Crewel: A Novel (Crewel World #1)

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has the rare ability to weave the very fabric of her world. Even though her parents have trained her to hide this gift–a treasonous act for which they pay dearly–she doesn’t escape detection. In fact, she is abducted by the Guild and forced to become a Spinster, one of the elite cadre of Fates who manipulate the minutiae of everyday life. Entangled in a web of deceit, Adelice must unravel the truth and navigate this dangerous realm in which maiden, matron, and crone live a half-live in Purgatory between all-powerful and powerless. Although the plot is extraordinarily compelling, it ends with a cliff hanger and then arrogantly proclaims “End of Book One.” Not only does Albin assume that her debut novel will be received favorably enough that there will indeed be a complete series, but she also presumes that the reader be willing to continue reading it. Such arrogance creates an inherent flaw in the narrative; the plot is fleeringly incomplete and languishes in the belief that the story will be able to come to fruition in the fullness of time. Those inclined to believe that series are merely attempts to permit a reader to venture “no further than a wanton's bird” will find fodder for such sentiments here. Ironically, they will be broken by the siren call of so excellent a plot well told that they will further ensconce themselves in the conviction that a talented, honest storyteller will convey her message in one book. And, they will loathe having been seduced. Conversely, this is an excellent read and an even more excellent addition to a collection frequented by fans of series who revel in the titillation of awaiting the next installment’s release as dreams of merch dance in their heads.

Crewel : A Novel (Crewel World #1) by
Gennifer Albin

Secondary

Farrar Straus Giroux

360 pp.

Published 2012

ISBN 978-0-374-31641-9

$17.99

Science Fiction

Comments

Notes From the Field: Waltz Across Texas, First Dance

Originally published August 1, 2024 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission In July, I kicked off the first in a series of day-long turns around clusters of small public libraries to tour their spaces and chat about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can best support their leadership. This round, the fancy feet of Continuing Education and Consulting Team Manager Katherine Adelberg accompanied me as we spun through New Braunfels Public Library, Seguin Public Library, and Martindale Community Library. New Braunfels Public Library New Braunfels is perched on the brink of the Hill Country, right between San Antonio and Austin on I-35. Spanning Comal and Guadalupe counties with its 105,000 residents, it’s not only one of the fastest-growing cities, but is also regarded as one of the best 50 places to live in the United States. Established in 1845, New Braunfels is known for its German...

Standing TALL: Choosing to Apply to the Texas Library Association's TALL Texan Leadership Institute

After having attended the Texas Library Association's TALL Texan Leadership Institute , another library worker reached out to me with questions about my experience. Below are the answers that I provided in response. *** Why did you apply to Tall Texans? Originally, I heard about TALL Texans as a new school librarian - within my first five years - and at the time it was described to me as an opportunity to gain meaningful leadership training in the field of librarianship that was specific to the Texas Library ecosystem. Thus, it was something that I'd aspired to for quite awhile. However, as time went on, I made my way toward leadership without having attended the institute and began to second guess the value of the investment. However, when I mentioned to my supervisor that I was mildly interested in attending, she strongly encouraged me to apply - stating that not only would the library pay for my tuition but that she believed I would particularly benefit from the con...

Decloaking Wakanda: Creating Space for BIPOC Nerds

On February 9, 2023, at the fourth Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC), I had the exhilarating experience of guiding a discussion that focused on the need to connect with nerd culture and create a welcoming environment for the BIPOC fandom. The soul of this session had been several years in the making and built on countless heart-to-heart moments. So, I couldn’t imagine a better venue for seeing it actualized than my first JCLC. Furthermore, for this session, I had the honor of being in conversation with fellow nerds and comics librarians Jean Darnell and Deimosa Webber-Bey . To my eternal amazement, our talk was met with a standing room only reception, and afterward we were repeatedly regaled with tales of being turned away at the door. In hopes of capturing a small portion of that day's magic, this post grew out of that discussion. *** For the past 30 years, BIPOC nerds have existed in the cringe-worthy shadow of Urkel. What if, instead, they’d had portrayals such as ...

CET Writes

Search This Blog