Review + Scavenger Hunt: Crewel

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Release: October 16, 2012

Source: ARC (won)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back

Crewel is perhaps one of the most unique reads I've had the pleasure of reading this year. Although the cover didn't impress me, I was utterly drawn by the premise. Spinsters? Who weave time and matter? I didn't know what to think except: I need this book.

And now that I've read it, I can say it did not disappoint.

In this world, girls hold the power to weave time and matter. Not every girl, though. Special girls like Adelice. These special girls are taken away and trained as Spinsters to create the balance of their world. For many, being chosen is an honor. For Adelice's parents, it's a horror they cannot fathom. So from a very young age, Adelice was trained to be "normal", "clumsy", and ""artless". They did everything they could do hide their daughter's gift.

But Adelice slipped and the government comes, in the middle of the night, to retrieve her.

Soon, Adelice discovers why her parents had tried so hard to prevent her from being taken. Being a Spinster is not quite the honor that the government would have society believe. Yes, Spinsters have the power, but the men have control. I would go into more detail about Albin's expertly crafted world, but it's something best left up to the reader to experience.

As for character, Adeliece was fascinating. She wasn't overly brave, defiant, smug. She wasn't demure, shy, or scared. She was just a girl fascinated, confused, and frightened by the new world around her. Adelice is continually fueled by her desire to see her family again.  It was fascinating to see her grow and learn as a character.

The one thing that I wish had been better executed was the romance. It seemed, at times, out of place. There is clearly a set-up for a love triangle between Jost and Erik, but I couldn't seem to distinguish the two guys in my mind. They felt the same, and I couldn't choose one boy or the other. Luckily, this isn't about the romance. It's about the world and a girl who is discovering it along with the reader.

So if you are looking for something refreshing and unique, Crewel might be your up of tea.

RATING: 4 SLICES

But WAIT. 

You'll probably see a lot of reviews for Crewel up today, along with a Scavenger hunt. And there's a prize. Here are the deets.

Directions: There are a list of links below that are your key to finding the answers to the questions in the scavenger hunt. Please answer all the question that are listed for the hunt and the winner that answers all of them correctly will win the awesome prize of a box set full of Fierce Reads titles!

Questions:

1. Whats Gennifer Albins favorite thing to drink?

2. What is the last phrase in the Crewel Trailer?

3.  What's Gennifer Albin's favorite number? Pick a number between 1-100.(Guess!)

4. What do the Spinsters weave? Be specific(it is mentioned on Gennifer's  blog)

5. When was the Crewel trailer released? 


                           Prize: One LUCKY winner will get.......
    
                          A box set of ARC Fierce Read Titles!
  
Entry Form: When you have found all the answers click HERE and fill out the form to qualify!  

Rules: 
- If chosen you must reply to the email within 48 hours or another winner WILL be chosen. Open to the US ONLY(SORRY). 

-Must answer each question correctly to win. Winner will be chosen randomly through random.org

-Must provide a working email address in the form!

-You have until October 18th to enter!


LINKS:  Goodreads Synopsis
               Crewel Trailer 
               Gennifer Albin's blog 


These links shall guide you on your quest to a Crewel World.
  
Weave Wisely.