Witchmark

A solid 3.75* read. This book has a number of flaws which I could probably chalk up to it being a debut work, but ultimately, the magic system and the politics of the world is compelling and engaging enough for me to consider continuing with the series.

Miles Singer is a doctor in Aeland, a country like an alternative Edwardian England, who finds himself suddenly administering emergency help to a dying man, Nick Elliot, brought in by a passerby, Tristan Hunter. Before Nick passes, he reveals that he knows exactly who Miles Singer is - both a mage and the son of a powerful Royal Knight. Miles isn't even his real name. Miles dedicates himself to find Nick's murder, at the same time finding himself tumbling back into the family circles that he has sought to escape for so long, and into the irresistible charm of Tristan, himself not just any ordinary human either.

Witchmark has a pretty rough beginning. You are quite literally thrown in to the world and so many foreign terms are bandied about without any proper explanation. It was disorienting to read, and didn't do much to feel engaging. I actually had to start writing down notes to remind me of things. The dialogue, especially at the beginning, felt a bit stilted and overly dramatic, such as when Grace, Mile's sister, swears by her own blood not to Bind him at their first meeting after he ran away from home.

The set-up of the story, the characters, and the central romance felt a little abrupt somehow, and some bits were just downright contradictory. Miles ran away from home precisely because he didn't want to be controlled by his family due to the class of mage that he was born to be. He spends a good deal of time in the first few chapters of the book running away from and rejecting his sister precisely because he refuses to be subservient to anyone. But yet, the moment he finds out Tristan's true identity (which in itself felt like a rather abrupt and hasty scene), it felt like he immediately and very naturally fell into a subservient attitude, refusing to call him by his first name despite Tristan's multiple entreaties and instead going with “Sir” or “Mr. Hunter” for a good while.

After the world is somewhat set up though, the appeal of the book comes in - this is probably after a good 25% into the book though. I enjoyed the magic system and the politics that's set up here. Grace, Miles's sister, is a Storm-Singer, something like a more powerful form of mage that's in control and who are typically bound with a member of a slightly lower order of mages called Secondaries, who mainly exist to provide their Storm-Singers with energy and power to do their jobs. Miles, himself a Secondary, is rebelling against this system, in proving that the Secondaries' “tricks”, their main magical power, shouldn't be seen as a lower order of magic and not as important, and that some Storm-Singers themselves also have the same “tricks” that only Secondaries do. The politics around this entire system is pretty tight, concise, and compelling, which I appreciated.

I particularly liked Grace Hensley as well. She is fiercely loyal to her family and genuinely cares for her brother, but at the same time she has a dogged persistence in doing what she thinks is right, even if that includes sacrificing her brother's happiness, freedom, or even at risk of her own life. I never really knew whether to like her or to be annoyed by her, which is a sweet middle spot that I really enjoy with characters. Miles and Tristan were fine, I didn't feel strongly either way with them. Their chemistry seemed a little too abrupt and quick, and interestingly enough, their romance wasn't the main attraction for me in this novel (normally it would be).

Overall, a very promising debut novel which, while suffering from its flaws, has huge, huge potential for becoming a compelling world. I'll be keeping tabs on this author!

I don't think I can write a long review yet, because my thoughts aren't really in order, but I absolutely loved this. I was eagerly anticipating it for months, and it met and exceeded my high expectations. I think it might be one of the best books I've ever read - a new classic of queer fantasy.

I'm primarily a romance reader these days, and I'm always a little hesitant to read a book that isn't marketed as romance but features queer characters, because it's so common that queer characters die. Nobody dies in this book and nothing tragic happens. The romance is perfect, and in general, this book has me considering fairy-tale tropes in a new way. Are they always about messing with the usual social order? I'm excited to approach some of my old favorites with this idea in mind.

Highly recommended.

Dropped 50 pages in. The writer just kind of drops the reader into the world without explaining anything and I spent the first few chapters confused about what was happening and why I should care. On top of that, some sentences simply didn't make sense, made-up words notwithstanding. Polk needs a better editor and a lesson in exposition.

This was a comfortingly cozy read. A mystery to solve, a betrayal to suffer, a romance to swoon into, all wrapped in a delightful cover of magic. Hints of [b:The Watchmaker of Filigree Street 22929563 The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, #1) Natasha Pulley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1418113344l/22929563.SY75.jpg 42499104], so if you liked that you'll probably like this one, but I enjoyed this one so much more.I started out listening to this one, but the narration was terrible. Read it, if you can.

In Aeland, if you are a witch, your only choices in life are to be sentenced to an asylum, or bound to a storm-singer. As a bound witch, you are no more than a battery. Forced to sustain a storm-singer as they use their power to manipulate the weather. For years, witches have been seen as nothing more than tools to be used. Destined to be a battery for his own sister, Miles ran away to enlist in the military. When his camp was destroyed by the enemy, he faked his own death to escape the watchful eyes of his father. A father who would do anything to enslave his own son.

Miles hides in plain sight, working in the psychiatric ward of a veteran's hospital. With his ability to heal, he can see the injuries sustained by the soldiers coming home from war. Many of his own patients suffer from battle fatigue and experience voices in their heads telling them to kill. To Miles, the mental strain appears as a brown cloud in his patient's minds. Able to lock the disease away with magic, he cannot perform miracles for every patient. He must use mundane means to diagnose and treat it, or else be ousted as a witch. Until a dying witch is brought to Mile's hospital and a witness sees the man grant Miles his power before he dies.

This is not a novel for those who prefer reading magical battles with a fast paced plot. It is instead, an even paced mystery filled with magic. Not only does Miles have to figure out what is happening to his patients, he is also tasked with finding clues to the unknown witch's murder. Of course the star witness, Tristan, joins Miles in the search. Reading the two of them together reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. They feed off of each other, and make quite the pair as the risk taking Tristan endures the careful and methodical methods of Miles.

Miles was unfortunately, a flat character. The most reaction seen out of him was when he had to explain how he wanted something better for his life. Even reading about the duty he felt towards his patients, it seemed to fall short. When he ended up with a romantic interest, it didn't even feel real, more like something he acknowledge and accepted without passion.

Even though the main character wasn't interesting enough, the rest of the world drew me in. While most of this book focused on the storm-singers and witches with the ability to heal, I want to know more about the other witch abilities. I am also intrigued by the ending of this book and what changes will occur due to the chain of events.

This was really good. Interesting world, good characters.

It's taken me a long time to read this one. When I'm stressed I tend to move from book to book and the only one I'll read consistently is the one I keep in my bag, to read on the bus to and from work.

Side-note: this was the 1000th book I marked as “read” here.