I've been anticipating reading Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez ever since I laid eyes on that beautiful, whimsical cover art! They say not to judge a book by its cover, but...that's nearly impossible, and this cover is lovely.
The contents match the exterior. This is a tale of war and ruin and loss. This is a tale of identity, and loyalty and magic drawn from Bolivian politics and history.
We start with a secret. The Condesa of Inkasisa that everyone knows--Catalina--is actually Ximena, the actual Condesa's best friend and long time decoy. Their people have been pushed to the brink, revolted against, and pushed to a stronghold hidden by their general's magic. Their food stores are running low and tempers are running high. Especially when a crew from the false king's court arrive on the other side of their secret bridge with a message: The Condesa will marry the king or all the prisoners will die.
They have no choice. So it's a good thing that the actual Condesa has a decoy. So even if the marriage actually occurs it will be fake, and the false king will have no claim to her kingdom. But for Ximena, it is still terrifying, entering enemy territory, the land of the people who killed her parents, who stole everything from her.
How much will it take for her to realize that one person is not a people? That the minority does not represent all? And what will it mean for her people and her queen if she makes this realization?
This story is well told, with sympathetic characters, excellently drawn mystery, and well executed plot twists. The food descriptions absolutely made my mouth water in nearly every chapter, instilling a dream to now try Bolivian food.
The magic could've been a bit more explained in the terms of where exactly it stems from and whether everyone has powers like Ximena and Catalina. But the magic that was illustrated was beautiful and unique--and really made me want to be able to weave magical creatures out of a tapestry. I have a feeling I already know what the conflict of the sequel is going to be simply based off how the characters are left, but I could always be wrong. Guess I'll have to get the book to find out!
For a debut, this book was lovely, enjoyable, and worth the read. If you've enjoyed it, look out for the sequel, Written in Starlight.
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