My Review:
“Wishtress”, by the talented Nadine Brandes, is a new standalone young adult fantasy novel. Let me tell you, you are in for a treat, a boost for your faith and an incredible, edge of your seat adventure!
If this does not convince you, let me give more reasons why “Wishtress” has made it onto my favorites list. One reason is because the world and plot of “Wishtress” is so unique (in true Brandes fashion)! Brandes tells her story with a fresh voice that has the feel of an old fairytale. “Wishtress” reads like a fairytale that has allegory mixed in and includes nods to the Dutch and German cultures. I found myself in awe of the imaginative world and magic system. I especially loved how Brandes weaves incredible symbolism and allegory into the story, even while the narrative itself can be enjoyed for the amazing story that it is! The allegory is so powerful that I found myself super encouraged in my own faith and walk with the Lord by the end of this book!!! From about two-thirds through the book, there is nonstop action, tension and it is extremely hard to put down!
Brandes writes many incredible characters in “Wishtress”! Myrthe, the protagonist, is relatable in so many ways. When she discovers who she is and what her talent is, she does not know whether it is truly a gift or a curse, and she questions how to use it. Myrthe undergoes a huge transformation throughout the story. In the beginning, Myrthe feels that people value her tears more than her heart. She is tired of being controlled by her grandmother and longs to live her own life, learn about her gift and to use it to help people. Her journey in many ways mirrors our faith journey. Something I love about Myrthe is that she deals with chronic pain! But I have to stop gushing before I give too much more away!
Will Myrthe become who she was created to be or will she and her gifts fall into the hands of the wrong people and become a curse? Do not pass up the opportunity to read this deep, thought-provoking, and exciting story!
Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: a woman emotionally and physically abuses and controls her granddaughter; a person curses, but the word is not actually written; people are physically tortured; a girl was forced into prostitution in her past; a man drinks ale; there are descriptions of violence and some gore.
Rating: I give this book 5 stars and a place on my favorites shelf!
I want to thank Nadine Brandes, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
About the Author:
Hello friend! What will it be? Tea? Coffee? Lemonade? Water? All the best conversations and introductions happen at a coffee shop, in my opinion. 
Okay, a little about me:
- I’m the author of five Young Adult books: ROMANOV, FAWKES, and The Out of Time Series.
- I’m an adventurer.
- I’m a Harry Potter super-nerd who has been known to eat an entire package of Oreos (family-size) by herself.
- I watch Fiddler on the Roof at least once a year. (Wait…you don’t?)
- I love the word bumbershoot.
- I learned to write using a fountain pen. They are the magic behind avoiding hand cramps. For reals.
- I hate kale with an immeasurable loathing, but I like brussel sprouts. (Sorry if you just gasped and gagged at the same time.)
- I’ve driven a dogsled, eaten a raw potato, walked a tightwire, and waded through a cattail marsh all for the sake of book research.
- I’ve been journaling since I was 9-years-old.
- I love love love Jesus. He’s my auto-buy author.
- I have two new books coming in 2022 and 2024 and the best way to not miss any of the news is to be subscribed to my newsletter!
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