Review & Giveaway: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

 

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Release date: October 16, 2012
Pre Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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 with matter, she’s 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, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

My thoughts:
I am really kinda torn about this book.  This baffles me because I really did enjoy the flow and the writing. I enjoyed the banter and Adelice was a really good character but something about this just didn't click with me.

Crewel is a very intricate story and it revolves around women who mind a loom.  This loom controls everything from weather patterns and geographical planes to food and the lives of the community.  Arras is a colony where everything is controlled and everyone lives in peace.  If you are weak or too old they, the Spinsters, will simply remove you by ripping your thread.  If a certain village needs more food, the Spinsters can weave a simple cow into the picture and viola! you have food.  When girls first started showing they had the skills to weave families ran from the government, they didn't want their children forced to live that life.  After awhile times changed and girls who showed promise were excited and their families happily shoved them out the door to become a Spinster.  Adelice's parents feelings were of the former and when Adelice started showing signs that she could weave they began to teach her how to fail the testing.  Adelice can't control her urges to weave so the unthinkable happens and she is taken to Arras.  This is where her story really begins with secrets, lies, mistakes, and politics.  She finds herself in the middle of a power struggle and the only thing she wants is to go back home.

By the end of the book had this whole concept somewhat figured out, but then a huge curve ball got thrown in and I found myself scratching my head again. It was really hard for me to grasp everything that was going on and I still go back and forth what I think I know and what I definitely know.  I did enjoy the characters.  Adelice, Jost, Erik, and Enora were beautifully written. The banter they all have with one another was so perfect and I think that is one of the reasons why I continued on with this story.  They totally caught my attention and didn't let go.  I have a checklist for books that I really enjoy and this one meets them all so I just don't get why I am feeling off.  I have been thinking about it and I think that the hidden agenda issues that are brought up throughout might be why I am hesitant about this book.  There are a few things that when I read I like to know up front and this book kinda sneaks in a few things that I wasn't prepared for.  These things I won't say because they are big bombs throughout the story, but I will say that I wished I would have known they were in there to begin with.  When they are revealed I felt like I was being preached too and that is never a good thing.    

That all being said I did really enjoy the characters and even with the hidden agenda's I am positive I will continue on with this series.  Something happens at the end that floored me and I have to know what happens next!

3.5 Snowflakes

 

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