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whenjessreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Near Witch is Schwab’s debut novel, and because of this I went into it with lower expectations, and a little bit of curiosity about where she came from and how her writing has grown. While I didn’t think it was as immersive and polished as her later books (which was completely expected - genius doesn’t spring from nowhere 😂), this book was still beautiful, whimsical and poetic. The focus on atmosphere over characters or plot made it feel like folklore; a creepy fairytale told to children in front of a fire.
Schwab herself describes this book as ‘strange and quiet’, which is so fitting in a way that I can’t really describe. There’s this common feeling of isolation and inherent creepiness in books set on the moors - think The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, or Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Typical of Schwab, The Near Witch has a dash of horror, but in the way that fairytales often do: more creepy and suspenseful rather than grotesque. There isn’t a lot of world-building, but in a way this worked - the isolation and emptiness of the setting played a large part in the overall feeling of uneasiness and suited the haunting writing style.
In terms of the main character, Lexi… It was nice to read a female heroine without the sarcasm and the sword, strength in a way that seems more accessible to children and younger adults. But although she was the narrator of the story, I didn’t get the greatest idea of her drives - her feelings weren’t really dipped into, and instead it was more a play-by-play of what she saw and did. There was also a little bit of insta-love, but after all, this is a fairytale (and what is more representative of a fairytale than love at first sight?).
Overall, this was a haunting but beautiful story about acceptance, understanding and friendship, but also prejudice and loss. And VE Schwab is obviously some kind of word-witch.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
joisaddler's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
takarakeireads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This one is real hard to review because I didn't like the narrator for the audiobook. They spoke. Very. Stunted. Without. Any. Flow. ...I don't believe that is how the book was written as that is not my experience of Schwab's writing. I do think you can tell this is early on in Schwab's career as her writing really has improved with her subsequent novels. It is a very typical YA kind of romance between characters (a bit insta lovey).
Overall it was hard to get through with the narrator, and if I wasn't reading it for a book club I might've switched to a physical book or DNF'd.
Overall it was hard to get through with the narrator, and if I wasn't reading it for a book club I might've switched to a physical book or DNF'd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
rini's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story really just didn't grab me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
onemamareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-near-witch
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Child death and Death
andromeda_1998's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The near witch is an other one of V.E. Schwab amazing books. It’s right in my ally. It has magic, amazing characters and together it forms a dark fairytale everyone should read. The near witch is lesser known then some of her other books and I think that it has something to do with the fact that it’s a young adult book instead of adult or middle grade.
The story:
The story focuses on Lexi who lives in the town of Near. She has never left her home town and she doesn’t particularly feels the need ago. She wants to stay in the house overlooking the moor.
In this little town a couple of things are sure:
1. There are no strangers in Near
2. The near witch is nothing more than an old wives tale
3. Don’t listen to the wind since the wind always looks for company.
These are the rules Lexi lives by and they have been told to her all her live. But everything changes when one day a stranger is seen around the village. The very next day children start to disappear in the night and the stranger falls under suspicion.
Lexi needs to find out the truth about the missing children, the time is ticking, since she has a little sister to protect.
My opinions (spoiler free)
I really liked this amazing story. The stakes are high and the story is a bit dark. I like these kinds of darker magical fairytales. The story his been written in a faster pace and the storytelling is amazingly done. V.E. Schwab has an amazing way of writing a story and she always delivers with her beautiful writing-style. Like always I cannot wait to read more from her.
V.E. Schwab knows her character building. She has again made some complex characters. The thing I liked less though is that you really need the short story “The Ash-born boy” to understand Cole’s character fully. I wouldn’t mind that so much if the short was included in all the different editions of this book but it isn’t. For as far as I know you really need the red edition by titan books to get the short included. (ISBN:9781789091144)
The worldbuilding has been done well but it only includes one little village and the moors around it. Something that isn’t bad but I would love to know more about the world she has created and I would love it if she would go back to write more story’s in this world 😂.
Favorite quotes:
“If the moor wind ever sings, you mustn’t listen, not with all of your ears. Use only the edges. Listen the way you would look out the corners of your eyes. The wind is lonely, love, and always looking for company
Other books you should read if you loved the near witch or if you loved these books the near witch is something you would like:
- Uprooted or Spinning silver by Naomi Novik
- The winternight trilogy by Kathrine Arden.
- Into the heartless woods by Joanna Ruth Meyer
- The enchantment of Ravens or Sorcery of thorns by Margret Rodgerson
- The bone houses by Emily loyd-Jones
The story:
The story focuses on Lexi who lives in the town of Near. She has never left her home town and she doesn’t particularly feels the need ago. She wants to stay in the house overlooking the moor.
In this little town a couple of things are sure:
1. There are no strangers in Near
2. The near witch is nothing more than an old wives tale
3. Don’t listen to the wind since the wind always looks for company.
These are the rules Lexi lives by and they have been told to her all her live. But everything changes when one day a stranger is seen around the village. The very next day children start to disappear in the night and the stranger falls under suspicion.
Lexi needs to find out the truth about the missing children, the time is ticking, since she has a little sister to protect.
My opinions (spoiler free)
I really liked this amazing story. The stakes are high and the story is a bit dark. I like these kinds of darker magical fairytales. The story his been written in a faster pace and the storytelling is amazingly done. V.E. Schwab has an amazing way of writing a story and she always delivers with her beautiful writing-style. Like always I cannot wait to read more from her.
V.E. Schwab knows her character building. She has again made some complex characters. The thing I liked less though is that you really need the short story “The Ash-born boy” to understand Cole’s character fully. I wouldn’t mind that so much if the short was included in all the different editions of this book but it isn’t. For as far as I know you really need the red edition by titan books to get the short included. (ISBN:9781789091144)
The worldbuilding has been done well but it only includes one little village and the moors around it. Something that isn’t bad but I would love to know more about the world she has created and I would love it if she would go back to write more story’s in this world 😂.
Favorite quotes:
“If the moor wind ever sings, you mustn’t listen, not with all of your ears. Use only the edges. Listen the way you would look out the corners of your eyes. The wind is lonely, love, and always looking for company
Other books you should read if you loved the near witch or if you loved these books the near witch is something you would like:
- Uprooted or Spinning silver by Naomi Novik
- The winternight trilogy by Kathrine Arden.
- Into the heartless woods by Joanna Ruth Meyer
- The enchantment of Ravens or Sorcery of thorns by Margret Rodgerson
- The bone houses by Emily loyd-Jones
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
aviery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Blood, and Religious bigotry
littlewishling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
As someone raised in a small town, Near felt so familiar. A story of small minds and fear but also courage.
It’s beautifully written and a joy to read.
It’s beautifully written and a joy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Death of parent