Book Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Summary from GoodReads:

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 Review:

I’ve been book-lusting after Crewel since the moment I saw it on the list as a book promoted at BEA this past June. The cover grabbed me first, then reading the description sent me into a tizzy and I tried every way I could think of to get my hands on a copy. (People, it releases on my birthday and I did not want to wait that long!)

So when NetGalley showed it on their recent additions I squealed and may have cried a little bit in relief. In just a minute or so that coveted approval landed in my inbox and I downloaded the book, the only thing standing in my way just my scheduled reading.

So last night, with a sigh of relief, I opened it up and fell into one of the most imaginative stories I’ve ever experienced. People, this book is a breath of fresh air. Not really dystopian, not really post-apocalyptic – more a blend of fantasy and sci-fi, it boasts a strong heroine who does not waver on her beliefs, two male counterparts that also manage to stay strong (and not wimp out in the face of her strength), and some beautiful world-building. Gennifer Albin does not err on the side of caution, treating her characters with the harsh brush that needs to be used in order to further the storyline, and it’s very appreciated by this reader.

My only complaint, and the only thing that left a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, is the character of Pyranna. She, like Adelice, was one of the chosen to begin training as a spinster, and her character is the only one not fully developed. Her changes in attitude and actions were a little too far-fetched, and it was apparent she was placed into the story as a mere tool to keep things moving. I think she had potential to be more, and I was disappointed by her place in the story.

But overall – this is a great, great story and one that impressed me with it’s uniqueness. I’ll be still purchasing this (or maybe receiving it as a present?) to place on my shelves and loan out – and cannot wait to get my hands on the actual, physical copy.

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