an interesting and original novel which would appeal to fans of Sally Green and Moira Fowler Doyle. 
The plot is inventive and instantly captivating, although I could have done with some kind of explainstion as to what the characters actually were, ie what an augur was. It may just be that the scoot doesn’t have it and it will make more sense in the final copy.

This is a solid 4.5 * book

The Wren Hunt was a wonderfully different book that kept me thoroughly engrossed and also wondering what was happening right up until the end. A beautifully written, somewhat surreal tale with forbidden love and deep-rooted Irish mythology, what's not to love about this story?

It took me a little longer to get into this book than it should have really, set in Ireland it’s full of words I hadn’t known which I guess made the pace I read it at a little slower. By the end however, there are so many twists that it had me gripped. I really loved the character of Tarc, and Wren became more interesting as the story itself unfolded.

One thing to mention is, although this is primarily a YA fantasy book, there’s definitely a strong romantic element to the story. In a Romeo and Juliet way though the romance is staged as a forbidden love which does make it a lot more intriguing. Wren is an ‘Augur’ whilst Tarc is a ‘Judge’ and although they are meant to be enemies Wren can’t help but feel an attraction to him from the start.

The story itself starts off with a chase, followed by a lot of questions. “Why is she being chased, who are these boys?” etc. Watson doesn’t give too much away quickly – instead adding to the questions you’ll have throughout. There are some huge twists to the story starting from around halfway through, and the story becomes more unique as it goes on. I loved this book by the ending and getting my questions answered throughout definitely helped me like this book much more.

I’d also definitely be interested in reading a follow up – though I felt it did end in a neat and tidy way I would like to see what’s next for Wren’s future!

If, like me, you’re a fan of magic and fantasy then this is a must read book for 2018.

Where to even begin with this book? Let's start with Wren, our main character. Wren was an interesting one for me. In many ways she's quite a 'weak' character, often doing what she's told and being manipulated and used on all sides. Normally that's something I can't stand in a character, it just annoys me, but something about the way that Wren is written means her weakness never feels like a character flaw. She's being used but she's also a force to be reckoned with. I just found her delightful to read, perhaps delightful is the wrong word, she was intriguing to me.

The magic in this book is also (this is an intended bit of wordplay) enchanting. The idea of 'magic' (it's more like fortune telling) being tied to patterns was so unique and clever, to then turn that idea on its head and have a character whose ability comes from an absence of pattern? It's just ingenious, and it reads as though it makes perfect sense. This is simply the way the world is for Wren and so the reader accepts it as well.

What made me absolutely love this book were the small details that help make the world so rich. From the spider carved on the doorframe of Wren's home to the diary entries that begin each chapter everything is incredibly well thought out.

Speaking of things that were well thought out - the plot. If you asked me three chapters in where I thought this book was going to go I would have predicted something totally different. There are elements of a spy novel, parts of a high fantasy novel and some other elements I couldn't even begin to place. That's not to say that this novel is confused, again, everything is perfectly thought out, it all fits together into a beautifully tragic story that had me hooked until the last page.

Should you read this? If you like a novel with magic running at its core and an unexpectedly beautiful plot then you should definitely read this. It's absolutely gorgeous and I may have to read it again immediately.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Wren Hunt is out on February 8th!

The Wren Hunt si è rivelato uno strano miscuglio; da una parte elementi tipici di uno YA (un amore improvviso e contrastato, un accenno di triangolo), dall'altra un'ambientazione particolare: forme ancestrali di magia si mantengono nell'Irlanda dei nostri giorni, nutrite e nascoste ai più da clan rivali, gli Auguri e i Giudici, in lotta da secoli.
Complesso, affascinante, coerente il sistema di mitologia che fornisce carne e sangue alla vicenda, mentre proprio la protagonista, Wren , e il suo interesse amoroso risultano desolatamente stereotipati.
Senza infamia, ma senza particolare lode anche lo stile, che tenta un qualche lirismo ma senza troppo successo.
Una lettura che fa passare il tempo, ma poco di più.

Thoroughly enjoyed the story that this author creates within Ireland. It's different and I am essentially waiting patiently to read the sequel - if there is one!

I had no idea what my reading was going to be like, and I must say that even after I finish, I still have many questions.

The book begins in our contemporary Ireland, for centuries the Augurs and Judges have been in war, with the destruction of places of worship, harassment and others. The Augurs are in a bad position, but Wren our heroine is going to infiltrate the Judges in order to save her people from extinction. I think what I liked the most in this book is the nuance. Through the point of view of Wren we discover the folklore of the Augurs and we will discover at the same time the Judges' one. There is a similarity between the two, ​​they share values and the beginning of the conflict between the them remains unclear, so, there is a constant doubt about the villain, this gray area is at the heart of many things.

Wren was abandoned by her parents, raised by her grandfather, she asks herself a lot of questions about her family and what her mother was like. She is not the most brave heroine, she is forced by her family to take a position in the enemy house, but we feel that she is not cut for the role. Nevertheless, she will do what she is asked, and it will cost her. She is not like the majority of the YA heroines and that's one aspect of her character that I liked a lot. It is so refreshing.

If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, I do not think this book will be for you. It's a book that will ask questions about identity, the good, the bad, and that gray zone between. It is also a novel with an Irish spellbinding folklore which brings magic to the novel. The pen of the author is also beautiful and with the ending, I am curious to discover more in 2019 with the release of the sequel.

When I finished The Wren Hunt, I thought that I wasn't quite sure what I'd just read, but I liked it. It's very surreal, somewhat subdued, more memorable for its atmosphere than its plot. In short, there really is nothing like it that I've come across in YA literature. It's that unique. 

The atmosphere, the sense that you're reading a story carved straight out of folklore, legends, and the spaces in between, is enthralling. The premise of augurs and judges drew me wholly into the rich Irish mythology. What I took away is that if you don't know Irish and you can pronounce it, it's not true Irish. The names are the easy part; when it got to the terms was when I had to pull out Google nonstop. Draoithe, nemeta, Bláithín and brídeogs--this book could really have benefited from a glossary.

Along the same lines, the start of the book throws you into the deep end right off the bat. For such a complex tradition that most readers will have little to no experience with, the exposition expects you to learn and learn fast. Entire folktales and concepts are explained once and then referred to and built upon throughout the novel without stopping to refresh your memory, and if you happen to forget what a certain term means, it's no small task to backtrack until you find the first page it was mentioned. 

I was rather confused for a long time about the more banal detail of how Aisling, Sibéal and Maeve are all related to each other--I thought Aisling was Wren's sister to begin with, which isn't the case. To be clear, I definitely prefer this treatment of readers over the opposite that caters to the lowest common denominator. I don't see the assumption of a smart reader as a problem so much as something to be aware of and maybe prepare for.

Once you get ahold of the background, however, there are so many things to savour. The dual setting of Kilshamble, a (fictional) rustic village, and the city of Dublin creates a real contrast between the ancient magical feud and the modern world. The Wren Hunt reminds me of The Cruel Prince in its seamless integration of the two: this isn't judges and augurs in 15th century Ireland, this is judges and augurs now. Not only is the latter much more relatable, it also opens up the narrative to consider what place tradition and the old ways should still occupy. Although this book admittedly doesn't go there, the sequel, which will focus on a different main character and further explore the world of the judges, might. 

There isn't that much danger or action in The Wren Hunt, the few thrilling scenes we do get are punctuated by more calm character development. The slow burn isn't for everyone, but as a reader who normally likes my fantasy novels fast-paced, I have no qualms with how it's handled here. Wren, David, Tarc and especially Cassa are all interesting in their own ways, if maddeningly mysterious. Cassa Harkness is my new possibly problematic favourite. I look forward to finding out a lot more about her.

The ending is a little abrupt, leaving a trove of unanswered questions. This is one book for which I'm seriously thankful there's a sequel. In the meantime, I might need to reread The Wren Hunt for all the little breadcrumbs I missed the first time round.

This book is not something I read before. It has many magical realism elements but still has such a romantic feel that it doesn't completely fit that genre. It just was an amazing book and I hope I'll read many more books like this one in 2018!

The overall story was great! The ending came as a complete surprise for me. I never expected things to end like they did! It was all so original and creative. The magic was what took this book from being a good book to being a great book.

Something that was a bit confusing is the overal feeling of the book, it has a very historical or even high fantasy kind of vibe. But, apparently that was not the case, it's situated in the now. I love the vibe and the way the story is told feels very magical and everytime words like heroine and prosecco are used it really felt like a reminder that it's a modern story (Right, they aren't wearing medieval clothing they are living in the same world as me). After a while I got used to it but it took me quite some time.

The romance was so adorable, Wren was cute either way, but Wren in love was just a whole new level. I'm not going to name the love interest to save the story but he was certainly a new book boyfriend for me! He was a classic YA love interest but with some very interesting sides.

This book is called similar to the Raven Cycle, but I was personally quite  underwhelmed by the Raven Cycle. This book was so much better. I see why they would compare it and if you liked the Raven Cycle you definitely have to read this! But if you are like me and weren't the biggest fan of the Raven Boys than please give this book a chance because it's amazing!

I loved the characters in this book so much! Many of them had two sides and it was all perfect! It just makes them so much more real. Every bad guy had a good side and a reason to be bad and the good guys had some really bitchy sides too. It kept the book exciting until the very last page. I loved how the Wren hunt really was the red line in this book and it kind of connected all the characters. 

I was so sad when the book ended. I'm actually quite disappointed that this is a stand alone novel! I would love to read how this story continuous. It was so easy to love some of the characters and I became quite invested in Wren to say the least!

This just wasn't for me, I'm afraid. Loved the concept of Augurs vs Judges and the Irish fantasy edge, but I struggled to connect with the characters, and couldn't manage to care very much about what was happening - which meant it was a bit of a slog to get through. It's not badly written in any sense, and I can see it being very popular, but it just did not click with me at all. I spent most of my reading time itching to get to the end so I could move onto something else.

Too late, I've only just noticed that this is being marketed as 'For fans of The Raven Cycle' which explains a lot - I wasn't a fan of the The Raven Boys either. But if you like that series, you'll probably like this too.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for the arc.

I loved The Wren Hunt because it was genuinely different to anything I had read before and written so beautifully that occasionally the  prose practically sang an aria.

The story itself was highly immersive – beginning with a chase and developing into a deep seated mythology that was beautifully layered and highly engaging. we follow Wren as she infiltrates the enemy camp so to speak in an attempt to steal the one thing that can save her family.

The Wren Hunt is a very  surreal  read in a lot of ways – very modern and yet very old school in concept, it is a tale of family feuds and misconceptions, of magic and of folklore and all that is mixed up into an honestly compelling tale that will keep you hooked all the way through.

It is a difficult book to review in a lot of ways because you don’t want to spoil the heart of it but there isn’t really a genre box you can put it in – all I can say is you probably have not read anything quite like it and if you love a good story well told well you certainly get that here.

Highly Recommended.

This is the kind of book that you read, and then immediately want to reread because there's so much more that you could take in. I can't even believe how much I enjoyed it; it was sort of touch and go at the beginning because I had no idea what the heck was happening, but after about 15%? I was fucking gripped, my god.

The Plot

Wren is an Augur, a once-powerful people who used to control a powerful kind of magic; but that power was taken from them by the Judges, who are determined to bring about the end of the Augurs. In order to save her people and her family, Wren is given the dangerous job of infiltrating the house of the most powerful and influential Judge, Cassa Harkness. And so begins Wren's dangerous dance of lying and stealing, all the while trying to prevent a war between the two peoples.

(There is one other element to the story, in that Wren is chased through her village every Christmas by a group of boys (who happen to work in the Harkness House. There's some deep meaning about the wren that Wren is named after and also running for her freedom, but I didn't really understand it so let's just skip that, yeah?)

Like I said earlier, it did take me a while to get into Wren's world. For some reason, I was expecting her to live in a fantasy land, but then she kicked a Coke can and her neighbour berated a Kardashian for her marriage choice, and then I was sort of confused. Are we here and now? Is this based on real Irish mythology? I was confused (but in the best possible way because I love this book).

The Characters

The characters are all deliciously 3D. There's seriously nothing worse than a flat, pancake character, you know? But there were so many layers to all of the characters in The Wren Hunt. The story is narrated by Wren, and I loved her! She was so snarky and brave, but there was also a sense of vulnerability that you got from her. 

I went into this book not really expecting to come out with a new book boyfriend but then Tarc came onto the scene and just...just take my heart, Tarc. Just take it.

The Writing

Okay, the writing worried me at first because I've seen this book being compared to The Raven Cycle (I fucking hated The Raven Cycle). But I needn't have worried! While I thought that The Raven Cycle came off as a little bit pretentious, it wasn't the case with Mary's writing. It's lyrical and beautiful and sometimes there were things that took me about 4 pages to fully understand, but I loved it. It's enchanting and rich, and I couldn't help but be drawn in.

The Verdict

I have now added 6th March to my calendar so that I can buy a physical copy of The Wren Hunt because I fucking loved it and I need it on my shelf. Like, yesterday. 

I highly, highly recommend giving this book a look. It's so beautiful but so creepy as well, and there just aren't words to give this book justice. It's one of those books that you just have to read for yourself.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book*