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autumn_dannay's review against another edition
5.0
It was a lovely read! I liked how the slightly gory was made humorous.
binxthinx's review against another edition
3.0
This book is funny and Belladonna, Terrence, and Rover the Earthworm Familiar are great. But Arriman sucks, the overall plot is dumb, and the marriage at the end is annoying. Trying to be funny but dated I fortunately.
prity_b's review against another edition
4.0
A light, funny, witchy read!
Arriman the Awful is a black wizard born in a good, ordinary family. He carries the burden of Darkness and Evil for many years.
Bored with all the evil doings, he decides to pass the burden to his heir.
To produce a powerful black heir, he needs an equally dark witch for a bride.
But witches these days are ugly, with maggots in their hair, with whiskers covered with lice and scaly legs.
How would he find a suitable bride like this?
His secretary announces a witchy competition where the winner would marry the almighty Arrmin.
Enters Belladona.
A white witch who tries so hard to be black!
She is the whitest of them all.
Even the path she walks sprouts flowers.
This kind, helpful soul sets out to compete against all the evil witches to win the heart of Arrmin.
Will she succeed!
A satirical read that made me smile like a Cheshire cat every 5 min!
4 stars
Arriman the Awful is a black wizard born in a good, ordinary family. He carries the burden of Darkness and Evil for many years.
Bored with all the evil doings, he decides to pass the burden to his heir.
To produce a powerful black heir, he needs an equally dark witch for a bride.
But witches these days are ugly, with maggots in their hair, with whiskers covered with lice and scaly legs.
How would he find a suitable bride like this?
His secretary announces a witchy competition where the winner would marry the almighty Arrmin.
Enters Belladona.
A white witch who tries so hard to be black!
She is the whitest of them all.
Even the path she walks sprouts flowers.
This kind, helpful soul sets out to compete against all the evil witches to win the heart of Arrmin.
Will she succeed!
A satirical read that made me smile like a Cheshire cat every 5 min!
4 stars
yvonnecreevy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
671227cat's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hadiqa01's review against another edition
5.0
What a delight it was to read this book. Couldn't stop myself and finished it in a day!
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is, as Ibbotson would say, one of her "rompy" books. You've got a wizard who spends his days smiting and blighting but feels he ought to marry and produce an heir, so naturally he holds a contest to find the blackest, most evil witch around. Unfortunately, the pickings are slim and include the sweetest, whitest witch you've ever met. Throw in an orphan, an earthworm acting as a witch's familiar, a baby Kraken, assorted ogres and you've got a deliciously rompy story that manages to be funny, gross, and sweet all at once. Definitely recommended to budding fantasy fans or older readers who want something light.
nursena's review against another edition
1.0
I wouldn't let small children read this.
I did not like the messages it may deliver to the intended age-group. There are examples of every-so-slightly-made racial comments and gender roles.
The 'beautiful' is girl pure and good and she wins at the end? Though all she ever wants to do is to marry the 'Big Man' and 'take care of him'? She even thinks about 'brushing his moustache and massaging his ankles when they're swollen'.
Even though, the 'Big Man' has absolutely no idea about who this beautiful blonde girl is, he immediately falls in love with her and wants to marry her. She says she isn't a Black Witch-something he wants in a wife-, but a White one. Does he care? No. No, because she's pretty.
The only good thing about this book, in my opinion, is Terrence and his story. The setting of foster home was interesting and Terence had a lot of potential as a lead character-even though it didn't happen.
I did not like the messages it may deliver to the intended age-group. There are examples of every-so-slightly-made racial comments and gender roles.
The 'beautiful' is girl pure and good and she wins at the end? Though all she ever wants to do is to marry the 'Big Man' and 'take care of him'? She even thinks about 'brushing his moustache and massaging his ankles when they're swollen'.
Even though, the 'Big Man' has absolutely no idea about who this beautiful blonde girl is, he immediately falls in love with her and wants to marry her. She says she isn't a Black Witch-something he wants in a wife-, but a White one. Does he care? No. No, because she's pretty.
The only good thing about this book, in my opinion, is Terrence and his story. The setting of foster home was interesting and Terence had a lot of potential as a lead character-even though it didn't happen.
rebaba82's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0