This wasn’t quite what I expected. It was an intriguing concept but ultimately I was left unsatisfied.

I think Watson had a good idea - and she built an interesting world. It makes it that much more frustrating that she clearly does not trust her reader at all! The foreshadowing was about as subtle as a flashing billboard.

"Every Christmas, Wren is chased through the woods near her isolated village by her family's enemies—the Judges—and there’s nothing that she can do to stop it"

-I wanted to love to love this book so so much! I was excited for it to be released. But when i started reading it, I was left wanting more! This books was so great! Engaging, writing was a little slow but I kept at it and I'm glad I did! Loved the book and author so so much!

This just didn't do it for me. I think the book had lots of potential but everything just kind of fell short of the mark.

Loved reading this! I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book is so much more than I first thought! So good!

I feel like this synopsis doesn't really explain all that the book is about... but then I feel like *I* can't really explain it either. It's really unusual, but in a really good way. The magic is so interesting - it feels natural, and ancient, and logical, and... I don't know, but I loved it. Definitely my favorite aspect of the book. I also liked Wren's "dangerous undercover assignment" plotline - I felt like that was exciting and nerve-wracking and pretty well done. I gotta be honest though, I didn't really understand the meaning or purpose of Wren being chased through the town on Christmas? I missed something there. Probably something deep and symbolic that went over my head. The romance was *ok* for me, but I didn't really come for the romance, since it's not really mentioned in the synopsis at all. Overall, I thought the set-up for the story was great - a really creative and unique magic system, and a tense infiltration into the Judges' lair - but for me, it felt like it fell just a little short of what I had expected.


Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

3.5 stars

I don’t know what I was expecting going into The Wren Hunt, but it certainly wasn’t what I thought. I did struggle at first to feel comfortable with Watson’s writing style and the overall story, but as I pushed further, I felt myself slipping into a compelling read. I do think some of that initial uncertainty came from an unknown setting and a sometimes-confusing backstory.

The Wren Hunt isn’t a particularly easy read — Wren’s narration is at times chaotic, and a rudimentary explanation of the world she lives in can be cumbersome. Despite that, the book is compelling and will be a worthwhile read for those who like piecing things together.

I unfortunately DNF'd this book, as I really struggled to get into it. I didn't make it very far before feeling confused and completely detached from the story and the events going on on the page, so I won't be continuing with this one. It's also possible that I am not quite the target audience for this book.

The Wren Hunt was, I thought, a compilation of ideas for a YA fantasy novel thrown together at any cost-- even if they didn't make sense. You may say that ideas don't have to fit together like puzzle pieces in order to produce a good book, in which I advise you to read The Wren Hunt and reevaluate your thoughts.

Nothing in this standalone novel made sense in the grand scheme of things; the novel goes from a girl being chase as the main premise to some kind of legend about a tree man. And to top it all off, the protagonist must become a tree... woman? A protector of the trees? Some kind of Lorax? How does that make sense?

I had questions starting at the very beginning that were never answered in a comprehensive way, the main ones centering around this "Wren Hunt," mainly why is this a thing? Didn't it have something to do with the tree people? You can tell how much I retained while reading this book, and that's probably a good indication that I didn't care too much about the plot.

I'm giving the Wren Hunt more than one star because it was actually kind of fun at parts to read-- most likely because it had the typical elements of a young adult fantasy that I tend to enjoy. Wren was a likable protagonist-- though I can't say the same about the bland love interest-- and there was an air of mystery to the novel. Otherwise, the majority of The Wren Hunt fell flat for me.

This one was hard for me to connect with. I don't think the characters were well developed and the story suffered from a lack of pacing. I liked the concept of magic and fantasy but it needed more structure.

The Wren Hunt is a book about magical beings in our world, but I was totally unconvinced. It took me a long time to figure out where the setting was and even then I wasn't completely sure. I had a hard time juxtaposing T.V's and cans of Coke with the magical characters. They just didn't seem to mesh well together, despite the authors best efforts. I'm not expecting to everything about the magical world or how it operates but we weren't given enough throughout the beginning for me to really understand what was going on or how their world operated.

We open to a scene where Wren is chased through the woods by boys from the rival magic gang(family?). Apparently this happens every year and a trophy is taken. It's unclear as to why they chase her and don't celebrate the Wren Hunt like the rest of the world. It's never mentioned why they don't go to the police about the chase or why it even happens at all. I'm not sure what the Wren Hunt is even about.

I don't sympathize with Wren nor connect with her. I don't with any of the characters for that matter.

I'm not sure what I was hoping to get from this book, but I certainly didn't get it. There was nothing that really stood out for me about this book and I spent most of the time confused and not really enjoying what I was reading.

The Wren Hunt is such an interesting and captivating read!

Told through the eyes of Wren, a 17 year Augur old living in a small town, we begin the story at the time of the annual hunt. While it may be a fun hunt for other neighborhoods, Wren's small town is bloody and causes her pain.

There are the Judges, the Augurs, and Bards that categorize the people in this world. The Bards are extinct, leaving the Judges and Augurs to have tension throughout the years. The Judges are ruthless and monopolize lives around town, while the Augurs lay low.

I enjoyed Wren and who she is as a main character. She's a great heroine to look up to, and I really loved getting to know her. She's witty, and smart, and quick.

This world is so intricate and enigmatic that I can't fully express how much I enjoyed the magic system, the detailed world, or these wonderful characters. It feels like magical realism, but the soul of this story feels historical and established. I specifically enjoyed the details surrounding the Daragishka Knot, a magic to help Augur's causes.

I enjoyed every moment of it, and I think you will also.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

I will not be giving a rating because I did not finish this book.
This book had quite a few problems from the 4 chapter I did read. The first, the author just jumped right into the story without any sort of world or character building. The book automatically starts off with the main character going to talk to some boys and then being hunted. But there’s really no background to why the hunt is happening. Only after it has happened is there any sort of detail and it’s extremely minimal. There’s hardly any sort of background to the Judges and Augurs, but they are mentioned.
The second thing, so many characters were introduced to us in these few chapters and it was just very overwhelming. With the lack of world building, you really don’t know who these people are.
I just couldn’t see myself investing time into a book that didn’t start off good. Sorry no sorry.

This is a very unique and different story. It is full of magic and adventure. It was a tad bit confusing, but very original. It also has a very sweet romance.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Captivating! I really enjoyed this story of Wren and her family, who are at odds with another group of semi-magical people in Ireland.

The Wren Hunt has the creepily weird, draw you in quality. It was kind of that unexpected book that I turned out to love. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Especially all of the strange and unusual lore.

I really found the world of magic interesting in the story. There are three lines...the Judges, the Augurs and the Bards but it’s believed that the Bards are wiped out. Each sets of the these lines draw power from different things and utilize those powers in different ways. I actually found the Judges most interesting since they draw mostly from natures. The trees, plants and so forth. I also loved the old lore that is also woven in.

I really didn’t like Wren’s Augur family. I felt like they kept putting her in situations without giving her all the facts. They also all kind of seemed selfish to me but I don’t know maybe I was reading them wrong. They just kind of bothered me and I felt she could go live off in a cottage by herself and do her own thing. I guess that’s not really how being part of a Grove works. They kept secrets and when she would find out they would act like oh ya sorry about that. Just something that majorly impacts your life. They super bugged me.

I feel like about halfway through the book is when there is change. A change in Wren as well as the people around her and things start getting really weird. We finally start getting a better picture of Arabella and the traditions of both the Augurs and Judges. It’s really interesting to watch the story evolve the way it did. I definitely could not put it down.

So many great characters but of course I was most interested in Wren, Tarc and Cassa. Wren is kind of this person that doesn’t necessarily fit in perfectly anywhere. Kind of like a peg in a square hole. Whether it being that she has very different Augur powers from the rest or the fact that her mother is MIA and she doesn’t know about her father. I think of her kind of like a blowing seed trying to find a place to root.

So when she meets Tarc it seems like their chemistry as friends and more almost makes no sense and perfect sense. They are different sides of the coin but manage to find common ground. I loved seeing them together.

I also really liked her interactions with Cassa. As strange as they sometimes might be. Each time Wren spoke to her, you could tell that she is more observant and sharper than she might even get credit for. Of course she is the head of Harkness House. I just thought she was super interesting.

I truly loved The Wren Hunt and it caught me in it’s snare. Even though it left me in a good spot I still need more.

The Judges have been stealing Augurs’ land and taking it for their own, stealing their magic and making the sides unequal in nature’s balance. It is time for Augurs to fight back. Wren, an Augur who can foretell the future, goes undercover as an intern to find a hidden map that will lead her family to the magic they so need. Working for the Judges, Wren discovers more than maps and her loyalty starts to waver. The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson is an immersive novel with superb world building, fantastic writing, and a clever plot that won’t leave you for days afterwards.

Mary Watson brings major spooky vibes in her YA debut. The setting descriptions: a legendary cottage, dew laden forests, farmlands, and abandoned buildings all play a part in creating such a spooky atmosphere in The Wren Hunt. The intricacy of the imagery will sweep readers away into The Wren Hunt world. It is certainly perfect to read during the autumn months! Watson whisks you away to Ireland right in time for Stephen's Day. To be honest, I had to do some extra research on celebrations, like the wren hunt, and other Celtic traditions. Watson builds the foundation of her world assuming most readers will be familiar with these customs. Beyond that, the magical notes of the brewing war between the Augurs and the Judges begins to take shape. The differences between the Judges and the Augurs—this long estrangement builds within the story, almost to the point where the gap between them seems almost tangible. The world building was superb, giving readers layers of magical history.

The writing was melodic. Watson poetically tells Wren’s story. Its fast pacing is magnificently done.

The Wren Hunt has a large cast of characters. It was difficult to keep all of them straight especially two characters on the Augurs side—Simon and Scott. Their similar names always confused me. Yet, several of them stand out. Wren, of course, shines as the star. She’s quiet, thoughtful, and determined. She goes undercover for her family to return what they've lost, even when her family doesn’t even give her all the answers. She’s trusting, which is a bit frustrating at times but realistic. Wren is not the sort of character who knows it all—about her powers, the Judges, their history, and even her own history. So, in that way, we learn as she learns which is always the best way to develop a character as well as learn more about the world they live in. Tarc quickly becomes a favorite. He's curious and incredibly flirtatious. He is, by far, one of the most interesting characters with his mysterious background. Hopefully, in the upcoming companion novel, we shall hear more from him.

The ending held one of most clever and masterful reveals I've read in such a long time. The foreshadowing coupled with the incredible world building makes for an absolute must read.

The Wren Hunt calls for an immediate reread to fully comprehend how Watson has woven such a fantastical book. This is one of my favorite books of the year!

*I requested this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
DNF @ 37%

While the premise sounded interesting to me, I was disappointed by this book. The writing/voice read as flat and void of emotion. Wren wasn't a character to relate to. She never thinks about the choices she has to make and it seemed that she just let everyone manipulate her and try to get her to do what they wanted. I also felt that her feelings to the love interest didn't have a good foundation to root for it. But my biggest problem was the lack of explanation. In the beginning these are just dumped on you with not a definitive explanation. The ending was also very confusing and didn't satisfy me, but I won't mention here due to spoilers. But this sadly wasn't for me. A full review will be linked here once the review is live on 10/30/18.

Every Christmas, Wren is chased through the woods near her isolated village by her family's enemies—the Judges—and there’s nothing that she can do to stop it. Once her people, the Augurs, controlled a powerful magic. But now that power lies with the Judges, who are set on destroying her kind for good. 

In a desperate bid to save her family, Wren takes a dangerous undercover assignment—as an intern to an influential Judge named Cassa Harkness. Cassa has spent her life researching a transformative spell, which could bring the war between the factions to its absolute end. Caught in a web of deceit, Wren must decide whether or not to gamble on the spell and seal the Augurs’ fate. - Goodreads

This book . . . can leave you on the fence. You literally can go either way with it and I am almost positive that most people will either love it or hate it. I loved it but I am adding a * to this. 

Without a question, I loved reading about Wren. Yes, she was like a scared little bird a majority of the book but she didn't exactly let her fear stop her from doing things. Her loyalty to her family stopped her from being anything more than a scared bird. But I liked her growth or what was there. The way she was, made sense, given her family and what she had went through. I liked her. 

But I really liked the romance within this novel. Predictable? Slightly because it could have gone another way real fast and if it went that other way I would have been crushed. But I loved loved the interest. Do I think it could have used more deepness? It wouldn't have hurt. The emotions that she feels doesn't come overnight and at the same time, she is fairly honest. There are scenes where I just had to pause because they were just so beautiful. 

However, my reasoning for giving this book an asterisk next to I loved it is because there wasn't enough history and there wasn't enough details in the setting. We are talking about two families at war. We are talking about secrets and betrayals that can change the course of everything and yet there wasn't anything more than glimpses over the history of Judges and the Augurs. Because the book was generally slow, I was disappointed in the lack of richness and details in the scenery as well as the history. I mean come on, its Ireland. 

Beyond this, I loved the book. I was captivated and wanted to dive head first into this book novel, even after I began reading it. There is so much promise and I am looking forward to a book two. 

3 Pickles

Absolutely awful and pointless, dry, predictable, boring and insipid. Was there even a point to this story at all other than bore the reader to death with endless info-dumps about a magic system that was convoluted at best, ridiculous at worst. It's as if the author was waving a sign "look all the research I did on Celtic magic! Look how many words in Gaelic I know!" When the "twist" came in the end I was too bored to care; I couldn't even gasp.