the populace, how nobles are evil, and the taverns meetings a bit too much. Poor = grumpy. Nobles = evil. Sophie needs nobles and money to survive. Seriously for something that simplistic, the author pointed it out an awful lot. There was no real build up or action. Most of that happened off the page. Instead we get Sophie waffling and visiting the rich people artists' salon.

I kept reading because I wanted to see how Sophie used her magic to solve the problem. When she ran to lover-boy for help I got grumpy. When he agreed to help her without any commentary about her mistakes or stupidity because he loved her so, I had to stop. With so many books on the horizon, I just gave up. I want me reading to make time seem to disappear, not to accentuate every second passing. I am sad, but I couldn't fight the tide.

I wish this one would have focused on the magic and had Sophie be a strong woman and not an idiot. I loved the sewing magic!

So lastly . . .
Thank you Orbit!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

TORN is the first book in an enchanting debut fantasy series featuring a seamstress who stitches magic into clothing, and the mounting political uprising that forces her to choose between her family and her ambitions, for fans of The Queen of the Tearling.

Sophie is a dressmaker who has managed to open her own shop and lift herself and her brother, Kristos, out of poverty. Her reputation for beautiful ball gowns and discreetly-embroidered charms for luck, love, and protection secures her a commission from the royal family itself -- and the commission earns her the attentions of a dashing but entirely unattainable duke.

Meanwhile, Kristos rises to prominence in the growing anti-monarchist movement. Their worlds collide when the revolution's shadow leader takes him hostage and demands that Sophie place a curse on the queen's Midwinter costume -- or Kristos will die at their hand.

As the proletariat uprising comes to a violent climax, Sophie is torn: between her brother and the community of her birth, and her lover and the life she's striven to build.

To visit the author’s website go to:
Rowenna Miller - Author

To buy the novel go to:
torn - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:
Yer Ports for Plunder List

ughhhh, I haven't read a series in so long and maybe this is why.
I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! And then in the end: TO BE CONTINUED IN APRIL 2019. NOOOoooo, whyy. The romance arc, tell me mooore.

Ok Ok. So. Sophie is a seamstress who can sew charms into clothing, and because she is SO adept at this, she runs her own shop. She has lovely assistants, and loves what she does. She sews charmed clothes for common people and nobility alike.
She is a common person, in a city that's kind of like old england, where the Monarchy and nobles rule, and the common people are.. common.
Which is where her brother comes in, Kristos. He is part of the League, which is a group of laborers and day workers who feel like common people should have more of a say. Kristos calls for revolution. He's a born leader, and has many followers, and right hand men.
The revolution is starting to pick up, with inflammatory pamphlets being published under Kristos's name, and riots in the streets.
Then Kristos doesn't come home.
He has been taken, by one of his own men in the league, and he WILL be hurt, unless Sophie puts a curse on the King and Queen.
So she has to choose; The life of a seamstress, sewing gorgeous gowns for nobility, and even befriending and falling in love with one (DUKE THEODORE, SWOON), or commit treason, and perhaps get killed to save her brother?

SO! This book is one of those slow burns that I thoroughly enjoyed. When it comes to books like this, I can get bored pretty easily, but the writing style, the characters, the eventual twists and turns, kept me reading.
It really picks up towards the end, where multiple times I had to put my kindle down and stare off into space, or I gasped and grabbed my chest melodramatically. (Because you know how I do.)

It is very politically motivated because it's about a REVOLUTION. So because of that, I'm not sure if everybody would love it, but even though I'm kind of a dunce with that stuff, I was still so captivated.
Also, it is fantasy, but that's kind of on the back burner, it seemed to me. Yeah, Sophie (and some other people) can cast charms and curses, and that's a big part of the story. But that's not really what this book is about. It's about a city caught up in the beginning of a civil war, the clash between common people and the nobles, and Sophie, caught up in protecting her revolutionary brother. Also romance! <3

Seriously. This book is great. I don't even know, I'm still all jacked up after finishing it.
I'm definitely going to be reading the second one when it comes out!!! Next year.. too far away..

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free ARC from Orbit and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW what a great ride. This book is tightly written, beautifully constructed and populated with characters who seem distinctly real in their actions and their choices. I understood and sympathized with most of them - even when they stood on opposite sides of the central conflict, and that's really something in a novel.

The premise of the book is delightful: our main character is a dressmaker who has become well-known for stitching charms into the fabric of the dresses, wraps and handkerchiefs she sells. It's the kind of deliciously practical magic (pun intended) that made the Circle of Magic books by Tamora Pierce so appealing and it formed a really excellent backdrop for the rest of the novel. Sophie's work and her heritage put her in touch with the nobility and the "commoners" (including those fomenting rebellion) and made all the circumstances happening left and right seem almost logical. The relationships between the characters were believable, as were their reactions to each other, and from a technical perspective the writing is crisp and consistent.

I admit, I really liked the details that the author included (especially at the beginning) and the thoroughness with which she constructed the world. I prefer an author to take the time to really commit to the world building and this author did that in spades. I will say that kind of detail might bog down another reader, so that's a compliment and a warning all in one.

The main plot arc does take its time, there were a few places where the book dragged a bit, and the romance is more slow burn than in your face (makes sense, this is fantasy, not a romance) but those didn't really distract or bother me.

I'm already looking forward to the next installment!

This book felt kinda boring to me. I was hoping for more use of the fantasy element: magic, spells, fantasy creatures, etc. It felt like a historical fiction with small tidbits of magic here and there. The book's setting didn't feel very fantasy-esque either. Galitha City didn't feel like a real place. I would have wanted beautiful descriptions of the feel of the city, but the book in its entirety was deeply lacking in imagery.

This was a bit of a disappointment. While I liked the first 1/4, the rest of the book didn't quite match up with the expectations I had going in.

Torn tells the story of a dressmaker named Sophie who has the ability to add charms (things like luck, protection, love) to the clothing she makes. She lives with her brother Kristos in Galitha City during a time of rising discontent within the working class. But Sophie isn't a would-be-revolutionary, handing out pamphlets and giving speeches; that would be her brother. She's just trying to run her business and keep them out of starvation. Except one day Kristos gets himself kidnapped. And Sophie must comply with the wishes of the kidnapper if he is to survive: make a piece of clothing that would help murder the royal family.

What this book isn't: a high-stakes political intrigue starring a perky young businesswoman who happens to get mixed up in a revolution.

What this book is: a languid, historical-fictionesque story with lots of political and economical talk, starring a perky young businesswoman whose brother happens to get mixed up in a revolution and she ends up trailing along by accident.

The worldbuilding is more sparse than I would have liked. It feels very much like a historical fiction with a dash of fantasy added, rather than the other way around, which again, was not what I had in mind. Galitha is very similar to 18th-century England, or pre-revolution France, with rising tensions between the elite and the working class.

The entire story takes place in Galitha City. For me, a good cityscape in a book feels like a living, breathing entity. There would be lush descriptions of all the mingling smells and sights and all the different districts that compose the organs of the city. In Torn, we don't really get that. We were sequestered to Sophie's shop, a lady's parlour, a couple of cafes and taverns, and a few other miscellaneous locations that felt isolated from the rest of the city. These places had little texture and there was no good sense of what the city as a whole looked like. What's more, the transitions between the locations felt choppy.

At first, all the political talks, cafe visits, and walks around the city were charming. There was a comforting laziness to it that made it different from any other fantasy stories I'd read recently. But after a while it got to the point where I was craving something more. More action, more tension, more involvement in the revolution plotline. Because even at the halfway mark, it was still a lot of just sitting around talking about the pending revolution and its players. It felt like there were two plotlines from two different novels: Sophie's and Kristo's. The former involved working at the dress shop, debating about politics at the parlour, and being courted by Duke Theodor. And the latter involved all the life-and-death, shaking-the-country's-foundation stuff. I can't tell you how many times I thought Kristos was probably having a more fun time than Sophie (and he's the one who got kidnapped!)

I liked Sophie as a protagonist for the most part. If you're tired of books that equate "strong" female protagonists with women who hate skirts and housework, then you'll love Sophie. It's not often we get a businesswoman--a dressmaker, at that--as a fantasy protagonist and I immediately took to her practical, no-nonsense attitude. I also empathized with her sentiments that, although she's Pellian (and her parents are Pellian immigrants), she's grown up in Galitha and thus feels a closer kinship with the country and its people. I'm not a stranger to people of my nationality--and people not of my nationality--saying that I should exhibit more patriotism, more interest towards my home country, so her internal struggles rang a chord with me.

My problem with her? She's passive. Not so much in terms of character, because she's obviously a self-sufficient woman who's unafraid of speaking her mind, but in terms of plot. She waits for things, like the rebellion, to happen to her before doing anything about it. She spends half the book repeating to herself that she doesn't know which side--the nobility or the common folk--she stands with, without making an effort to find an answer. It was utterly frustrating.

I also wasn't a fan of the romance between Sophie and Theodor, partly because I felt the author gave it precedence over the revolution plotline, and partly because I found Theodor somewhat bland. He is a pleasant enough character, however, and I did like his laid-back sense of humour:

"How long is dinner?" I chewed my lip. The longer the better.
"Probably four to six courses--not terribly long."
"That sounds like an eternity," I replied.
"Not compared to state dinners and wedding feasts. Twelve, fourteen courses--land sakes, you get sick of food." Theodor stopped himself. "Sometimes I can see why revolutionaries want us dead," he said ruefully.

He and Sophie have some interesting debates (because this book is full of debates on every possible subject).

My favourite part about the book, and the thing that really makes it stand out, is all the diverse, intrepid women surrounding Sophie.

Three ladies in elegant dishabille convened around a book bound in pink leather. I trained my ear toward them, expecting to hear a rehashing of a romantic novel. Instead, I caught snippets of a lively debate about labor economics.

These include painters, seamstresses, socialites, and history buffs of various nationality and class. The book gives you a little wink and a smile and tells you that there are no specific parameters of being a woman. You can love pretty clothes and makeup and tea parties and also be politically savvy, an artist, an entrepreneur, whatever. The whole story is distinctly feminist, with scenes of women propping up other women, and I loved that.

So if you're looking for something slow that features interesting female characters and lots and lots of political talk, then give Torn a shot. Alas, it just wasn't for me, and I don't know if I'll be continuing on with the series.

~
This is an honest review of an ARC provided by Orbit Books and Netgalley.

I’m a sucker for unique expressions of magic in fantasy novels. When I found out that Rowenna Miller’s novel Torn was the story of seamstress who sews enchantments into her bespoke garments, I knew I had to read it… especially when I saw the gorgeous cover design.


Side note: How do you feel about this style of fantasy novel cover? I love covers that are evocative of the mood of the story, versus the more traditional painted scene, which often doesn’t quite match up with a real scene from the book and has characters that look different from how I pictured them in my mind. Do you have a favorite recent book cover? Let me know in the comments

Torn is the first book in a trilogy, which I didn’t realize when I started it. It tells the story of Sophie, a woman who owns her own atelier. Sophie’s niche is that she can work charms while she sews, attracting good fortune, health, or love to her clients. She longs to also be recognized for her excellent draping and sewing skills, and to attract the eye of more wealthy noble clients so that she can have more financial security and also keep paying her assistants fair wages.

Sophie’s brother Kristos is an activist arguing to replace the nobility with a democratic government. He and his fellow day laborers and tradesmen feel like the nobility make it unduly difficult for people to find work and thrive in the city.

Our protagonist finds herself torn between sympathy for the plight of the workers, and her own ambitions — especially since her shop keeps a roof over her brother’s head while he’s writing pamphlets decrying the very people who Sophie does business with.

It can be a pleasant change of pace to read a fantasy novel where a lot of the conflict comes from a personal struggle, versus an epic battle for the fate of the world, or a grand quest.

That said, I found myself a bit impatient with Sophie. While I really respected her dedication to her art and craft, and to owning her own business and her care for the assistants she employed, her attitude reminded me too much of the people who complain when protesters interfere with their commute. Sophie agrees that it’s unfortunate when day laborers can’t get ahead, when non-nobles like her brother can’t attend university despite their brilliance, but she can’t support any action that might jeopardize her business. So could the protesters just stick with, y’know, pamphlets, and maybe not actually protest?

Although to be fair to Sophie, her attitude is somewhat understandable because the nobles don’t seem that bad. They’re rich and clueless, rather than actively malicious. The leadership doesn’t want to give in to any of the requests or demands of the activists because they don’t want to be seen as weak, but a lot of the nobles are sympathetic to the rights of the workers and open to making some changes.

To be honest, I didn’t find myself sympathetic to either side. The revolutionaries had plenty of time and money to sit in bars and cafes discussing their goals. The nobles weren’t particularly villainous and the protesters weren’t particularly heroic. Perhaps this is more realistic. Real life has a lot of shades of grey. But while greyness often denotes a certain mix of good and bad, in this case it felt more like a lack of color. Neither group made a compelling argument.

I’ve read a lot of books with the revolution/anarchy theme. It’s a pretty common trope in steampunk, and I read a lot of steampunk a few years back when it was The Big Thing. I honestly got kind of bored of the “revolution against a corrupt monarchy” thing, and so for me to really enjoy such a story, it needs to have some real oomph or a unique twist. This one just fell flat.

My other complaint was that Sophie herself felt like way too passive of a character. Too often, she let things happen to her, and waited around, rather than taking action. Perhaps this is believable for a woman who just wants to be a shopkeeper, but I like my Strong Female Protagonists to be out there kicking butt and taking name.

I don’t give books a star rating on this site, but over on Goodreads this is going to get a solid three stars. It’s pretty well-written. Rowenna Miller is good with a turn of phrase. Plus if you love historic clothing and costumes, you’ll probably enjoy the descriptions of dresses and Sophie’s shop. I just wish I liked the story as much as I liked the writing that held it all together.

Pros: Good excuse to Google historic clothing styles, gorgeous cover, elegant prose.

Cons: Passive heroine, weak revolutionary storyline.

Conclusion: This author shows promise but I won’t be reading the rest of the trilogy. Potential readers should consider what they like most in a story before picking this one up.

Torn by Rowenna Miller is coming March 20th from Orbit Books. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

Torn by Rowenna Miller was just a joy to read. I loved the concept of integrating magic with sewing and quickly found myself swept away into the world and character of Sophie. She is innovative, independent and loyal, though her loyalties wind up rather divided, putting her in a hard position.

This is set very much in a have/have-nots world with the elite upper class, and the lower working class. The rich have an extreme amount of control. To even attempt to start a business, one must apply for a permit and most applications are quickly denied. And if there is an existing business that you would be competition for? Don’t even think about it. It adds enormous barriers for residents to raise themselves to a better quality of life. Sophie is a minority in addition to being from the lower class part of town, but has worked hard and risen to a respectible position that serves the upper class. She even runs her own shop and even has a couple of employees, which can seem like an unattainable dream for someone with her background and position. Charms were not historically desirable in the culture she is now a part of, however, most have been crude and written in clay. They were not fashionable or interesting, and people generally doubt their power to actually work. They come across as a cheap novelty item one might buy in the street, like a worthless little trinket. But Shophie took the charmcasting that is known for people of her heritage and offered it in a unique way that made it much more marketable and desirable. She has created a novel product by sewing charms directly into items that people would actually use and want without the charm. And then, her clients started telling stories about how the charms do actually work, and well, business took off.

This is very much a character driven story and since I felt a connection to Sophie immediately, it worked incredibly well for me. But there are also intriguing things going on in the world. I always love a good political uprising, and this book delivered that as well. There is an uprising brewing as a group is trying to organize political reform that will remove power from the upper class and allow the general masses to have a say in government, to have the right to attempt start businesses on their own terms. Sophie finds herself in a hard position as the clients that have allowed her business to grow and thrive are all targets of this reform. And if they leave or lose their wealth, Sophie’s business won’t survive. On the other hand, she wants others to have the same chances she had. She recognizes that her permit for her business could have been denied, and each year when its time to renew, she knows it can always be revoked at the whim of whoever is in charge.

My only word of (very slight) caution, is that there is some serious insta-love in this, but I found I really didnt mind it this time. The story was very well written, I loved Sophie’s character, and I quickly wanted her to have whatever her heart desired. Even if that meant wanting her to have her insta-love. I know this is a negative trigger for many readers, myself often included, so I did want to at least put in a soft forwarning about it. Know what you are in for and maybe you won’t be as bothered by it.

Overall, I can say I highly recommend this one. It has fun, excitement, and magic all sewn into one amazing story.

Sophie has risen from nothing into a bustling businesswoman with a niche market—fine garments for wealthy merchants and noblewomen imbued with the good luck charms of her Pellian ancestors. But while Sophie mingles with the upper class, her brother becomes involved in a call for proletarian reforms against the stifling nobility.

What a beautiful and well-thought out book about difficult choices and truth! In addition to all of the amazing characters (particularly female characters who work within the system instead of overtly subverting social norms, and the emphasis on traditionally feminine occupations), I loved how all of the various themes tied together to create a rich, wonderful world of inequality, promise and history. Some of the main themes in this book involve cultural assimilation and loss of cultural identity, both accidental and on purpose, and how assimilating into an adopted culture can mean success for immigrants, but comes with costs of its own (lack of knowledge of your own history, can't speak the language of your culture, etc.). There are also very interesting observations of economics and politics, meritocracy vs nepotism, and monarchy vs democracy, and differences in priorities based upon gender, and how circle/population sect prioritizes their values. The conclusion is that when each circle only sees their truth, all lose.

And bonus: pretty clothes.

I cannot wait for book 2!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Torn by Rowenna Miller
4/5  

I was given this title on behalf of NetGalley and the Publisher, Orbit Books - Orbit, in return for my Honest review. 

Thank you. This was a really enjoyable read. I wasn't sure at first, and it did start slow, with a lot of detail. However it picked up quickly, and it did not disappoint! The editing was great, it was an arc, and had very problems. It was fluid and made sense the entire time. The plot was really interesting and I actually really liked the way it was worked. 

Sophie is a seamstress, but not your ordinary one. No, she is the best at what she does. Sophie learned the Pellian magic young by her mothers side. However she crafted it so she could cast them into the stitching and charming the clothing!! Gowns, kerchiefs anything. Although some of the royals were her best customers, her brother made it hard for Sophie. Kristos was a part of The League, and they were rebels fighting the work ethics laid forth by the Royals. Last summer it ended in rampages and deaths. He often scared her, but more so with this new professor who is obsessed with Sophies' charm casting. He was beginning to talk treason and things were heightening. Then it happens, Kristos is gone, dead or missing. Which puts Sophie right in the middle of everything she didn't want to happen. 

You will have to read on for more when the book releases March 20, 2018!! Surprising, and magical!! Sophies' female protagonist characteristics are amazing and awesome!!!

Plot:

Sophie's parents were immigrants from an island country, Pellia, which is known for its "backwater charms" and "superstitions", most Gallation people don't approve or believe in charms or magic. However, that doesn't stop them from seeking them out from time to time, especially when it's rumored there's a young seamstress that weaves charms into dresses, handkerchiefs, and other things for a fee.

Sophie has worked incredibly hard to keep her and her brother afloat after the deaths of both her parents, her father died when they were young, and her mother recently passed away from a fever that spread through the city.

In order to keep a business running, you have to get an annual renewal contract, to do that, you have to prove that you're a viable business that earns decent money and has a good reputation. If the Lord of Coin decides you're not worthy, you could lose your entire livelihood. Sophie has been scraping her way up the ladder of customers from the common to the highest of nobility.

Things really turn around when she gets one of the highest nobles in the city, Lady Snowmont, as a customer. But, she turns into much more than just a customer, Lady Snowmont is obsessed with progress and art, she surrounds herself with people from all classes and professions looking for the best and the brightest. She's picked Sophie as one of her favorites, and through this plotline you get to see how the nobles are reacting to the continued dissatisfied public.

On the other side of this coin, Sophie has to placate her brother and try to keep him grounded and out of harm's way - because he wants to start a rebellion and make demands of the nobility to make the common citizen's life better. The commoners are tired of the Lord of Coin deciding if they have a right to their own shop, they're tired of the social structure, they're basically tired of everything.

What I really loved about this rebellion/war plotline is that it's over more mundane and practical reasons. Usually when I read about an upcoming war or civil unrest it's due to very dramatic circumstances, an heir has been murdered, people are being enslaved, there's a dark evil overlord etc etc. Not with this book, this reads much closer to actual history than most things I've read, and I found it absolutely fascinating.

Final Score: 15/15

I was completely engaged, there were no plot holes or "huh?" moments, and everything felt much more natural and realistic than the vast majority of things I've read in a long time.

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Characters:

Sophie is our main character, and everything is seen through her eyes - but you get to see SO much because she's involved in three layers of this world, the Pellians who are sort of at the poverty level of society, the merchant class, and the upper class. The way the story was woven together let you see so much through just one person. The way she had to handle herself in each of these scenarios was different, and she moved through it gracefully. I think what's most fascinating is how gender played a big part in this book, but it did not feel like it was beating you over the head with it. It was nuanced and realistic. Sophie is 26 and unmarried, but not because she never had anyone interested - it's because all of her possessions and wealth would belong to her husband the moment she got married. The reason why more men were involved in the Red Caps (rebels) wasn't that they were more content with their lives, or weren't unhappy with the situation, it's because logistically they can't. Many women are caregivers for both their parents and their children or other members of their family like Sophie's brother. Single men do manual day labor, the job changes week to week and they have the freedom of caring just for themselves. When you don't have to worry about your shop being closed down which would leave your family hungry, (like many bakers, seamstresses, or innkeepers), you can risk more. Sophie gets so upset with her brother constantly trying to drag her into a rebellion that could close her shop, or get her arrested. Meanwhile, her brother, Kristos, thinks that she's choosing the nobilities side in the war. It's a pretty fascinating character interaction.

When I read that she didn't want to get married and gave really good reasons why, I thought I had hit a Victorian book without a romance. But, no ... there is a romance, and he's a noble who's good-hearted. At first, I was like "oh dear god no", I don't typically like the noble who doesn't want to be a noble and just wants to be a good Samaritan because it feels kind of forced. However, this botanist wanna be did eventually charm me... a bit. I didn't dislike him by the end of it, I would imagine that people who really like romance would love this. It's a slower burn, he's a decent person from the start, so it's not bad-guy-turned-nice-guy-cuz-love, I absolutely hate that.

Final Score: 13/15

Sophie's motivations were complex, but also clear - and she had a very distinct and strong voice. I found her incredibly easy to relate to and root for, reading about her was truly awesome.

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World Building:

I've talked a lot about the world building just through the plot and character bits, so I'll keep this section briefer.

This sort of feels like France in the 1700s-ish, history isn't my strong suit so if this was based in a slightly different place or time period, my apologies. The way women couldn't own their own things, how the city was set up, and now the royalty functioned all gave me sort of a Victorian feel, but some of the names and terms sounded kind of French.

The politics and philosophy in this book were really a highlight, the dialogue between characters with opposing views was a GREAT way to explore the world building. It didn't come off as info-dumpy, it came across as natural debate dialogue. Fantastic.

The nobility in this book aren't painted as the bad guys either, you come to know and care about her love interest and Lady Snowmont. They seem to be listening, and want to try and make things work - but politics is tricky and getting everyone to agree on something almost never works.

The magic in this world is very subtle, and most people don't think it exists. The Pellian's are the most prominent as far as spell casters. When Sophie wants to weave a charm into cloth, she focuses on the emotions she wants to put into the spell, the thread starts to glow as if there's an inner light in the fabric, and the more stitches she puts into it, the stronger the charm. The magic isn't limited to thread, other people can cast onto clay tablets or use different herbs - but since Sophie is a seamstress that's the most common form of magic we see.

Final Score: 13/15

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Writing:

This was completely clean, as to be expected since this was traditionally published and received many different editing passes.

I actually loved the prose as well, it was descriptive but not overly so, and it focused a lot on clothing. This usually bothers me, but since she's a seamstress it flowed with the character and I really got into it.

The dialogue was the highlight for me though, the debates between characters and the hesitant romance were both really great.

Final Score: 13/15

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Pacing:

The flow was nice and even and built up towards the end, I would say the first third was the slower part because it was introducing you to the world and characters - but once the rebellion really started to kick into full swing it was fast paced from there

Final Score: 13/15

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Originality:

I can't say I've read any magic system like this before, the character was fresh and well developed and the interactions between her and the multilayered society was awesome. The writing style was immersive and different, and it helped the world building along through dialogue.

Final Score: 12/15

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Personal Enjoyment:

I truly enjoyed basically all of this, my only detraction is the romance - but that's totally a me thing. If I make it through a book and didn't completely loathe the romance that's a success in my book.

Final Score: 8.5/10
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Final Score: 87.5/100

Damn good book, even that cover is stunning.

A great book! I really enjoyed this. The characters and world building were very strong and the plot arched nicely. Highly recommended.

First off, what is up with all of these amazing 2018 releases!? Second, TORN IS ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS!

This is the kind of book you read and you're filled to the brim with glee at the author’s wording and characterization and imagination and ingenuity, so much that your eyes start skipping lines because you’re so impatient for what happens next and you have to force yourself to read every word. Sometimes, you even have to re-read passages because you've missed actual events while you were too busy anticipating and predicting. Oftentimes, you have to stop reading completely because the words are so good and you're so full of excitement and love that you need to expend some of that energy, otherwise you'll just spontaneously combust!

So what is this book about?

A seamstress who can stitch magic into clothing!! Well not just magic but specifically charms. HOW COOL AND UNIQUE IS THAT? Our seamstress in the story is Sophie and she opens up a dress shop so that she can earn enough money to help her and her brother out of a hard place. They are struggling financially. Luckily, Sophie is soo good at creating the amazing dresses and ball gowns (with those magic charms!) this gets the attention of the duke who commissions her.

I found sophie to be such an awesome character. The way she maneuvers about this story is fascinating. Especially once the political side pushes it's way in. She's tough yet flawed and I rooted for her the entire way.

All in all, I believe readers who enjoyed the Queen of the Tearling series will immensely enjoy this one if not more and I am so looking forward to the next installment! I need to go mark my calendar!

I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley **

First I want to say the premise of this book is amazing. The whole idea of weaving charms into clothing is what made me request this book and I had really high hopes for it. And while I did enjoy myself reading it, it kind of fell flat for me and I found myself skimming over a lot of what happened. For instance, the love interest, I didn't care for. I know it's going to play a much bigger role in the coming books so it may get better and I'm willing to give it a shot going forward.

As for the the main story line I like it. I wish the action was just a tad bit slower and drawn out. And that we had deeper look into the actual charm/curse casting. The book could have been just a tad bit longer and more focused on developing the world and rebellion slowly with a shocking action packed cliff hanger end.

With all that said I did enjoy the book, it wasn't the best thing I've ever read and I'm a tad disappointed but I'm holding onto hope for more from the author and this series in the future.