CREWEL by Gennifer Albin

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: October 16th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

ISBN: 0374316414

Source: Publisher

Rating: ♥♥♥

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

My Thoughts:

CREWEL by Gennifer Albin is a debut dystopian novel with Mad Men-esque touches. A book that is intricate, original and intriguing, set in a world were men hold absolute power and where the threads of their very existence lies within the hands of a girl.

As I began reading CREWEL I was quickly absorbed into it's pages. I thought it was a great introduction to an interesting and complex story that centers on select members of the female population and their ability to interweave the fabric of life. This story's main character is Adelice Lewys, raised her entire life to fail, a girl that is as powerful as she is defiant, yet doomed to become a coveted member in the elite assembly of Spinsters.

Gennifer Albin has created a world that is quite unique and complex. I enjoyed the detailed world building and the characters portrayals that were well fleshed out. For instance, Adelice's pain and anguish was so very well depicted in that very first chapter that I could feel the tension in my very bones. Yet, while I appreciated certain aspects I could not seem to completely commit to this novel because I found the weaving process that was integral to this story a bit confusing. 

With the deluge of Dystopian novels currently flooding the market. CREWEL does stand out due it's originality and interesting concept. Although I had a few issues I am still fascinated by it and can see where this novel will be greatly loved by many. I am interested to see how the next book in this trilogy will work out because it had a wicked insane ending that I am still trying to work my way around.