Windswept (The Mapweaver Chronicles)

I didn't think I would love this book but here I am excited to read the next of the series.It's a slow read but not dragging.It's the kind of book that takes time because of how details of the lifestyle and culture in the world it's set in is delicately built and told. I really have not read a book like this that puts into enough detail of the people's culture from their work, to their community interaction, to their tradition, to their trade with others, and much much more and it does not bore at all. It's that kind of book that demands to be taken time with and it was really fun!This book is different in that it doesn't just thrusts the MC into a grand adventure out of nowhere and he becomes a sort of hero over night, no. We are taken on a journey of growth and we get to witness the MC really grow into a 'someone' over time. Unlike most fantasy stories, the MC doesn't suddenly know how to use his abilities and become godlike in a very short time. He learns and grows just as the people around him learns and grows too. We see him struggle and be lost, and most importantly, we see him seek multiple outside help to improve himself instead of being instructed by only one godly being. We see his 'superiors' and instructors flawed too and openly admitting their limitations.It's just so much fun and interesting to read about everything in this world because of it.It's not flawless of course but if you ask me, I can't even remember them because I'm so absorbed by everything going on to care. If I think hard enough, what I can remember is there's no clear or definitive antagonist (yet) that the MC will pursue through the rest of the series but it doesn't really bother me because to me this is about the MC's journey to self discovery and not a story about trying to defeat a specific big bad. For now at least. I feel like eventually the story would go that way but it's refreshing the way it went for this first book.I really love how different this book is to most fantasy reads and I wish more people would read this. The somewhat slow pace will not be for everyone but I think if they give it a chance they will see how it's the good kind of slow. It's a story within a story within a story (storyception) and we learn a lot about not just the MC but about the people he comes across.I can compare it to playing a video game where the main quest progress is slow because of the many side quests you encounter along the way and every single side quest is just so rewarding that getting to the main quest still feels important but not urgent.Almost everything about this book is just so refreshing, even the romance parts where I thought might end up feeling cliche just feels paced so right that even though you could infer how things would go it still felt so good to see it progress as so instead of my usual eye rolling reaction haha. It's all very wholesome too and I love it.Dear YA authors, romance can be done without having characters be thirsty and flirty at every corner. Please read this book as an example.This was a really good read and by the end of it, my heart ached for what was lost and what might be lost but at the same time happy for what was gained and what would be gained.I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

This is a world building book. If you are a role play gamer or a fan of immersing yourself in the universe of a book, this is for you. One of the only complaints anyone has made about this book is that it's "slow" - if it feels slow to you, you're looking for an action book, and this isn't it, but hang tight! The series picks up fast and only gets better!This book isn't slow, it's indulgent. It's an exploration. It's the rich piece of chocolate you let melt in your mouth as long as possible. It takes its time to really let you get to know and care about the characters, the world they live in, and the magic they live with (or without). And, like a good D&D campaign, it sets up the rest of the series to continually raise the stakes!It is an exceptionally good debut novel, but it is still a debut - read with grace and know that Bellamy's writing and editing only gets tighter as the series goes on!

What a wonderful book! The characters are richly drawn, the world is immediately inviting, and the story carries you along from one revelation to the next. I really liked the book's new (to me) use of magic. Recommended.

I got this book on a whim. A blind date with a book. I saw Kaitlin Bellamy promote her book on Tiktok. A simple, I wrote a book you should read it, little clip. I knew nothing of the story; I did not even read the summary before I bought it. It is quarantine and I ran out of books to read, so why not? Little did I know how completely enthralled I would become by this book. It has been YEARS since I have fallen so deeply in love with a story. I did not want it to end, but I could not put it down. It was like your favorite dessert that you always finish too soon. You try your best to slow down, and savor eat bite (or page in the book's case), but eat bite just has you drooling, craving for more. It is not just the story that kept me coming back for more, it was how real the characters were. Not a single character is just a fragment of a person, a one dimensional personality, who flit in and out of story, just serving the simple purpose of advancing the storyline, never really thought of again. Each character, not just Fox, is full of life, and are so well written that they stay with you, and you cannot wait until they come back. Fox grows throughout this story, and at the end, when he looks back at everything that has happened, he is surprised how much has transpired in such a little amount of time. I was so engrossed in the story, that I found myself thinking and feeling the same thing. I know everything I am saying is generalized, and that is on purpose. Revealing the specific passages, parts of the story line that I LOVED; I feel would take away the chance for you to discover them as you read. Give this book a chance, and you will not regret it. Kailtin Bellamy is the needle in the haystack, and will forever have a place on my bookshelf.

Truly a delight to readBeautiful character development, and just the right amount of magic.perfect solution for a getting out of a reading rut if you find yourself reading the same tropes over and over

The feel’s are strong in this book, I kid you not, I have never felt as much emotion as I have from this book, it makes you laugh it makes you cry and it makes you forget time, it feels as if you are really there. One of the best books I have read this year.Every character has a place in my heart every person in this book is so well written they feel as if they are now a part of my family. It gives you a sense of home, a place to belong.I can not recommend this book enough!! It has everything you could want in a story. Magic. Adventure. Pirates. Love. (Family love) Battles. Betrayal. Loyalty. And lastly Gods.Fox is a special he has a gift, the Shavid call it windkissed, or a blessing Fox calls it a curse at least he doses in the beginning.He can smell what’s on the wind, can talk to the animals through the wind. Predict the weather, It caresses him guides him into his own adventure.He meets Farren a pirate God, Farren is full of mystery and we get to see the adventurous life he led before he met fox. The God Farren wants something from fox but as all Gods are, he’s not forthcoming with information. The God has his own mission. And one he needs Foxes help to achieve. But can the God keep Fox onside?Fox is supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a trapper. When he meets the Shavid the wind calls to him and he longs to go with them. But he needs to grow a little first. He needs to learn how to fight and how to protect he people he cares about. Especially his best friend Lai, he’s known her all his life, yet wasn’t quiet prepared to find out why Farren was so interested in her.I don’t want to give too much away! Seriously pick up the book and read it. You won’t be disappointed.All I want to do is have a pint of ale in the five sides snuggle up with blankets and listen to the stories and songs been told.

Over the last year or so, I've gotten into the habit of downloading book samples of anything I come across as recommended that seems even mildly interesting. They sit in big pile on my kindle, and once I finish reading something, I browse the samples to see if something catches my interest, and if it does, I'll read the sample. If the sample is to my liking, I get the book.That's how I came across Windswept.I know someone recommended it, and it might have been the author, but I can't recall, and it doesn't really matter. I'd downloaded it, so there must have been something interesting about it, and now (two days ago) was the time to check it out.I'm glad I did.On the surface, this is a fairly standard fantasy adventure, and if I were to describe the plot, it'd probably sound a bit like "village boy has special powers and saves the day." Yes, that's a bit dismissive, but that's because I want to highlight that even with a pretty standard plot, you can still tell an amazing and heartwarming story. You can still bring a world to life, even if it's not the pinnacle of originality and invention.This isn't to say that the plot doesn't have its twist, or that the world is dull, only that there are other (and better) reasons to read this book, but first...WHAT I'LL WHINE ABOUT:In the second half of the book, there are a few chapters (one at a time, not all at once) dedicated to telling the backstory of one of the supporting characters. I'm sure there's a reason for this, but by the time I got to these chapters, I was so eager to find out more about what happened to Fox that I skimmed through them as quickly as I could.WHAT I'LL GUSH ABOUT:This is a winter warmer. I'm not sure there's a better term to describe it.Outside, the real world is cold and rainy and miserable in all kinds of ways, and this book is a little beacon of hope and warmth.The village where most of the story takes place is located in a cold, harsh, and inhospitable part of the world, where everyday life is a constant struggle for survival. This could have lead to the story and its characters being mean and cruel, but it doesn't. Instead, it creates a small community filled with warmth and kindness, where people care for, look after, and rely on each other.Sure, there are exceptions, but they're on the edge of the story, not smack in the middle.As escapism goes, this is awesome. It's a book to bundle up with and forget all the troubles and just go on an adventure. It doesn't have to be so serious.There's that spark of magic, that hint of adventure beyond the mountains, and there's a tiny seed of a romance that I can't wait to see what it grows into.FINAL WORDS:If the world rests heavy on your shoulders, read this.

This is definitely one of those books that you have to pull yourself away from at the end of an evening - just one more chapter maybe?The characters, the storyline, the style of writing and the way they all work together to draw you into this fantasy world make for a book that leaves you desperately longing for the next in the series once you've finished. Happily I have the next book and am now off to start it now :-)Thank you Kaitlin for taking the time and effort to brings us a delightful new world to enjoy.

I loved this starting book in the Trilogythe Map inside the cover is just amazingi cant provide details from the story due to not wanting to accidently spoil anything but this is an amazingly worthy read

Loved this book from start to finish. The novel wraps you up in the characters and they take you along for the ride. You won’t be disappointed.