The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publish Date: November 6, 2018
Synopsis: Thrilling, atmospheric, and filled with ancient magic, this lyrically written YA debut is perfect for readers of The Raven Cycle and Wink Poppy Midnight.
Once a year, Wren is chased through the woods near her rural Ireland hometown in a warped version of a childhood game. Her pursuers belong to the judges, a group in control of an ancient, powerful magic they stole from her own people, the augurs . . . but they know nothing of her real identity. If they learned the truth, the game would surely turn deadly.
Though she knows the risks, Wren also goes on the hunt, taking a dangerous undercover assignment as an intern at enemy headquarters, the Harkness Foundation. If she can uncover a long-buried secret, she can save her family and end the judges’ reign once and for all.
But as the web of lies, deceit, and betrayal thickens around Wren, she hurtles toward a truth that threatens to consume her and reveal who she really is. Not only has she come to the attention of powerful judge Cassa Harkness, but she is also falling dangerously in love with the one person she shouldn’t. And she may need to decide which she’d rather lose, her heart or her life.
This spellbinding YA debut from Mary Watson is part thriller, part love story and entirely captivating.
Disclosure: ARC provided for an honest review. #partner
The Wren Hunt is such an interesting and captivating read!
Told through the eyes of Wren, a 17 year Augur old living in a small town, we begin the story at the time of the annual hunt. While it may be a fun hunt for other neighborhoods, Wren’s small town is bloody and causes her pain.
There are the Judges, the Augurs, and Bards that categorize the people in this world. The Bards are extinct, leaving the Judges and Augurs to have tension throughout the years. The Judges are ruthless and monopolize lives around town, while the Augurs lay low.
I enjoyed Wren and who she is as a main character. She’s a great heroine to look up to, and I really loved getting to know her. She’s witty, and smart, and quick.
This world is so intricate and enigmatic that I can’t fully express how much I enjoyed the magic system, the detailed world, or these wonderful characters. It feels like magical realism, but the soul of this story feels historical and established. I specifically enjoyed the details surrounding the Daragishka Knot, a magic to help Augur’s causes.
I enjoyed every moment of it, and I think you will also.
*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*
