Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.

When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s keeping.

Now he’s hunting her down.

Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her.

I saw books whisper to to Beatrix and was instantly interested! And this book didn't disappoint, the world building was amazing and I didn't find it hard to follow like you can with other books if too much information is given straight away. I wish I could visit the world and witness the magic for myself. Also what book lover doesn't want to hear the secrets from books? I love stories where the main character has a power they haven't yet unlocked and this book ticked all the boxes. I cant wait for more in this series

Rating: 3.5/5

I really really badly wanted to like this book from the moment I saw the cover. I mean...look at it. It's absolutely gorgeous. And then I read the blurb and I just got so excited. And then I saw the book trailer and I couldn't wait! And then NetGalley sent me a copy and I was ridiculously excited.

The book started well. I was enjoying it, I was turning the pages, I was refusing to go to sleep. But then as I continued to read, to get further into the story I just found it more and more difficult to read. I personally didn't like the writing style, so I found it sort of tedious to get into.

And then I started to notice some inconsistencies with the characters, and I was just finding them a little too obvious to get over. Like Emma, for example, usually acted like a child (which she is) but then every once in a while she would scold Beatrix, like when she told her she was acting like a brat. Considering Beatrix is a lot older than her, it was surprising and quite out of character.

And then there was the matter of Beatrix, who to be quite frank I struggled to like very much. To begin with, I felt really sorry for her. But then she started being rude towards William and overreacting (in my opinion) to what he was saying. Plus, she refused to listen to what he was saying, even though she knew nothing about the world she was in. I mean seriously, how arrogant does one have to be to argue when they're told they're in danger?

And don't even get me started on William's behaviour. It was just changing constantly. One day he was scowling at Beatrix, telling her how he wanted nothing to do with her. The next day, completely out of the blue, he surprises her by showing up at breakfast because he wants to make sure she's alright? Hmm I don't really buy it.

Okay so I've had a huge rant about what I didn't like about the characters, but to be honest I did actually enjoy the plot. It was clever, I loved the mystery aspect and I loved seeing all the different book characters. One of my all-time favourite characters (and apparently Beatrix's favourite, too) was there and I have to admit I did have a little fangirl moment. I mentioned earlier that I didn't love the style of writing in this book, but I have to admit that Novo creates very vivid imagery and I felt like I was actually there meeting one of my fictional idols.

So, okay, I didn't love the book. But I definitely enjoyed it. So if you're thinking about giving this one a try, I say go for it.

For a new author this was quite good. I love to give chances to authors who aren’t as well known as others and I haven’t been let down for the most part! I liked the concept of this book a lot more than I expected and would be interested in more.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all this cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Unwritten takes us to the Zweeshen, the world of books and it's characters. However, this world is under attack by someone that steals power from the books by burning them and extinguishing this stories forever. Beatrix was left with a riddle that will aid in saving the Zweeshen. Everyone sees her as the enemy and is trying to use her one way or another when all she wants is to find her way back to her mother.

I got frustrated at times because there was just too much happening. Beatrix is trying to solve the riddle while she's founding out about her story and that she is not allowed to stay in the Zweeshen. I was happy to see Beatrix and all her friends helping her along the way, after being bullied in the real world it was wholesome to see her with friends that care about her. I would be happy to see more of Beatrix relationship with William, we get some degree of enemies to lovers romance that at the end just warms your heart and you can say "finally!!" and be happy that they worked through their feelings and will do anything for each other. However, I was unable to feel connected to any of the characters.

I didn't enjoy the pace of the book that much, it wasn't a story that gripped me in, some names are just too complicated for me and it made me loose interest a bit.

I feel like there are still a lot of questions left unanswered about Beatrix's family, mainly her mother and father. I was not expecting what was about to happened, nor that ending that absolutely teared my heart into pieces and then put it back together. I'm curious to see what will happen next in the Zweeshen.

Books contain secret universes. It's why so many of us read them. To escape. To learn. To have an adventure. Books being able to whisper to you sounds amazing. (And maybe a little creepy.) After reading the synopsis and seeing the gorgeously jaw-dropping cover, I had to request. I'm sure this fantastical Fantasy will resonate with many readers. For me, personally, the writing felt a little too Middle Grade. I absolutely love the premise but the story and I just didn't get along very well. I still recommend checking Unwritten out if you love stories like Narnia and Inkheart.

Unwritten is the story of a girl who is swept into a world where everyone we know and love in books is alive. This book has magic, political intrigue, mysterious riddles, and romance. While I think the premise of this book is enticing, there were just so many elements packed into it. I found it hard to keep everything and everyone straight. I think some things could have been pared down to give the same overall effect without having so many different moving parts that all needed to be explained and juggled. That said, I thought there were some interesting and exciting moments that were fun to read. I also liked there was a little bit of LatinX representation. But, aside from Emma, I did not connect with any of the characters, sadly. I think most YA ages could enjoy this book, and certainly, anyone who has ever imagined meeting their favorite fictional character may find this book entertaining.

Books have always whispered to Beatrix and when finds out her mother was from another world, her whole world is turned upside down. She's catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where fictional characters come together. Beatrix gets caught up in the search for a character who's seeking to destroy the book worlds and gather infinite power. Will she make it out alive?

What I liked:
+ The writing. It's captivating and very entertaining. It fits the story really well
+ The world building. Everything is explained clearly and as a reader you're able to form a distinct picture in your head
+ the inclusion of other fictional characters. It's almost like a little treat to find a famous character in these pages

What I disliked:
- I sometimes skim-read. It might be the writing style, but it may also be me and my excitement to continue reading
- Sometimes the words for things in the Zweeshen confused me a lot. I couldn't really keep track of what everything was.

Overall:
A very solid fantasy read. Highly recommend to people who enjoy books about books.

This was a heartgripping first book. I first saw the amazing cover on Yabuzz's instagram page and really wanted to read it and gave a request to obtain teh e-ARC. I am so glad I did because it was just amazing. I was so enraptured my the world, the author created that I just cannot wait for next book to come out. I definitely will be recommending this book to all my book loving friends.

In this story, books whisper to Beatrix, our protagonist. I loved this as a premise, and adore the nods to other literature that popped up all the way through it. The world building was good, and everything was set up fairly quickly. The plot moved quickly, and overall it felt a little like a love letter to reading!

I'm also completely in love with the cover. Definitely need a physical copy once it comes out!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Unwritten was a complete and total surprise that I'm thankful to have had the chance to read! Unwritten features a charming and attention grabbing main character and a very unique and interesting magic system!

Can I praise the balance in this book? I never once felt like there was too much development character-wise vs. plot-wise. It felt very even paced all the way around and I didn't really end up feeling like I wanted more or missed anything. I really really loved this story!

The beauty of this book is not only represented on the cover but artfully woven through each and every page in this glorious book. I absolutely loved the world building in this book. It wasn't overwhelming or too long or repetitive, instead as I read each word they jumped off the pages and surrounded me as if I were living between the pages. I felt like I was watching a movie because of how well the author described everything in detail. The story kept me intrigued, and on the edge of my seat. This is seriously a series that I will stalk just to get any subsequent books ASAP!

Very middle grade feel to the writing. I was greatly disappointed in the writing style as it seemed inclined to go on and on about thoughts and details instead of progressing a conversation or the story line. The first 60% of the book seemed like filler to pad out the word count rather than effective story. The last 40% was then more of a drone on and rush of things happening that made little sense with no decent explanation. The names of places and things were overly complicated to try to pronounce and no guide was offered. It seemed we are just expected to know how they are pronounced and what they are. The flow was off with parts of the tale just popping in to existence with no explanation or previous mention either. I don’t normally leave negative reviews but the sim of the issues in this book were too many to overlook.

The story started off creating a sense of mystery and engaging the reader in wondering if Beatrix would find the answers she was looking for about her family and the quirkiness that surrounded them. As the storyline progressed, it was a little confusing at times to follow. There were times when I wish I had more information on aspects of story. By the end, it made sense, and helped me understand Beatrix's frustration. She had a strong group of friends with her and the conversation between them added some humor to the story and a break from the precarious situation in which Beatrix was finding herself. I loved William and Emma and how they both brought out different nuances to Bea's character.
The artwork for the cover is great!
Can't wait to see how this series continues.

Unwritten is a book with a lot of potentials and in a lot of ways it really delivers and in some others, it fell a little short. Overall, I give this book a 3.5 and I think that the read was worth it, but I wouldn't put this at a top ten reads. My breakdown criteria really are going to focus on the characters, plot development, and world-building aspects of the book.

Characters and development (2):

This portion was what I was most unsatisfied with. The characters are drawn up and are highly stereotypic to their perspective stories which makes sense because of the nature of the books. I just did not like the relationships of the characters between one another and some of the development. Bea and Emma's relationship was probably my favorite of the bunch because it gave me a more genuine feel. I think the relationship will well developed but I was hurt to watch Emma start to feel slowly abandoned. When it came between the romantic relationship with Bea and William, I was puzzled, I understand the push on book stereotype but it was an extreme push for me and in some ways a little too overdramatic. I did not really enjoy the paring because there was no real relationship development for me but I appreciated their scenes together. I wish there was more visibility of the side characters and more key into their behaviors, motives, and personalities.

Plot Development (3):

The plot made sense and was straightforward, I felt that the execution of the plot took a long time, especially in the chapters from about 10 to 23. They felt like filler episodes in the book and I understand that they were there to allow some more character connections, I just felt that it spent a lot of time on Bea being a bit of a brat and didn't really add to the plot for me. I felt like I was in our second setting for so long and then as they transitioned into the final setting, it felt like the story was shoved along and it started going a little too fast. Past all of that the storyline is good, the author did a really good job executing the goals of this book and setting up for a second.

World Building (4.5):

I actually love the world building aspect of this book. I was able to understand the systems, the characters and how everything worked form inside in out. On top of that the author is a great discriber and I really felt like I was there. It was almost like you could see everything around you. I think that the author did a good job in creating a living breathing world and that is honestly my favorite part about fantasy books.

Creative and well-written. I won't be dying to re-read it, but I have recommended kids keep an eye out for it.

It took me a while to start liking this book because it was so slow in the beginning. But once I got the ball rolling it was worth it. A book where books speak, magic is involved and a girl is in search of answers has all the ingredients for a great story. I enjoyed this book so much!

Thank you to Netgalley and Intense Publications for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unwritten took me by surprise. The premise sounded so cool, and I was excited to read it. But I felt going in I was not going to like it as much, but I did!

Unwritten follows Beatrix, who is able to hear books whisper to her. However, books are not the reason she has never fit in; bullied at school and home, she keeps a secret-a power of violence and darkness. When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she is thrown into the Zweeshan, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favourite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, they need a riddle that Beatrix has. Now, they are hunting her down.
Joining forces with Willian, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows everything about her. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her.

Oh my GOD, I loved this book. The writing style was so good. It was definitely slow to start, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, but other than that, I had no problems.

Can we take a moment to talk about the romance in this book? Because GOD DAMN this is what I want when I say enemies to lovers. To me, it is not enemies to lovers if the characters start liking each other halfway through the book. In this book, the characters took a minimum of 60% of the book to start figuring out their feelings which is what I mean with enemies to lovers. It is a slow burn romance!!

The story itself had GREAT pacing once we got to around the 30% mark. The first 30% is a little slow but it is so worth it in the end. Plus the worldbuilding is so well done!! It is such a complex world yet it is done perfectly!

If you are looking for a book with enemies to lovers, fast pacing, such a cool and interesting world, Unwritten by Alicia J Novo is for you!

I was gifted an advanced reading copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unwritten is the story of Beatrix, a girl who has never been quite normal. Books whisper to Beatrix, and she has a secret, and sometimes dangerous, power that she doesn't know how to control. When her grandfather dies and the spell hiding her power is broken, Beatrix finds herself whisked away to the Zweeshen, the land of stories where all book characters live. Beatrix isn't exactly welcome in the Zweeshen due to her mother's complicated past and Beatrix's own mysterious identity, and she isn't safe there either. Her mother left her a riddle that leads to a powerful weapon, and someone is willing to destroy worlds to get to Beatrix and take it from her.

This book had a lot of potential, I found the concept to be really interesting. I didn't love this book though, mainly because I didn't find Beatrix to be a compelling heroine, the worldbuilding felt clunky, the romance felt like it got really serious out of nowhere and the pacing was off. I felt like certain parts of the story dragged while there were parts I would've liked to see a lot more of or gotten more plot from that felt rushed. I did enjoy Unwritten though, who doesn't want to see a world made of our favorite characters? Not sure if I'll read the rest of the series, but I did think this was a really interesting idea.

4.5 stars - perfect for the bookish reader

This is the story of Beatix, who lives with her estranged father after her mother died and who is swept away to the Zweeshen one day, the world where all the characters from books live. There's riddles to be solved and worlds to be saved and new worlds and their complicated rules and politics to be navigated. And in the middle of all of that new bonds are formed, with friends and other mysterious strangers.

Oh, this was a gem and I am happy to have discovered this book and the world it brings to us! Which bookish reader would not be delighted with the idea that all of our beloved characters from books are living their best lives somewhere, roaming different worlds after their own story ends.

At heart of course this is classical YA with a young heroine who is struggling with life, discovering her abilities, making friends and finally finding a place in the world.

But is is the details where I thought the book really shone: Beatrix does not magically know what to do, she is a stranger in a strange world and she frequently has doubts if the things that she is doing are actually getting her anywhere. Things do not suddenly become easy for this misfit in the new world. Quite the contrary, she is possibly struggling even more and the stakes are higher. The things that do help her are her persistence, hard work and the pent-up anger burning deep inside her.

Another aspect I enjoyed very much was that the author picked up on the issues for immigrants coming to a new place. The hostility. How frustrating it can be when you don't know the rules and the sytem is against you in any possible way. How politicians manipulate the narrative and use 'unwanted' strangers for their own benefit. We all know how these things work...

The remark about why on earth all characters in books are so damned perfect and beautiful and how it can give anyone a complex really had me chuckle. And there are more of those small and clever observations that made up a significant part of the appeal of this book for me.

I also thought it quite realistic, if you want to call it that, that this new and complex world presents many more questions than answers to our heroine and that this book feels like the first in a row of (hopefully) many. So many things are still unclear and there is so much potential in this world that carries so many within itself.

The only and small caveat would be that I thought the pacing to be a bit odd. Sometimes we are in one time in one sentence and several hours later in the next. The course of events tends to be not quite linear and frequently we find out about something that happened after the fact. I think this was done on purpose as Beatrix herself notices several times how time is strange in Zweeshen so I cannot really fault the author. It's just a bit jarring sometimes.

Still, I very much hope there will be sequels and recommend this book to anyone who is bookish and enjoys the genres.