The Near Witch Review

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Title: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Hyperion
Published: August 2, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal Fantasy
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

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.
Lexi lives in a Near, a town much like any small town. Nestled on the edge of the forest, it offers quaint simplicity, family values and a charm all its own. But Near has mysteries of its own. Stories of the wind and secrets of a dark presence and past linger on the lips of the town, and when they become reality and children start disappearing from their beds at night, reality sets in. The townsfolk want their children back, and when a strange new boy appears in town, it becomes easy to find an unfamiliar face to blame. Lexi isn't sure it's quite that simple though, and she won't stop at anything to find the real truth in Near.

Every so often, there is an author and a book that blows your mind with the elegance and grace in which a story is told. The Near Witch is that book. Perhaps it's not an entirely unheard of idea, and perhaps you might be tired of the same-old, same-old, but Victoria Schwab has proven with The Near Witch that even a familiar story can become something new and improved. With a stunning, lyrical and almost poetic voice, The Near Witch gives a flawless, picture-perfect image of a town lost in the clutches of an unknown force, while ultimately teaching the reader about love, truth and the true nature of fear.

I still have so many thoughts running through my head that it's going to be hard to paint an accurate portrayal of the beauty of The Near Witch. The characters, first and foremost, were probably the most eloquent aspect of the book for me. Lexi was the perfect protagonist - headstrong and honour-bound with a voice she wasn't afraid to raise. Cole, likewise, balanced her with a quiet, honest demeanor and a cross of his own to bear. The Near Witch did an interesting thing with the secondary characters though. Rather than giving us a plethora of well-defined characters, The Near Witch gave us a host of secondary characters that were more like sketches until their actions filled in the blanks and brought them to life. That, in a nutshell, is how the plot wove its way through the story. Effortlessly balancing a creepy undertone that seamlessly blends with a sweet, believable romance, as well, The Near Witch pretty much epitomizes perfection. The most important thing to mention is that The Near Witch resonates with reality despite the unrealistic elements. There is an ultimate basis of the truth of human nature in the story that is real, accessible and (at times) edge-of-your-seat creepy.

All in all, I was completely blown away by The Near Witch. I expected a good read, but this was far better than I'd anticipated, and Victoria Schwab has easily edged into my top ten favourite authors. I give it a 5 out of 5 (6, if I could), and I would highly recommend it to both fans of YA and adult books, especially those who enjoy paranormal, fantasy and contemporary fiction because there are elements of each.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

32 comments:

  1. Ah that is a nice bday present for Ms Schwab, an awesome review!
    I'm also very excited for this one...so close now!
    Cubicleblindness

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great book review, Melissa. I'm really looking forward to reading this novel. It's on the top of my To-Read pile.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Who says giving a book 6 Stars is not allowed? No one ever told me that anyway, heh. I'm so looking forward to reading this one. I have not read one negative review! The characters as you describe them sound exceptional!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes! Yes! Ohh my goodness, I loved this book so much. I completely agree that its wonderfulness goes off the rating scale! Also: elegance and grace. PERFECT words to describe the style of this book. Fabulous review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful review, Melissa! I can't wait to read it. Lexi sounds like a very likeable character. This seems like a book which lingers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is what I keep hearing about this book - that it exceeds expectations. From the cover, it doesn't look like anything special (I know I should have learned not to judge by that by now), so I wouldn't have picked it up. Thanks for this review and letting me know what I'd be missing out on.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great review! I'm so excited for this one, I've been hearing nothing but good things about it. I'll have to get a copy when it comes out.

    ReplyDelete
  8. In your top ten authors of all time! Well I definitely have to read it. Great review again Melissa. You made me want this book like right now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. A very nice book - I like good characters with a distinct voice. Thanks for a great review!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am reading this right now and it is beautifully written.
    NC
    Truly Bookish

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really enjoyed this review. It gave me a feel for the story without telling me the whole story. I'm going to read this one.... Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ohhh I like that. Do not listen when the wind calls you. That sure caught my attention

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your review. It makes me want to read the book ASAP. I'm definitely going to move it up on my list of reads now.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow Melissa, I'm completely blown away by your review. I need to read this one immediately! If you say it's good, I know it's more than worth a read:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I 100% agree - the way this story is told is really exceptional. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just love it when a book flows well! It really helps you as the reader get into the story. Nice review!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, I didn't think I would love this one. Really no idea why I thought that, but I have to reconsider not buying it! Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Damn. You own this one: "With a stunning, lyrical and almost poetic voice, The Near Witch gives a flawless, picture-perfect image of a town lost in the clutches of an unknown force, while ultimately teaching the reader about love, truth and the true nature of fear." Sold. -Linds

    ReplyDelete
  19. Strong character development paired with a mesmerizing story. I'm sold. Brilliant review, Mel. So glad to know this one exceeded your expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love how you described the human elements. I can't believe this is Victoria's first book. So, so good! Her next book sounds really good too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have heard nothing but good things about this one and can't wait for its release. I like the idea of you getting to know the secondary characters based on their actions rather than the narrator telling you exactly how to feel about them.

    ReplyDelete
  22. "Every so often, there is an author and a book that blows your mind with the elegance and grace in which a story is told. The Near Witch is that book."

    I literally squealed out loud when I read this line! I have a copy of The Near Witch in my to-be reviewed pile, and now I'm SO excited to read it. Yay! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I was rather excited about this one, now I'm really excited about it. Such a fabulous, fabulous review!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I loved this book too. I keep comparing it to Chime which I also read recently. Both books deal with witches and also have a more highbrow writing style. I felt that Chime was too highbrow and the plot got lost in the pretty prose whereas The Near Witch was extremely well written without overshadowing the plot.

    ReplyDelete
  25. WOW!!! I have it on my reading pile since a long time, but never really got around reading it. But, reading your glowing review now makes me want to read it...5 stars Melissa? Must be good !

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wonderful review! I cannot wait to get my hands on this one. I seriously want it now!

    ReplyDelete
  27. With praise like that, I don't think I can overlook this one!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow...Awesome review. I got goosebumps! This is definitely going to my tbr list! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I need it right now! Nice review! I love your writing :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for the thoughtful and well-written review. This book sounds awesome! I can’t wait to read it now.

    ~Sherry

    Sherry Soule Official Website

    Author of the Spellbound Series

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh! I am SO excited to read this book! I have a copy, but haven't had time to read it yet. But your review is awesome & is making me SO excited to finally get to read this one! :D

    ReplyDelete
  32. This book was the Debut that got away for me last year. I have been wondering if it should sneak onto this years to be read and you just gave me a resounding yes! I'm off to goodreads, and I'm a new follower.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I always do my very best to return the favour :)

Please note that this blog is an award-free zone!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Pin It button on image hover