Book Review - Crewel

Crewel

by Gennifer Albin

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

Why I Picked This Book:  Honestly, the cover was the first thing to draw me in.  Then I read the synopsis and instantly grabbed it.  Time weaving?  Oh yes.

My Thoughts:

Crewel took me on a ride, and dropped me off at a stop I now have to wait impatiently for the next pickup.  With the feel of being based off of Greek mythology (which is something I have been craving badly), Crewel presents the idea that everything, every little thing, has been woven around us.  Girls with the ability to see the threads are taken from their homes and turned into Spinsters.  From there, they have to devote the rest of their lives to weaving weather, food, births... and deaths.

Adelice tried to hide her talent.  She had no idea why, but her parents insisted that no one should know she could weave.  Of course, she slips.  And the Coventry comes for her.

Did I mention they have no say in whether they go or not? 

It is join the Coventry and become a Spinster... or be killed.

I have to admit, I had my ups and downs with this novel.  There were aspects that I almost rolled my eyes at, or groaned when reading.  There were many moments that did feel as if they dragged on and I was almost (almost) tempted to skim them.  But then a moment happened that completely trapped me, and I was pulled back into the story.

Adelice was a strong female protagonist.  Though I did have a hard time connecting with her, I still found myself rooting her on.  And at most times, saying something like: "Come on! Do *insert spoiler type idea here* right now!"

Yes, there is a slight love story involved.  Luckily, the entire novel doesn't seem to lean on that aspect though.  Adelice seems more worried about her family than this love, though it does become a driving force for her and all her actions.

Many things were guessable.  But I was okay with that.  It felt good to know things before the characters did, though some of the reveals could have been a bit more dramatic.  Still, I felt the story did flow well and was woven (ha, get it?) nicely.

Crewel is the controlling, "Do as I say" intensity of the Hunger Games, meets slight Greek Mythology, meets intense nunnery.  All in all, I enjoyed this read and look forward to book two.

My Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)