The Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.
But it's all fake.
At least, that's what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes-one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people's old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated? But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he's ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic, and about himself will change when he discovers that the prophecies he's always scorned…are about him. Laced with rich, imagined histories; miles of catacombs; and prophecies true and false, Witchlanders takes place in an evocative, tantalizingly vibrant world and raises equally evocative questions: Who gets to defines history? When does a legend become a crutch? And why does the enemy in war look a lot like the hero? Lena Coakley's first novel is a lush, chilling story that is sure to send shivers through your finger bones.
Discussion Questions:
- The cover of Lena Coakley's Witchlanders depicts a young pretty woman along with a sword and red fabric. As an adventure story that focuses on Ryder, a young farm boy struggling to keep his family safe, why did the author chose those images on the cover? Do they work for you? Can you make an alternative suggestion?
- What are some of the key conflicts and prejudices in Witchlanders? How do these misunderstandings contribute to Lena Coakley's final message to the reader, "There are no sides"?
- Ryder's faces multiple challenges throughout the story that help develop his character. What do you think was his greatest character trait?
I decided to read Lena Coakley's Witchlanders because my favourite genre is fantasy. The novel is a gripping tale about a young man, Ryder, who seems trapped in a community of secrets. He is in the dark about the mysterious past of his family and the confusing politics of witchcraft that rules his community. Lena Coakley creates tension from the first page as dramatic events threaten Ryder's sense of self-control and threatens the lives of his family and community.
ReplyDeleteI think Ryder's greatest character trait is his ability to learn from his mistakes and misperceptions. In the beginning of the novel he is very stubborn and frustrated. Rightfully so, he is angry about the events surrounding his mother's addiction to Night Bloom. He feels betrayed by the ruling coven of witches and the secrets surrounding his family. Eventually Ryder is able to make compromising decisions in the best interest of everyone. He recognizes the prejudice in both sides of the conflict and acts fairly, because "there are no sides".
Mr. Krall~
Witchlanders was a good book, with several surprises and plot twists that kept me intrigued throughout. The writing was fairly simple, not as descriptive as I am generally used to. I liked the concept, and although it was not my favourite book, I look forward to a possible sequel.
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed Witchlanders for alot of reasons one of which being it is a good look into the truth about war and just how stupid it really is. This book not only touches on the fact that we are the same and that everyone is equal, but it also shows the aftermath of war and the divison it can leave between people as well as the toll it can have on someone mentally. Aside from that the book was a well written drama-filled adventure that had me on the edge of my seat through the latter half of the book and it all came together quite nicely and the lore and world information was fed to me in a way that made me always know enough that I was never confused but always left room for more. I found the ending plot twists to be both clever and unexpected and they all fit in really well with what I knew of the book's world at that time. Overall it was a great book filled with drama and exictement and I cant wait for a sequel.
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