#bloodwitch

Bloodwitch was another book that was part of the great reading slump of 2026. Again, this was not the novel's fault, I just lost all interest in reading and especially when this story got extremely stressful. Dennard is really weaving together a story of political maneuvering, ancient powers awakening, and a group of people attempting to do the right thing. It’s really well crafted and honestly, I would say that this is more “new adult” than YA if that was a category we used anymore. 

Bloodwitch continues right on the heels of Windwitch, with Aeduan and Iseult attempting to find Owl’s tribe, Safi still with the Empress of Marstok as her truthwitch attempting to find the corruption in her court, Merik is trying to find a way to save his thread brother Kullen, and Vivia is ready to take her place on the throne of Nubrevnan. Yet, the raider king is ready to make his move, claim the magical portal doors, and take control of the witchlands. Closer to home, individuals that our protagonists thought they could trust have schemes of their own and betrayals now could result in death. Still, Safi and Iseult are attempting to get back to one another, no matter what wars or what powers attempt to keep them apart. 

I cannot go into a lot of detail about the plot as this is the third book in the series and it did take me over a month to read it. I will say that I am impressed by the way that Dennard is weaving together the numerous POV and the way she is writing them so that I am interested in every different plot that is being followed. Still, at it’s heart, this is a character driven novel and I am in love with all of these characters. I was worried for Merik, angry for Vivia, wanting to know is Aeduan and Iseult are going to be honest with each other, and trying to figure out how Safi was going to get back to Iseult. I do want to say that the “inbetween” novella is needed or you are going to have no idea what is going on with the ice mountain and the pull it has. 

I went into this book with very low expectations, because witchshadow left so many loose ends and left out important characters, that I couldn't imagine all plotlines could be wrapped up in a satisfying, non rushed way in witchlight. And I was right.

The book started out extremely strong. The first 70 pages I thought "we are so back, this is the series I fell in love with and that's the story I want to read, i am definitely going to give this book 5 stars" but then things went downhill again.

I loved the flashbacks of Merik and Vivias childhood. I loved that we finally got some actual Nomatsi backstory. I liked that the final fight was really long, and didn't just last one chapter. I liked the very brief quest of Safi, Iseult and Aeduan just travelling together. But everything else? And the ending? What was that? The ending was way too open and left too many plots unfinished and important scenes were just completely missing.

So let me get this straight, after, like, 3 books apart, we couldn't even get a proper on page reunion of Merik and Vivia? Like, there was a very short one, but there was a war going on. And afterwards we couldn't even get a f*ing hug? A few words to each other that they were happy the other is alive and well? We are talking about two siblings who are only just rebuilding their relationship after realising how their father had pit them against each other on purpose. I was waiting for this reunion, and it... just never happened?

The Safi and Merik reunion felt really underwhelming, too. Don't get me wrong, it was cute and heartwarming, but they had been separated for 4 books, I was really expecting more. I did appreciate the full circle moments from book 1, but it ultimately suffered the same fate as Merik and Vivia. After the final showdown, I was expecting something. Anything. A hug, a few words that they are happy the other isn't dead. Stuff you would expect between two supposed love interests after the final, extremely dangerous fight. But there was nothing. Again, they had been separated for 4 books, and in book 1 we were told there were such strong feels between them. And then we got nothing. 3 weeks pass after the final battle before they even talk to each other again! I am sorry, but this does not make sense to me. It doesn't make sense for these characters. The ending was cute, and again, I appreciate the ball scene circling back to book 1, but i had really hoped for more. A conversation, "I choose you" "hey, I have these feelings for you and please don't die again you idiot". Like we got that for Vivia and Vaness, a ship that didn't exist until 1 book ago, but not for these two??? Why????

That brings me to the non existing on page reunion of either Merik and Vivia with their father. Like, Vivia was the rightful queen, and her father refused to step down and bonded with the enemy, and in the end Vivia is just queen, and we never got to see her confronting her father. Same for Merik. Like his father thought he was dead, and this man literally sent his son away because his magic wasn't as powerful as he would have wanted, and we never got to see Merik confronting his father about thar???? About anything???? Like I was ready to see Merik flying into that castle, storm Hound and Vivia by his side, telling his father to fuck off, maybe before or after Vivia had confronted their father in an epic way alone, and to give the crown to Vivia. But nope. Nothing like that. Nothing at all.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Sky as a character. It's very on brand for Merik to find and help people and they all end up his friends and followers and all, but did we really need her chapters? Like yes, it gave us more insight into what was going on, but considering how many plot lines fell short, did we really need it?

And oh, Stix. My heart broke for her. After her relationship with Vivia was completely retconned in the previous book, she didn't even get to tell Vivia how she feels. Because Vivia and Vaness, who were not a thing before witchshadow, confessed their feelings to each other, but the character whose romance was foreshadowed much earlier, (coughsafiandmerikcough Vivia and stix) got nothing.

And don't even get me started on cadens chapters. Considering I really can't stand the hellbards as it is, this arc led absolutely nowhere and definitely wasn't needed. It was pure waste of pages and word count.

The ending also didn't feel like much of an ending at all. The characters are still not done fighting, the danger isn't over because there is still one evil paladin, maybe even two, walking around and could wrack havoc. Stix is one a quest to find him. Safi and Iseult are going on a quest to rebuild the Kingdoms. Idk, it would have been nice to get a view into that. A few details.

Is Safi empress now, or is she just the Char Awen? If she isn't empress, then who is the empress or emperor? Is it her uncle? Maybe I am stupid, but they don't call her empress in the end so I am confused??? Will there be a potential marriage between Vivia and Vaness and how are they going to do that in the end, considering they are both Queens from different Kingdoms.

Is Merik the leader of Arithuania now or is it something else? Like, maybe I am stupid, but the last time I checked, a minister isn't a country's leader. Even through votes. That's the chancellor or president. So, all this foreshadowing of Kullen calling Merik King, and him being represented by the king of Hounds in Rybers tarot cards, were for nothing???

Also, like, a coronation ceremony for literally any of the characters who ended up becoming leaders would have been nice. But we also didn't even get a scene of Vivia confronting her father, so what am I even thinking. Of course we wouldn't get a scene for Vivias coronation.

Also, I found it weird that rybers only plot was it to give us, the reader, information. She wasn't even really involved in the final battle. I thought she would give someone the final puzzle piece of information that would change the direction of the battle, but nope. Her letters to Kullen brought me to tears, but I was really expecting her to play more of an important role.

Now, something else I don't understand. Again, maybe I am simply stupid and don't understand.... I knew it was coming, that Kullen would die. But, before that happened, Iseult died and was brought back. She was literally dead. Her threadfamily literally felt her death. Then she was basically a ghost, and only her bond to Safi and her Char Awen souls held her soul in this world. She was brought back because of Safi’s determination, Leopold and magic. But somehow, Kullen who has a bond with Merik and also has the previous Paladin souls in him just dies and there is nothing to be done? Like, don't get me wrong, i was completely losing it when Iseult died, and I am glad she came back, but shouldn't magic work the same for 2 people with very similar fates? Both have reincarnated souls, both have a powerful bond with their chosen family, but only one could be saved because of these traits? Doesn't make much sense to me. I thought magic had its rules, too.

These are my feelings and thoughts, and I am allowed to feel the way I do about this book.