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carina_dreamer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to start my dive into V. E. Schwab's works with her first book so the experience keeps being positive as her writing improves.
This edition has both "The Near Witch" main work and the short story prequel to it, "The Ash-Born Boy".
The main story reminds me of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, since the children of Near disappear at night from their beds, lured by an entity that didn't leave a clue behind.
The feeling of this book being both a classic and a contemporary work kept following me through the pages. I didn't dislike it.
The story was good and had a strong showcase of mass hysteria from the villagers against what's different.
The romance is a sub-plot and feels insta-love. They kiss a lot too 😂
I liked the short story best, the characters left a bigger impression and showcased stronger personalities that the main story didn't as it felt repetitive and shallow.
I give it ⭐⭐⭐.5 overall, without the short story I would say it's a basic 3⭐.
This edition has both "The Near Witch" main work and the short story prequel to it, "The Ash-Born Boy".
The main story reminds me of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, since the children of Near disappear at night from their beds, lured by an entity that didn't leave a clue behind.
The feeling of this book being both a classic and a contemporary work kept following me through the pages. I didn't dislike it.
The story was good and had a strong showcase of mass hysteria from the villagers against what's different.
The romance is a sub-plot and feels insta-love. They kiss a lot too 😂
I liked the short story best, the characters left a bigger impression and showcased stronger personalities that the main story didn't as it felt repetitive and shallow.
I give it ⭐⭐⭐.5 overall, without the short story I would say it's a basic 3⭐.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying and Murder
saracat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It is no surprise to me that I loved and adored this book. So far everything I've read by Schwab I have adored. Sometimes when I read books that authors wrote much earlier in their career, I can sense that they are still coming into their own. But in this book, she already feels to have an understanding of her craft and I would not have guessed this was written so early in her career without the forward saying so.
As with some of the other books I have read by her, I adore, love, and root for the main characters with everything in me and feel intense dislike and disgust at those who seem to give no effort to hear and understand what is being said to them.
This audiobook version includes at the end the story of Cole and it was painful to hear the full extent of what led to his coming to Near.
As with some of the other books I have read by her, I adore, love, and root for the main characters with everything in me and feel intense dislike and disgust at those who seem to give no effort to hear and understand what is being said to them.
This audiobook version includes at the end the story of Cole and it was painful to hear the full extent of what led to his coming to Near.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, and Murder
In this book, the 'racism' is directed towards witches.