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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
3.5 stars, really. And it might go up the more I think about this book.
When I started this book, I didn't really know what to think. Elizabeth is Anglia's best witch hunter, but she's suddenly thrown into jail because she's found with herbs that would help her avoid becoming pregnant with a very unwanted child. Her life is a mess at the start, and it doesn't get any clearer as her adventure moves on. I wasn't sure where it was going to go or what anyone was really thinking, you know? It's one of those books, where you question everyone's motives because one thing has made you paranoid over everything.
The great thing about this book was it was like fifty in one. There were little bits of every kind of fantasy book in this one, but the author blended it all expertly enough where it all made sense, and not just in there for decoration. The characters were awesome, but I wish that there was more Peter the pirate in there. He was wonderful and made me so happy whenever he popped his head in there. Next to him, I loved Schuyler. Oh my god, a revenant in love with a witch that can hear everyone's thoughts and quietest whispers, and he's deadly as can be? Yes please. I want a Schuyler and Peter book next. That is, I'm assuming there's going to be a second book, yes?
The Witch Hunter oscillates between slow and fast-paced, because I was about 60% through it and wondering if there was going to be enough time for Elizabeth to get her adventure really going. I guess that was really my only true complaint (other than more pirate and revenant): it took so long to get to the real reason for everything, and then I was left chewing my nails for the end. I thought that we weren't going to get to it and that I'd have to wait for a second book before I knew if anything happened. But, lo and behold, things happened and they were good and everyone was good. More or less. Sort of.
When I started this book, I didn't really know what to think. Elizabeth is Anglia's best witch hunter, but she's suddenly thrown into jail because she's found with herbs that would help her avoid becoming pregnant with a very unwanted child. Her life is a mess at the start, and it doesn't get any clearer as her adventure moves on. I wasn't sure where it was going to go or what anyone was really thinking, you know? It's one of those books, where you question everyone's motives because one thing has made you paranoid over everything.
The great thing about this book was it was like fifty in one. There were little bits of every kind of fantasy book in this one, but the author blended it all expertly enough where it all made sense, and not just in there for decoration. The characters were awesome, but I wish that there was more Peter the pirate in there. He was wonderful and made me so happy whenever he popped his head in there. Next to him, I loved Schuyler. Oh my god, a revenant in love with a witch that can hear everyone's thoughts and quietest whispers, and he's deadly as can be? Yes please. I want a Schuyler and Peter book next. That is, I'm assuming there's going to be a second book, yes?
The Witch Hunter oscillates between slow and fast-paced, because I was about 60% through it and wondering if there was going to be enough time for Elizabeth to get her adventure really going. I guess that was really my only true complaint (other than more pirate and revenant): it took so long to get to the real reason for everything, and then I was left chewing my nails for the end. I thought that we weren't going to get to it and that I'd have to wait for a second book before I knew if anything happened. But, lo and behold, things happened and they were good and everyone was good. More or less. Sort of.
funny
fast-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
adventurous
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:
Yes
3.5
Bazı kitaplar vardır, kurgusu çok kusursuz olamamıştır ama bu kusurlarla harika bir sinema filmi olabilir.
Aynı öyle kitaplardan bir tanesiydi bu. Mantıken beni boşlukta bırakan, yarım kaldığını hissettiğim belli başlı yerler vardı. Özellikle kitabın ince olmamasına rağmen her şeyin çok çabuk, tadına varamadan bittiğini hissetmiş olmam bunlardan biri. Yine de hani ağzımda sanki soluksuz bir şekilde fantastik bir film izlemişim ve sinemadan çıkınca bir cadı avcısı olacağım kafasına girmişim gibi bir tat bıraktı.
İkinci kitabının kesinlikle daha iyi olacağını düşünüyorum çünkü kitabın başından sonuna kadarki sürede bile kurguda ve yazarın dilinde katlanarak ilerleme gördüm. Başta okurken sarmamıştı ama aksiyon eklendikçe dolduğunu hissettim. Sadece bazı şeylerin daha farklı olmasını dilerdim sanırım. Yorumunu bloguma yazdığımda derin bir şekilde açıkların her noktayı ama kesinlikle fena değildi.
Cadılı kurguları çok çok severim ve okuduğum cadılı kitapların ortalamasında bir yerde oldu benim için.
Bazı kitaplar vardır, kurgusu çok kusursuz olamamıştır ama bu kusurlarla harika bir sinema filmi olabilir.
Aynı öyle kitaplardan bir tanesiydi bu. Mantıken beni boşlukta bırakan, yarım kaldığını hissettiğim belli başlı yerler vardı. Özellikle kitabın ince olmamasına rağmen her şeyin çok çabuk, tadına varamadan bittiğini hissetmiş olmam bunlardan biri. Yine de hani ağzımda sanki soluksuz bir şekilde fantastik bir film izlemişim ve sinemadan çıkınca bir cadı avcısı olacağım kafasına girmişim gibi bir tat bıraktı.
İkinci kitabının kesinlikle daha iyi olacağını düşünüyorum çünkü kitabın başından sonuna kadarki sürede bile kurguda ve yazarın dilinde katlanarak ilerleme gördüm. Başta okurken sarmamıştı ama aksiyon eklendikçe dolduğunu hissettim. Sadece bazı şeylerin daha farklı olmasını dilerdim sanırım. Yorumunu bloguma yazdığımda derin bir şekilde açıkların her noktayı ama kesinlikle fena değildi.
Cadılı kurguları çok çok severim ve okuduğum cadılı kitapların ortalamasında bir yerde oldu benim için.
"Nicholas says that magic isn't inherently good or bad, it's what people do with it that makes it that way. It took me a long time to understand that. Once I did, I realized it isn't magic that separates us from them, or you from me. It's misunderstanding."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I adore books about witchcraft, especially books set in the past when witchcraft was punishable by death. I've always found this particular subject incredibly interesting, which is why I picked up The Witch Hunter in the first place. But I didn't think I'd enjoy it quite this much.
The Witch Hunter follows Elizabeth Grey, a young girl who works for the king as one of his most elite witch hunters. But then, she's accused of being a witch herself. And the one person who rescues her and stops her from being burnt at the stake is the most powerful wizard alive, the enemy of her boss Blackwell. Elizabeth has to decide whether she can trust this man and his accomplices George, John and Fifer, as it's her only chance to stay alive.
Every character in this book was likeable. Elizabeth may be one of my new favourite characters. She's both physically and emotionally strong, yet flawed, as any teenage girl should be, but this in no way makes her any less powerful. I really liked that, I think it's a really positive message to be giving young girls, that they can be tough and strong but still emotional. I think the relationship between Elizabeth and another character in this book felt slightly forced but he's a really sweet character so I didn't mind as much (although I personally really liked the dynamic between Elizabeth and Fifer way more).
I'm about to start The King Slayer, and I'm incredibly excited. I'm really looking forward to continuing this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I adore books about witchcraft, especially books set in the past when witchcraft was punishable by death. I've always found this particular subject incredibly interesting, which is why I picked up The Witch Hunter in the first place. But I didn't think I'd enjoy it quite this much.
The Witch Hunter follows Elizabeth Grey, a young girl who works for the king as one of his most elite witch hunters. But then, she's accused of being a witch herself. And the one person who rescues her and stops her from being burnt at the stake is the most powerful wizard alive, the enemy of her boss Blackwell. Elizabeth has to decide whether she can trust this man and his accomplices George, John and Fifer, as it's her only chance to stay alive.
Every character in this book was likeable. Elizabeth may be one of my new favourite characters. She's both physically and emotionally strong, yet flawed, as any teenage girl should be, but this in no way makes her any less powerful. I really liked that, I think it's a really positive message to be giving young girls, that they can be tough and strong but still emotional. I think the relationship between Elizabeth and another character in this book felt slightly forced but he's a really sweet character so I didn't mind as much (although I personally really liked the dynamic between Elizabeth and Fifer way more).
I'm about to start The King Slayer, and I'm incredibly excited. I'm really looking forward to continuing this story.
adventurous
The Witch Hunter was kind of a flip-floppy book to me. There were moments were I was super into it but there was probably more moments where I was either bored out of my mind or side-eying the absolutely boring protagonist.
Elizabeth is a shitty protagonist. Let's just get that out of the way. We're supposed to believe she's this badass witch hunter, but the majority of her thoughts consist of "oh noes, Blackwell might catch me", "oh noes, does Caleb still care about me?" and "oh noes, am I falling in love with John?" The first one is the only one with any plot relevance or urgency, but Elizabeth is really just concerned about the boys in her life. This in and of itself is a curiosity because Caleb is douchey and John, bless his heart, is as interesting a person as dirt. Elizabeth's personality isn't much to write home about either seeing as she doesn't really have one beyond being scared and pining for hot boys.
The supporting cast is more interesting than her, but just barely. I actually liked George and Fifer. I was here for them. Everyone else is kind of cookie cutter. Hell, even George and Fifer are cookie cutter, but they're at least more interesting than the others.
There is a plot in this book somewhere, and it's an interesting plot. I just don't think it was explored or done well to the extent it could have been. It isn't helped by the world building, which feels only partially done and thus leaving holes everywhere that makes you ask questions that aren't answered probably because they don't have actual answers to it.This is particularly prevalent at the beginning after Nicholas breaks Elizabeth out of prison, where it feels like it takes over half the book for them to get to anything that really moves the plot along again. It's still interesting, though, and if it hadn't been, this book would have gone straight into a shitshow rather than showing some promise.
Overall, The Witch Hunter is an one time sort of book, though I'll be looking into sequel because I did get intrigued enough that I want to see where this goes.
Elizabeth is a shitty protagonist. Let's just get that out of the way. We're supposed to believe she's this badass witch hunter, but the majority of her thoughts consist of "oh noes, Blackwell might catch me", "oh noes, does Caleb still care about me?" and "oh noes, am I falling in love with John?" The first one is the only one with any plot relevance or urgency, but Elizabeth is really just concerned about the boys in her life. This in and of itself is a curiosity because Caleb is douchey and John, bless his heart, is as interesting a person as dirt. Elizabeth's personality isn't much to write home about either seeing as she doesn't really have one beyond being scared and pining for hot boys.
The supporting cast is more interesting than her, but just barely. I actually liked George and Fifer. I was here for them. Everyone else is kind of cookie cutter. Hell, even George and Fifer are cookie cutter, but they're at least more interesting than the others.
There is a plot in this book somewhere, and it's an interesting plot. I just don't think it was explored or done well to the extent it could have been. It isn't helped by the world building, which feels only partially done and thus leaving holes everywhere that makes you ask questions that aren't answered probably because they don't have actual answers to it.
Overall, The Witch Hunter is an one time sort of book, though I'll be looking into sequel because I did get intrigued enough that I want to see where this goes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
This was an enjoyable read! It's nice to see fantasy set in this kind of 16th century era when we're surrounded by so much dystopia.
It took me a while to get going with the characters, though, and felt like maybe with another chapter or two you could have tied it all up, rather than gone on to a sequel.
Would still recommend to people looking for a fun, fast paced fantasy with a splash of romance.
It took me a while to get going with the characters, though, and felt like maybe with another chapter or two you could have tied it all up, rather than gone on to a sequel.
Would still recommend to people looking for a fun, fast paced fantasy with a splash of romance.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not exactly sure why there are two different titles depending on the edition - some say The Witch Hunter and others say Witch Hunter - though the series name is The Witch Hunter. The edition I read had the title Witch Hunter.
4.25 stars
First off, I want to say that this is a really good debut YA fantasy book and that I enjoyed reading it a lot. Though it started off a little slow and a bit confusingly, I eventually caught on and thought that it improved page by page.
Characters:
- Elizabeth Grey
Because of the hardships she's been through, the reader can tell Elizabeth has had to grow up earlier than she should have to, as well as because of the setting of the story. Elizabeth is sixteen, yet she is quite independent and brave, as she has to be, because her job as a witch hunter requires her to capture and/or kill witches and wizards on a daily basis. She's grown up without her parents, whom died when she was twelve from a magical plague, and her only close friend is fellow witch hunter Caleb, who she's had a crush on ever since she met him. However, for reasons that are explained later, Elizabeth is caught with witches' herbs and accused of witchcraft, which is a crime in society. Lord Blackwell, the supervisor of all of the witch hunters, sends her to jail to await her death. Though Caleb promises to break her out, Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and most wanted wizard arrives first and frees her. The conditions of the prison cells are bad, and Elizabeth's health takes a toll. She faints and only comes to at the safe house for witches and wizards where her adventures and self-discovery start.
Elizabeth is the main character and narrator of the story. Throughout the novel, we get glimpses of the past and what influenced her to be the person she is now. Though we get some flashbacks, I didn't connect with the MC as much as I would've liked to, especially at the beginning of the novel. I'm not sure if the story could have been better enhanced, perhaps, if it had another POV, but I felt I was missing something with the MC. She didn't feel convincing enough to me. She is also stated as the best witch hunter of all time, which I found hard to believe. Yes, she's been trained and can fight and is pretty strong for a sixteen-year-old, but we aren't told what is so remarkable about her. All other witch hunters can do that. I think that this piece of information might have been included so as to give Elizabeth more reason to be shocked when she believes Blackwell has betrayed her (she looks up to him because she trained under him to be a witch hunter from twelve years old). I didn't think that was necessary. However, as I neared the end of the story, at the climax where there was the most action and suspense, I felt all of the MC's emotions as if I was her and was right there where she was and I was rooting for her and all of the other characters.
- John Rayleigh
John is a teenager too; he's around the same age as Elizabeth, if not older. He is the love interest in the story to, of course, Elizabeth. He is the type of wizard/witch who has healing powers and is the healer in the group. He is said to be a really good healer, and I could see that from the several times he had to heal everyone. John is the more reserved, quiet one in the group and I liked that about him. I thought at first Caleb was the love interest, and then after that I thought George (down below) was the one, but I had no idea why I kept jumping to conclusions. John is the last one out of the three that Elizabeth meets. I really liked their relationship; John wasn't at all cliche and seemed to be a really nice and considerate person. And when. However, again, I didn't feel it like I wanted to. I hope their relationship is developed further in the sequel.
- George (I forgot his last name)
George is mainly like a jester. I don't actually know what he does but I don't think he has any magical powers. He is a spy and a Reformist (those who support the witches and wizards). George is the funny one out of the group and is the main source of humor in the book. He is also quite flamboyant and dramatic and wears colourful clothes.
I found George okay; he felt like both an integral yet quite unnecessary character. He doesn't play much of a role in the story.
- Caleb Pace
Elizabeth's childhood friend and crush. I think Caleb was written quite well, and portrayed as the ambitious, impressionable witch hunter that he is. I didn't like him though, but I think that that was the whole point in the end.
- Blackwell
Again, I thought he was a well written antagonist.
- Nicholas Perevil
I want to see more of his character in the sequel, as he is very important, yet he wasn't explored as much as I would have liked.
These aren't all the characters, just the main ones.
Pacing:
As I said earlier, I though it was quite slow at the beginning, though it starts off with a fighting scene. I thought it was an interesting way to introduce the readers to the characters and the world, but it took me a while to figure out what was happening, so good intentions but not-as-good execution there. The rest of the novel's pacing was quite good though, especially the last fifty or so pages; there was a lot of action and suspense, like I said earlier.
Setting:
So I didn't actually realise until many pages later, but this book is set in England in 1580 or something. Historical settings are definitely not my thing (exception: TID), and for me to have overlooked this, was lucky. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I'd known it was set all the way back then, but I'm glad I did. I actually liked the setting and the time, so maybe I'll pick up more books set in this time and place in the future. I liked that I could figure out what place this book is set in; it is never explicitly stated so giving the reader a chance to find out things by themselves was cool. The way the setting is introduced and the magic system is seamlessly written into that time was the reason why I didn't find it glaringly obvious, so kudos to the author.
Ending & Climax:
The ending was great and quite satisfying but I felt like the stuff that happened in the climax went a little too... quick. Not rushed, per se, but just a little too fast. After 350 pages of introductions, world-building, fighting and plans, for the book to end in just 50 pages like that... Anyway, I thought it was a bit easy in the end for the characters, but I don't really mind because a) the characters deserved a good ending -for now- and b) I'm sure it'll get tougher in the sequel. I just thought it could have dragged for a little longer. But really, I just wanted more.
Most things are wrapped up neatly by the end of the novel, but some strings are left hanging for the next novel, of course, namely, all the antagonists who are still out there causing havoc. I would also like to see more magic, both the background of it and how it works as well as more instances of it being used, because I think it is a really great concept which could enhance the story even more if it is delved deeper into. I am very excited for what the sequel holds - with a name like The King Slayer, it's got to be good, right?
4.25 stars
First off, I want to say that this is a really good debut YA fantasy book and that I enjoyed reading it a lot. Though it started off a little slow and a bit confusingly, I eventually caught on and thought that it improved page by page.
Characters:
- Elizabeth Grey
Because of the hardships she's been through, the reader can tell Elizabeth has had to grow up earlier than she should have to, as well as because of the setting of the story. Elizabeth is sixteen, yet she is quite independent and brave, as she has to be, because her job as a witch hunter requires her to capture and/or kill witches and wizards on a daily basis. She's grown up without her parents, whom died when she was twelve from a magical plague, and her only close friend is fellow witch hunter Caleb, who she's had a crush on ever since she met him. However, for reasons that are explained later, Elizabeth is caught with witches' herbs and accused of witchcraft, which is a crime in society. Lord Blackwell, the supervisor of all of the witch hunters, sends her to jail to await her death. Though Caleb promises to break her out, Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and most wanted wizard arrives first and frees her. The conditions of the prison cells are bad, and Elizabeth's health takes a toll. She faints and only comes to at the safe house for witches and wizards where her adventures and self-discovery start.
Elizabeth is the main character and narrator of the story. Throughout the novel, we get glimpses of the past and what influenced her to be the person she is now. Though we get some flashbacks, I didn't connect with the MC as much as I would've liked to, especially at the beginning of the novel. I'm not sure if the story could have been better enhanced, perhaps, if it had another POV, but I felt I was missing something with the MC. She didn't feel convincing enough to me. She is also stated as the best witch hunter of all time, which I found hard to believe. Yes, she's been trained and can fight and is pretty strong for a sixteen-year-old, but we aren't told what is so remarkable about her. All other witch hunters can do that. I think that this piece of information might have been included so as to give Elizabeth more reason to be shocked when she believes Blackwell has betrayed her (she looks up to him because she trained under him to be a witch hunter from twelve years old). I didn't think that was necessary. However, as I neared the end of the story, at the climax where there was the most action and suspense, I felt all of the MC's emotions as if I was her and was right there where she was and I was rooting for her and all of the other characters.
- John Rayleigh
John is a teenager too; he's around the same age as Elizabeth, if not older. He is the love interest in the story to, of course, Elizabeth. He is the type of wizard/witch who has healing powers and is the healer in the group. He is said to be a really good healer, and I could see that from the several times he had to heal everyone. John is the more reserved, quiet one in the group and I liked that about him. I thought at first Caleb was the love interest, and then after that I thought George (down below) was the one, but I had no idea why I kept jumping to conclusions. John is the last one out of the three that Elizabeth meets. I really liked their relationship; John wasn't at all cliche and seemed to be a really nice and considerate person. And when
Spoiler
he got stabbed, I almost died - well, not really, but you know what I mean- George (I forgot his last name)
George is mainly like a jester. I don't actually know what he does but I don't think he has any magical powers. He is a spy and a Reformist (those who support the witches and wizards). George is the funny one out of the group and is the main source of humor in the book. He is also quite flamboyant and dramatic and wears colourful clothes.
I found George okay; he felt like both an integral yet quite unnecessary character. He doesn't play much of a role in the story.
- Caleb Pace
Elizabeth's childhood friend and crush. I think Caleb was written quite well, and portrayed as the ambitious, impressionable witch hunter that he is. I didn't like him though, but I think that that was the whole point in the end.
Spoiler
He's a bad guy, and I have a sneaking suspicion he didn't actually die.- Blackwell
Again, I thought he was a well written antagonist.
Spoiler
He's SO evil. I wonder if the author really likes or is just good at writing all her villians.- Nicholas Perevil
I want to see more of his character in the sequel, as he is very important, yet he wasn't explored as much as I would have liked.
These aren't all the characters, just the main ones.
Pacing:
As I said earlier, I though it was quite slow at the beginning, though it starts off with a fighting scene. I thought it was an interesting way to introduce the readers to the characters and the world, but it took me a while to figure out what was happening, so good intentions but not-as-good execution there. The rest of the novel's pacing was quite good though, especially the last fifty or so pages; there was a lot of action and suspense, like I said earlier.
Setting:
So I didn't actually realise until many pages later, but this book is set in England in 1580 or something. Historical settings are definitely not my thing (exception: TID), and for me to have overlooked this, was lucky. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I'd known it was set all the way back then, but I'm glad I did. I actually liked the setting and the time, so maybe I'll pick up more books set in this time and place in the future. I liked that I could figure out what place this book is set in; it is never explicitly stated so giving the reader a chance to find out things by themselves was cool. The way the setting is introduced and the magic system is seamlessly written into that time was the reason why I didn't find it glaringly obvious, so kudos to the author.
Ending & Climax:
The ending was great and quite satisfying but I felt like the stuff that happened in the climax went a little too... quick. Not rushed, per se, but just a little too fast. After 350 pages of introductions, world-building, fighting and plans, for the book to end in just 50 pages like that... Anyway, I thought it was a bit easy in the end for the characters, but I don't really mind because a) the characters deserved a good ending -for now- and b) I'm sure it'll get tougher in the sequel. I just thought it could have dragged for a little longer. But really, I just wanted more.
Most things are wrapped up neatly by the end of the novel, but some strings are left hanging for the next novel, of course, namely, all the antagonists who are still out there causing havoc. I would also like to see more magic, both the background of it and how it works as well as more instances of it being used, because I think it is a really great concept which could enhance the story even more if it is delved deeper into. I am very excited for what the sequel holds - with a name like The King Slayer, it's got to be good, right?
Ortaokulda bu kitabı okumuştum. O zamanlar Percy Jackson erasında olduğumdan böyle büyüler falan çok ilgimi çekiyordu. Sonrasında kitabı okulda unuttum ve kitap kayboldu. Geçen gün yine aldım ve tekrardan okumaya başladım.
İlk önce kitap çok akıcı onu demem lazım bir günde kitabı bitiriyordum neredeyse fakat bitirmememin sebebi her şey sonda çok tıkanıyor.
Bana mı öyle geldi bilmiyorum ama kitabım başları ve ortası çok da aksiyonlu değil (yani bir kaç kısımı saymazsak genel olarak karakterlerin tanıtımı falan filan çok uzun geldi bana) son kısımda bütün olay sıkışıyor ve her şey bir anda olmaya başlıyor. Son 50 sayfam kaldı ve yavaş yavaş olayı çözmeye başlıyorlar fakat o 50 sayfaya hepsini sıkıştırmak insanı okurken bayar.
Özetle kitap akıcı ve okurken sıkmıyor. Sadece son kısıma bütün olayın sıkışması kitabi bitirmeyi zorlaştırıyor.
İlk önce kitap çok akıcı onu demem lazım bir günde kitabı bitiriyordum neredeyse fakat bitirmememin sebebi her şey sonda çok tıkanıyor.
Bana mı öyle geldi bilmiyorum ama kitabım başları ve ortası çok da aksiyonlu değil (yani bir kaç kısımı saymazsak genel olarak karakterlerin tanıtımı falan filan çok uzun geldi bana) son kısımda bütün olay sıkışıyor ve her şey bir anda olmaya başlıyor. Son 50 sayfam kaldı ve yavaş yavaş olayı çözmeye başlıyorlar fakat o 50 sayfaya hepsini sıkıştırmak insanı okurken bayar.
Özetle kitap akıcı ve okurken sıkmıyor. Sadece son kısıma bütün olayın sıkışması kitabi bitirmeyi zorlaştırıyor.