Revenge and rebellion set the stage for the next book I have the privilege of reviewing. Immersed in Bolivian culture, it’s the first fantasy YA story that I’ve gotten to read by an own voices writer. I’m dying for more, not just because of the richness of the culture within the story, but those food descriptions will leave you hungry and wishing you were a citizen of La Ciudad. The story features some strong female characters that I couldn’t get enough of by the end, and a sweet love story to go alongside it. I cannot wait to go and pick up my copy of this book to see how it compares to the advanced reading copy! Add it to your TBR, because you won’t want to miss out on Woven In Moonlight.
Our story begins with Ximena, a decoy for the Condesa, the last remaining Illustrian royal. Their people lost everything when the usurper Atoc used an ancient relic to unleash ghosts to drive Illustrians from La Ciudad. Ximena is driven by revenge, and her power to spin thread from moonlight. When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, Ximena goes in her stead, as Illustrian spies have noticed the relic used against them missing from Atoc’s hand. If Ximena can locate its whereabouts, she can bring back the true royal back to her rightful place. She’ll use her power to weave hidden messages into her tapestries for the resistance, but when she’s challenged by a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer…everything that Ximena’s ever known will be questioned. There might be another way to overthrow the usurper, but at the cost of turning her back on her revenge, and the Condesa.
First of all, let me begin with the fact that this story will pull you in…from the moment you start reading. You begin by seeing the plight of the Illustrian people, and how Ximena as the decoy Condesa is managing it all. The best part is that things are much more complicated than they seem. Despite the fact that they’re still trying to remain an aristocracy, there’s only so much that they can do for the people. They are trapped, scared, and will soon starve. Something needs to be done. Despite being the Condesa’s decoy, Ximena’s personality is strong. She has a lot of opinions, and has a hard time keeping them to herself, which gets her in trouble. She’s a character that I didn’t necessarily like, but then began to understand and feel for. She’s also stubborn, and I loved how challenging it made things for her. Sometimes characters have to learn things the hard way. Not to say that I love when characters feel pain, but sometimes their growth is only experienced through these tough lessons.
We also have El Lobo, the masked vigilante that seems to be wreaking havoc upon La Ciudad. He doesn’t seem to affiliate with anyone person, but he does seem to be becoming a thorn in Ximena’s side. He was a fun character to read about because he seems to be full of mystery. Of course there are several characters that I found fascinating, and many of them happen to be part of the enemy camp. I especially adored the love interest. He’s full of layers, and I loved getting to know him.
The magic system in this story is fascinating. I wish that I had gotten more about it than we had in the story, because I truly wanted to know how it all worked. People have different gifts, and Ximena’s is one that is unique, even among her people. However, I loved the idea of her creating thread out of moonlight. It was such a beautifully described aspect of the story. Honestly, the depictions of magic and food in this story are truly beautiful. The images of La Ciudad came to life in my mind, and I loved each and every moment that I got to spend in this story surrounded by magic. Ximena’s creations were truly what took my breath away in this story. I loved each and every one.
As I mentioned before, things are a little more complicated than at first glance within this story. It isn’t simply about a usurper displacing a group of people, but also about the motivations behind the displacement. I love that we go into the prejudices Ximena holds against her enemies, until she starts learning there’s a whole other side to the events. As she begins to understand these, she begins to develop an understanding of her enemy that isn’t black and white. The shades of grey that she begins seeing are truly a wonder to behold, and what I think Isabel does so well. While we have forces of good and the forces of evil in this book, it’s not quite that simple. I loved seeing that the villain in this story didn’t necessarily start that way. The struggles for power can truly taint a leader’s heart.
I did love the pacing in this story, it’s not too fast, but it keeps readers wanting to keep turning the page. Another thing that I loved was the fact that the advanced reading copy didn’t italicise the use of Spanish in the book. It was so wonderful to read my language as part of the narrative, and to KNOW and UNDERSTAND what it means? I don’t think there is anything more valuable to a Latin American reader.
I don’t have anything to complain about with this story, it’s a 10/10 for me. I’m excited for other Latin American readers to get ahold of it and see what they think, but I also want everyone to get this book in their hands and love it just as much as I did.
Woven In Moonlight is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of January 7th 2020.
Will you be picking up Woven In Moonlight? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.
Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.
When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.
She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.
Great review. Thank you