Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard, third in the Truthwitch series, continues following Isuelt and Aeduan as they seek Owl’s tribe. A world away, Safi is fulfilling her obligations to Vaness in rooting out the betrayers in her court. In Nubrevna, Vivia has prepped the underground city and is ready to reveal it. And Merik, traveling with Cam and Ryber, seeks the Sightwitch temple in hopes of finding a cure for his condition. 

This series just keeps getting better! I’m still very invested in all of the characters’ storylines. I enjoyed getting to see more of Vivia in a positive light. She’s trying so hard to come into her own and keeps getting thwarted. When she went to see Vaness on her own terms, I cheered. And Vaness seemed to take her seriously as the rightful Nubrevnan leader. Speaking of coming into their own, Safi and Isuelt are doing so themselves. Separated, they are learning how to think in new ways, and finding their true depths. Once rejoined, they’ll be even stronger. 

Merik and Aeduan are stretching their limits too, and learning to think differently. I adore them both, want to stick their broken parts back together, and at the same time, give them each a good Gibbs-smack. Both are injured mentally and physically, yet remain stubborn in the wrong ways. Seeking help is okay. It doesn’t make you weak. Most people are stubborn in this way, so actually asking and/or accepting help shows a great strength rather than weakness. I’m really hoping there’s a way to reverse Merik’s ‘condition’ and that he gets to reunite with Safi. Aeduan’s problem seems the ‘lesser’ of the two. It seems far easier to cure a curse like his than Merik’s. No doubt he’s going to also be facing a future choice between Owl and Isuelt, and his father’s crusade. Hope he follows heart over head, or he’s gonna need another Gibbs-smack. 

Highly recommended! 

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.