This is hands down my favorite Nadine Brandes book! (Which is saying something, because I loved _Fawkes_ and _Romanov_--and not just because they have some of the most beautiful book covers known to man; the content is incredible too).

_Wishtress_ is incredibly creative, imaginative, and innovative; I've truly not read anything quite like it. I enjoyed it even more because of that, I think; _Fawkes_ and _Romanov_ incorporated a ton of history, which I loved, but I really enjoyed the switch here and being able to just immerse myself in an entirely fictional world unlike one I'd ever seen before.

The read is a bit more overtly allegorical than Brandes's others--but I loved that. (Which also surprised me. I often channel Tolkien's overall eschewing of allegory, lol--but I also love CS Lewis, for example, who obviously loved allegory. :D)

It can be gritty at times, but is par for the course; it's not gratuitous, by any stretch, and is in fact less gritty than _Romanov_, if you want a gauge/comparison. A fabulous alternative to _Hunger Games_ or _Divergent_ that will get the YA readers (whether YAs themselves or adults who love YA fiction, like me :D) thinking--about grace, love, and the important things in life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Release Date:9.13.2022
Review Date:9.16.2022

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

She didn't ask to be the Wishtress. Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It's a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life--and before the king's militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear. He can stop time with a snap of his fingers. Bastiaan's powerful--and rare--Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she's fulfilled her end of the deal, he'll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don't compromise his job. They are on a journey that can only end one way: with her death. Everyone seems to need a wish--the king, Myrthe's cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they're ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they'll just kill her anyway.

So I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this book. I enjoy Nadine's writing and at times I was enjoying this book. But there were also times it was a chore. It was slow to start off, and kinda slow to end. Everything would have been so much easier if people would've talked to each other instead of instantly being offended by everything. The magic system was pretty interesting though. I feel like the world building wasn't as explained as it could have been, people were traveling awfully fast. Maybe I should have looked up the map. Overall I did enjoy it.

Absolutely loved this! It was such a refreshing and unique YA fantasy. The magic system of Banes, curses and Talents was very intriguing.

The romance was sweet and innocent, but the plot didn't need to rely on it to keep the story captivating.
I loved getting to know Myrthe, Bastian, Anouk and Runt- definitely my favourite. I liked how the conflict wasn't all magically wrapped up with a quick bow at the end. I didn't actually mind the sort of cliffhanger at the end.. although I would've liked a bit of an epilogue just for closure?

It's rare to find a standalone fantasy that's gripping, intricate, unique and feels complete. I definitely want to read more of this author now!

Nadine has done it again! Wishtress is a fantastic, sweeping fantasy. I feel like I was on the edge of my seat and captivated the whole time. I love a good YA fantasy and Wishtress did not disappoint.

In the village of Fairhoven, located in Winterune, people have the ability to gain Talents, varying abilities given from the Well water, after passing through grueling and dangerous Trials. Myrthe is the Wishtress, the only Talented who was given her Talent without completing the Trials, and who can grant wishes with her tears. Everyone wants a wish from Myrthe, and her Oma practically enslaves her after her parents die, making her produce tears that can be sold at the market for a high price. When the king mysteriously dies, everything is thrown into political chaos as his wicked son Mattias assumes the throne. A band of hate filled rebels gathers in the woods and Myrthe is cursed to die with her next tear by a woman with a Bane, an opposing and damaging ability obtained from the Nightwell. Bastiaan, a local young man who served the previous king, finds out who Myrthe is and saves her from being captured by the new king. He knows many things about Talents after studying them for years and using his Talent to stop time. As King Mattias gathers his forces and hatches a diabolical plan, everything looks bleak for the Talented. Together, Myrthe and Bastiaan will have to uncover the secrets of the Well before it is too late.

This fascinating story blew me away with its stunning descriptions, imagery, and powerful messages. It's hard to describe how much this book affected me, especially while going through a hard time personally. I loved the characters and was easily immersed in the story. I made myself read slowly to capture the nuances of the plot and the wisdom contained within. I shipped Myrthe and Bastiaan so hard because their chemistry was electric and their sweet tenderness towards each other is something I hope to find someday. This is the way to write a fantasy novel, and I especially appreciated the spiritual undertones that became so obvious as the story unfolded. So many quotes stood out to me that I bookmarked them to return to later. I was left wanting more at the end and would definitely read a sequel, novella, or epilogue from the same world. It was definitely worth the wait, for sure!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and I purchased a copy from Amazon. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book was just beautiful to read. It grabs you from the get-go and whisks you off on a heartbreaking journey of Myrthe and those that want wishes from her, but one wish goes wrong and changes the course of everything. Even one more tear and it will be the end of her. There were times I wish I could help her get through what she was dealing with. It is so powerful and enchanting.

Wishtress is a “chaste” YA fantasy/romance featuring complex characters and fairly strong world-building. Author Nadine Brandes excels in her exploration of magic but could have done more with the world in which it exists.

Myrthe and Bastiann, however, seem fully realized. Both are compelling in their own way, and their supporting characters bring out the best — and worst — in them.

Going into Wishtress, it’s helpful for readers to know that the publisher, Thomas Nelson, is the “world leading publisher and provider of Christian content.” In the case of Wishtress that becomes apparent through allegory (it features a hidden moral meaning). And it’s a little heavy handed (not so hidden) toward the end — like you actively acknowledge it’s happening while reading it. That said, those moments feel true to the characters. But a more subtle approach would have created broader appeal.

At more than 450 pages, Wishtress is a fairly long novel, but its pacing is strong. Even when the action lulls a bit, Brandes maintains interest. The book is being billed as a stand-alone novel, but Brandes’ has certainly left the door open for a sequel.

This is not a bad book. Don’t look at my rating and think “oh dear, that doesn’t look good”. In this case it’s actually not necessarily a bad book, just a bad book for me.

The premise was pretty darn good: in a middle-ages ish fantasy world where some have Talents, Myrthe inherits a pretty epic one; her tears are wishes. But because she’s desperate to be loved (more on this later) she effs up and gets cursed, and has to find a way to un-curse herself. The world-building could have been better, but the idea was pretty good.

I didn’t like Myrthe, the main (?) character - she was whiny and annoying and boring to listen to. It’s a good thing the POV switched a lot between mostly Myrthe and Bastiaan, because while he wasn’t too fascinating either, anything was better than Myrthe and her constant woe-is-me. And her weird obsession with being loved? By literally anyone who looks at her? Not cute. The “romance” between the two was forced and insta-lovey, the “twists” throughtout the story were obvious and very convenient and just.. meh. Not for me.

The book itself could have been about a hundred pages shorter (so much purple prose, y’all. So much of it. Everywhere, all the time) and needed a heavier editing-hand. The ending felt rushed - the first 50%-ish I enjoyed, they were nicely paced, but a LOT happened in the last 50%, and especially towards the last 75%, and everything suddenly happened very quickly and with absolutely no set-up. Meh.

All that aside, I genuinely think this is an okay read for people who are 1) more used to fantasy novels heavy with magic and 2) people who are simply not me.

Ah, this book was simply lovely. I found the premise to be quite unique and so very readable. I mean- can you imagine if your tears granted wishes? Guys. I cry at least 452 times a day, right? Can you imagine what the world would be like if every single time I could make wishes come true? My popularity would be off the charts!

Sadly, this is not the case with our main character, Myrthe. She's pretty alone and fairly miserable, her parents dead and her grandmother using her tears for her own selfishness. She doesn't even fully understand the depths of her own power, as her grandmother has left her purposely in the dark. Suffice it to say, ma'am is not exactly up for the World's Best Grandma™ coffee cup at this year's holiday festivities. Then even worse, Myrthe decides to take back some of her agency, and whoops, messes up the world. As such, she's cursed so that the next tear that falls will be her last. Because she'll die, if that wasn't clear.

Fellow MC Bastiaan is an old soul- literally and figuratively. He has his own special power, and harbors his own secrets surrounding it. When he and Myrthe stumble upon each other, their paths become intertwined. They both have something the other wants: Myrthe has the wishes Bastiaan desperately wants, and Bastiaan has knowledge of the Well that Myrthe must find to undo her curse.

So you can see the setup for the story already: everyone wants from Myrthe the one thing that it would literally kill her to give them, a wish. She, in turn, is reluctant to explain to her loved ones why she cannot, as she fears they'll hate her for the trouble that has befallen her land. Without giving too much away, the story takes some great twists and turns, and even in the moments I could predict, the characters' responses were so heartfelt that it really didn't matter, as it was a pleasure to read anyway.

Just a note too, as I know some readers are a bit hesitant to read books labeled as "Christian fiction": this is in no way preachy or overbearing. It contains lovely messages that, quite frankly, all humans should live by, regardless of religion affiliation or lack thereof.

Bottom Line: The writing is great, the characters so very multifaceted, and the magic system completely comprehensible, this is absolutely another big win for Nadine Brandes.

A story of what happens when secrets, magic, and desire clash.
It took a bit for me to warm up to this one, but I couldn't put it down once it hit about the halfway point. Brandes does a very thorough job of introducing the characters and setting up the playing field before the action takes place, which is great for the overall story but a bit of a slog at the beginning.
The careful and lengthy introduction of Myrthe, Bastiaan, and the rest means that you really get to know and empathize with them and their choices by the time the plot really gets going. It makes the moral conundrum of the decisions they have to make hit even harder when you know all they've been through to get to that point.
It hits some very interesting points about duty, desire, and personal choice that I was not expecting to be so deep in a YA story, but it makes the story even more interesting and gives a good level of depth to the story altogether.
Overall, it's slow to get started but incredibly interesting once if takes off and it will definitely be one to make you think as much as enjoy.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the magical read!

Wish I could have snapped myself into the Stillness while reading this, didn't realize how long this was.going to be. I kept wanting it to be over already but then it just kept going like an epic and while sometimes I was confused and stressed I did appreciate the allegorical parts. And I loved all the characters even though there was a lot of angst and peril. Thinking Bastiaan was a play on bastion because that definition suits him perfectly and he was hot with his throwing discs.

WISHTRESS by Nadine Brandes

★★★★

Among all the ARCs I’ve read, this book is definitely at the top when it comes to the times I wrote “f*ck” in my notes.
In a good way, really.
As it always happens, by the time I do read the ARC, unless it regards my favourite authors, it’s like I’m going in blind, remembering only bits and pieces of the actual plot. If I go reading said blurb now, many things are given away already, whereas - and this is where the “f*cks” come to play - not knowing anything makes a huge difference.
After a great start, where you get to see Myrthe going from passive Wishtress to the usual YA heroine who thinks she knows better - but, truth to be told, I can’t really blame her for her actions, not entirely, at least - you’re thrown into a fast-paced rush to stop the new king before the entire popolation is doomed.
While Myrthe is the protagonist, at times I felt this book was more about Bastiaan. It’s just a feeling I had, it lingered through the whole reading and never left me, not even at the end. In any case, I adored him, although sometimes he should’ve been hit on the head, much like Myrthe. What can I say, they are made for one another.
If I were to judge how the book went from beginning to end, I’d say it started strong, lost its way a bit, dealt with weird things, and ended in a quite predictable way - one part of this ending I do despise quite out of principle - but nicely enough to intrigue me about the sequel.
There is another thing. Whereas I do read my books using the trigger/content warnings more like a shopping list, there is a very important passage in this Young Adult novel that should come with a warning. I’m one to think that it’s weird that there’s more violence in YAs than smut when it’d be more normal to have it the other way around - 16 & pregnant wasn’t just a tv show and Juno wasn’t just a movie - however, this part would belong more in a dark romance than a YA.
All things considered, this book was really good, maybe a bit walking the line of the good vs. evil in a religious kind-of-way in my mind, but good nonetheless. Definitely worth all the colorful reactions in my notes!

—

Tra tutti gli ARC che ho letto, questo è decisamente uno di quelli in cima quando si parla di tutte le volte che ho scritto “ca*zo” nelle mie note.
Nel senso buono, davvero.
Come succede sempre, quando effettivamente leggo l’ARC, a meno che non si tratti di una delle mie autrici preferite, è come se ci entrassi alla cieca, ricordandomi solamente alcuni piccoli particolari della trama vera e propria. Se infatti adesso vado a leggere la trama, molte cose vengono già dette, mentre - e qui è dove quei “ca*zo” entrano in gioco - non sapere quasi nulla fa un’enorme differenza.
Dopo un grandioso inizio, dove potete vedere Myrthe passare da Wishtress passiva alla solita eroina degli YA che pensa di sapere tutto meglio di tutti - ma, a dire il vero, non posso incolparla per le proprie azioni, non interamente, almeno - venite spinte in una corsa contro il tempo per fermare il nuovo re prima che l’intera popolazione sia spacciata.
Sebbene Myrthe sia la vera protagonista, a volte ho sentito come se questo fosse più un libro su Bastiaan. Si tratta solamente di una sensazione che ho avuto, che è rimasta durante tutta la lettura e non mi ha mai lasciato, nemmeno alla fine. In ogni caso, l’ho adorato, sebbene a volte avrebbero dovuto colpirlo in testa, proprio come Myrthe. Cosa posso dire, sono fatti l’uno per l’altra.
Se dovessi giudicare l’andare di questo libro dall'inizio alla fine, direi che è iniziato in modo potente, perdendosi un po’ per strada, ha avuto a che fare con cose strane, ed è finito in modo piuttosto prevedibile - una parte di questo finale però la odio per principio - ma abbastanza bene da intrigarmi relativamente al sequel.
C’è un’altra cosa. Sebbene io legga i miei libri usando i trigger/content warning più come una lista della spesa, c’è un passaggio davvero importante in questo Young Adult che dovrebbe avere un avvertimento. Io personalmente penso che sia strano che ci sia più violenza negli YA che smut quando sarebbe più normale l’esatto contrario - 16 & pregnant non era solo uno show e Juno non era solo un film - tuttavia, questa parte apparterrebbe più in un dark romance che uno YA.
Tutto considerato, questo libro è stato davvero bello, forse ha camminato un po’ sul filo di tutta la tematica buono vs. cattivo in una maniera un po’ religiosa, a mio avviso, ma bello comunque. È decisamente valso tutte le reazioni colorite nelle mie note!

Nadine is ridiculously good at what she does, if you’ve read any of her books, you know she was made to write.
And this book is no different, you feel the heart and soul she put into this story and every single character.
This story is deep, and moved me to tears more than once.
I loved this story and these characters so much.

I am proud to be a ninja for Nadine and this book is one of the many reasons why.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc copy that I forced myself to read over a 5 month period.

Nadine Brandes pulls the reader into a magical world where her exquisite details and depth keeps the pages madly flipping until the end of the story. Enter the world of Winterune where Talents are rare, magical, and hotly argued over. The only way to get a Talent is to travel to the Well, where every person must make it through the daunting Trials without dying first. And a Talent is never guaranteed when the Well is reached and the water drank. Only the Wishtress Talent is given without drinking the water from the Well. With a single tear the Wishtress can give a wish. But the latest Wishtress never asked for this Talent, doesn't know how to use it, and Myrthe starts to make one horrible mistake after another. Now she is cursed to die with her next tear and decides she needs to visit the Well in order to reverse the curse and find answers to so many unanswered questions. Her Oma never fully explained her rare Talent but rather used it to instill fear and make easy money. Myrthe is on the run and trying to harden her heart to save her life. She needs help but with everyone she knows trying to use her for a wish there seems to be no safe place to turn. Bastiaan has a powerful Talent to control time and he has used it to learn and try to change how elites respond to Talents. But with his own mistakes to deal with, trust is hard for him as well. But Myrthe needs to reach the Well and Bastiaan needs to learn more about the Wishtress. With evil closing in can the truth of the Well and the reason for the path each life takes be revealed?
The rich emotions and character development keep the reader entrenched in this amazing story. Even when the story ends on page, it lingers far after in the reader's mind and emotions. Nadine Brandes is new to me but she has definitely put herself on my need to read more list with this masterful tale. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own..

I wanted to like this book so bad, but it was unfortunately not my cup of tea. The premise is solid, the concept had so much potential, but the execution is sadly lacking.

Myrthe is a protagonist whose head is honestly painful to be in; she’s woefully misled, exceedingly lacking in agency, and makes emotional decisions with little thought that just make her more pitiful. Bastiaan is a little better, but what he makes up for in dignity that Myrthe lacks, he’s thoroughly one-dimensional. Myrthe’s grandmother fills the wicked stepmother stereotype to a tee, and who-I-assume-to-be-the-main-villain was actually someone I sympathized with until she inexplicably goes in another direction entirely.

I was going to try to push through in hopes of the experience improving but read enough reviews that felt similar enough to me to know this book is not for me. Also, apparently the ending gives off major Christian fiction vibes? I’m not opposed but nowhere is that presented in the synopsis and there was absolutely no groundwork for that spin laid in the first quarter of the book.

DNF @ 25%.

2 stars for premise potential.

I've very much enjoyed Brandes' other books, so I'm not surprised to see some of her trademarks here - engaging characters, beautifual descriptions, allegories and thematics that work into the plot twists,
I loved Myrthe (punny for Mirth!) - she was certainly a part of the bildungsroman, and had to learn some lessons, but was kind and well-meaning. I loved Bastiaan too - he was iffy for me towards the beginning of the novel, but as we learned more about him, and his care for Myrthe, he grew on me.
The worldbuilding was a bit light, but the magical system made sense. I recommend this story!

“Wishtress”, by the talented Nadine Brandes, is a new standalone young adult fantasy novel. Let me tell you, you are in for a treat, a boost for your faith and an incredible, edge of your seat adventure!

If this does not convince you, let me give more reasons why “Wishtress” has made it onto my favorites list. One reason is because the world and plot of “Wishtress” is so unique (in true Brandes fashion)! Brandes tells her story with a fresh voice that has the feel of an old fairytale. “Wishtress” reads like a fairytale that has allegory mixed in and includes nods to the Dutch and German cultures. I found myself in awe of the imaginative world and magic system. I especially loved how Brandes weaves incredible symbolism and allegory into the story, even while the narrative itself can be enjoyed for the amazing story that it is! The allegory is so powerful that I found myself super encouraged in my own faith and walk with the Lord by the end of this book!!! From about two-thirds through the book, there is nonstop action, tension and it is extremely hard to put down!

Brandes writes many incredible characters in “Wishtress”! Myrthe, the protagonist, is relatable in so many ways. When she discovers who she is and what her talent is, she does not know whether it is truly a gift or a curse, and she questions how to use it. Myrthe undergoes a huge transformation throughout the story. In the beginning, Myrthe feels that people value her tears more than her heart. She is tired of being controlled by her grandmother and longs to live her own life, learn about her gift and to use it to help people. Her journey in many ways mirrors our faith journey. Something I love about Myrthe is that she deals with chronic pain! But I have to stop gushing before I give too much more away!

Will Myrthe become who she was created to be or will she and her gifts fall into the hands of the wrong people and become a curse? Do not pass up the opportunity to read this deep, thought-provoking, and exciting story!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: a woman emotionally and physically abuses and controls her granddaughter; a person curses, but the word is not actually written; people are physically tortured; a girl was forced into prostitution in her past; a man drinks ale; there are descriptions of violence and some gore.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars and a place on my favorites shelf!

I want to thank Nadine Brandes, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

"It's the struggle of this world: to have to choose between Bane and Talent, except the fight will be that much harder since few of us have Talents and Banes are being forced on all."

A unique story, fantastic worldbuilding, a romance I didn't mind to see coming, and a cool setting. There are different Talents, and Myrthe is a Wishtress who can grant wishes with her tears. The first half of the book was fast paced and we dive straight into action from the first page. The writing was good and story engaging and characters well developed.

Wishtress was a really fun book.
Our main character Myrthe is the Wishtress. Her tears create wishes. From the first time she cried when she was 12, her Oma has been taking her wishes to sell and not letting Myrthe use them and she refuses to teach Myrthe how to safely use them. Her first wishes ever accidentally caused her father to die and her mother to forget who she was. Her third wish she ever uses herself (just to prove to someone she is the Wishtress) goes horribly wrong and she ends up cursed so the next tear she sheds, she will die.
Our other main character Baastian has a Talent. He can stop time. The new king asks him to deliver the Wishtress to him, but instead, Baastian give Myrthe a chance to be a human instead of the Wishtress.
Myrthe, Baastian, the rebels and the king all fight to get to the Well of Talents first. To get to the Well of Tears and receive a Talent, you have to go through rigorous trials that kill almost everyone who enters. Who will get there first and ultimately have power over Talents?
I liked both Myrthe and Baastian. My favorite thing about Myrthe is that once she finally figures out her Oma is horribly using her, she really comes to understand who is rooting for her as a human and who wants to use her to try to get a wish. She also had chronic pain from the pox when she was younger and it was great representation of that. Baastian was such a sweetheart, but he wasn't perfect. I think my 2 favorite characters were Runt, a crat (canal rat) Baastian took in and is basically raising and Anouk, Myrthe's cousin. Runt is only 10 but will capture your heart. Anouk is a spitfire with a huge heart and a dark past.
I'm not sure if the pacing was off or what, but in the beginning I found my interest lacking a little bit. I liked the story and the characters, but I never found myself *needing* to pick up the book. Once all the characters are trying to get to the Well and we find out crucial things, my interest did pick up and I was very invested in the ending.
The atmosphere/world building and magic system were done very well. I could easily picture Myrthe and Baastian's world and the Talents were explained well without feeling like they were being explained.
While everything wrapped up a little conveniently and I had semi-guessed the big twist early on, it really led into a possible second book well and I really think anyone who gives this one a go will hope and pray for a second book (including me)!

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from 3 points of view

– a character was sold into prostitution by their father as a child (past event)

Review:

Wow! I was absolutely floored by the last half of this book! (This does not mean the rest of the book wasn’t good, it was really good! It just means that once I got to the halfway point & beyond I did not want to put it down at all!) There were a few different storylines that needed to be resolved by the end and Nadine did that beautifully! The good vs evil aspect of the story was portrayed soooo good (I can’t really say too much on it without spoiling something)! I loved how Myrthe and Bastiaan both had things to work on for themselves on this journey as well as their relationships with the people they cared about. The development of Myrthe & Bastiaan’s relationship/trust in each other was also really cool! I loved how their trust was so real in both the high and low points. It helped me to better relate to both of them.

Myrthe doesn’t want to be the Wishtress. It cost her her parents, a normal life, and her freedom. She lives under her Oma’s thumb and is unable to do anything with her gift but give it to Oma to sell for profit. Even worse, Myrthe doesn’t know the full details of her Talent. Oma keeps pushing her questions away and if she were to tell anyone else of her gift, she’d be in danger. But when Myrthe decides she’s had enough, she makes a few decisions that change the entire course of her future. Now there is a growing number of people who know that she is the Wishtress. She is on the run from the crown and people who want to hand her in for the bounty on her head. But they don’t know that Myrthe is cursed to die with her next fallen tear, the source of her wishes. They only see her as a commodity and if they knew of her curse, they’d be more desperate to get to her first for the final wish.

Bastiaan has the Talent to stop time with a snap of his fingers. His current goal is to convince the new king to make the Well of Talents available to all people instead of just those who can manage to find it (or pay someone to bring them to it) and pass the trials to get to it. He is convinced that Talents are to help the king keep the kingdom safe and well. But to convince the king, Bastiaan needs to get on his good side. So when he is tasked to find and retrieve the Wishtress, that’s what Bastiaan intends to do. But when Bastiaan finds Myrthe, he changes his original goal of bringing her in. Something about her tells him that there is more than meets the eye about her and the king’s decree. And he’s not about to lose the chance to discover the truth.

Myrthe believes the only way to get rid of her curse is to go to the Well so when she meets someone who is willing to take her, she is determined but wary. With her face posted everywhere outing her as the Wishtress, more and more people are learning of her secret, which means more and more people have hidden agendas that include her ability to give wishes. Could Bastiaan know who she is? Is he only helping her in order to take advantage of her Talent? Why does the king want her and what are his plans for her?