The Hex Witch of Seldom

by Nancy Springer

After freeing Shane, the archetypal lone hero whose enemy has changed him into a black stallion, Bobbu Yandro begins an adventure that introduces her to the Circle of Twelve, the human archetypes, and discovers her own special powers

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Witches, Fiction, Romance, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

BIO -- NANCY SPRINGER


Nancy Springer has passed the fifty-book milestone, having written that many novels for adults, young adults and children, in genres including mythic fantasy, contemporary fiction, magical realism, horror, and mystery -- although she did not realize she wrote mystery until she won the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in succession. DARK LIE, recently released from NAL, is her first venture into mass-market psychological suspense.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Nancy Springer moved with her family to Gettysburg, of Civil War fame, when she was thirteen. She spent the next forty-six years in Pennsylvania, raising two children (Jonathan, now 38, and Nora, 34), writing, horseback riding, fishing, and birdwatching. In 2007 she surprised her friends and herself by moving with her second husband to an isolated area of the Florida panhandle, where the birdwatching is spectacular and where, when fishing, she occasionally catches an alligator.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this a perfect book? No, but it is a good read. It's good to see a girl as the chosen one, and Springer handles issues like complex family histories very well.

What I particularly liked that both Bobbi and the immortal handsome man she helps are quite aware that a romantic relationship between the two of them would be wrong on many levels. That is a nice change.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the way this book went backwards and forwards wasn't helpful, but I did enjoy it. One thing that it needed was more discussion of Bobbi's (ugh, what a name, and with that spelling!) feelings about Shane. She kept risking everything for him, but it was never quite clear why, other than some lust.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been a horse person but this is a spectacular tale of a girl, a horse, and a legend.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading Nancy Springer books for years and I keep finding more to enjoy. Haven't yet found one that wasn't a great fantasy with excellent world building and very intense characters. This one did not disappoint.

[Annina Luck Wildermuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to put down, so 5 stars for that. Another five stars for the scenes with Bobbi and the stallion, saving him from gelding etc. I, who know nothing about horses, appreciate the author's great knowledge and descriptions. I didn't mind some of the magic, loved the witch and her staff. I don't think it needed all the extra romance stuff and never really got a good handle on Shane anyway, but maybe if I were 14 again, maybe then. But lots of good atmosphere and plenty of good vocabulary.

[Emma Mammano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was about 12 and just re-read it as an adult. It had such a big impact on me when I was young because I was raised in a conservative Christian family where magic and witchcraft were considered “of the devil.” As was sexuality. So this was a my first taste as a preteen of some really wonderful magic and sexuality. Just as good upon second reading!

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Minor spoilers ahead:

This was a strange book for me, from the back-country diction (very Pennsylvanian/Appalachian) to the relationship between horse-man, Shane, and Bobbi, the main character. This relationship particularly unsettled me, as it made the relationship between the main character and the horse a romantic one. I'm just personally not keen on the romanticism between Bobbi and... a horse (?!). Their relationship is weirdly intimate...and, I guess, simply magical. (Although this may reveal my judgment towards horse-obsessed people, and my lack of intimacy with my fellow horse counterparts.)

Other than that, the characters were not very well fleshed out, nor very well-developed throughout the book. I didn't care very much about Bobbi, nor did I understand why or how she possessed her endless well of energy or magic in battle. (The other, ancillary characters were colorful in physical descriptions, but those descriptions were the only novelties.) Many of the characters' actions were uncharacteristic/off-kilter/purely didn't make sense, which provided a stilted reading experience for me. I also thought a lot of the "mini quests" that Bobbi sought out on her quest to nowhere (one of the other reasons I didn't really care about her character, I'm sure) were nonsensical and served more as deus ex machinas. Why did she want to see her mother after so long of not visiting her? Why did the spirit of her father float in and out of the storyline? Why did her father emerge at the end of the story if not to serve as resolution for the audience? Why did Shane not realize Bobbi's mother/true spirit was the one who enslaved him (with looooove) immediately? Why were there so many police chases, if not to drive the plot along (and, somehow, get tedious)?

So, overall, this wasn't the best book that I've read, by far, but it's also not the worst. It's worth a read for the hidden gems, like clever turns of phrases or physical character descriptions, but not much else.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Nancy Springer quite a few years ago and own probably a dozen paperbacks written by her. I'm not sure if I'd read The Hex Witch of Seldom before as the story didn't seem familiar.

I don't understand why Bobbi was so reluctant to acknowledge/communicate with her father's spirit. It seemed as if any time he appeared she willed herself to ignore him. It kind of makes sense when she didn't know she had magical abilities and didn't want to appear crazy like her mother. But once she met the Hex Witch and other entities it seems that the ability to communicate with a ghost wouldn't be unusual.

I am also somewhat perplexed that although her grandfather rescued her and Shane, he seemed to have no recollection of it the next day. Is the neighbor boy Travis the golden hero of the Twelve of the Hidden Circle?

[George]

First: There's a good blurb at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.... Some of the others are poor to misleading.

Second, especially for readers who aren't native English speakers: The name Shane is clearly taken from Shane, originally titled Rider from Nowhere in its magazine serialization, and perhaps even more from the film.

And finally, this is a glorious treatment of archetypes, one in particular.

[Debbie Shoulders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobbi Yandro lives with her Grandpap in the mountains of Appalachia Pennsylvania. Her mother resides in an asylum and her father is dead. She comes upon a mustang that catches Bobbi's attention in a supernatural way. An argument with Pap leads her and the Mustang, called Shane on a trip through the mountains. They end up in Seldom, meeting quite a few extraordinary characters which help Bobbi to find inner strength and better understand her family.

Unfortunately, Springer believes that she needs to draw readers in by using explicit language and sensual scenes that add nothing to the story.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at Salvation Army for only 25¢ and I had no idea it was even a horse fantasy! Which is my absolute favorite genre! A diamond in the rough, it’s literally the definition of don’t judge a book by its synopsis! The witch/magical elements are still heavily present in this story but the main focus is that of a teenage girl and her relationship with a black Mustang. If you are a horse person who loves fantasy this is a book for you!

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. And I thought Not On a White Horse was bad ...

This had zero imagination to it, except for having a complete bitch as the protagonist. Springer must've been going through Jungian therapy, then read a Joseph Campell book and smashed the two together.

And I never thought I'd read a Nancy Springer book that hated animals. The contempt for horses was nauseating.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read this, but as a teen I loved it and read it over and over again.

[Marley DelWood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads as child and still enjoyable as an adult.

[Jane Ashford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the main character of this magical story. Very atmospheric setting too.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished it rather too quickly, but there you are.

[A Robins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but I was distracted by my dear that she would fuck that horse

[Bree Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember 10 years ago (wow, I feel old saying that), in middle school I had come across another Nancy Springer book at my middle school library. It sounded like a good unique fantasy, so I promptly checked it out, read it in a night, and hated it so much I steered clear of her books since. I found the 'Hex Witch of Seldom' on my shelf and trying to get rid of some books I started reading it, and astonishingly I could not put this book down. Whether it's the unique and outlandish concept of this fantasy driven plot, or the strange characters (who, now looking back, are not that deeply developed), something took hold of my mind and literally drew me to this book. No joke, I am surprised I did not get in trouble at work because of my break times steadily getting longer throughout the day, every time I tried to put it down my eyes would start the next paragraph and I was compelled onward. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling fantasy that's fast paced and an amazing little read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobbi’s world in rural Appalachia begins to change when she meets the wild mustang with the blue eyes. She insists that her grandfather get him for her, but he is no ordinary horse. He is one of the Circle of Twelve and has been trapped in the form of a horse. Bobbi has a role to play and she runs away with Shane to try to find a way to help him, saving him from the gelding her grandfather has planned. Along the way, they meet friends and foes, including the Hex Witch of Seldom. She finds that even her mother’s madness, thinking she is Scarlett O’Hara, may play a key role in saving Shane and stopping the dark forces. However, her own feelings for Shane may cloud her judgement and lead them to disaster.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just charming. A young girl rescues a beautiful stallion, setting off a series of events that takes her through the mountains and towns of Appalachia. The Man in Black, the young Prince, the Wise Queen and other archetypes are living all around her, she just has to learn how to see them and undestand what they have to teach her.

It helps to understand this book if you know a little about classic Westerns. You can love the book without it, but you won't get some of the references.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my first real romance books...a genre I often steered clear of like it had the plague. It was actually well written and really delved into the confusion and heart-break of one's first love. I loved the addition of magic and mystery, the tarot cards, and the White Maiden. The ending was a little sad, but also filled with hope. A very nice read, if not a little simple. While there is some character development, it isn't extremely deep.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was one of those books that was okay, but not memorable, except that I remember it making star wars references that I didn't agree with. Definitly never felt the need to read it again. It was also one of those books where I felt like the actual ending past by in a flash. But its been probably at least 3-5 years since I read it.

[Kerry (The Roaming Librarian) O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story but it seemed to be building up to more than the climax. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the greatest thing I've ever read either. A nice distraction while waiting for the last Harry Potter to come out.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very surprised

I do love Nancy Springer's books and this is no exception. A story about the stories and the characters of story disguised as a tale about the bond between a girl and a horse. Magical!

[Gem · Rating 2 out of 5]

a good short read. not much fantasy though

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange story where the main girl loves this black horse/man character.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is a local woman. Her work is great for young adults but interesting for the adult reader as well.

[Eva Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly excellent classic fantasy, though I'm slightly disappointed gr doesn't have the old cover, which features a scantily clad lady sleeping against a background of horses.