Windwitch, second in Susan Dennard’s Witchlands series, finds Threadsisters Iseult and Safi separated by half a world. Iseult is determined to reunite with Safi and stumbles across Aeduan. The Bloodwitch had been tracking her and fallen into a Nomatsi bear trap. He has fallen unconscious thanks to the healing magic repairing his body. Iseult steals something valuable from him and retreats to her makeshift camp to await his arrival. She bargains with him to help her find Safi, and the two enter into an uneasy alliance, at least until a heartbreaking, unexpected find turns Aeduan to a different path. Safi, meanwhile, has been traveling with Vaness. When the Empress’ ship is destroyed, she and Safi end up captured by HellBards and drug into Saldonica. When Vaness is betrayed by allies she anticipated having here, the group is attacked. In order to survive and escape, the witches and HellBards must work together. And Merik Nihar, presumed dead, is very much alive, though badly scarred from the destruction of his ship by seafire. The former Admiral is determined to return home and prove his sister’s treachery. What he finds is a capital beset by refugees fleeing conflict. What he learns will change his views on his sister and her actions, and that the chasm between life and death isn’t as wide as people believe.

I absolutely devoured this book! Usually, in multi-POV books, I have a great preference for one over the others. Not this time! I was equally invested in all of the characters. Three storyline are followed- Merik, Iseult, and Safi. Merik Nihar, alive if scarred, is determined to prove his sister’s presumed treachery. In tracking leads in Lovats, he crafts a new identity for himself, and finds there is so much more to his city, his people, and his sister than he ever knew. Iseult travels alone, making her way to Safi. She crossed paths with the Bloodwitch Aeduan again, and makes a deal for his help finding Safi. Unfortunately, the pair get caught between invading forces and plans go astray. Meanwhile, Safi travels with Empress Vaness. An attack in the Empress’ ship strands the two in hostile territory, where they are captured by HellBards and betrayed by those who should have been Vaness’ allies. Each, in the end, learns the truest depths of their strength, and each finds a family of sorts through their trials and tribulations. Each, too, gets a lesson in being careful to not judge others too quickly. 

I have to say, the next book better have a happier outcome for Merik… While I like all the main characters, he and Aeduan are my faves. I do have a knack for getting attached to characters that die though… ugh, why me? Books, movies, games… invariably I get attached to those destined to not survive. Game of Thrones doesn’t count, either… I really enjoy Dennard’s writing, and loved seeing the characters and world fleshed out a bit more, especially in seeing more of the different ways magic manifests. This book, it was Vaness who most impressed! I want her magic! I enjoyed seeing more of Nubrevna too. It sounds like a rough place to live though. I’m hoping things continue improving for that country as future books develop. All in all, I’m very much looking forward to reading the next in the series. Highly recommended!

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