If you could have everything you wish for, would you have any problems?
In the YA Fantasy Novel, Wishtress by Nadine Brandes, there are difficulties aplenty for one young teen. Young Myrthe discovers her talent for granting wishes in one of the worst ways possible. She makes a wish while crying—resulting in the tragic loss of both her parents. This event leads her to the discovery that she’s the once-in-a-hundred-years Wishtress, and her tears are what make her wishes possible.
The major conflict in this story occurs when Myrthe grants the wish of someone in dire need, and ends up with a curse on her own life. The curse? Her next tear will result in her own death. Dun-dun-dun…how will she get out of that one? Especially when everyone who discovers her gift will stop at nothing to try and get a wish from her.
Being at the mercy of others who just want something from you is a major theme of this story—one I strongly connected with. Myrthe cannot trust anyone, because as soon as her power is known, that person is asking for (or demanding) a wish.
The world that Wishtress is set in is a Holland-esque medieval kingdom, complete with canals and windmills. Throw in a slew of other characters with superpowers that fall under the Talented or Bane (curse-giving) category, and you have a story that continually surprises with its plot twists.
And speaking of other characters, within the pages you’ll meet Myrthe’s two love interests (each with their own interesting powers), an oh-so-sassy sidekick, and several complex villains. Complex, meaning, they are not just baddies, but grapple with motives most can relate to.
In its literary style, Wishtress reminds me of Ella Enchanted (the book, NOT the movie) combined with The X-men (the movies and comic books), because of all the unique super-powers. It also leans a bit toward The Chronicles of Narnia, because it’s not just a shallow fairy story, but a complex tale delving into the nature of the human heart.
What’s that you wish for? My rating? I’m giving Wishtress five stars.