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The Near Witch (The Near Witch #1)

by Victoria Schwab (Goodreads Author)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 2,913 ratings · 684 reviews

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.

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, sh...more

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Disney-Hyperion (first published August 2nd 2011)

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Aug 02, 2011 Patricia Riley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Shelves: favorites

I was lucky enough to get a ARC of The Near Witch and it turned out to be, by a mile, my favorite of the (many) books I read in 2010! Within two weeks of getting it, I read it twice! As I read it again today to celebrate it's release it will be the 6th time I've read it! Suffice to say this book managed to do two things that I have not had a book do in a very, very long time:

1) It so completely drew me in and entangled me in the world of the story that if someone had jumped out in front of me w...more

17 likes · like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Katie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

Recommended to Katie by: amazon

Shelves: vampires

I stopped at page 82, roughly one-third of the way through.

I am at a loss when it comes to all of the rabid fans of this novel. I found it as dull and drab as the grey skies of moor country.

The writing is stilted. The narrator is boringly typical. The author named the little sister "Wren", which is so nauseatingly whimsical and twee, in the YA world of, missing a parent, girls.

It did, indeed, feel familiar, as the jacket promised, but not in a comfortable, favorite hoodie, kind of way - more lik...more

14 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, witches-sorcerers-magic, fantasy, horror, read-2011, swapped-or-given-away, beautiful-writing, high-expectations, debut

It's really easy to see how much time and thought debut author Victoria Schwab has successfully invested into the wording of her witchy kidnapping tale. Each sentence has been set carefully into the mosaic of legends, winds that have a soul and everyday life inside of the small town of Near, which is located within an endless stretch of moor and forest, far away from the rest of the pre-industrial civilization.

Although the description did not interest me at all, when I first encountered an annou...more It's really easy to see how much time and thought debut author Victoria Schwab has successfully invested into the wording of her witchy kidnapping tale. Each sentence has been set carefully into the mosaic of legends, winds that have a soul and everyday life inside of the small town of Near, which is located within an endless stretch of moor and forest, far away from the rest of the pre-industrial civilization.

Although the description did not interest me at all, when I first encountered an announcement of its publication, enthusiastic reviews of fellow readers whose opinion I value high, made me change my mind: The language skill, the fairytale-like atmosphere, the notions of horror and suspense and a sweet supernatural romance with an unpredictable boy convinced me that I had dismissed a probable future favorite too carelessly.

I bought the book and I moved it up the waiting line. I started reading - and although I truly admired the style, and although I can understand how talking winds, buried witch bones from centuries before and boys that fade in the air lead to fairy-tale comparisons and how the disappearance of one child per night in a tiny, inaccessible community can be labeled "thrilling", I felt neither noteworthily thrilled or bespelled or horrified. On the contrary: Apart from being angry at sexist and mulish uncle Otto, his side-kick Bo and occasionally heroine Lexi herself, I just felt disappointed ... and rather bored. The title of the book gives a lot away, so I practically knew what caused the disastrous deduction of the town's number of inhabitants even before Lexi, who was only convinced of mysterious Cole not being the culprit and who wanted to track and play detective just like her deceased father, who - in contrast to Otto and chauvi childhood buddy Taylor (in search of an obedient little wife among the handful of maidens) - did not look down on his daughter for wanting to do men's work. In addition the rather slim volume turned out to contain a lot of repetitive scenes (looking for clues in the village, listening to the wind, trying to steal out of the house etc., etc.)

Maybe the love story will be grand, I still hoped after a third of the story had been ingested with some drag to the spoon. Well. You have seen my rating. You know how this story ends: Looking leads to wanting to meet, meeting leads to hand-holding, hand-holding leads to kissing and to blind trusting and to secrets being revealed and so on: Instant attraction - or "cabin lust" - for a raven-eyed, silent stranger, because all the other boys are like brothers. Besides, all the time Lexi has no problem at all finding Cole when she wants to, although the angry mob of the whole male population is out for his blood.

Both the dark, restrictive, claustrophobic community and the relationship the heroine had with the boy everybody expects her to wed reminded me strongly of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, although the latter is a post-apocalyptic zombie story and develops a completely different story-line. If you got the same vibe and know why, please tell me.

I do not want to persuade anybody against reading or buying this beautifully written story with its fitting cover. But if you are still undecided and on the verge of being pushed over the brim by infatuated reviewers, I do advise you to wait a little longer: For more reviews balancing things out and making things clearer - or simply for the paperback.(less)

24 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Absolutely beautifully written! A fairy tale with a little bit of a creep factor. Yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds... ridiculously GOOD!

The Near Witch was one of those books that you can't help but read slow... just so you can savor. Usually when I am into a book I cannot stop turning the pages fast enough... but with The Near Witch it was different. I loved the story, but I just had to take my time with each word. Does that seem crazy to anyone else? Was I the only reader to experience this...more

8 likes · like · see review

Apr 11, 2011 Vinaya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Every Single Person on my friends list. You better run for cover, now!!!

Shelves: arc-galley, books-i-loved, favorites, surprised-me, the-real-5-star-deal, ya-fantasy, i-ll-stalk-you-til-you-read-it, speshul-snowflake

"Of every aspect of the moor, the earth and stone and rain and fire, the wind is the strongest one in Near. Here on the outskirts of the village, the wind is always pressing close, making windows groan. It whispers and it howls and it sings. It can bend its voice and cast into any shape, long and thin enough to slide beneath the door, stout enough to seem a thing of weight and breath and bone." *

There are books I like that most people hate. There are books everyone loved, which never appealed t...more

37 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2010 Tye Cattanach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am utterly bewitched. And quite lost for words.
Breathtaking.

9 likes · like · see review

Sep 13, 2011 Hillary Hunt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fem-fantasy, ya

Victoria Schwab's writing will rope you in with its lyrical loveliness, I will say that. But the actual plot of the Near Witch is rather ho-hum. After all the swooning reviews I read for this one, I was expecting more. Here's why it didn't capture my fancy:

Not much suspense. You pretty much know what's going on the whole time, there are no surprises.

The book is written in first person, from the pov of Lexi. And yet her character came across as very vague and nondescript. I did not understand wh...more Victoria Schwab's writing will rope you in with its lyrical loveliness, I will say that. But the actual plot of the Near Witch is rather ho-hum. After all the swooning reviews I read for this one, I was expecting more. Here's why it didn't capture my fancy:

Not much suspense. You pretty much know what's going on the whole time, there are no surprises.

The book is written in first person, from the pov of Lexi. And yet her character came across as very vague and nondescript. I did not understand where her drive came from.

The romance was flimsy and unsupported by the story. They go from strangers to devoted to each other over night. Blink and you'll miss it.

The stakes were too low. You pretty much know there's no bite in this book when you're reading it. Makes you care less.

The whole plot just felt undercooked. There just wasn't a lot there. The story felt....small. And I don't mean in length, I mean in depth and development. I wanted more. I wanted more of who Lexi was, who Cole was, why they were attracted to each other, more suspense, more fear. I wanted there to be more explanation of why Lexi was so compelled to sneak out every night. I wanted Otto to do more than just huff and puff. I wanted a compelling reason to care or worry about the characters. But like I said, it stayed small, thin.....I don't know how else to describe it.

So that all may sound harsh, but honest to goodness I think Victoria Schwab is a wonderful tailor of words. But that was not enough to make this book captivating to me. If you want to best show off a well tailored suit, you need a good frame to hang it on.

My favorite bit:

"My Father used to say that change is like a garden.

It doesn't come up overnight, unless you are a witch. Things have to be planted and tended, and most of all, the ground has to be right. He said the people of Near had the wrong dirt, and that's why they resisted change so much, the way roots resist hard earth. He said if you could just break through, there was good soil there, down deep."

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Jul 06, 2011 Danielle Ellison rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Things that make me happy: A good song. A fantastic story. Dreams. Romance. Beautiful words. Things that require the suspension of disbelief. Magic. Getting lost in a world that isn't my own. Hope, passion and the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the extraordinary can happen to the most ordinary people.

There are very few places in life these things all come together. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab is one of them.

I've read a lot of books. A lot of books. I also love a lot of books. If you r...more Things that make me happy: A good song. A fantastic story. Dreams. Romance. Beautiful words. Things that require the suspension of disbelief. Magic. Getting lost in a world that isn't my own. Hope, passion and the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the extraordinary can happen to the most ordinary people.

There are very few places in life these things all come together. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab is one of them.

I've read a lot of books. A lot of books. I also love a lot of books. If you read my reviews regularly or have a conversation with me then you know that. But I say to you now that The Near Witch is one that will forever stand out to me as an wonderful novel. Why? Well, it has all those things I listed above, for one. For another, I wrote a freaking rap song about it. I wouldn't do that if I wasn't devoted. Thirdly, I love it. It's a flawless re-telling of a story you've heard before but never knew and something you'll never hear again. (I kinda stole that from the book flap---but it's so completely true.)

On the surface, the town of Near is a place like any other. It's a community nestled in the moors, on the edge of the forest, where no strangers dare to tread. The town is safe, quiet, and protected. The only things to fear are the old tales of the Near Witch, which spread through the town like echoes of an old song. But beneath the surface of these tales lie more secrets than anyone knows. When children start disappearing from their beds at night and a strange boy appears in the town, the truths that have been buried for centuries begin to surface. The town condemns the boy--except for our heroine, Lexi--who is determined to save the children of Near, protect the stranger named Cole, and discover the truths the town has kept as quiet as a whisper.

I talk a lot about writing in my reviews, about this ability that some authors to have to completely floor you and create a line that's so powerful it etches itself into your soul. Victoria Schwab does this extremely well. Her lines all so elegant, powerful and read with a grace that I could only dream of possessing. Every beautiful description is flawless and so vivid I felt as if I was there every second of the book, racing through the trees and listening to wind with Lexi. I could die just thinking about the world she so beautifully created. There's a good balance here between what we are told, what we see and what we get to make up ourselves that demands praise and attention.

The characters in The Near Witch are so incredible. They each have their own story, own actions and purpose. I love that they are all flexible. What does that mean? Schwab paints them all very distinctly, yet lets the reader create their own picture of what the character looks like. It's like Van Gogh or Picasso where it's unmistakably one thing, but it has the possibility to be something else. Every character in the story is like this--and they all jump off the page and into the heart. It lets them take on a life that's a little bit of what they were created to be, and a little bit your own.

Since I'm talking about characters, I need to mention my love for the sisters, Magda and Dreska, as they are two of my favorite characters in any book. I love their descriptions, their voice and role in Lexi's story, the mystery they bring with them and the wisdom that these two characters seem to carry. It's almost like Schwab pulled them out of the deep recesses of real life and placed in Near to offer guidance, snarky remarks and a sense that when all is hopeless, everything will be alright.

Another wonderful thing about The Near Witch is the romance between Cole and Lexie. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's a good romance. The best part about it is that it takes nothing away from the overall plot of the story, but it adds to it completely. The two of them together are a fantastic team and with everything happening around them, you can only root for this girl who wears muddy boots and this boy with a burnt robe. Their story will be one you want more of and when it's all over, you know they lived happily ever after because there's no way they didn't.

As much as The Near Witch is a book of passionate words, of love and of truth, it's also got it's share of creepy. I'd me amiss to not mention that. It's done in such an lyrical way that the effect is greater than anything else you'll ever read. This is a wonderful fairy tale, with love, enchantment and creepy queens who poison apples. (Ok...Not really. There are NO poisoned apples or queens! But there is plenty of edge-of-your-seat creepiness.)

This is a book you'll be reading to your children. It's going to survive the times and become a story that everyone knows. It's that kind of book. It has that kind of power. You won't want it to end, you won't want to stop reading it, and you won't be disappointed. The words will haunt your sleep (in a good way) and you will love it. The wind has a song to tell...and you should listen.

I mean, this is the stuff of legends. And songs have already been written about it. If you don't then you will miss this mesmorizing book that's not only a stunning debut, but a surefire classic. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2010 Courtney added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, ya-fiction

Lovely intense, spooky. Fantastic fairytale AND tribute TO fairytales.

5 likes · like · see review

May 18, 2013 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-the-hype

Rating: 2 Stars/DNF

You should know, right off the bat, that I am not a patient person. It's not one of my better traits, which is why I make such a conscious effort to be patient, to give every book an equal chance, to really try and connect with the characters. Yet, although the overwhelming majority of readers have loved this book, including some of my most trusted reviewers whose opinions nearly always match up with mine, I was unable to bring myself to actually finish The Near Witch. As Vict...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Kat (Le Pauvre Cœur) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazing-love-interest, cool-heroine, fangirling, f-cking-brilliant, surprised-me-like-a-slap-in-my-face, unique, favorites

My library finally got this in! You know, like half a year after it was released?

After I Finished:

description

There are no strangers in the village of Near, until one night, Lexi sees a mysterious figure on the Moor, disappearing in a single gust of wind.
The next morning, word of the stranger has spread and everyone is curious. But when a child is stolen from his bed, the locals are quick to blame the stranger. Lexi is sure that he is innocent, and with the help of Cole (the name she made up for him when...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 27, 2011 Aleeeeeza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-netgalley-galleygrab, 2011-read

So…where do I begin? I’ll start off by saying that I was really pumped about reading this book. I mean, I *did* do a happy dance when I got it on Netgalley, you know. Victoria Schwab seems like an awesome person, and the summary of this book sounds so very intriguing.

First of all, I’ll talk about what I liked in this book:

1) The setting. Beautiful, atmospheric and rich. This is, after all, a fantasy book, and thus I was very impressed by how well Ms. Schwab crafted this unique little town of Nea...more So…where do I begin? I’ll start off by saying that I was really pumped about reading this book. I mean, I *did* do a happy dance when I got it on Netgalley, you know. Victoria Schwab seems like an awesome person, and the summary of this book sounds so very intriguing.

First of all, I’ll talk about what I liked in this book:

1) The setting. Beautiful, atmospheric and rich. This is, after all, a fantasy book, and thus I was very impressed by how well Ms. Schwab crafted this unique little town of Near.

2) The writing! While the setting was enchanting, the writing is absolutely breathtaking! Like this amazing passage:

Of every aspect of the moor, the earth and stone and rain and fire, the wind is the strongest one in Near. Here on the outskirts of the village, the wind is always pressing close, making windows groan. It whispers and it howls and it sings. It can bend its voice and cast into any shape, long and thin enough to slide beneath the door, stout enough to seem a thing of weight and breath and bone.

Beautiful, innit?

3) The mystery. It may not have been the best I’ve ever read, but it was definitely very intriguing.

Now, while those above points in themselves make this book a 4-star read, I wasn’t able to completely fall in love with it. For one thing, I thought the romance was just a bit too quick. And ya’ll know (well, you probably don’t, for all I know) how much I like a slow-burning and ultimately satisfying romance. I’m not saying I didn’t like it—it just felt to me like the chemistry between the characters should have been developed a little more, perhaps.

The plot was also a bit slow in the beginning. It took me a while to get into it, but when I did, the pages flew by. And the characterizations were pretty solid for the most part, but for some reason I just don’t feel like I knew Lexi all that well. She’s strong and determined, yes, but…well, I just didn’t *connect* with her, ya know?

Soooo…while I’d hoped to like this book a *bit* more, it was still an original and refreshing read I would definitely recommend.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To start I’m going to say wow this book was one of the most imaginative original stories I have read in a long time! Victoria’s words flow like a song through the entire book and there’s never a dull moment.
I rarely find a story where I have absolutely nothing to compare it to all I can say about this one was it reminded me of a ghost story told around a campfire to scare the children to stay in their tents.
I immediately found myself attached to Lexi’s character and also the stranger’s. I felt t...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2011 Zoë Marriott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THE BLURB:

"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 disappear...more

9 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2011 Lauren (365 Days of Reading) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

The Near Witch left me breathless. Victoria Schwab’s writing is meandering and beautifully descriptive, a style that perfectly matches the breezy moor setting of her story. She expertly spins a bedtime story into something horrific, and turns a close-knit small town into a cocoon of fear.

Lexi, as a character, was fantastic. Her narration was gorgeous; some of the thoughts Victoria Schwab wrote for her were so raw, and real, and just thinkers (pretty much anything that started with “when my fath...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, paranormal, young-adult

In A Nutshell:
On the night that a mysterious stranger is spotted in the small village of Near, children begin disappearing from their beds. As the villagers begin to panic, and point fingers at the stranger, young Lexi knows that someone else is behind the disappearances. That what was once thought to be nothing more than a ghost story, may in fact be very real.

Thoughts:
The Near Witch reads very much like a classic, if dark fairy tale. The words are lyrical, and the story has a magical feel to i...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Parvathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fairy tale lovers,YA

Recommended to Parvathy by: goodreads

Shelves: fairy-tale-retellings, glued-till-the-last-page, mystery, mythology, strong-females, young-adult

I waited forever to get my hands on this book. Written in the form of a beautiful fairy tale which enchants and thrills you at the same time "Near Witch" is one of those rare gems that makes you feel like you are a part of their captivating world. The book from the beginning itself flows in the form of a melodies siren song which pulls you in and refuses to let you go no matter how hard you try. When I said it was written in the form of a beautiful fairy tale I didn't mean that it resembled any...more I waited forever to get my hands on this book. Written in the form of a beautiful fairy tale which enchants and thrills you at the same time "Near Witch" is one of those rare gems that makes you feel like you are a part of their captivating world. The book from the beginning itself flows in the form of a melodies siren song which pulls you in and refuses to let you go no matter how hard you try. When I said it was written in the form of a beautiful fairy tale I didn't mean that it resembled any of the known fairy tales nor am I contesting that the idea was not original. The idea was fresh and original but there was something about this story that struck a cord which made it exceedingly familiar. Al through the book I felt like I was reading a long forgotten story which had all the makings of classic fairy tale. The story takes place in the fictional town of Near to whose inhabitants the whole world ends and begins with Near and the moor surrounding it. 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.

There are no strangers at Near. But when a stranger arrives at Near things start to take a turn for the worst. The children of Near starts disappearing one by one in the dead of the night and the villagers blame the stranger for these strange tidings. But Lexi has other plans and something about this reticent stranger makes her trust him. But as the search intensifies that there is more to the story of Near Witch that might be more than a bedtime story. The magic in this story comes from the pure and simple way of the telling it. With its beautiful storytelling way this books takes you back to that time of your life where you were in love with such tales. In fact it gives you a long forgotten part of your childhood back. The characters are all perfect for such type of a tale. The main female lead Lexi is like a breath of fresh air. She is innocent and vulnerable ,at the same time she is strong and independent. She is the kind of YA heroines we should see more of. I loved the characters of Otto, Wren , Cole and the witches Magda and Dreska with their infinite wisdom and cryptic messages. The description of Near is so detailed that you feel the mist that surrounds the village and the wind that howls its secret in your ear. I would recommend this book to all the YA readers out there. Fantastically crafted this book is a rare gem that should not be missed.
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Mar 15, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers HERE

Lexi lives with her mother and baby sister in the village of Near. Ever since her father’s death a few years before, her life has been one of simple routine: helping her sister to bed and telling her stories learnt from her father; waking up to observe her subdued and sad mother baking the bread that feed the village and becoming the ghost of the woman she used to be when her father was alive; greeting her uncle on his daily visit as he oversees and...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Sonia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, favourites, family-importance

There are so many words that I can use to describe The Near Witch - mesmerizing, atmospheric, spellbinding, beautiful, lyrical... take your pick. All I know is that this is one of the best books I have ever read.

Victoria's writing is gorgeous. There is a lyrical quality to it and it immersed me completely in the town of Near. I feel like I took a trip to the moors, felt and heard the howling wind. I couldn't keep my eyes off the page, but at the same time, I wanted to take it slow so that I woul...more

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-debut-authors, 2011-100-book-challenge, 2011-release, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

Take a beautiful love story and mix it together with an engaging fairy tale and you have The Near Witch. I am in love with this debut! Victoria's writing is spellbinding and her story is hypnotic. I could not put this book down. I loved everything about it, from her richly developed characters and setting, to the mystery surrounding the story's lore and everything in between. It's a story that flowed well and really came to life for me.

I adore Lexi. She's an independent, strong, courageous girl...more Take a beautiful love story and mix it together with an engaging fairy tale and you have The Near Witch. I am in love with this debut! Victoria's writing is spellbinding and her story is hypnotic. I could not put this book down. I loved everything about it, from her richly developed characters and setting, to the mystery surrounding the story's lore and everything in between. It's a story that flowed well and really came to life for me.

I adore Lexi. She's an independent, strong, courageous girl who's determination, fierce protective nature of her younger sister really won me over. I could really relate to her and I really admired her character. She's not afraid to defy authority aka her Uncle nor is she afraid to do things or trust in other people who are considered out casts in her village. I loved that she wasn't a helpless girl and even makes a few comments to her Uncle that just because she's not a boy doesn't mean she couldn't do something. Then there's Cole, and the this wonderful mystery that surrounds him. I couldn't get enough of him and I really liked the way Victoria kept hooking me with Cole. Every time a big reveal was going to happen, she'd create another diversion with the villagers causing me to resist the urge to quickly tare through the story to find out more about him. The best way for me to describe Cole is to say he's a well written, quiet hero, and he's definitely on my list of favorite fictional characters. The romance between Lexi and Cole was addicting! I absolutely loved the way their chemistry was developed. It's the type that leaves me sighing, satisfied and wanting more.

Victoria did an amazing job at bringing her beautiful setting and lore to life. I felt her attention to detail made it very easy for me to picture the village, the moor and the outlining forest in my head. I love it when a story's setting easily comes alive for me. I fell in love with the timeless feel of the book. I like that while I tried to pin point a time frame in history this story could fall into, I quickly found there really isn't one, which added to the classic fairy tale feel of it. This is a book that will make you fall in love with it's in-depth, flawed, relatable characters, it's beautiful love story and will leave you wanting more of it's folklore. I highly recommend picking this book and I can not wait to read more of Victoria's books. (less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Cinnamon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, arc, 2011, fantasy, magicians, 4-delightfully-scrumptious, reviewed, young-adult

This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.

4.5/5

We are introduced to the quaint town of Near and its inhabitants -- both human and witch -- through a graceful, lilting writing style accompanied by the soft blow of the Near moor wind through our hair (or if your hair quantity is similar to Voldemort’s: across your scalp). Life is the definition of stasis, for there are no strangers in the town of Near. But then Lexi glimpses a boy who blurs on the edges and fades like the wind, and...more This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.

4.5/5

We are introduced to the quaint town of Near and its inhabitants -- both human and witch -- through a graceful, lilting writing style accompanied by the soft blow of the Near moor wind through our hair (or if your hair quantity is similar to Voldemort’s: across your scalp). Life is the definition of stasis, for there are no strangers in the town of Near. But then Lexi glimpses a boy who blurs on the edges and fades like the wind, and the children of the town start disappearing out of their beds each night. Now, the hunt is on for the mysterious stranger, for the missing children, and for peace at last in the town of Near.

The Near Witch is a gorgeous novel with a slightly rustic feel that reminds me of the magic that is Hale’s Princess Academy . What a breath of fresh air, so completely different from the love + paranormal creature formula most authors are using these days. And really, why would someone pay to read a glamorized regurgitation of the same ol’ star-crossed love story?

My special thanks to Ms. Schwab for giving our heroine Lexi a brain bigger and wiser than her heart (not that her heart is lacking any essential ingredients, mind you). Headstrong and willing to take the initiative, Lexi is the one moving the story forward instead of being dragged by it from behind. Our mystery boy, too, is more than just a pair of dark, pretty eyes; he is the tangled result of grief and regret and unchangeable history. What a helpless -- but hopeful -- pair they make.

The only thing keeping the novel from being a 5-star is the plot’s overall simplicity. Most will find that not to be problematic; I’m simply very picky about the books I shelve as incomprehensibly awesome . But hey, a 4.5 rating is as close to that as you can get.

Ms. Schwab has penned a shining gem of a debut, and I am waiting with bated breath for her next novel, The Archived .

Book Source: ARC from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. The Near Witch is such a lyrical, beautiful debut. I cannot even describe the awe I was in while reading this book.

The first thing about this book that will capture your attention and hold you captivated is the writing. The writing is impeccable. From the first line, the writing captivates your senses: “It starts with a crack, a sputter and a spark.” I found myself in awe of the beauty of the writing. Victoria Schwab is able to write such beautiful descriptions, I literally could picture ev...more Wow. The Near Witch is such a lyrical, beautiful debut. I cannot even describe the awe I was in while reading this book.

The first thing about this book that will capture your attention and hold you captivated is the writing. The writing is impeccable. From the first line, the writing captivates your senses: “It starts with a crack, a sputter and a spark.” I found myself in awe of the beauty of the writing. Victoria Schwab is able to write such beautiful descriptions, I literally could picture everything There are so many beautifully written passages. I felt wrapped up in the story because of the writing. Victoria’s writing captivates the senses, literally making you think you can hear the wind and feel the breeze on the moors. It’s amazing the effect her writing has. There are just such beautiful passages and phrases. One of my favorite lines from the entire book is “The wind is lonely.” I think that is such a beautiful sentiment and makes complete sense. Wind is an extremely important element in this book and Victoria is able to capture the many different aspects of wind spot on. While the writing is so beautiful, it does not seem forced. Victoria’s writing seems so effortless, a fact a bet was not true, but it just flows so seamlessly and effortless, a skill some writers can never attain in their writing.

While I could continue on and on about how the writing left me in awe and literally gave shivers because it was so good, I will continue on to the other aspects of the book. I loved the character of Lexi. She is such a strong heroine. In a town were women are supposed to stay at home and take care of the children, Lexi is not afraid to defy authority or her family to fight for what is right. I loved that even though Lexi’s uncle would expressly tell Lexi to stay home and even force her to stay home, she would still manage to escape and try to figure out the mystery of the disappearances. Lexi always had the best intentions in mind, keeping those she loved safe, and would not be influenced by the towns irrational fear of outsiders. When Lexi knows something is wrong, she is willing to stand up a fight, no matter what the consequence. I really loved Lexi’s relationship with her younger sister Wren. You could really feel how much Lexi loves and looks out for her younger sister. Wren is what motivates Lexi to fight for the truth; she is willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. That type of love is hard to fake and their relationship immediately jumps off the page and is extremely relatable to any person who has a sibling, or loves some enough to do anything to protect them.

Then there is Cole. Cole is this mysterious enigma. Lexi knows little about him and so do the readers. He is a strange in the town of Near, an outsider, and instant scapegoat. He is a mystery. I loved how his role was unraveled and slowly the mystery behind Cole was peeled away. Cole was definitely a mystery that I liked unraveling. He was so secretive and very sad and I wanted to know why. I also sympathized with him because the people of Near automatically jumped on Cole as the culprit of the disappearance even as he was helping Lexi try a solve the problems. The length that Cole ends up going to help Lexi is extraordinary. You really end up sympathizing with him and hating the men of Near for what they do to him because they think that because he is a strange and arrived right as the disappearance occurred that he must be responsible and he is the only thing that could be responsible.

Once I started this book, I found it nearly impossible to put it down. I was engrossed in the story. The mystery of the disappearance was intriguing and had me turning pages until Lexi figured it out. I really enjoyed the sections of the plot that dealt with Lexi deifying what naturally expected of her and the conflict between herself and her Uncle Otto. Those scenes were some of my favorites. Towards the end of the book, the action really picked up and the last couple of chapters flew by until the book was over. I really liked how Victoria Schwab was able to wrap up everything in the end and I was satisfied with how she chose to end everything.

This book is a must read. It’s stunningly beautiful. I will definitely be picking up a finished copy to have one my bookshelf because it is just so beautifully written and captivating. It left me in awe and I felt I would never be able to explain how this book made me felt. (less)

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Jan 25, 2011 Heather Petty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This is exactly the style of fantasy that I most love--rich folklore style that feels like real oral tradition. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this one, and from page 1, I knew I was in love. It's the perfect mix of myth, romance, and mystery--sometimes feeling pastoral and light, sometimes gothic and dark.

It really felt like it was written just for me, which normally, would please me greatly. But then, on top of the fact that the look and feel of the story are amazing, the prose is gorgeo...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: clean-read

"Entirely original yet achingly familiar." I seriously can't explain this book any better than that. It is so true. It's like every Grimm's Fairy Tale you've ever heard, yet something completely its own. I was immediately swept up in Victoria's lyrical writing. I love fairy tales. And she has a way of bringing her fairy tale to life.

The town of Near is described so magically. You can feel the thickness of the fog, and hear the wind whispering it's story. As the children were snatched from their...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Amaryliss White rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To be honest, this story is probably more of a four stars than five, but I'm being generous today, and I'm still kinda in awe of the writing.

Negatives first: Although the writing is beautiful, I noticed several repetitions of wordings which annoyed me. The scenes were also very repetitious, predictable, and not exactly action-packed. Though I enjoy a good twist here and there, the slowness of the book didn't bother me; it was actually sort of nice.

The characters are more of your everyday sort,...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, what-a-witch, kidnapped, love-triangle

Lexi is a teenage girl who idolises her dead father. She lives with her baker mother and little sister, Wren.
Lexi's father seemed like a very generous and tolerant man and the memories she has of him made his loss seem quite real for their small family.
His brother Otto has stepped in as their and the town's "Protector" but he lacks his brother's open mindedness.
Near is a small village with a legend about a witch who was killed by three men long ago. They have a creepy council of three men who...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

I was lucky enough to nab an ARC of The Near Witch, and I'm so glad I did. I was not expecting much from this book (for some reason I thought it was going to be a saccharine story about a girl who was almost a witch), but it pleasantly surprised me. First, the language and writing is just gorgeous. Schwab creates the semi-spooky but luscious atmosphere of Near with lyrical skill. I have never wanted to visit a moor, but Schwab makes it sound so beautiful that now I do!

The characters are also fan...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Alyssa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-the-hype

This book could have been a 5 star read for me. It had a few things going for it: beautiful, poetic writing, an interesting idea revolving around witchcraft, magic and mystery, and raving reviews from fellow Goodread reviewers before the book’s publication date.

But here’s why it ended up a 2 star read instead.

The book is written in the first person, narrated through the protagonist, Lexi. I generally find that first person narration usually works if the voice is witty, engaging and gives the re...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Temoca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: added-to-school-library

I don't know how I lucked out and got an ARC of The Near Witch in my hot little hands, but it burned right thru them to my heart. I would have never put this book down if it wasn't for the small detail that I started reading it on a blustery, snowy night and it is creepy, mysterious, as well as magical and romantic...but the creepy, mysterious got to me and I admit I'm a little bit of a chicken.

Anyway, I pick up the book and cannot put it down! The writing is beautiful, rhythmic, like poetry; I...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Kailia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Amazing. Wonderful. Poetic. Breathtaking. All of those adjectives TRY to describe The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. The summary, initially, is what drew me into reading this book. I’m not the biggest fan of the cover but holy moly, the summary made the book sound good. The book was ten times better than I had anticipated it to be.

There are some books out there that leave you breathless because of how beautifully and gracefully the author has written the book. The Near Witch is one of those book...more Amazing. Wonderful. Poetic. Breathtaking. All of those adjectives TRY to describe The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. The summary, initially, is what drew me into reading this book. I’m not the biggest fan of the cover but holy moly, the summary made the book sound good. The book was ten times better than I had anticipated it to be.

There are some books out there that leave you breathless because of how beautifully and gracefully the author has written the book. The Near Witch is one of those books. Victoria Schwab’s writing is so epic. This book, with her descriptions and dialogue made this book come alive. It was like a bed time story come alive in the most perfect way. I just love the way she can weave words together and make it so that I can’t put the book down. She created such a scary yet awesome image of the town of Near, The Witch, the people of the town, Lexi, and Cole. To books like The Near Witch, I can’t find the right words to describe how much I loved it.

I loved Lexi. From the beginning, I knew this girl was real. Lexi was sometimes stubborn or headstrong or scared or just loyal. She has respect for herself and others but she knows her limits as well. If her uncle thinks she can’t cut wood? Lexi would go and cut the wood and bring it to her uncle. She wouldn’t let her gender get in her way. Lexi has such a strong devotion to her father, mother, and little sister that I found it to be admirable. She would do anything to help them.

Cole was such a great character and the romance was just wonderful. The thing about Lexi was that she didn’t go all swoony on Cole. She was curious about him and wanted to be his friend. She wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. She wasn’t interested in love, exactly, just some answers. Cole himself had a hard life and found it hard to know what to do in certain times. Lexi and Cole became friends before they fell for each other. It was just perfect.

Do I recommend this book? YES! I think that when this book comes out this fall, everyone should get it and read it. Believe me, it’ll all be worth it. And if you’re like me, then after reading this book, you won’t be able to get it out of your head.
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About Victoria Schwab

Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes," "like," and "y'all."

She also tells stories.

She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.

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Quotes from The Near Witch

“Maybe one day the words will pour out like so many others, easy and smooth and on their own. Right now they take pieces of me with them.” — 30 people liked it

“The wind took hold of whatever I felt, and ran away with it.” — 15 people liked it

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