4.5 stars - perfect for the bookish reader

This is the story of Beatix, who lives with her estranged father after her mother died and who is swept away to the Zweeshen one day, the world where all the characters from books live. There's riddles to be solved and worlds to be saved and new worlds and their complicated rules and politics to be navigated. And in the middle of all of that new bonds are formed, with friends and other mysterious strangers.

Oh, this was a gem and I am happy to have discovered this book and the world it brings to us! Which bookish reader would not be delighted with the idea that all of our beloved characters from books are living their best lives somewhere, roaming different worlds after their own story ends.

At heart of course this is classical YA with a young heroine who is struggling with life, discovering her abilities, making friends and finally finding a place in the world.

But is is the details where I thought the book really shone: Beatrix does not magically know what to do, she is a stranger in a strange world and she frequently has doubts if the things that she is doing are actually getting her anywhere. Things do not suddenly become easy for this misfit in the new world. Quite the contrary, she is possibly struggling even more and the stakes are higher. The things that do help her are her persistence, hard work and the pent-up anger burning deep inside her.

Another aspect I enjoyed very much was that the author picked up on the issues for immigrants coming to a new place. The hostility. How frustrating it can be when you don't know the rules and the sytem is against you in any possible way. How politicians manipulate the narrative and use 'unwanted' strangers for their own benefit. We all know how these things work...

The remark about why on earth all characters in books are so damned perfect and beautiful and how it can give anyone a complex really had me chuckle. And there are more of those small and clever observations that made up a significant part of the appeal of this book for me.

I also thought it quite realistic, if you want to call it that, that this new and complex world presents many more questions than answers to our heroine and that this book feels like the first in a row of (hopefully) many. So many things are still unclear and there is so much potential in this world that carries so many within itself.

The only and small caveat would be that I thought the pacing to be a bit odd. Sometimes we are in one time in one sentence and several hours later in the next. The course of events tends to be not quite linear and frequently we find out about something that happened after the fact. I think this was done on purpose as Beatrix herself notices several times how time is strange in Zweeshen so I cannot really fault the author. It's just a bit jarring sometimes.

Still, I very much hope there will be sequels and recommend this book to anyone who is bookish and enjoys the genres.

Beatrix Alba is able to speak to books and listen to their whispers. But that's not her only secret: she has a power that has caused death once before, and she is fighting a losing battle to keep it under control. Suddenly, people from another world, one called Zweeshen, began to appear in her life. Determined to learn more about her mother, she then chose her fate, and found herself in a place where tales and their characters are alive. But what she did not expect was to be exposed to the dangers of an evil being who was burning books, and along with them, their characters.

At the beginning, this book took me by surprise. The author has created such a rich and complex world! There was originality too, and learning its secrets little by little was fun. I absolutely loved Emma. She was such a unique character as a Draft, and I constantly hoped for her artisan to give her a permanent place in Zweeshen.

But as I got further, I began to feel frustrated. Everything was a huge mess. The pacing was slow for a moment, dragging on, and then a lot of things started happening without good reason. All that was left at the end of my reading was a mind filled with confusion. The Librarian brought Beatrix to the world, and for what? To be put to death by the Council. Why was the Charmancer burning worlds, only to have another goal in mind that had no relation to actually burning books? And the ending... ohhh the ending. It felt as if Beatrix's whole quest was a fluke and a waste of time.

Overall, great premise. Great characters. But terrible pacing and plot.

This review is written based on the ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

A very charismatic main character + an interesting magic system + a development that takes its time, but with balance between character development and action, this is a fantastic first book for this series. It leaves some things unanswered, but I hope to see this questions closed in the sequel. I loved Beatrix and her journey, her conection to her grandfather and her monster (her magic). It was really amazing!

If you are a reader who dreams of a world filled with your favorite characters than you've found a perfect read. I loved the world constructed for this book! I was enchanted by the imagery and left wanting more.

I hope the next book will help us understand more of Beatrix's past and a bit more about William.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea behind this book and I really enjoyed reading it. It is beautifully written and there are a lot of loveable ideas. Even it felt more like middle grade than YA I enjoyed the worldbuilding, adventures and I liked the charakters.

Some parts were a bit fast paced and not all events were plausible. But it was okay for me because I still could follow the main plot. For me it was. a nice variety and a likeable easy read for in-between.

A book about books. What a novel concept. It's been done. And done again. When I read the synopsis for this, it seemed similar to all the ones that had been done before, but maybe just a little bit different. What I ended up getting was a whirlwind ride into a fantasy world that was unlike anything I've ever read about.

The author has a way of describing her characters and her surroundings that break through the normal cliches of teen angst and that feeling of just not quite belonging in your world.

Beatrix is a multi-layered and complex character who finds herself thrown into a world that she never could have imagined. The people she meets and the adventures that she finds herself on end up defining her as an individual. And what's more, they put her on a path in her life that shows her where she really belongs.

The book is rich in character development and world-building. Emma and Jane and William are some of the best supporting characters I've ever met in a book. The trials and triumphs are involved enough to make you feel like you're in the book with the characters.

The book left itself open for a sequel, which I am definitely looking forward to. Also, I will most likely buy this book once it hits the shelves. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the privilege of reading this wonderful ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing. Absolutely Amazing! I LOVE this book. I made the mistake of starting it late at night and pulled an all nighter to finish it.

The main character can HEAR books. They whisper to her. That alone had me sold. lol

This book was extremely well written with beautiful characters, an amazing story and absolutely stunning and creative fantasy that kept me reading from start to end ( in one sitting lol). I am an absolute sucker for books with a strong female lead and loads of magic and this book checked both off my list immediately. The Zweeshen Chronicles are going to be at the top of my "to buy" list. I cant wait for the second installment to come out!

I couldn't put it down! The adventure, mystery, and suspense held me completely captivated! Beatrix is a perfect example of how stubbornness can be a useful tool and that when you find the right people, they will stick with you through thick and thin.

Have you ever wanted to be transported to a world where all of your favorite literary characters exist together? Me too. And with Alicia J. Novo's debut series the reader is given that opportunity. At first I was a little worried about how the author would tie these diverse worlds together, my fears were unfounded. The world building was fantastic and detailed, without be too detailed. It truly allowed the reader to picture themselves in Zweeshen alongside Beatrix. Speaking of Beatrix, she was such a great character and the growth she made throughout the story was well paced and realistic. I was so sad when the story was over, I can't wait for book 2 to come out. Actually I can't wait until Unwritten is published so I can buy a physical copy of my own.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

** spoiler alert ** I hate it when I find a book with this interesting premise and it doesn't work out for me.

I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and Intense Publications for the opportunity

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The first thing to note in this book is how rich the world Ms. Novo is going for, she's literally taking any reader's dream and well.. making it a reality. I don't think anyone would pass up this chance if it was ever presented and for good reason.

Despite that however, I found that the pacing of the book was one of the issue I had with it. We seemingly start off the book with trying to establish Beatrix's situation, but I felt that the transitions between each event or plot point is happening at breakneck speed and I don't really know why. I mean I got that her father is a jerk, her grandfather died and no one told her and then her mother shared her ability in a way before we fast forward and we're in the school now for the encounter with her bully. That's a lot to unpack for me, and going this fast usually means I don't connect with a character, which I didn't and that equals that I don't care about what happens next.

Who wants that to be the main idea in their mind? Enter the obvious love interest before the plot even starts to come in view and I'm sitting here rolling my eyes.

This in turn brought up one other issue in the book, an inconsistency in the characterization of Beatrix. For instance, she can barely put together two words against her bully, or more accurately, be able to effectively say what's exactly on her mind, yet she's charming with William, she's able to stand up to her father, she's able to stand her ground and ask Emma or the librarian her questions? How? Shouldn't she be at least shy enough to fail at one of those? Or is it just the most cliche of bullies who got her tongue tied?

We then get to the world she's from, Zweeshen and she must pass a test so a guild will accept her or claim her. Yet, I later learn that she's super important because she's the very first Unwritten and the council are seemingly undecided about her? Can anyone explain the lapse of logic in this one? Wouldn't anyone want to keep the strange where they can see it? where they can monitor it? That would be my own thought process, seemingly the council wouldn't share it.

There is a lot of good elements here, don't get me wrong. But put together, I find my eyes glazing over because of one of the above issues and it's incredibly hard for me to want to continue it despite how insanely easy it is to get through the writing.

The story has got great potential, but I do think that it's not for me to enjoy as YA targeted books are not something that I would want to read as much of anymore. This premise, coupled with the cover were just too good to pass up for me and hence my request for an arc, it's just too bad that I couldn't.

I do have a slight pet peeve here as well before I wrap it up, I'm not a native English speaker and books with languages that require me to frequent Google translate for no real reason nor relevancy to the plot as far as I can personally see, never sat well with me. This time was not different.

Dropped at 25%

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Unwritten in exchange for an honest review.

Unwritten is probably the heaviest I've ever seen a book lean into the "book about books" trope and it was absolutely delightful. The pacing, characters, and story-arc feel a bit more middle grade than YA, but Unwritten is chockful of witty literature themed references that more mature readers would also be able to appreciate.

Plotwise, this isn't technically that unique, but Novo is such an immersive narrator that this one can definitely stand as its own unique read.

Unwritten was an extraordinary reading experience, strongly imbued with magical and fantastic elements, which leads the reader to the side of the characters of a story: this book gives them life, emotions and adventures outside of their own book - "a world of stories", as the protagonist herself describes it.

"Here they were. The breathing, living characters she loved. Friends she'd shared adventures and sorrows with. She'd felt closer to them than family, known them so well she could recite their words by heart. And yet, in real life, they were strangers."

This is the perfect book for all book lovers, for all those who take refuge in fictional stories to find comfort and escape reality, for us who fall in love with the characters we read about and wish we could meet them. In Unwritten these characters are called taelimns and live in Zweeshen, a magical realm where all the stories live together.

"Taelimns are a miracle. Taelimns are a mystery. We're the ones who teach humankind how to live. How to see through eyes not their own and learn from fates so foreign they touch their souls. We're the truth of what's told, and sung, and remembered. Some call us storyfolk, or papersouls, the inked, or the carved. We're born of the word and are the stuff of the legend, of fairy tales and adventures, of stories laced with love and horror. We are none other than the Written."

At the beginning it gave me some The Starless Sea mixed with Alice in Wonderland vibes, but Unwritten is actually a totally unique, exciting and original story.

I loved the setting, the atmosphere and the protagonists, especially Emma (lovely little girl), Neradola and William.

"My teacher used to tell me 'home' doesn't have to be where you were born. You can create yours wherever you choose. He's convinced the people you love are what counts. A bit of a romantic."

I am very grateful that I had the chance to read it in advance and I am absolutely curious to know how this stunning story will continue.

(I received a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the publisher and the author!)

I went into this story not knowing anything and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the world. the main character as well as the side characters were well written and the world building was fantastic. I can’t wait for the sequel

I will be honest, this rating is slightly difficult just because the idea behind this book, and the potential of what this book could have been, is great. Yet what it became, was average, maybe even slightly below. Throughout the entirety of this novel, I kept find myself thinking it was messy, unorganized, and underdeveloped. Characters never experienced a period of evolution, they were one thing one moment and something entirely different the next. The supposed love story between the main character and William lacked emotion and allure because readers were never given the opportunity to connect. Back to my original statement, the idea behind Unwritten was unique and brilliant. I found myself imagining stories completely differently; attaching both emotion and a lifetime of experience to characters in books everywhere. Unwritten introduces a fresh new perspective on story development and what it means to build a novel. Regardless, I found myself disappointed. I do not yet know whether I will pick up the sequel.

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re surrounded by all of your favorite characters, no matter what genre or time period they’re from. Seeing all your beloved characters in one place is making you smile, isn’t it? Who doesn’t want to see the likes of Lizzie Bennett and Harry Potter all in one place?
That’s exactly what Alicia J. Novo intends to do so. Her debut YA novel “Unwritten,” set to release in May 2021, is a young reader’s paradise. Beatrix Alba, a bullied teenager from middle America, hides her ability to speak to books and a dangerous power lurking inside of her. After a spell fails to hide her and a chance encounter with a handsome stranger, Beatrix is transported to Zweeshen, a world where all stories and characters coexist. Sounds like paradise to me!
But of course, Zweeshen is not what it seems–the world straddles the line of destruction as someone begins burning–and essentially killing–book worlds and their characters. From there, we follow Beatrix’s journey to solve a mysterious riddle about her runaway mother with her motley crew of book characters.
From the very beginning, Novo’s world-building unfolds in magnificent form. The only way to truly describe the world of Zweeshen is utterly imaginative–all of the literary world’s favorite places, characters, and ideas all mashed up into a metropolis dictated by the written word, bureaucracy, and the magic that binds readers and writers together. The idea that all literary worlds and characters are connected is a reader’s dream come true despite the various world-building holes that will hopefully be filled in future installments. If I could escape to a world like Zweeshen, I think I would find all the happiness in the world.
Just a fair warning, readers will definitely need a pronunciation guide at some point–character names and places will leave readers falling over their own tongues by the end of the novel.
In addition to the world-building holes, there seems to be an abundance of plot holes, making it difficult to keep track of what the hell was going on between chapters. The chapter and plot jumping might just be me not paying close attention, but the sheer number of times I had to revisit a chapter is a bit concerning as a reader.
Possibly my biggest gripe with “Unwritten” is the minuscule connection I felt with Beatrix–or any other characters for that matter. I wanted so badly to relate to Beatrix beyond both of us being bookish, but the minimal character development and investment in the characters’ lives made it all the more difficult to relate. The novel is very much plot-driven, but Novo takes so much time diving into Beatrix’s loneliness and desires to find her mother that it seems plausible for there to be, at the very least, some character development.
For a novel with such a unique premise and setting, I expected more. Considering “Unwritten” is part of a larger series, I’m willing to let some of my misgivings slide, but I hope the paradise Novo has only started to build will be ready by the time the next installment comes out.

I'm afraid to say I DNF'd this at 25%. The set-up was promising, but I found the writing style very juvenile. I had to double and triple check that this was really a YA fantasy and not a middle grade one. I'm still going to recommend this because I think our hi-low readers will like this. Personally though, it just wasn't for me.

I received a e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


From the moment I saw the cover of this book, I was hooked. It has to be one of my favorite book designs. And the title only further solidified my interest. I’ve always liked the idea of something unwritten and stories untold, so I knew immediately that I wanted to read this book. I hadn’t even known what to expect going in.

However, I was a little scared of being disappointed by this book. It turned out to definitely be misplaced fear. I was worried this would be an instance where the cover deceived us, but just as it promised, this is a fantasy story full of mystery and magic and intrigue. It’s just as captivating as its cover. But it’s also so relatable to those of us who sometimes just want to escape with an adventure into fantastical, magical worlds.

This book has so many aspects to it that deserve to be acknowledged. Writing style? Chef’s kiss. World building? Wonderful, magnificent and just as vivid as if you were there. Highlightable quotes? Plenty. Even the epigraph quote was a great choice. It really was indicative to this book. This book also had such a great balance between its lighter moments and its darker ones. I felt so much love and hope but also sadness and aspects of loss. So well blended together.

I truly did not want to let this story go. I was sad to reach the ending, and the only complaint I can find is how rushed the ending felt, but it still made me want more. I would highly recommend picking Unwritten up when it’s released in May. I can’t imagine regretting it. Instead, I’ll be eagerly hoping for a sequel.

THANK YOU to Xpresso Book Tours and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start with the obvious - the cover of this book is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!I mean, just look at this beauty😍!
The cover was the reason that stopped me in my tracks and imidietly took my attention, after reading the synopsis....i was head over heels interested on reeding it.
Our heroine - Beatrix feels like an outsider wherever she goes, but her biggest solace are the books that whisper to her and she can feel the mmagic within their stories.
The other piller in her life was her grandfather that granted her the support she needed at the hardest time in her life.
When her secret dangerous power surfaced, he was the one that helped her hone it and learn to keep the unfamiliar thing at bay. But when her beloved grandfather passes, his protection spell that keeps her hidden starts to dwindle and one day everything she knows as her reality changes.The revelation what she really is takes her on a dangerous, but at the same time exhilarating journey that leads her in the world where all our favorite book characters lives....only to feel rejected and lack of belongig there too.
I want to put a quote here that resonated strongly and it sums up quite well her struggle with belongig :

"There’s no belonging, Beatrix. There is only creating your own world and inviting others in. You invent your homeland. Remember that. You only belong to the words"

And the irony that she is the one that can save the book worlds from destruction from a villain, determined to burn all the books, along with their characters.
The plot is so intriguing and refreshing change from all the familiar tropes that are used.And to add the cherry on top, it is beautifully made - from the writing,the world building and not last, the mystery that keeps you reeding,turning page after page well after the time you should've been asleep😁
All the character you meet have their own memorable traits and quirks that you engage emotionally in some way.
The only thing that nagged me quietly ,was that the unraveling started less than 100 pages befor the end and i feel that there were too many things that had to be resolved in too short of a time and thus make it feel a tad rushed.
But nonetheless it was a perfect ending(ohhh the ending between William and Beatrix...my heart was squeezing) in my opinion and can barely wait to read the next book and dive in that world again to u ravel more mysteries that left unsolved.

Beatrix is used to magic, what with how books whisper to her and all. But when she's suddenly flung into the Zweeshen, a land where stories are alive and characters roam the streets, Beatrix finds herself thrown into a fight for her life, and maybe even the universe.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

As soon as I read the premise of this book, I knew that I needed to read it! I mean, what reader hasn't dreamt of walking through stories and meeting their favorite characters? I was very excited about the idea behind this story, and it did not disappoint me! I might have been disappointed by the world of Zweeshen in the same way that Beatrix was disappointed, but that only made me feel more a part of the story than anything else.

I think that my favorite thing about this book was the way that books and stories and their readers were talked about. There were many beautiful quotes about the meaning of stories, their connection to readers, and their connections to other stories. This book was a beautiful way of showing the meaning of books and the impact they have on the lives they touch.

I really enjoyed watching Beatrix's development throughout the story. It was easy to see how she changed from the moment she first set foot in the Zweeshen to the end. For all of her faults and struggles, she only grew stronger, only learned more about herself, and I really appreciate that in making a character feel real to me! Not to mention William's own development and intertwined story!

The one thing that I didn't like as much about this book was that I felt very confused for a lot of it. I do think that the confusion helped me feel more connected to Beatrix and her confusion, but even after she had caught up, I still felt lost. My biggest issue was with the worldbuilding. I just didn't understand the setup of the Zweeshen, and I felt like I was still caught up in that while the story was advancing to other places. I was also confused about the villain's reveal and reasoning, but I think this will be cleared up in the next book!

This book did tackle the issue of racism, and I thought it was really well done. I liked that this issue carried over in a different way into the Zweeshen. Beatrix found herself facing similar issues even in her dream world full of stories come to life, and I was hooked on the parallel that it provided.

Overall, I enjoyed this story immensely and can't wait to see what happens next for William and Beatrix!

Unwritten by Alicia J Novo.
The zweeshen Chronicles #1.
Very good read. It was A breathe of fresh air different. Fun and magical. I loved the cover. Beatrix was my favourite character.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. 4*.