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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This was part of Owlcrate's May 2020 Rebels with a Cause box!
My friend told me to read this while I was ranting about how much I loved [b:Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Scones|41541435|Check, Please!, Book 2 Sticks & Scones|Ngozi Ukazu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561505529l/41541435._SX50_.jpg|64809784], so of course I read it in one sitting. Witchy tells the story of the Hyalin witch kingdom. Here, a witches hair length is proportional to their magical capability. However, witches with hair that is too long are enemies of the kingdom and annihilated. Nyneve (Neve) has been hiding how long her hair is since her father was killed for how long his hair is. Ever since that day Neve and her mother have been wary of the Hyalin governing witch, Jung and the guard he controls. The day that Neve is tested for conscription does not end well and leads her to flee and consider what she'll do with her life and magic.
I enjoyed this story about this fantasy witch kingdom. I liked Neve though I didn't always understand her motivations behind her actions. I've loved getting to know her, but I really need more of this story. Neve is definitely a reluctant hero though she is very inquisitive about magic and the world she lives in. I want to know more about the magical history that was hinted at in this book.
Before the conscription test we meet Neve's friend Batu and his cousin Prill. Prill is at first very standoffish with Neve, but as the two learn more about each other they form a precarious friendship. I really want to see their friendship take off and I hope we see that in the next edition. Which, when the heck will that be out because I needed it yesterday???
Overall, this was a wonderful fantasy read and I'm excited to see where Neve's story goes next. I feel like there will be lots of rebellion to come.
My friend told me to read this while I was ranting about how much I loved [b:Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Scones|41541435|Check, Please!, Book 2 Sticks & Scones|Ngozi Ukazu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561505529l/41541435._SX50_.jpg|64809784], so of course I read it in one sitting. Witchy tells the story of the Hyalin witch kingdom. Here, a witches hair length is proportional to their magical capability. However, witches with hair that is too long are enemies of the kingdom and annihilated. Nyneve (Neve) has been hiding how long her hair is since her father was killed for how long his hair is. Ever since that day Neve and her mother have been wary of the Hyalin governing witch, Jung and the guard he controls. The day that Neve is tested for conscription does not end well and leads her to flee and consider what she'll do with her life and magic.
I enjoyed this story about this fantasy witch kingdom. I liked Neve though I didn't always understand her motivations behind her actions. I've loved getting to know her, but I really need more of this story. Neve is definitely a reluctant hero though she is very inquisitive about magic and the world she lives in. I want to know more about the magical history that was hinted at in this book.
Before the conscription test we meet Neve's friend Batu and his cousin Prill. Prill is at first very standoffish with Neve, but as the two learn more about each other they form a precarious friendship. I really want to see their friendship take off and I hope we see that in the next edition. Which, when the heck will that be out because I needed it yesterday???
Overall, this was a wonderful fantasy read and I'm excited to see where Neve's story goes next. I feel like there will be lots of rebellion to come.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Reading Rush 2020: Read a Book Completely Outside Your House
This just wasn't for me, I thought a lot of it was very heavy-handed in terms of story-telling and just overall it was just fine but not really for me. I appreciate Owlcrate for including it in a box though!
This just wasn't for me, I thought a lot of it was very heavy-handed in terms of story-telling and just overall it was just fine but not really for me. I appreciate Owlcrate for including it in a box though!
I’m not big on graphic novels so I wasn’t overly hyped about this. It wasn’t horrible, just not for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Long-haired Nyneve lives in a dangerous world where witches' hair length is an indication of magical strength, but if your hair is too long, the local government murders you. She must figure out how to survive in a society that would rather burn her. I rather enjoyed this volume & look forward to reading more. The world building is excellent, and the art is lovely. I also appreciate non-binary and transgender visibility here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Transphobia
Persecution, execution, body dysphoria
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The art in this graphic novel is GORGEOUS. Unique premise, meaningful storylines, and great representation. This was a fun read!
An own voice, South East Asian/Indonesian influenced story, set in a world where hair length determines and reflects the wearer's magical potential, and where this can mean conscription (and opportunity), or if deemed too long, death and witch burning. Especially, where the wearer is not in line with the Kingdom's dictates. In this world we have Nyneve, whose father was witch burned and who disguises her hair as short. We arrive in her story as her class is heading towards conscription testing and certain even darker underpinnings to an already patently dictatorial rule are about to be revealed.
But it is not all dark, or even mainly dark. There is vibrancy, developing friendships, wee bits of humour. Witchy has a certain amount of clear earnestness and purity to the art and dialogue that is quite manga like and it also has layers to the characters and situations so that they are multifaceted. Thus, the classmate who initially was presented as a proto bully to Nyneve, turns out quite quickly to have her own story and the two connect. In another example, the kingdom of Hyalin is oppressive and ruthless in eliminating any it regards as traitors yet at the same time it can also offer a place of gender and trans equality - as we see in a scene with Prill and how the army gave her an alternative avenue when her family had difficulty with her transition.
All of this means that while the pace of the story moves quite swiftly along it never feels shallow. The webcomic can be found at the link below in order to trial it. I also sourced it from the library as I found an extra degree of pleasure and satisfying resonance in reading the print comic.
https://www.witchycomic.com/comic/page-1
But it is not all dark, or even mainly dark. There is vibrancy, developing friendships, wee bits of humour. Witchy has a certain amount of clear earnestness and purity to the art and dialogue that is quite manga like and it also has layers to the characters and situations so that they are multifaceted. Thus, the classmate who initially was presented as a proto bully to Nyneve, turns out quite quickly to have her own story and the two connect. In another example, the kingdom of Hyalin is oppressive and ruthless in eliminating any it regards as traitors yet at the same time it can also offer a place of gender and trans equality - as we see in a scene with Prill and how the army gave her an alternative avenue when her family had difficulty with her transition.
All of this means that while the pace of the story moves quite swiftly along it never feels shallow. The webcomic can be found at the link below in order to trial it. I also sourced it from the library as I found an extra degree of pleasure and satisfying resonance in reading the print comic.
https://www.witchycomic.com/comic/page-1
