Review Detail

I wanted this book in a serious way. I've been following Victoria's publishing journey for years now, and was thrilled when she got her deal. That was nearly two years ago! It's been a long wait for THE NEAR WITCH, but it's finally on its way. I was lucky enough to read the ARC a couple weeks before the book's official release.

"It starts with a crack, a sputter, and a spark."

There are many fine things about THE NEAR WITCH, but the first thing you notice is the prose. Victoria's prose is delicious, filled with just the right words for the job. It is beautiful, but it never gets in the way. It simply evokes the perfect images at the perfect moments. There are passages in this book, particularly about the wind, I could read over and over again for the pleasure of it.

The cover copy says, "Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget." This. This is what I want you to know about THE NEAR WITCH. It fits just right in the corners of my mind reserved for fairy tales and stories I grew up with. It is new, but it lives in my thoughts as though it's always been there.

I'd love to tell you about all my favorite parts of this book -- the weight of history, the father's lingering presence and influence though he died years ago, and the mysterious witches living on the edge of Near -- but honestly, you could open the book to any random page and that would be one of my favorite parts. I love the way the wind and the moor are characters too, and the way the magic slips into the story--familiar but surprising. I loved that the town of Near feels like a real small town with its history and superstitions and gossip.

THE NEAR WITCH is a story about love, trust, and doing what is right. It is fierce and beautiful, and Lexi is a strong heroine everyone can relate to. I'd recommend it to everyone, but particularly fans of Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip.