Um hi hello 911..I think my soul has been cleaved and I need someone to put it back together. I just finished Bloodwitch and it was something...and by something I mean EVERYTHING. super epic. Love this series, maybe even the strongest of the series.

A fantastic continuation of the Witchland series - broader in scope, amazing character development and plenty of action and magic to keep a fantasy lover happy.

Full review on my channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCMOMLLwR5w&list=PLCpcDkmxQHxVqWTnD42uBjObA4uUfM8WC&index=6

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!! Bloodwitch released today and OH. MY. GOODNESS. Writing this without spoilers, is slightly a challenge, but at the same time you all need to know how amazing this series is. If you aren’t caught up you can check out my reviews for Truthwitch, Windwitch, and the novella (book 2.5) that blew my freaking mind Sightwitch. Seriously I’d just go read them.

Let me start with I cried. And screamed, and yelled, and had to set the book down for bit to just BREATHE. Sooz has packed you the tightest plot, full of details, information, action, drama, and so many twists and turns I don’t know how she condensed it into a single novel. I always appreciate her writing, but this is one of the most beautifully woven pieces of craft I’ve read.

Sooz is able to pack more nuanced character interaction, snippets of the impending catalyst, tantalizing hints of backstory, and romantic tension. Something that never ceases to amaze me is the absolute fluidity in which five different points of view are woven together. Not only how clear each voice is, and how they each have their own story and role to play, but Bloodwitch kicks the character growth up about 10 notches. You know she has to do this through hardship and different circumstances that teach lessons, and our poor cinnamon rolls are rather put through the ringer. This book made me so proud of Vivia, Merik, Safi, Iseult, and Aeduan.

Team, the strands are finally starting to come together. All the build up we’ve been getting, you can see the hint of an outline. This means that yet again, I am blown away by the amount of worldbuilding. You would think that by book four, there wouldn’t be much more about the world, the magic, the politics that can be exposed. You would be wrong.

I’ve said before that Sightwitch took my blinders off to the deep complexities within the Witchlands, and Bloodwitch continued with that fact. The momentum that was building toward the War has taken on a new shape, and the players pulling the strings are brilliant in their manipulations. This has been done with such care, that it is beyond apparent how real each character within the book is, and how important they are to the overall plot line.

All of this just highlights the level of detail, and brilliance that took to create this world. I enjoy complex books, and Sooz’s Witchlands have utterly stolen my heart. Not only can she deliver a complex and mysterious plotline, with fantastical world building, but she gives you flawed and lovable characters tied up with the perfect amount of humor, and sprinkled with drama. Her writing keeps you flipping pages–or tapping the screen–until you run out of words.

I without a doubt of hesitation hope you dive in to this series. It’s easily one of my favorites of all time, and I hope it becomes one of yours too.

“Iseult was stasis. Iseult was ice.”
Iseult might be stasis but this book is completely packed with changes. Changes in the characters relationships, internal changes, changes in the way the characters (and the reader) sees the magic in the Witchlands. Some are swift, you will be sucker punched repeatedly, and some are long coming and gradual. Susan Dennard is clearly a master of plot and character development, she executed Bloodwitch, in my humble opinion, perfectly.
I am not sure if it is obvious yet but I loved this book.
This book truly made me feel the way I want every book I open to make me feel. It sucked me into the story and constantly kept me invested in what was going to happen on the next page. There is a part that made me feel exactly how I felt in July 2007 when I read that Harry's wand snapped. That was a big moment in my young life. I am trying to reinforce that I loved this book.
All six of the POV characters were fascinating, whoever's perspective I was reading from was my favorite at that moment, I am still unsure who exactly is my favorite. I did very much enjoy Merik's story in this installment, but I was deeply invested in everyone's plot.
There are so many fraught and interesting relationships brimming with conflict. So many people who should be killing each other, and would be if they didn’t have to work together for the moment.
Quick observations I had while reading:
1. Love Stixs poor eyesight. I wear glasses and I think about that in basically every fantasy or historical novel I read.
2. Vivia can get it.
3. Puppeteer is so god damed evil. I want to know everything about her.
Dennard continues to dismantle the alpha male romantic hero thing, letting the character evolve into a person I am increasingly invested in as I continue to turn the pages.
Vivia is an amazing character. The growth of the Nihar siblings is top notch. Vivia is so angry and sad and brimming with the desire to prove herself. She is a fantastic character. Denard uses Vivia to show the ways women in power can be constantly undermined by men who view them as a threat to their world. Basically, every Vivia chapter has something highlighted.
Obviously, Bloodwitch is Aeduan's story. And dude has quite the story to tell. It is fabulous to really see his mind try to comprehend who he has been, is, and who he will be in the future.
Iseult and Safi continue to be friendship goals. I love love love how much these two genuinely love and respect each other. I would appreciate the next book having them happily bantering with nothing sad happening to anyone for at lead a hundred pages. This seems unlikely, but a girl can hope. Their relationship is so strong and functions so well as the backbone of this story.
Also, I love the Northman. Can’t wait for his spin-off series.

What a thrilling read! I couldn’t put this story down, or stop thinking about it. I’m amazed at how many characters Susan keeps track of, all with their own distinct voices, wants, and motivations. The cast, while large, never feels overwhelming. There’s not a ton of backstory to slough through—the story starts from page one, exactly where we last left all of our friends.

I don’t want to reveal spoilers but just know there are so many epic action scenes packed in BLOODWITCH. Aeduan shines here, and his newly realized moral compass guides him through every fight and conversation. He’s grown sooooo much as a character. Iseult is wiry, and funny (her relationship with Owl cracked me up) and while she meets new characters, Safi is never far from her mind.

And I know I said no spoilers but I will mention more thing: Susan is queen at slow burn.

MY HEART GUYS.

Bloodwitch is a fantastic continuation of Susan Dennard's Witchlands series. As a reader drawn to character-driven stories for the most part, I loved watching the emotional arcs of old favorites and new ones unfold. Following the pattern of the previous books, Bloodwitch is told from multiple points of view -- with a returning cast of old favorites like Safi, Iseult, and Vivia blended with new, interesting points of view like Stix -- but the main emotional arc followed is that of the fan-favorite Bloodwitch himself, Aeduan. The timeline/character switches don't cause any reading problems; all the characters have compelling storylines that merge together and logically follow the emotion and plot arcs set up in previous books. Regarding the plot, I'm always amazed at how much further Dennard is capable of pushing this story. No plot point or twist felt like it came out of nowhere; everything /made sense/, but I never saw the escalations coming. For a book that falls probably around the middle of the series over all, Bloodwitch doesn't suffer in the slightest from middle book syndrome. It advances the overarching storyline of the series while also being a dynamic, self contained entity. I can't wait for book 4.

Point blank: this is the best Witchlands book BY FAR. The stakes are higher than ever, the lore unravels a bit while adding more mysteries to ponder, and the character arcs are incredibly well-written. Aeduan is one of my favorite characters, and he truly shines in this book, as do Vivia and Iseult. Vivia especially goes through such a personal journey that put me through the emotional wringer. The final fifth of the book took my breath away; I actually gasped out loud at one point. Excellent pacing and writing, the Witchlands is becoming one of my favorite YA fantasies out there.