Review of The Near Witch

The Near Witch
by Victoria Schwab
Published by Hyperion Books
Released August 2011


From Goodreads:

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Thoughts:

I received this book as a RAK in September and I was really excited to read it. It was a pretty good story. For me personally that was all it was though. I like folklore type story lines. I love authors who mix fairy tales with reality and I love stories of witches. For all of those reasons, I did enjoy this book. I liked the main character, she had a lot of grit and determination.

I always want to know more, though. I want to know more about why she doesn't like Tyler Ward. I want to know a little more about her relationship with her mother, who at times is critical in the plot, and yet we know so little about her. She is trying to protect her sister throughout the entire book, and so I want to see more of their relationship, beyond the doting and silly games.

Then I stopped myself. This is a book intended for a young adult audience. It was fast paced and entertaining. There was a little fantasy, a little romance, and a little rebellion. I'd say it was a perfect novel for it's intended audience. So I'll combine my wanting more rating with the rating that I'd have probably given it ten years ago :)

3 out of 5 cups!