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The Near Witch Victoria Schwab Books

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The Near Witch Victoria Schwab Books

I loved Victoria Schwab's "This Savage Song" and enjoyed "The Archived, but this book, her debut, was...anti-climatic.

"The Near Witch" is the story of a small town that has a connection to witches, a history of hysteria, and a bad habit of blaming the wrong people for their problems/bad situations. Lexi, the main character, seemed like many other YA characters. She was stubborn, focused, and prone to making the wrong decisions.

The synopsis for this book says this book's part love story and part fairy tale. I don't necessarily agree with that, seeing as the romantic element is insta-love and the fairy tale part is non-existent. I'm just...not quite sure what think of this book or the fact that the same person that wrote "This Savage Song" wrote this book.

I skim read the last 50 or so pages of this book, but didn't really feel anything as I closed the book. It isn't like this book is awful; it isn't, but it had so much potential that was lost along the way. Regardless of that, I understand first books are rarely perfect, so I'm still a Schwab fan, and will read the Near Witch novellas!


Tags : Amazon.com: The Near Witch (9781423137870): Victoria Schwab: Books,Victoria Schwab,The Near Witch,Hyperion Book CH,1423137876,Fairy Tales & Folklore - General,Interpersonal relations;Fiction.,Villages;Fiction.,Witches;Fiction.,Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Fiction,Fiction-Horror,Interpersonal relations,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction General,Juvenile Grades 10-12 Ages 15+,Love & Romance,Paranormal,Villages,Witches,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore General

The Near Witch Victoria Schwab Books Reviews

(3.5 stars) Lexi lives on the outskirts of town with her younger sister, Wren, and her mother. While her father taught her how to be a hunter, now that he is gone, her uncle feels that her behavior and manners are unladylike and that she needs to learn to perform the tasks that will make her a good wife and mother. She is fascinated by the two old women who live in a cottage close to hers and who are witches whose powers have greatly dwindled. One night she sees a mysterious person/shadow/ghost moving through the woods. She is surprised to find out the next day that a child has gone missing. Sneaking out at night, and keeping watch, she meets the phantom, finding him to be an unusual boy, who she names Cole. Unlike the villagers who believe him to be responsible for the abduction, Lexi believes otherwise, and is moved by Cole's skills in helping her search. Clues seem to point to the legend of the Near Witch, purported to be dead. Lexi searches for hints in the old rhymes and stories told to her by her father, as more children disappear, and a frenzied search begins for Cole. He confesses to her that he has powers that have led to terrible consequences in the past. Lexi must decide where her loyalties lie as she worries that Wren will be taken. Can she find out the truth before it is too late for the children, for Cole, or for herself? This was an intriguing tale with roots in several fairy tales and stories, but in some ways most like a unique twist on the Pied Piper, mixed with young romance, and coming of age stories.
The synopsis for this book calls it "part fairy tale, part love story," but it is SO much more than that. There's loss and sadness and mystery and horror and lessons about understanding and acceptance and beautiful world building and so many other things that are all woven together so intricately that this story is unlike anything I've ever read. This book gave me all of the feels, and had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Victoria Schwab is a literary genius (and this was her debut!).

Fairy tales are my favorite kind of stories, and I especially love when there are new stories incorporated into books. The story of the Near Witch is terrifying enough to be a true fairy tale, but it's still different enough to be its own thing. If I was a child and I heard the story that Lexi tells Wren, I would be scared enough not to go out onto the moors. That witch is crazy - especially after how she was treated. And speaking of witches, I love how there are hints of magic and their "craft," but most of what they do is connected to the Earth and its elements, which I love. I mean, I love witches of the Harry Potter variety too, but I think those that are more connected to nature are the most interesting.

Victoria creates characters that are deep and dynamic and is constantly molding and changing them throughout the book. Lexi is strong-willed, independent, and hurting, but she also cares deeply for her mother, sister, and friends. She is willing to go to great lengths to protect them, even if it means defying her uncle's orders. And even though she remains those things, she matures quite a bit and becomes a more well-rounded version of herself. And then there's the stranger boy. He's mysterious and quiet, but he holds so much pain within himself that it's kind of ridiculous. I think he's my favorite character in this book, and I love his relationship and interactions with Lexi. All of the more minor characters are excellently crafted as well, and I found myself wanting to know more about their background and their lives and more of why they do the things they do.

As I was reading this book, I never wanted to put it down. The whole story flows just like a fairy tale, and never gives too much detail or not enough. I can't even begin to fathom how Victoria pulled this out of her imagination, because the world and character building are phenomenal, and everything about Near is just so gorgeous and precise. I felt like I was walking around the village, or out on the moors, or in the sisters' cottage. I could feel the wind and smell the dirt and the wildflowers. Everything about this book is just wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has read and loved any of Victoria's other works, but hasn't read this one yet. And to anyone who enjoys fairy tale books or books about witches or love stories or fantasy books... and to pretty much anyone. Because I honestly think there is something in this book for everyone. This book is one of my favorite reads this year, and I'm so glad I finally got around to buying and reading it. Definitely a 5/5 from me!
I loved Victoria Schwab's "This Savage Song" and enjoyed "The Archived, but this book, her debut, was...anti-climatic.

"The Near Witch" is the story of a small town that has a connection to witches, a history of hysteria, and a bad habit of blaming the wrong people for their problems/bad situations. Lexi, the main character, seemed like many other YA characters. She was stubborn, focused, and prone to making the wrong decisions.

The synopsis for this book says this book's part love story and part fairy tale. I don't necessarily agree with that, seeing as the romantic element is insta-love and the fairy tale part is non-existent. I'm just...not quite sure what think of this book or the fact that the same person that wrote "This Savage Song" wrote this book.

I skim read the last 50 or so pages of this book, but didn't really feel anything as I closed the book. It isn't like this book is awful; it isn't, but it had so much potential that was lost along the way. Regardless of that, I understand first books are rarely perfect, so I'm still a Schwab fan, and will read the Near Witch novellas!