The Witch of Webs
By Pirateaba
Ever since I first started reading The Wandering Inn about a year and a half ago, the series has been something of a comfort read. It’s a nearly endless story in a vast sprawling world, and it’s about characters you get to know and love, and love to hate. It’s a tale to escape into when the world is bleak and life is hard.
That said, the Witch of Webs is not a comforting story. It’s dark, creepy, and unsettling, and it deals with complicated issues of trust, morality, and family. It could have been a fun fantasy-romp but for the Witch of Webs herself, and I’ll tell you more of her later.
Then again, it’s still The Wandering Inn, so it’s also hilarious, unhinged, and over the top fantastic.
I’ve read this part before, but it only just recently released on audio, and with the narration being as good as it is, of course I’d get it.
So, what’s it about?
The Witch of Webs is the tale of what happens when a coven of witches seek the right to settle and practice their craft in the village of Riverfarm – also the capital of The Unseen Empire. Emperor Laken is away at war, so he turns to Ryoka Griffin, the Wind Runner, for help.
More than that, I won’t say. The story is so far into the series that worrying about spoilers isn’t an issue for someone who hasn’t started yet. It’s more that going into detail just won’t make much sense (I tried, and it got messy). There are too many names, and everyone has a back story.
Instead, I’d like to talk a little about where this book fits into the rest of The Wandering Inn. The book isn’t a major turning point in the series, but it’s where the conflict that’s been brewing in the two previous books begin to pick up speed and take shape. The black roses, the Circle of Thorns, Magnolia’s trade war, and the conflict between drakes and humans.
Then, of course, there’s Belavierr, the Witch of Webs herself – one of the creepiest villains I’ve come across in all my reading.
There are several characters introduced that we will see more of in the future, and the ones we already know get to grow a little.
Ryoka is getting better at handling her mental health issues, Durene learns that she needs to make her own decisions rather than rely on everyone else to always know what’s best, and Ceria practices her frost magic by sitting in a bathtub full of boiling water. Mrsha confronts Calruz, Numbtung makes a friend, and Erin gets taken down a peg or two.
All in all, a lot of things happen, and even if the main story doesn’t move forward that much, I wouldn’t call this book a filler. There’s enough character growth, foreshadowing, and new developments for Witch of Webs to stand on its own.
One final interesting thing about Witch of Webs is that it was due a bit of editing before releasing on audio. The author wanted to tighten up the story arc, and I was curious to see if I could spot what had changed since last I read it, about a year ago.
Overall, the story runs pretty much as I remember it doing, but there were a few sections where I felt like I encountered something new. I also spotted several references to Gravesong (another book by the same author) that I did not remember seeing last time. Let’s say I’m now very excited to read the next part of that series.
What I’ll whine about
The book is focused almost exclusively on the witches in Riverfarm, and there’s very little of anything else. In a way, it makes the book stand stronger on its own, but it also means I miss everyone else. There are so many characters and side plots in this series that having a book dedicated to only one thing feels like I’m missing out.
To be blunt: I would have liked more of everything.
What I’ll gush about
The star of the book is Belavierr, the Stitch Witch. At first, she seems no more than a creepy old weirdo, but over the course of the story, it becomes clear just how terrifying she truly is. Ancient and powerful, and so wrapped up in her own magic that she’s forgotten all about what it means to be human. She’s the devil you know you shouldn’t make a deal with, but who has the power to give you exactly what your heart desires – at a price.
She’ll sit under a tree, quietly tending to her embroidery, and you can walk up and talk to her, but if you annoy her, she’ll flick a finger and sew your lips shut with magical thread.
I think what I like most about The Wandering Inn is how it’s so casual about being completely over the top with regard to the fantasy elements. It’s like an unhinged Disney movie on acid. Everything is magical and fantastical, and everyone has strange skills that push them far beyond human limits, and the book doesn’t make a big deal out of it.
So often, fantasy books include only a quiet nod at the magical, or the book makes a big fuss about how amazing the magic is. Not so with The Wandering Inn. The magic and fantastic go on overdrive from the get go, and it never really slows down.
It’s also worth noting that it’s not all about combat and battle. Much of the story fits squarely in the cozy fantasy genre. It’s about how Erin looks after her inn, and how she comes up with new food, or how Mrsha runs around playing with her giant bee friend Apista.
Final Words
Another solid instalment in The Wandering Inn series.
