Book Review - Branna's Song by Katherine Bryant

* * * * I give Branna’s Song by Katherine Bryant 4 stars! I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Straightforward plot, yet skillfully written. Thoroughly enjoyable. My biggest complaint about the book is that it wasn’t long enough. Granted, I knew going in that it was a novella but I found myself wanting more of Branna’s story and Bryant’s direct writing style.

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What I Liked:

• Bryant’s writing style is ideal for this quick book. It’s easy to read and it flows with accurate but succinct descriptions.
• This book is very honest. What I mean is, it depicts Branna’s adventure very realistically. Not only the horrors of battle and her initial reaction to those horrors, but also the challenges of letting certain things happen along the way, and the anticlimactic results upon returning home. Real life is messy with a lot of loose ends and gray area and this book depicted that.
• I found Branna and Sahil to be easy characters to follow and care about. Bryant did a nice job of humanizing them and adding a decent taste of backstory in a short span of time.
• Plenty of girl power to be had without feeling “preached to” about it.

What I Didn’t Like:

• A lot of issues were left unresolved at the end. But, this is the first in a series so I expect to have many questions answered when the next Coldwood Saga book hits my shelf.
• I always mention if I find spelling/grammar errors. There were a couple, but nothing that would damage my enjoyment of the read.

Would I Recommend This and to Whom:
I think the targeted audience of New Adult readers and SciFi/Fantasy fans suits it well. But, also anyone who enjoys a story of a young woman discovering who she is despite adversity. Skip that popular movie with a dull plot and spend an evening consuming this book, instead.

Favorite Quotes:

• "Branna had had many years to perfect the equally daring art of rejecting the judgement of others.”
• “Lothians tended not to wrap themselves too tightly in propriety, but this woman was brasher than most commoners dared to be. Branna couldn't decide if she was offended by this woman's frank manner, or if she admired it.”