The Ninth Sorceress by Bonnie Wynne
Published by: Talem Press
Pub Date: February 13, 2020
Pages: 462
Format: e-arc | Source: publisher
Genres: young adult, fantasy
Rating:

In the blackest dungeon of the Clockwork City, a prisoner lies bound in silver shackles. Who is she? And why are the wizards so afraid of her?

Seventeen-year-old Gwyn has no family and no past. Apprenticed to a half-mad herbalist, she travels the snow-blasted High Country, hawking potions in a peddler’s wagon. Her guardian hides her from the world like a dark secret, and she knows better than to push for answers.

But when she discovers she is hunted by the goddess Beheret, Gwyn is drawn into a deep and ancient tale: of chained gods and lost magic, of truths long buried and the rising of a war she never could have imagined.

Wizards and their magic-sniffing hounds pursue her – as does a stranger in a smiling mask, who calls her by an unfamiliar name…

But what really terrify her are the dangerous gifts she’s spent her life suppressing. Now, Gwyn must step out of the shadows and take charge of her destiny – even if the price is her own soul.

The Ninth Sorceress is the breathtaking first instalment of The Price of Magic, a sweeping fantasy saga full of rich storytelling and tangible magic.

Thank you to Talem Press for the opportunity to read and review The Ninth Sorceress- this does not affect the honesty of my review.

From the opening pages, I was intrigued with the world Bonnie Wynne has created. I love when a prologue opens towards what we assume is nearer the end of the story than the beginning because it’s fascinating to see how the story will get to that point! As a reader, you know you will be taken on a journey and seeing those threads pull together is one of my favorite things.

I really enjoyed Bonnie’s writing style- it’s accessible but feels like a true fantasy novel. There is the requisite name-dropping of places and things and people that we are supposed to figure out in context, and that does tend to intimidate me but I got more used to it the further I read and soon enough felt immersed in the world. I picked up on vague Norse influences in the naming constructs and some Scottish dialect as well- I always enjoy the way authors will twist real-life influences for their world-building.

My main complaint was that I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters, which is always disappointing but is very likely a “me” problem. I did think Gwyn was fascinating and I loved the mystery surrounding her, watching that unfurl in unexpected ways. Overall, this was a delightful fantasy book and a world I would be happy to travel back to; I can’t wait for the next in the series. There is nothing better than a world filled with ancient, hidden magic and long-buried secrets, that’s my catnip! I tried to keep this spoiler free, hence the lack of details, but fans of magic and wizards and witches need to check out The Ninth Sorceress when it publishes in February!

About The Author:
Bonnie Wynne studied Writing and Cultural Studies at UTS, and completed her law degree at the University of Sydney. After a brief stint in legal publishing, she now works for the Australian government, deciphering ancient law tomes. She lives in Sydney with her cocker spaniel, Percival Hector (Canine Inspector). When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found playing video games, booking her next holiday, or elbow-deep in flour. The Ninth Sorceress is her debut novel and the first book in her series, The Price of Magic. Visit her at http://www.bonniewynne.com or any of her social media pages:
FB @itsbonniewynne  ⁄  Twitter @itsbonniewynne  ⁄  IG @itsbonniewynne

Is The Ninth Sorceress on your TBR yet? Is fantasy one of your favorite genres? Let me know!