The Witches' Kitchen

Nov 30, 2010 Readingtween rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review

I loved this book. I really, really loved this book. It was such a fun read. Allen Williams did a really good job writing this magical story. There are two witches, who are sisters, Sarafine and Emilina. They are always fighting with each other, lots of drama. Toad, well, she doesn't think she's always been a toad. I felt sorry for her. The Kitchen in the story is the main part. I can't explain to you the little things, the parts of the story that makes it magical, and the characters ar...more

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Nov 08, 2010 BookKids rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, midgrade

Toad awakens dangling over a cauldron in the grip of one of two leering witches. Just moments away from her death, she makes a giant leap and escapes into the Kitchen, a mysterious, magical, dangerous place. Furious, the two witches trap her inside while they make plans on how to recapture Toad. Toad, on the other hand, wants to know what has happened to her. She has no memory from before the Kitchen, but she suspects she wasn’t always a toad. With the help of a friendly imp, she hopes to naviga...more

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Aug 24, 2010 Paul Genesse rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Witches’ Kitchen by Allen Williams is a brilliantly written and gorgeously illustrated young adult novel that deserves a very large audience. Williams has been a prolific and superb artist for years, and now he’s unlocked his tremendous talent for writing. His paintings always told a story and now, thankfully for us, he’s written one of them down. The forty original pencil illustrations add to a fantastical journey in the infinitely large and dangerous magical kitchen owned by two malevolent...more The Witches’ Kitchen by Allen Williams is a brilliantly written and gorgeously illustrated young adult novel that deserves a very large audience. Williams has been a prolific and superb artist for years, and now he’s unlocked his tremendous talent for writing. His paintings always told a story and now, thankfully for us, he’s written one of them down. The forty original pencil illustrations add to a fantastical journey in the infinitely large and dangerous magical kitchen owned by two malevolent witches. The main character, Toad, is about to be killed by the witches who are planning to steal Toad’s magical powers when she manages to escape their clutches—but ends up in a very fascinating place—the Kitchen.

Poor little Toad, who is not really a Toad, and can’t remember who she really is, meets all sorts of enthralling characters as she tries to escape the kitchen and recover her memories. She is accompanied on her journey by one of my favorite characters ever, NatterJack, an iron-handed imp who doesn’t want to become an evil demon like his despicable father and much prefers exploring his artistic side; a sword-wielding carnivorous fairy who would be utterly terrifying if she weren’t three inches tall; and a couple of other unique characters, Sootfoot and Pug, who provide lots of laughs.

Reading this novel aloud would be so much fun, as the inventiveness, great dialogue, and craziness of the pitch-black, constantly changing and living kitchen brings one amazing scene after another.

As I read the book, my imagination soared and I kept seeing the scenes unfolding like a great Hollywood movie, which this book certainly could become someday. The book is a little complicated and scary for younger kids, and they might not follow the storyline all the time, but overall young adults and older readers will be thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. The Witches’ Kitchen is Neil Gaiman’s Coraline mixed with The Wizard of Oz, and a generous helping of Terry Gilliam’s movie Time Bandits with the stunning visuals of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal.

Highly Recommended.

Paul Genesse
Author of The Golden Cord
www.paulgenesse.com (less)

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May 25, 2011 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, kids-fantasy

I really think this book was mismarketed. It was presented as a "teen" book and really it was written and read like a book that would be ideal for readers of 8-10. That being said I shall continue on.

I really enjoyed the idea of a story being told from a toads POV. After all, everyone always wondered what the toad who was being put into the witch's brew is thinking (admit it you have thought about it). However, this book is sadly lacking. Here's why.

First, the book seemed to throw mysterious,...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Sorrel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'd rate this a 3.5 if I could
On with the reveiw! I got this book at a closing borders about a week or so ago. I admit it didn't look wonderful, only vaguely interesting. Then I read some and found the main character is a toad! Some of the concepts are interesting and the author created a wonderful world.
I do feel the story should have explored the world a little more. We know next to nothing about the world the toad comes from. We assume it's medieval with magic but nothing is concrete. Alot o...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Meaghan R. (YA-aholic) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reading-challenge

This book was quite....different...

but in a good way.

the main character is a toad!!!!
-that's the first thing that separates this book from others that i've read.

There were also illustrations of different characters throughout the book. i'm not sure if i liked this or not. with illustrations, the image that you created of a character in your mind's eye could be proven completely wrong, or there's no need for you to even imagine what this character looks like because it's drawn out for you.

pro of...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The creepy cover drew me and the description sounded like one of those dark fairy tale-like stories that I really enjoy. After reading it I can say that I enjoyed it. It is very much a dark fairy tale. It seems to be aimed at children/middle grade readers; the story is dark enough that it might be too scary and disturbing for younger age sets.

The Witches' kitchen is ruled by two vile witchy sisters and is a world close to, but separate f...more I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The creepy cover drew me and the description sounded like one of those dark fairy tale-like stories that I really enjoy. After reading it I can say that I enjoyed it. It is very much a dark fairy tale. It seems to be aimed at children/middle grade readers; the story is dark enough that it might be too scary and disturbing for younger age sets.

The Witches' kitchen is ruled by two vile witchy sisters and is a world close to, but separate from, our own. Into this world Toad escapes from being boiled into a potion. Toad has no memory of who she is or where she came from. Toad only wants to escape from the Kitchen, but the Kitchen is constantly changing and there are evil creatures hunting her at every turn. Toad will need that help of the good denizens of the Kitchen to escape. Steadfast at Toad's side is Natterjack a very resourceful imp who will help teach Toad the ways of the Kitchen, but Natterjack has his own dark secrets. Will Toad remember where she came from and will she be able to escape the Witches' Kitchen?

In general this is the type of fairy tale that I just love. Dark and somewhat disturbing in the violence of its residents; this is a fairy tale that reminds of the original Grimm's Brothers tales. The characters are well done and will grab your attention with their nobility and their resourcefulness; the evil creatures will creep you out with their utter vileness. The mystery behind Toad's origins will keep you guessing. At times this book was a bit like Alice in Wonderful, with the Wonderland being the eerie and unpredictable Kitchen. At times this book channels an eeriness that reminds of Gaiman's Coraline too.

The pictures throughout are gorgeous and match the mood of the book perfectly. The story is complete and satisfying; overall it is well done.

There were a couple things that could have been done a little bit better. The writing was a bit inconsistent and didn't flow quite as well as it could have; at times the descriptions were well done and at times they were glossed over. The pacing was a bit inconsistent, but not too bad. For the first half of the book I felt like the story was more of an excuse to introduce the reader to a constant parade of one new disturbing creature after another; it was like every page you turned you were being introduced to another crazy creature. This settled down after the first half of the book, but it would have been nice to have the creatures introduced in a way that wove into the story better, or maybe in a way that introduced them slower so the reader wasn't overwhelmed trying to remember the new characteristics of each creature mentioned.

Overall this was a great book, I enjoyed it, and am happy that I read it. The story could have been a bit more polished, but it was engaging and interesting. The idea behind the Witches' Kitchen is neat and the characters involved were wonderful. If you are a fan of dark and eerie fairy tales you will love this story. At points it is a bit too violent and creepy for younger children, but the middle grade audience for which it is intended should enjoy it. I think adults that are fans of dark fairy tales will also enjoy this book; especially if you like books such as Coraline and Alice in Wonderland.(less)

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Dec 07, 2010 Nellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had picked up this book at a Christmas show where the writer's sister-in-law was helping out at the stand. Mr. Williams is familiar with his fantasy art under LA Williams. The book is written as Allen Williams and include his own illustrations. It is a YA Dark Fairy Tale that would be from about fifth grade to middle grade.

Other reviews state that some of the plots are predictable but then if I look at this from the age it's designated for, even with the YA crowd being more advanced in their...more

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Nov 16, 2010 BookKids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-catalog-pick, fantasy, midgrade

Toad awakens dangling over a cauldron in the grip of one of two leering witches. Just moments away from her death, she makes a giant leap and escapes into the Kitchen, a mysterious, magical, dangerous place. Furious, the two witches trap her inside while they make plans on how to recapture Toad. Toad, on the other hand, wants to know what has happened to her. She has no memory from before the Kitchen, but she suspects she wasn’t always a toad. With the help of a friendly imp, she hopes to naviga...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Mishel Zabala rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, won

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I didn’t really know what to expect when I opened The Witches’ Kitchen up. Honestly, I was worried it would be a little too “middle grade” for me (if that makes sense). At least that’s the impression I got from the blurb. But to my surprise I got sucked into the story from the beginning and found myself really enjoying the characters, the writing, and the awesome illustrations.

The Witches’ Kitchen is about a dark and magical kitchen that houses some really fantastical and f...more My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I didn’t really know what to expect when I opened The Witches’ Kitchen up. Honestly, I was worried it would be a little too “middle grade” for me (if that makes sense). At least that’s the impression I got from the blurb. But to my surprise I got sucked into the story from the beginning and found myself really enjoying the characters, the writing, and the awesome illustrations.

The Witches’ Kitchen is about a dark and magical kitchen that houses some really fantastical and frightening creatures. Among those creatures are two witch sisters that are up to no good. The book opens to the two of them dangling a poor toad over a bubbling cauldron. The toad isn’t too sure why she’s hanging upside down or why she’s even in the clutches of the witches. She’s not even sure what her name. After escaping from the witches, Toad sets out to recover her memories and somehow get away from the dangerous world that is the Kitchen. She ends up finding some unforgettable companions that help her with along the way.

Like I mentioned earlier, I had no idea that I was going to pretty much love this story. The writing style was simple yet really engaging. I was a little worried after the first few characters were introduced because they were crazy. Like out of this world crazy. Williams has a brilliant imagination and the illustrations were not only helpful, they were really well done! Of course, I had an ARC copy of the book so all the art I had wasn’t final. I can’t wait to get a finished copy and see the art in its entirety.

Toad’s character was timid at first. Of course, she has no idea who she is and why she’s in Kitchen in the first place. But she grows in development and becomes a strong-willed character soon enough. It’s hard to trust the supporting characters at first because nothing is what it seems in the Kitchen but those characters are just as important to the story as Toad is. The witches are nuts! They are power-driven, crazy, and just flat-out scary. Williams did an excellent job setting up the world of the Kitchen as well. It was never-ending, dark, creepy, and I know I would freak out if I found myself trapped there.

The Witches’ Kitchen is a book I never thought I’d end up liking. I’m so glad I won the ARC because I don’t I’d ever have read it on my own despite the interesting blurb. I recommend this to anyone who likes imaginative characters, great story-telling and beautiful artwork.
(less)

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Apr 24, 2011 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

Toad wakes up to a nasty sight - two witches dangling her over a cauldron with her having no idea how she got there or even who she is.

By a stroke of luck, she manages to escape their grasp, but not their home. With an ever-changing kitchen that appears to never end, Toad will enlist the help of an Impish and a carnivorous fairy.

Things are not as they seem, however, even for Toad. With an unusual ability to pick up and start speaking any language, there app...more

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Oct 13, 2010 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-review-copy

I have to say that "The Witches' Kitchen" is making itself a challenge to rate. A fantasy for Middle Graders, I would definitely suggest to kids that they check it out if they like a truly creepy fairytale. For adults though, I'd have to advise them to approach the book more hesitantly. The ideas behind "The Witches' Kitchen" are definitely creative and interesting, and the artwork is absolutely first-class, but the writing is a little uneven. In some places, for example, the tone changes abrupt...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 3 of 5 stars

Toad wakes up in the middle of a weird kitchen. I say “weird” because it keeps changing. It belongs to two witches (sisters) and it’s always dark. Incredibly dark. There is no sun in the kitchen. And again, things in it keep moving (but only when you don’t look). Oh, and also, most of the other things in the kitchen are not friendly.

But fortunately Toad does manage to make some friends. They set out to find the Widows, who will (hopefully) give them a way to get out of the kitchen and escape fro...more

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Dec 04, 2010 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, horror, suspense

One look at the cover of this book, and the creepy illustrations inside and you will know that this is a book that is meant for older grade school and middle school readers. Those who enjoy dark, creepy fairy tales will certainly enjoy this tale.

The story takes place in a kitchen, of sorts, that is ruled over by two truly vile witches. After narrowly escaping from being boiled into a potion, Toad is faced with navigating the kitchen. That may not sound so bad, but the kitchen is constantly chan...more

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Nov 03, 2010 Madeline Smoot rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade

Toad awakens dangling over a cauldron in the grip of one of two leering witches. Just moments away from her death, she makes a giant leap and escapes into the Kitchen, a mysterious, magical, dangerous place. Furious, the two witches trap her inside while they make plans on how to recapture Toad. Toad, on the other hand, wants to know what has happened to her. She has no memory from before the Kitchen, but she suspects she wasn’t always a toad. With the help of a friendly imp, she hopes to naviga...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Shalen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG, I loved this book!!!! I instantly got into the book and it was a huge page turner... I couldn't put it down! It's a twist on an escape story... There are a few pictures here and there to help tell the story and really good pictures too! The artist must be amazing! I don't really write long reviews, because I don't have much to say about books, except that I love them and whast my reactions to the book were... I totally reccomend it though!

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Apr 16, 2011 Becca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, ya-witches, 2011-reads, 5stars, 2010-release

Okay, so I read this book in almost one sitting. Had. To. Eat. Very interesting concept. Old magical realm in the form of a kitchen - hijacked by evil sister witches - complete with reanimated birds, fairies, demons and a whole host of creatures including a toad with no memories. A lil' scary for mg but a wonderful version of a fairy tale. Felt like a cross between Grimm bros and Alfred Hitchcock with an easy, almost addictive writing style.

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Dec 01, 2011 Book Elf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-bookshelf

I liked the spookiness of this book. It was like I was a child again, afraid of witches... wicked and ugly witches. This is the first time I have heard of a toad being the main protagonist which was one of a kind, since this book is not a fable at all. So, I was interested. At first I was interested with the title, then the cover. When I flipped the book, I saw images, graphics made by the author himself. And the story turned out to be fantastic! I was hooked! The characters were weird and the k...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Vicki by: advance reading copy

This was a terrific Young Adult book. It was a throwback to the old time Grimm's fairy tales, where witches are old crones and magical creatures are kind of dark and scary. The illustrations were wonderfully odd and creepy. And I loved the end!

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Apr 30, 2011 Emma rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a decent fantasy although much, much too grim and gory for my tastes. With the drawings by the author and the stark world, this one reminded me a lot of Abarat by Clive Barker so I think fans of his will enjoy this one. (I'm not one of those fans sadly.) As other reviewers have noted, the tone is erratic. The pacing also lurches at points. The premise and story were interesting enough to keep me reading but the story didn't really pick up for me until around page 200 only to start flagg...more

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Feb 07, 2011 BCPL Youth Services Librarian added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

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May 15, 2010 Madeleine Rex marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, little-brown

I want this so badly!

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May 28, 2010 Lori marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-reviewers-copy, own-not-yet-read

galley from BEA

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Apr 07, 2011 Imogen Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars

ARC Amazon Vine Review

The idea behind the story is fresh and interesting, but the writing felt choppy and I felt myself skimming through a lot of it. I, however, did really enjoy looking through the artwork, truly fabulous.

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

Shelves: fantasy, horror, mystery

This is a very imaginative book with very interesting characters...told poorly. Most of the writing was explaining instead of showing. The thing that got on my nerves was that each chapter began as if the book were starting over again...poor transitions, I guess? But it is a quick romp into a fantasy Kitchen, which is intriguing. I just wish I wasn't left with so many questions about the characters and goings-on in the Kitchen. Terrible ending.

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Mar 23, 2013 Michelle Miranda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

This book was sitting on my book shelf for a while, began reading it to my 10 year old. We called it "our sleeping aid", because when I began to read just two pages we would both fall asleep....it was so powerful that my son would beg me not to read it on nights he did not want to fall asleep quickly. Towards, the last chapters our interest perked for what came next. Then when the book finally ended - we were a bit disappointed.

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Oct 18, 2010 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Great writing but too fantastical. Not tethered at all to this world, which made it hard for me to care about the characters until well into the novel.

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Oct 06, 2010 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, all-kinds-of-fantasy, childrens, ya-kids-teen, little-brown, mc-girl

Very very good!
Review to follow :)

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Sep 30, 2012 Angie Lisle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love this book! It draws on stereotypical Halloween witches (which I'm fond of) and it's written in a way that makes the plot not easy to solve.

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Nov 13, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cute book and different idea. I liked the story line and the characters. I think a child or teen would like this read. I enjoyed it.

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