Review: The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Title: The Waking Land

Author: Callie Bates

Release Date: June 27, 2017

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Lady Elanna Valtai is fiercely devoted to the King who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder and must flee for her life. Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition powers that suddenly stir within her. But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.

My Review: I truly enjoyed this book right up until the end. It doesn’t have a bad ending but it was so rushed that I feel like a lot was missing. This book really would have been much better as a duology so that readers really could get more into the magic and the war. The only other thing that bothered me in the book was the main characters constant waffling about who really was and what she needed to do. She was taken from her parents as a child and raised by the king himself and given everything she wanted. Despite that she was tormented by other children in the castle and wasn’t allowed to have any contact with her parents. I understand that some brainwashing probably took place but at the same time I don’t think she would have lost her curiosity about her home and parents. She seemed to have sold out on her origins and then had an internal struggle when she was forced back home and into a leadership role for her people. I think the book could have spent a little less time on that struggle and more time on her magic, or even on her realizing the truth of how things really are in the kingdom. The story itself was well written, the premise and type of magic were intriguing and overall this was an enjoyable read I would recommend.

*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*