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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
Lately I found myself reading strictly contemporary reads. You know how it is, every once in awhile you just get stuck in a genre rut. After numerous contemporaries, I decided to venture back into dystopian/fantasy. That's when I came across The Witch Hunter. Set in a world where magic is known, but outlawed, Elizabeth Grey finds herself at the center of a war - one where she thought she knew where she stood.
Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter - a special group of people who are trained to capture magic users for the crown. When she's caught with witches herbs (which she had for good reason), she's tossed into prison to await her burning, which is just as it sounds - burning at the stake. Only she never makes it to her burning day. Instead, she's saved by the one person she's been trained to hunt down - Nicholas Perevil - the most powerful wizard in the land. Nicholas needs something from her, something only Elizabeth can provide. Soon Elizabeth finds herself surrounded by the people she normally captures and she must either learn to trust them or go back to life that had turned it's back on her.
This book surprised me. There were times when I thought I had it figured out, only for it to take a completely different turn. Elizabeth was not who I thought she was. She was definitely a flawed protagonist who at times wasn't very likeable. But over the course of the book, she became this character who took control of her own fate and she started making her own decisions.
And it's not just Elizabeth who drives this book. There Nicholas, this powerful wizard who everyone should fear, but in all honesty, he's a lot like Dumbledore. Wise and honest and just wanting to protect his people. Then there's Nicholas' inner circle, a group of healers and magic wielders who have no idea that a with hunter is within their midst. Each one brought their own brand of magic to fight their cause, but the one I was drawn to the most was John, the healer and son of a pirate. He was the one who really helped Elizabeth see more than just the lies she was told.
Like I said before, this book didn't go in any direction that I thought it would. I thought there would be a love triangle with Elizabeth between Caleb (her childhood friend, fellow hunter, and crush) and one of the new boys in Perevil's group. Didn't happen. I thought I knew which boy in Perevil's group Elizabeth would go for. Nope. And I also thought that I magically predicted the ending. Well, on that one I was kinda right, but mostly wrong. While this wasn't an edge of your seat thriller, I enjoyed the pace and story telling. Enough so that I am awaiting the next book to find out what happens.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter - a special group of people who are trained to capture magic users for the crown. When she's caught with witches herbs (which she had for good reason), she's tossed into prison to await her burning, which is just as it sounds - burning at the stake. Only she never makes it to her burning day. Instead, she's saved by the one person she's been trained to hunt down - Nicholas Perevil - the most powerful wizard in the land. Nicholas needs something from her, something only Elizabeth can provide. Soon Elizabeth finds herself surrounded by the people she normally captures and she must either learn to trust them or go back to life that had turned it's back on her.
This book surprised me. There were times when I thought I had it figured out, only for it to take a completely different turn. Elizabeth was not who I thought she was. She was definitely a flawed protagonist who at times wasn't very likeable. But over the course of the book, she became this character who took control of her own fate and she started making her own decisions.
And it's not just Elizabeth who drives this book. There Nicholas, this powerful wizard who everyone should fear, but in all honesty, he's a lot like Dumbledore. Wise and honest and just wanting to protect his people. Then there's Nicholas' inner circle, a group of healers and magic wielders who have no idea that a with hunter is within their midst. Each one brought their own brand of magic to fight their cause, but the one I was drawn to the most was John, the healer and son of a pirate. He was the one who really helped Elizabeth see more than just the lies she was told.
Like I said before, this book didn't go in any direction that I thought it would. I thought there would be a love triangle with Elizabeth between Caleb (her childhood friend, fellow hunter, and crush) and one of the new boys in Perevil's group. Didn't happen. I thought I knew which boy in Perevil's group Elizabeth would go for. Nope. And I also thought that I magically predicted the ending. Well, on that one I was kinda right, but mostly wrong. While this wasn't an edge of your seat thriller, I enjoyed the pace and story telling. Enough so that I am awaiting the next book to find out what happens.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
MEIN FAZIT
Leichte und unterhaltsame Fantasy-Story! Ich mochte die Welt in der sie spielt als auch die Charaktere. Freue mich auf Teil 2!
***
INHALT
Als die 16-jährige Elizabeth mit einem Bündel Kräuter gefunden wird, das ihr zum Schutz dienen soll, wird sie in den Kerker geworfen und der Hexerei angeklagt. Doch wider Erwarten retten weder Caleb, ihr engster Freund und heimlicher Schwarm, noch ihr Lehrmeister Blackwell sie vor dem Scheiterhaufen. Stattdessen befreit sie in letzter Sekunde ein ganz anderer: Nicholas Perevil, der mächtigste Magier des Landes und Erzfeind aller Hexenjäger. Er lässt sie heilen und nimmt sie bei sich und den Magiern auf. Denn längst ist im Hintergrund ein Machtkampf entbrannt, und Elizabeth spielt darin eine Schlüsselrolle. Nun muss sie sich entscheiden, wo ihre Loyalitäten liegen... (Klappentext)
MEINE MEINUNG
Wegen der Länge des Buches hatte ich ein bisschen Angst ob es sich vielleicht ziehen könnte, bis man in die Geschichte rein kommt. Und ehe ich es bemerkt habe war ich auf Seite 150. Das liegt nicht nur daran das sich der Einstieg nicht besonders in die Länge zieht, sondern auch an der Aufmachung des Buches (teilweise leere Seiten zwischen den Kapiteln usw). Die Geschichte schreitet recht zügig voran und man liest gespannt weiter was passiert.
Was mir von Beginn an gleich aufgefallen ist, der Klappentext verrät nicht zu viel über die Geschichte. Das ist wirklich mal eine tolle Abwechslung. So kann einen noch jede Seite überraschen. Ich hatte keine Ahnung wo das alles hinführen sollte. Um so schneller flog ich durch die Seiten.
Und so bin ich *schwups* durch das Buch gerauscht. Wir begeben uns auf eine Suche gemeinsam mit der Hexenjägerin und ihren "Zauberer"-Freunden. Ich hab das ein oder andere mal schmunzeln müssen, Elisabeth ist wirklich eine sehr unterhaltsame Person. Ich konnte mir die Welt in der sie unterwegs sind gut vorstellen und hatte gar kein Zeitgefühl mehr beim Lesen.
Das Ende hat mich ehrlicherweise ein bisschen verwirrt. Ich denke ich werde die Seiten nochmal in Ruhe lesen müssen um zu merken wo Illusion und Realität aufeinander treffen.
Ich war sicherlich einfach zu neugierig wie es ausgeht, das ich die Seiten nur noch verschlungen habe.
Ich bin gespannt wie es weiter geht, einen kleinen Ausblick liefert die englische Beschreibung von Teil 2. Auf jeden Fall bin ich sofort wieder bereit in diese Welt ein zu tauchen!
Mir gefiel die Liebesgeschichte des Buches, wobei diese wirklich nicht im Vordergrund steht. Ich habe auch erst mal ein bisschen gebraucht bis ich mir sicher war, auf welche Konstellation das hinauslaufen soll.
Die Hauptcharaktere der Geschichte haben mir alle toll gefallen. Besonders Fifer wuchs mir über die Zeit ans Herz. George blieb ein bisschen blass in meiner Vorstellung. Um so deutlicher sah ich aber John. Ach John! (Ich muss auf jeden Fall seine Vorgeschichte lesen - The Healer)
Elisabeth hat mir auch gut gefallen. Besonders ihre Art war für die Geschichte glaubhaft meiner Meinung nach. Sie ist nicht besonders kindisch und völlig eingeschüchtert von allem.
Leichte und unterhaltsame Fantasy-Story! Ich mochte die Welt in der sie spielt als auch die Charaktere. Freue mich auf Teil 2!
***
INHALT
Als die 16-jährige Elizabeth mit einem Bündel Kräuter gefunden wird, das ihr zum Schutz dienen soll, wird sie in den Kerker geworfen und der Hexerei angeklagt. Doch wider Erwarten retten weder Caleb, ihr engster Freund und heimlicher Schwarm, noch ihr Lehrmeister Blackwell sie vor dem Scheiterhaufen. Stattdessen befreit sie in letzter Sekunde ein ganz anderer: Nicholas Perevil, der mächtigste Magier des Landes und Erzfeind aller Hexenjäger. Er lässt sie heilen und nimmt sie bei sich und den Magiern auf. Denn längst ist im Hintergrund ein Machtkampf entbrannt, und Elizabeth spielt darin eine Schlüsselrolle. Nun muss sie sich entscheiden, wo ihre Loyalitäten liegen... (Klappentext)
MEINE MEINUNG
Wegen der Länge des Buches hatte ich ein bisschen Angst ob es sich vielleicht ziehen könnte, bis man in die Geschichte rein kommt. Und ehe ich es bemerkt habe war ich auf Seite 150. Das liegt nicht nur daran das sich der Einstieg nicht besonders in die Länge zieht, sondern auch an der Aufmachung des Buches (teilweise leere Seiten zwischen den Kapiteln usw). Die Geschichte schreitet recht zügig voran und man liest gespannt weiter was passiert.
Was mir von Beginn an gleich aufgefallen ist, der Klappentext verrät nicht zu viel über die Geschichte. Das ist wirklich mal eine tolle Abwechslung. So kann einen noch jede Seite überraschen. Ich hatte keine Ahnung wo das alles hinführen sollte. Um so schneller flog ich durch die Seiten.
Und so bin ich *schwups* durch das Buch gerauscht. Wir begeben uns auf eine Suche gemeinsam mit der Hexenjägerin und ihren "Zauberer"-Freunden. Ich hab das ein oder andere mal schmunzeln müssen, Elisabeth ist wirklich eine sehr unterhaltsame Person. Ich konnte mir die Welt in der sie unterwegs sind gut vorstellen und hatte gar kein Zeitgefühl mehr beim Lesen.
Das Ende hat mich ehrlicherweise ein bisschen verwirrt. Ich denke ich werde die Seiten nochmal in Ruhe lesen müssen um zu merken wo Illusion und Realität aufeinander treffen.
Ich war sicherlich einfach zu neugierig wie es ausgeht, das ich die Seiten nur noch verschlungen habe.
Ich bin gespannt wie es weiter geht, einen kleinen Ausblick liefert die englische Beschreibung von Teil 2. Auf jeden Fall bin ich sofort wieder bereit in diese Welt ein zu tauchen!
Mir gefiel die Liebesgeschichte des Buches, wobei diese wirklich nicht im Vordergrund steht. Ich habe auch erst mal ein bisschen gebraucht bis ich mir sicher war, auf welche Konstellation das hinauslaufen soll.
Die Hauptcharaktere der Geschichte haben mir alle toll gefallen. Besonders Fifer wuchs mir über die Zeit ans Herz. George blieb ein bisschen blass in meiner Vorstellung. Um so deutlicher sah ich aber John. Ach John! (Ich muss auf jeden Fall seine Vorgeschichte lesen - The Healer)
Elisabeth hat mir auch gut gefallen. Besonders ihre Art war für die Geschichte glaubhaft meiner Meinung nach. Sie ist nicht besonders kindisch und völlig eingeschüchtert von allem.
DNF at 14%
I really wanted to like this book. I was seeing rave reviews for it everywhere, and it sounded like something that I would be really interested in. Unfortunately, I found this book to be uninteresting and unengaging.
The magic in what I read was unexplained and underdeveloped, with no reason, logical or otherwise, for the ban on magic. It is possible that this would have been expanded upon later in the book had I gotten to that point, but I didn't and I feel like some explanation should have been presented in the eighty pages that I read.
The main character, Elizabeth, is what really killed the book for me. The only thing that prevented her from having pretty much no personality was the fact that she was absolutely, incredibly annoying. She is totally obsessed with her witch hunting partner, Caleb, but we never get any reasoning as to why this is, and we don't see enough of him to appreciate her affections. She's judgemental, hypocritical, selfish, shallow, and incredibly set in her beliefs and resistant to change.
The writing was decent enough, and I may have enjoyed it in another context, but the story wasn't interesting enough for the writing to carry it just on its own. I might pick up another book by Virginia Boecker if the plot interests me enough, but it'll take a lot to persuade me to do that.
I really wanted to like this book. I was seeing rave reviews for it everywhere, and it sounded like something that I would be really interested in. Unfortunately, I found this book to be uninteresting and unengaging.
The magic in what I read was unexplained and underdeveloped, with no reason, logical or otherwise, for the ban on magic. It is possible that this would have been expanded upon later in the book had I gotten to that point, but I didn't and I feel like some explanation should have been presented in the eighty pages that I read.
The main character, Elizabeth, is what really killed the book for me. The only thing that prevented her from having pretty much no personality was the fact that she was absolutely, incredibly annoying. She is totally obsessed with her witch hunting partner, Caleb, but we never get any reasoning as to why this is, and we don't see enough of him to appreciate her affections. She's judgemental, hypocritical, selfish, shallow, and incredibly set in her beliefs and resistant to change.
The writing was decent enough, and I may have enjoyed it in another context, but the story wasn't interesting enough for the writing to carry it just on its own. I might pick up another book by Virginia Boecker if the plot interests me enough, but it'll take a lot to persuade me to do that.
I rarely read fantasy. Not because I dislike the genre as a whole, but because I am meticulously picky about fantasy settings. Even if the story is a light fantasy set in our world, the author has to get the mood just right, with a magical feeling to keep me captivated. I prefer an emphasis on human-esque creatures—like witches or angels—as opposed to dragons. Above all else, I have to understand and believe every detail 100 percent; the author must elaborate and explain until the world becomes plausible and makes sense.
So maybe you should take my opinions of The Witch Hunter lightly. Maybe it impressed me because it is the most intense fantasy I have read since being forced to trudge through The Hobbit in seventh grade English, and my mind is secretly straining for more sword fighting. Or maybe, since my lack of experience comes from my pickiness about world-building, my praise should serve to showcase Virginia Boecker’s fiery talent.
First off, The Witch Hunter absolutely slays world-building. Set in an alternate 16th-century England, this setting has everything: magic on every turn; grand palaces; and, best of all, close-minded fear of witches characteristic of medieval times. The author features plenty of creative magic and blankets it all with an atmosphere of oppression that emphasizes the need to change the kingdom’s cruel anti-witchcraft laws. The story is a bit sparse when it comes to details about real historical England, but only because it devotes so much time to developing every aspect of the nation’s magical alternate version.
On top of the world-building dances a dynamite plot. The storyline features fewer gasp-out-loud plot twists than I expected, but instead Boecker builds suspense with constant danger and one plot-driving, high-stakes goal: destroying the curse laid on the kingdom’s most powerful wizard. Elizabeth had me cheering for her in every scene as she fought for her life, her friends’ lives, and the fate of her kingdom with only her wits and weaponry.
I also loved watching Elizabeth grapple with her story’s moral ambiguity. Before being accused of witchcraft, she was a dedicated witch hunter, one of her kingdom’s best, trained to believe magic was evil. But after powerful wizard Nicholas Perevil rescues her from her pre-burning-at-the-stake prison and convinces her to ally with him and other magical individuals, she begins to realize that magic is not inherently wrong. Boecker allows this transition to happen slowly and naturally and creates difficult situations in which Elizabeth must choose between her old values and her new ones. Elizabeth’s ability to accept ideas she previously would have passionately refuted rings so true in today’s society, where many people could stand to do the same. And as a result, this plotline gives The Witch Hunter the small anchor to reality that every fantasy novel needs.
Complete with a stellar ending—not tied up too neatly but not too pessimistic, leaving room for a sequel but able to stand on its own—The Witch Hunter is a knockout novel. Boecker may be a debut novelist, but her skills are as fine-tuned as a writer who has been creating fantasy worlds for years. I may be wary of fantastical settings, but this author has proven that I can trust hers to be elaborate, believable, and captivating, and I cannot wait to visit her next magical world.
This review originally appeared at www.litup-review.com.
So maybe you should take my opinions of The Witch Hunter lightly. Maybe it impressed me because it is the most intense fantasy I have read since being forced to trudge through The Hobbit in seventh grade English, and my mind is secretly straining for more sword fighting. Or maybe, since my lack of experience comes from my pickiness about world-building, my praise should serve to showcase Virginia Boecker’s fiery talent.
First off, The Witch Hunter absolutely slays world-building. Set in an alternate 16th-century England, this setting has everything: magic on every turn; grand palaces; and, best of all, close-minded fear of witches characteristic of medieval times. The author features plenty of creative magic and blankets it all with an atmosphere of oppression that emphasizes the need to change the kingdom’s cruel anti-witchcraft laws. The story is a bit sparse when it comes to details about real historical England, but only because it devotes so much time to developing every aspect of the nation’s magical alternate version.
On top of the world-building dances a dynamite plot. The storyline features fewer gasp-out-loud plot twists than I expected, but instead Boecker builds suspense with constant danger and one plot-driving, high-stakes goal: destroying the curse laid on the kingdom’s most powerful wizard. Elizabeth had me cheering for her in every scene as she fought for her life, her friends’ lives, and the fate of her kingdom with only her wits and weaponry.
I also loved watching Elizabeth grapple with her story’s moral ambiguity. Before being accused of witchcraft, she was a dedicated witch hunter, one of her kingdom’s best, trained to believe magic was evil. But after powerful wizard Nicholas Perevil rescues her from her pre-burning-at-the-stake prison and convinces her to ally with him and other magical individuals, she begins to realize that magic is not inherently wrong. Boecker allows this transition to happen slowly and naturally and creates difficult situations in which Elizabeth must choose between her old values and her new ones. Elizabeth’s ability to accept ideas she previously would have passionately refuted rings so true in today’s society, where many people could stand to do the same. And as a result, this plotline gives The Witch Hunter the small anchor to reality that every fantasy novel needs.
Complete with a stellar ending—not tied up too neatly but not too pessimistic, leaving room for a sequel but able to stand on its own—The Witch Hunter is a knockout novel. Boecker may be a debut novelist, but her skills are as fine-tuned as a writer who has been creating fantasy worlds for years. I may be wary of fantastical settings, but this author has proven that I can trust hers to be elaborate, believable, and captivating, and I cannot wait to visit her next magical world.
This review originally appeared at www.litup-review.com.
Elizabeth Grey appears to be a young, innocent girl but she is death to those that practice magic. That is until she is caught up in a web not of her making and accused of being a witch. When she is rescued by those that she thinks are her enemies, Elizabeth is forced to open her eyes and reconsider just who her real enemies might be.
I really enjoyed THE WITCH HUNTER. There was a lot of growth in Elizabeth's character as she is forced to examine the 'truths' that she had based her life around. She learns what true friends really are and how others will toss her aside in the name of ambition.
Most of the book galloped along at a good pace which kept me glued to the pages (or screen as the case may be) as I couldn't wait to see just what would happen next. All of the secondary characters were really well developed and helped the story along. This is a great young adult book as the characters were forced to face moral dilemmas and the reader isn't exposed to sex scenes.
Now I am sure that you have gotten the idea that I really enjoyed this book and I did until the ending. The ending felt forced, almost like the author ran up against her word count and forced to cut everything short while tying up loose ends. Since this book looks to be the first book in a series, I would have preferred to have those loose ends hanging until the next book.
I really enjoyed THE WITCH HUNTER. There was a lot of growth in Elizabeth's character as she is forced to examine the 'truths' that she had based her life around. She learns what true friends really are and how others will toss her aside in the name of ambition.
Most of the book galloped along at a good pace which kept me glued to the pages (or screen as the case may be) as I couldn't wait to see just what would happen next. All of the secondary characters were really well developed and helped the story along. This is a great young adult book as the characters were forced to face moral dilemmas and the reader isn't exposed to sex scenes.
Now I am sure that you have gotten the idea that I really enjoyed this book and I did until the ending. The ending felt forced, almost like the author ran up against her word count and forced to cut everything short while tying up loose ends. Since this book looks to be the first book in a series, I would have preferred to have those loose ends hanging until the next book.
This book promised so much.
This book fell short on so many accounts.
Unmemorable characters, underdeveloped plot line, and unexplored opportunities for redemption.
There was so much hope for this book! GAH.
This book fell short on so many accounts.
Unmemorable characters, underdeveloped plot line, and unexplored opportunities for redemption.
There was so much hope for this book! GAH.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
