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linzthebookworm's review
4.0
Edit, Review on reread in 2018:
I'm really glad that I decided to reread A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez. The humorous witchy comments are still one of my favorite aspects fo this story, but I found with this reading that I really enjoyed the side characters, their part of the adventure, and how everything Witch encounters has it's own spirit, like the road, the earth, or even the animals.
The book is a great length and has a lot of fantastic aspects to it. For my complete review check out http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-of-nameless-witch-by-A-Lee-Martinez.html
Review from 2011:
I loved the humor of this book. I found my self chuckling all through the whole story. Its a great story of battling one's inner demons and that it's not always the destination but the journey.
I absolutely loved all of the characters. I thought they were all brilliant in their own way. Of course, Newt was one of my favorites. A demon blood-thirsty duck is definitely something I wasn't expecting.
I'm really glad that I decided to reread A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez. The humorous witchy comments are still one of my favorite aspects fo this story, but I found with this reading that I really enjoyed the side characters, their part of the adventure, and how everything Witch encounters has it's own spirit, like the road, the earth, or even the animals.
The book is a great length and has a lot of fantastic aspects to it. For my complete review check out http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-of-nameless-witch-by-A-Lee-Martinez.html
Review from 2011:
I loved the humor of this book. I found my self chuckling all through the whole story. Its a great story of battling one's inner demons and that it's not always the destination but the journey.
I absolutely loved all of the characters. I thought they were all brilliant in their own way. Of course, Newt was one of my favorites. A demon blood-thirsty duck is definitely something I wasn't expecting.
songwind's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The tone is what really clinches it. It has a certain fairy-tale charm, but with an edge of absurdity - and it plays it all straight. The narrator's matter of fact tone when discussing the behaviors of demon ducks, or lamenting her perfect teeth and lustrous hair (very much a downside for a witch) is delightful.
chemwitch's review
3.0
Pros:
-this book was a quick read. so quick. like 2 hours. boom. so good for the reading challenge that i've been slacking on
-undead witches
-penelope, an actual broomstick and a sweet baby angel
-the ending. I always love when things don't work out quite "happily ever after". I also love a happy ending. Somehow this had both!!
Cons:
-weird romance? not the worst because it does move from crush to love in a believable way but it just felt weirdly stilted to me
-did not love the romantic interest. he was just kind of bland to me
-the action scenes were pretty flat, i never felt like there were any stakes to their battles
Good, not great. Nice fun quick read if you just want something cute and weird.
-this book was a quick read. so quick. like 2 hours. boom. so good for the reading challenge that i've been slacking on
-undead witches
-penelope, an actual broomstick and a sweet baby angel
-the ending. I always love when things don't work out quite "happily ever after". I also love a happy ending. Somehow this had both!!
Cons:
-weird romance? not the worst because it does move from crush to love in a believable way but it just felt weirdly stilted to me
-did not love the romantic interest. he was just kind of bland to me
-the action scenes were pretty flat, i never felt like there were any stakes to their battles
Good, not great. Nice fun quick read if you just want something cute and weird.
psyckers's review
4.0
This is a great witchy tale, a sort of coming of age and go on a quest type story.
The characters are well defined and their personalities come out of the page in their own unique way.
Who would have thought that one of the most deadly and blood thirsty characters in the story is a demonic duck.
The momentum of the story tends to wane a bit towards the end when it needed to be ramped up, especially during a climatic battle of magic, but is still a worthy read with some imaginative spins on what magic is.
The characters are well defined and their personalities come out of the page in their own unique way.
Who would have thought that one of the most deadly and blood thirsty characters in the story is a demonic duck.
The momentum of the story tends to wane a bit towards the end when it needed to be ramped up, especially during a climatic battle of magic, but is still a worthy read with some imaginative spins on what magic is.
sitnstew's review
3.0
A Nameless Witch is not my typical kind of book. It's not that I don't read paranormal books (because I do) but I don't tend to read "funny" books. I enjoy a good laugh like anyone else but I have to admit that I am not the type who chuckles or chortles while reading. Most humorous books are lucky to get a smirk out of me despite my appreciation of their humor. Christopher Moore is a rare exception who manages to tickle my funny bone at times. And I think it is natural that this book get compared to Christopher Moore's style although the latter is by far superior, in my humble opinion.
I actually listened to this as an audiobook and have to admit that I didn't particularly like the narrator (Ann Marie Lee). That may have affected my overall opinion of the book more than it should have but it's not the only thing that didn't strike my fancy.
A Nameless Witch is the story of a "cursed" girl who is adopted by a witch and taught the witchly arts. When her master is killed, she goes on a quest of vengeance, aided by her duck and a troll. There are no real twists or riddles you want to solve in the book and it spells itself out rather plainly as you go.
A. Lee Martinez did have his funny moments in the tale but I think I'd consider them more amusing than uproarious. He used some clever ideas that went against what one would typically picture in a witch and I couldn't help but enjoy the contrast. The writing was passable as well. Not a feat of genius by any means but it fit well with the style of the book.
What threw it all off for me was the story which kind of fell flat and took a while to get where it was going. It was a short audiobook but felt much longer than it was. I admittedly considered putting it on my DNF shelf a few times. In the end, I was glad I completed the audiobook but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone.
I actually listened to this as an audiobook and have to admit that I didn't particularly like the narrator (Ann Marie Lee). That may have affected my overall opinion of the book more than it should have but it's not the only thing that didn't strike my fancy.
A Nameless Witch is the story of a "cursed" girl who is adopted by a witch and taught the witchly arts. When her master is killed, she goes on a quest of vengeance, aided by her duck and a troll. There are no real twists or riddles you want to solve in the book and it spells itself out rather plainly as you go.
A. Lee Martinez did have his funny moments in the tale but I think I'd consider them more amusing than uproarious. He used some clever ideas that went against what one would typically picture in a witch and I couldn't help but enjoy the contrast. The writing was passable as well. Not a feat of genius by any means but it fit well with the style of the book.
What threw it all off for me was the story which kind of fell flat and took a while to get where it was going. It was a short audiobook but felt much longer than it was. I admittedly considered putting it on my DNF shelf a few times. In the end, I was glad I completed the audiobook but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone.
dgriffi2's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This is a cute and cozy read, it’s a very quick read as well. Perfect for a rainy day. It’s not a heavy story even though it touches dark elements.
The best way I can explain this story is imagine a bunch of fourth graders doing a dnd campaign. It meets that level of shenaniganary.
The best way I can explain this story is imagine a bunch of fourth graders doing a dnd campaign. It meets that level of shenaniganary.
tasharobinson's review
4.0
This was a fun and surprising read. Maybe the most Ursula Vernon-like book I've ever read that wasn't actually by Ursula Vernon. There's this evil bloodthirsty demonic duck, you see, and a modular troll made out of detachable and interchangeable parts, and a paladin who's only powerful as long as he subsists on dry bread and chastity. And then there's this witch who pretty much knows everything, except how to control the curse on her. There's a lot of eccentric whimsy in this book — there's a sequence with some bandit elves that reads almost like a Monty Python routine — and some of Terry Pratchett's idea of witches, who are basically just very practical women who sometimes see things more clearly than other people, and sometimes put on ridiculous clothes and makeup and accents and lifestyles to fit other people's idea of what a witch is. But there's also a strong sense of justice, drama, and self-reflection in here too. This is a familiar fantasy-quest narrative in many ways, but it's also distinctive and unusual and sometimes just enjoyably silly on the way to a pretty serious ending.
thegoodmariner's review
3.0
This was the fifth of Martinez's books that I've read, and I have to say it was not my favorite. What I love about his books are the ensemble casts of loveable, memorable characters (In the Company of Ogres and Too Many Curses, in particular). This one was only so-so on putting together that enjoyable cast of misfits. Still misfits, just not as memorable. Still a fun read, but if you're just getting to A Lee Martinez books, I would suggest the aforementioned Ogres and Curses, and Gil's All Fright Diner before starting here. It's worth a quick read, but I'd hate for anyone to think that this is all the better Martinez is, because I love his work and there are better books of his out there.
3mangos's review
4.0
This book is adorable and awesome. A cursed witch sets out on a journey of vengeance but instead finds purpose, friendship, and love. Martinez writes in a humorous fashion. I thought this book was more fleshed out both in plotline and characters than Gil's All-Fright Diner. Definitely recommend.