Woven

by Michael Jensen, David Powers King

Overview

“It’s not often that you read a fantasy that feels as epic and original . . . Clever, well-paced, and full of intrigue, it’s a superb read.” —James Dashner, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown.

But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure.

Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face.

Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.

“Woven reads like a lost classic that was somehow just rediscovered. It has the feel of a comfortable, familiar blanket that’s somehow been newly-made of the brightest, most original material possible, and it is pure pleasure to read.” —James A. Owen, bestselling author & illustrator of Dawn of the Dragons

“This brisk adventure from first-time authors Jensen and King is a charming quest tale in classic fantasy tradition.” —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545685733
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/17/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	357
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Michael Jensen is the coauthor of WOVEN, with David Powers King. A graduate of Brigham Young University's prestigious music, dance, and theater program, Michael taught voice at BYU before establishing his own vocal instruction studio. In addition to being an imaginative storyteller, Michael is an accomplished composer and vocalist. He lives in Salt Lake City with his husband and their four dogs.
David Powers King is the coauthor of WOVEN, with Michael Jensen. David was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to become a writer. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He now lives in the mountain West with his wife and three children.

Editorial Reviews

11/10/2014
When a 17-year-old peasant named Nels finally gets to attend his town’s yearly festival, all he wants is the chance to become a real knight—and perhaps win a kiss from the lovely Princess Tyra. But before the day is out, Nels is killed by a master of the magic called Fabrication. Much to Nels’s dismay, the only person capable of seeing his ghost is Princess Tyra, who publicly humiliated him only hours earlier and has no intention of helping her phantasmagorical new companion. According to a magician named Ickabosh, however, Tyra’s fate is bound to Nels, and the man who killed Nels won’t rest until both of their life-threads are cut. While the novel is aimed at a YA audience, its language sometimes feels closer to middle grade and tends to summarize the protagonists’ feelings rather than demonstrate them (“In spite of the peasant’s insolence, Tyra was intrigued and curious about him—if only a little”). Still, this brisk adventure from first-time authors Jensen and King is a charming quest tale in classic fantasy tradition. Ages 12–up. Agent: Meredith Bernstein, Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"This brisk adventure from first-time authors Jensen and King is a charming quest tale in classic fantasy tradition." –Publisher's Weekly"Woven reads like a lost classic that was somehow just rediscovered. It has the feel of a comfortable, familiar blanket that's somehow been newly-made of the brightest, most original material possible, and it is pure pleasure to read." –James A. Owen, bestselling author & illustrator of Here, There Be Dragons"The worldbuilding is dynamic, original and intriguing ... and the characters, appealing. A sure bet for high-fantasy fans." –Kirkus Review"It's not often that you read a fantasy that feels as epic and original as Woven by King and Jensen. Clever, well-paced, and full of intrigue, it's a superb read. Highly recommended." –James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze Runner.

From the Publisher

03/01/2015
Gr 6–9—A quarrelsome princess and a handsome ghost connect with sorcerers, conjurors, and witches as they seek an enchanted Needle to stitch the world back together. Nels, a peasant lad seemingly dead at the hands of an evil Fabricator, must join forces with petulant Tyra, princess of Avërand, in order to restore himself to life. The mismatched pair stumble into danger, adventure, and love as they discover nothing is as it seems in their quest to preserve the kingdom. The premise behind this mythical world is creative: a great tapestry into which everything in all of the worlds is woven, supported and protected by weavers with magical skills to keep the threads from unraveling. The execution, however, is not always successful: characters with insufficient depth or backstory and dialogue that occasionally seems too modern for the world in which it is spoken. While many fantasy readers may prefer the works of Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones, there are those who will enjoy the world-building, magic, action, and trace of romance found in this novel, which leaves the door open for sequels. VERDICT An entertaining but slight fantasy for libraries with ample budgets.—Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI

School Library Journal

2014-11-04
In a world where reality is created on looms and woven into complex tapestries, Nels' life dangles from a single vulnerable thread. Nels longs to be a knight and can't understand why his mother's forbidden him to pursue his dream. Coaxed into disobeying her to attend the summer festival, he beats Avërand's chief knight in a wrestling match but is publicly snubbed by Princess Tyra, who reneges on her promise to kiss the winner (after all, Nels is a mere peasant). Just hours later, Nels is murdered by a mysterious stranger and becomes a ghost, visible only to Tyra. She may be able to help him back to life, but first he must persuade her to do so and to accompany him on a dangerous quest before time runs out. Mentoring the heroes' journey is Ickabosh, who practices Fabrication, as he is able to perceive and manipulate the threads from which reality is woven. They're pursued by Rasmus, Bosh's former apprentice, bent but powerful and wielding a terrifying gift. Jensen and King's cosmology draws from weaving and tailoring, as do the tools fabricators manipulate—thread, thimbles, scissors—and what they create with them. While the plot follows a familiar high-fantasy arc that occasionally dips into melodrama, the worldbuilding is dynamic, original and intriguing (if a tad schematic), and the characters, appealing. A sure bet for high-fantasy fans. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews