Crewel [Paperback]

While dystopia saturates the YA market at the moment and quite a few reviewers are having dystopia overload I have to say that the teens in the library have only just 'got' dystopia thanks to the Hunger Games movie. So while reviewers are buried under dystopia teens are eagerly awaiting the next book that captures their imagination. I feel as if I am being overly critical when it come s to reviewing dystopia at the moment because there are just so many available, however, I have to say that Crewel is a really good story apart from the dystopian element or should I say in spite of it.

Different to how I imagined but none the less. A very compelling storyline. Some very weighty topics dealt with within the plot including faith & religion. Mind control, politics & corruption, as well as same sex relationships.

Written in first person narrative from the perspective of Adelice, she is one very special 16 year old. Trained from an early age to hide her 'gifts' by her parents. Although the reason behind this training and her parents involvement within the plot as a whole is never fully divulged. I did feel as if there was an entire back-story that needed to be told, I am hoping this thread will be picked up later in the trilogy. Before I continue onto the main part of my review I would just like to make you aware that I absolutely hated the name Adelice, sorry but its too closely linked to the word head-lice and every time I read her name I want to scratch my head.

Back to the point, I really liked Adelice's development throughout the book, her inner strength and loyalty really shoe through the narrative enhanced by the trials she has to face. Although I did find aspects of the plot obvious this may be due to reading so many dystopia recently and this shouldn't be taken as a reflection on the story itself.

The world building is excellent. The imagery instantly brings to mind the Fates from Greek Mythology or the Witches from Macbeth; the ability to see ans weave the threads of life around them. the lovely use of metaphor made the descriptions easy to visualize and sensory encompassing.

The society itself, built around and run by mean controlled by a clandestine governing body, there is always the drive for control and power behind the scenes. Although women play an important part within the society (the spinsters anyway) the other women are kept firmly in their places. Forced into stereo-typically female jobs, conforming to male standards of dress, the ideas subtle yet degrading. The pressure to maintain their appearance to the point of having to wear make-up perfectly all the time in public. Creating further pressure on women in the society as well as setting unrealistic goals alongside undermining their self esteem. The divide between the sexes in all areas is powerfully portrayed within the narrative. Segregation is extreme, the city is even separated into families with daughters and those with sons. Purity laws are enforced, marriages arranged even births are allocated and gender selected. All symptoms of an unjust patriarchal civilization.

All of the characters are very well developed, their background stories enhance the main plot, however, I will say that the characters all revolve around Adelice rather than being separate plot threads. Plot hints are placed at random within the narrative. As I stated earlier, I was able to work out the plot twists at an early stage so the plot hints were superfluous in my case but again this is because of the extensive number of dystopia I have read and not a reflection of the book; and it certainly didn't affect my enjoyment of this story in the slightest.

Crewel stands out in a sea of dystopia due to it's beautiful writing, vivid imagery, sensory encompassing descriptions and thought provoking plot.

There is no way possible that I can write a review of Crewel that even comes close to describing how unique and creative this book is.

This is the first novel by Gennifer Albin and I have to say she has some major skills! The world building that takes place is quite impressive. It is also a very s-l-o-w build... there are so many layers and Albin doesn't give up all of Crewel's secrets straight away which creates a beautifully woven story. Not that this story is slow, it is actually quite the opposite. I was surprised at how quickly I had feelings for the characters. I understood the emotions they were feelings and was feeling them also. I had many surprised moments while reading and I love when that happens! I never felt complacent as the story was always twisting and turning.

Adelice is a strong character. Not in a 'she can kick your ass' kind of way but she is smart, makes good decisions and doesn't have to rely on others to get things completed. I really love her for that. She has to face a lot and stays strong. Yes she has her moments of 'why bother' but honestly if I had to go through what she is having to face I would have crumbled a long time ago.

There is a love triangle... I know, I know that puts a lot of people off but trust me it is not all that bad. The boys in question are Jost and Erik and I do like them both. Of course I have a favorite but I don't want to join a Team just yet. I shall let you all read it and come to your own conclusions about them both. At first I sighed because I thought it was all a bit 'instant love' but then if you think about the circumstances it really isn't. This is a world where the girls are segregated from the boys until 16 years of age. Then testing takes place to see if you have what it takes to be a weaver. If you fail at testing you are then given a profession and you will have access to the pamphlets which will show you the eligible boys that are ready for marriage. This is how you meet your future husband. So when Adelice is taken to the coventry for her weaver training and there are two boys there who show her attention she has never received before. So I can see how emotions are heightened and I would not call this 'instant' love at all.

This is honestly one of those books that if you go into too much detail with the review you will inevitably have spoilers and I want to do my best to avoid that. I want this to be as fresh and creative for you when you read it as it was for me when I did.

There is no date yet announced for book two in the series but I for one will be on the look out and will be reading it upon release! It is not that this book ended with a huge cliffhanger but more of a place where there is going to be an eager anticipation to see where we are taken next. I can't wait...

Christine
Rainy Day Reads

Note: I was given an ARC copy of this novel directly from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of dystopian novels in the last couple of years and to be honest, I was beginning to get bored with them. Then I read Crewel... This is one of the best dystopian novels I have read and enjoyed since The Hunger Games! Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
It was so not what I was expecting. Think The Matrix meets Total Recall and you would be half way to visualising this book.
Though saying that, the beginning reminded me of Anne Frank; the way her family were hidden in order to hide from the Germans; Adelice was hidden in the same to keep her safe. Her family knew she was special and didn't believe that the life of a Spinster was as wonderful as the media made it out to be.

Adelice is really clever! She can manipulate and weave time without using a spindle. She deals with a lot of heartbreak to begin with, which only goes to make her stronger as a person. She will do all she can to avenge everything her family suffered. Adelice is a really strong protagonist and I warmed to her straight away. As the story progresses she finds herself woven into an interesting love triangle - one I did not see coming! I loved Josh and Erich; their reaction to each other was a brilliant sub plot to the story.
I loved the plot! It was extremely detailed and well thought out. I really enjoyed the whole weaving experience written so well and completely believable. I did have to read sections about the weaving and how the Earth was connected to Arras a couple of times; because I found it quite mind blowing and I needed to be able to visualise it properly. The ending surprised me and I find myself desperate to find out how the characters will cope in their new environment.
This book has very strong themes of lesbianism and women's rights which I felt were both dealt with extremely well. You could feel the strength of the female battering against the domination by the males.
This book has really raised the game when it comes to dystopian fiction - I think others books may fall at the starting line, as this one gather speed in a race to be the new face of dystopian fiction.