Book Review: Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format:  Paperback
Pages: 369
Published:  18th October 2012
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Source:  Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Dystopian
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository UK I Book Depository US

Description:
Incapable. Awkward. Artless. That's what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret - she wants to fail. Gifted with the ability to weave time and matter, Adelice is exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, power and beauty, the ability to embroider the very fabric of life. It also means entering a world secrets and lethal intrigue. But unlike the others, Adelice isn't interested in controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have and will do anything to hide her talent from the Guild. But when she slips up during her final test, her gift is identified. Now she has one hour to eat her mum's overcooked dinner. One hour to listen to her sister's school gossip and laugh at her dad's stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything is OK. And one hour to escape. Because once you become a Spinster, there's no turning back .

Review:
Crewel is one of those rare books that is simply amazing! I don't have anything negative to say about it. I was hooked from the description. I knew I wanted it and I just knew I would love it. And I did love it.

Crewel is very hard to explain without giving away spoilers. It has a mix of so many genres; fantasy, dystopian, scifi. It is set in the world of Arras which is ruled by the Guild. Girls with special abilities are sent to train as Spinsters. Spinsters help keep this world going by taking care of the looms to control time and matter in Arras. However, Adelice has trained all her life to fail. Her parents knew she has the gift but didn't want her to be sent to trained. So they had been teaching her to fail the tests. When taking a test Adelice slips up and this changes her life forever.

Adelice has got to be one of my favourite characters is YA fiction. She is feisty and can't seem to stay out of trouble. She creates enemies because she is willing to fight and talk back. However, she also manages to attract a couple of love interests. Yeah, a love triangle! Now I like a good love triangle if it fits the story that this certainly does fit.  Her love interests are Jost and Erik. She has an attraction to both these male characters and the both offer something special to the plot and make it very exciting.

Crewel is completely different to anything I have ever read before. The idea of this world is fascinating and once you learn the real backstory of how Arras was created it's even more fascinating and you want to know even more. What I really like about this was that is so beautifully written. Gennifer's attention to detail is out of this world. She describes everything so the reader really gets a vivid image in their heads. It felt like I was there with the characters.

I am really trying not to spoiler anything so I am keeping this review short and sweet. I highly recommend that everyone reads this as soon as it is released!! It was truely amazing and 100% unique. It has a gripping plot that is actually quite dark, amazing characters and the writing is beautiful and the ending was perfect and leaves you begging for the sequel!!

Thank you Gennifer for writing the phenomenal debut novel that has really set the bar for me on what makes a good YA Dystopian novel. And a massive thank you to the publisher to letting me review this. I am now going to be pushing the book on everyone :)

Rate: 5/5


6 comments :

  1. Oooh this one sounds really interesting. And different. But a love triangle? Ugh they always annoy me :/ Will still probably read it though as I like the concept behind the story

    Yvonne

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    Replies
    1. The love triange isn't a massive part of the story but it does fit in. :)

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  2. Any chance of reviewing CONSEQUENCE (the first in the Three Stages trilogy) by 14-year-old novelist Eliza Serena Robinson?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. email us totallybookalicious(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk with the book information and we will take it from there.

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  3. I love the sound of this book. Going to put it on my wishlist for Santa :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. i Can't wait to read this book! It's been on my to read list for a while now. SOunds soo good.Yours is the first actual review I've read, glad to see it was positive!

    ReplyDelete

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