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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Now this book had it's moments, but uh sadly those moments were the slightly more interesting and lovable side characters and uh not much else.
first of all:
-I read approximately two pages before the main character started talking about her giant crush on love interest #1
- the main character is annoying, ignorant, a bit stupid, and incredibly ungrateful and not very understanding of others
-it's obvious there will be a love triangle as soon as she meets love interest #2 , the main character is literally the only person who doesn't know it
-DID I MENTION THERE IS A GODDAMN LOVE TRIANGLE
-what could have been a dramatic and fuckin extra tm reveal (while not very surprising plot twist ) happened off page
-there was a prophecy but then it just? disappeared?
-the plot HOLES
-the wORLD BUILDING HOLES
what I did like:
-fifer
-george
-at times nicholas and schuyler
first of all:
-I read approximately two pages before the main character started talking about her giant crush on love interest #1
- the main character is annoying, ignorant, a bit stupid, and incredibly ungrateful and not very understanding of others
-it's obvious there will be a love triangle as soon as she meets love interest #2 , the main character is literally the only person who doesn't know it
-DID I MENTION THERE IS A GODDAMN LOVE TRIANGLE
-what could have been a dramatic and fuckin extra tm reveal (while not very surprising plot twist ) happened off page
-there was a prophecy but then it just? disappeared?
-the plot HOLES
-the wORLD BUILDING HOLES
what I did like:
-fifer
-george
-at times nicholas and schuyler
Elizabeth seemed like she was going to be an awesome warrior who kicked butt and took names and she was in parts of the book. I would have liked to have seen more of this side of her while reading this book but that was not what happened. She had a strong presence in the book but I would have liked for her to have been worried about boys less and her task more. Elizabeth focused way too much on Caleb even though he only truly cared about himself. Then she ends up meeting someone else and focused on him for the rest of the book. I actually liked the second love interest because he was intelligent, sweet, and put others before himself. However, I wasn't a fan of the insta-love that ended up taking place in the story between them. I wouldn't have minded the romance but I wanted them to get to know each other and grow to love each other rather than meeting and professing their love not long after that.
There were a few times in this book that I felt that the author was telling more than showing which bothered me quite a bit. I wanted there to be more information explaining why things were happening. There were parts of the plot that I did not comprehend because they either seemed random or weren't explained in a way that made them click with the overall story. It was because of this that I became confused towards the end of the book when the main characters are enacting a plan to save the day.
I realize that I am focusing heavily on the things that I would change about the book but that doesn't mean that I wasn't able to enjoy it. I liked the whole Salem trial/ witch hunter idea. I found it interesting especially when adding in things like curses and plagues caused by magic.
The bones of the story were good but I would have liked for it to be executed better. I think that the next book will be interesting as well but I'm still trying to decide if I will be reading it or not. I'm intrigued by a few things that were mentioned or hinted at in The Witch Hunter. I'm convinced that there is something more to Elizabeth than what Virginia Boecker told readers in The Witch Hunter. I think that she is going to turn out to be more than just a witch hunter but I'm not sure what it will be.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-witch-hunter-witch-hunter-1-by.html
There were a few times in this book that I felt that the author was telling more than showing which bothered me quite a bit. I wanted there to be more information explaining why things were happening. There were parts of the plot that I did not comprehend because they either seemed random or weren't explained in a way that made them click with the overall story. It was because of this that I became confused towards the end of the book when the main characters are enacting a plan to save the day.
I realize that I am focusing heavily on the things that I would change about the book but that doesn't mean that I wasn't able to enjoy it. I liked the whole Salem trial/ witch hunter idea. I found it interesting especially when adding in things like curses and plagues caused by magic.
The bones of the story were good but I would have liked for it to be executed better. I think that the next book will be interesting as well but I'm still trying to decide if I will be reading it or not. I'm intrigued by a few things that were mentioned or hinted at in The Witch Hunter. I'm convinced that there is something more to Elizabeth than what Virginia Boecker told readers in The Witch Hunter. I think that she is going to turn out to be more than just a witch hunter but I'm not sure what it will be.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-witch-hunter-witch-hunter-1-by.html
***This review was originally posted on Addicted to YA - check it out for more reviews! :)
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Hachette Children’s Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After requesting this book on netgalley, I couldn’t resist doing a little “research” and I noticed a lot of negative reviews from my fellow bloggers. But, nonetheless, I’m glad I requested this book because I did enjoy it.
For one thing, the book is both historical fiction and fantasy! The main character is a witch hunter, so of-course it makes sense to set it in a earlier time period. But since I haven’t fallen in love with that many Historical YA books so far so I was pleased to see that this book had elements of that genre.
The main character, Elizabeth, demonstrates character growth but is kind-of dull. Her obsession with Caleb, child-hood friend and fellow witch hunter, was annoying to say the least. Even when she’s dying of jail fever, she still thinks he’ll come and rescue her even though it’s clear he won’t. Caleb, himself, proved to be a bit of a disappointment. Considering how he’s her first crush and all, I expected a little more from him but he turned out to be self-centred and ambitious.
The rest of the minor characters, are totally unlike him and bursting with personality. Fifer, especially, is rather fiesty and the love interest, John, is really sweet (he blushes okay?). Elizabeth’s interactions with these characters is what made her interesting at all. And I wanted to see more of that and the romance between her and John. The development of her relationship with John is slow but realistic and I suppose the book didn’t have to focus more on it..but it is my favorite part of the story (so you know, a girl can hope).
The plot isn’t as engaging as it could have been and a bit too predictable at times. Some of the “shocking revelations” weren’t really all that shocking. Everything was set up to go in a certain direction and I would have given this book a higher rating if it deviated from the road well traveled a bit more. Also, there isn’t as much action as I expected. It’s limited to a couple of scenes even though the synopsis makes it seem like there’s a lot going on.
Despite it’s flaws, The Witch Hunter was an addictive read that didn’t disappoint me too much. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and I definitely recommend trying this if you’re into books about witches (hunters) and magic.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Hachette Children’s Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After requesting this book on netgalley, I couldn’t resist doing a little “research” and I noticed a lot of negative reviews from my fellow bloggers. But, nonetheless, I’m glad I requested this book because I did enjoy it.
For one thing, the book is both historical fiction and fantasy! The main character is a witch hunter, so of-course it makes sense to set it in a earlier time period. But since I haven’t fallen in love with that many Historical YA books so far so I was pleased to see that this book had elements of that genre.
The main character, Elizabeth, demonstrates character growth but is kind-of dull. Her obsession with Caleb, child-hood friend and fellow witch hunter, was annoying to say the least. Even when she’s dying of jail fever, she still thinks he’ll come and rescue her even though it’s clear he won’t. Caleb, himself, proved to be a bit of a disappointment. Considering how he’s her first crush and all, I expected a little more from him but he turned out to be self-centred and ambitious.
The rest of the minor characters, are totally unlike him and bursting with personality. Fifer, especially, is rather fiesty and the love interest, John, is really sweet (he blushes okay?). Elizabeth’s interactions with these characters is what made her interesting at all. And I wanted to see more of that and the romance between her and John. The development of her relationship with John is slow but realistic and I suppose the book didn’t have to focus more on it..but it is my favorite part of the story (so you know, a girl can hope).
The plot isn’t as engaging as it could have been and a bit too predictable at times. Some of the “shocking revelations” weren’t really all that shocking. Everything was set up to go in a certain direction and I would have given this book a higher rating if it deviated from the road well traveled a bit more. Also, there isn’t as much action as I expected. It’s limited to a couple of scenes even though the synopsis makes it seem like there’s a lot going on.
Despite it’s flaws, The Witch Hunter was an addictive read that didn’t disappoint me too much. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and I definitely recommend trying this if you’re into books about witches (hunters) and magic.
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2015/05/review-witch-hunter-by-virginia-boecker.html
The Witch Hunter is a spellbinding supernatural adventure. Virginia Boecker’s debut fantasy is imaginative, spirited, and wholly entertaining. I dashed through the pages of The Witch Hunter, as eager to unravel the world of Ms. Boecker’s making as I was to follow Elizabeth’s journey.
Elizabeth is an interesting, wonderfully flawed heroine. She’s a witch hunter, devoted to her calling not just because magic is perceived to be evil, but because being a witch hunter gives her a family and ties her to her best friend, Caleb. Though she’s undeniably strong, her fear of dying alone has made her vulnerable and she doesn’t let herself question her work even though she’s smart enough to know that all is not right. When she’s sentenced to death and is subsequently rescued by Nicholas Perevil, the man who should be evil incarnate, Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down. She enters a world of witches and seers, of magic and ghosts, revenants and pirates. Old loyalties are tested by new ties and it’s not easy for Elizabeth to come to terms with what must be done now that the blindfold is off.
Once she’s forced to question everything she ever believed to be true, the real adventure begins. The action doesn’t stop as Elizabeth uses her talents honed as a witch hunter to help the very people she would normally be hunting. With each new discovery made, it becomes more and more clear that something is rotten in Anglia, and it’s up to Elizabeth and her newfound allies to root it out. Along for the journey is a fascinating group of characters who are sure to endear themselves to readers. Nicholas’s Reformist cohorts include a loveable pirate, a feisty witch, a fool who is anything but foolish, and more. But my favorite character in The Witch Hunter (aside from Elizabeth) is John, a healer who is pure goodness itself. John grabbed my heart from the start and didn’t let go, and it’s no spoiler to say that he and Elizabeth fall for one another. In a world where innocence is swiftly corrupted, there’s a sweetness to their romance I couldn’t resist and I hope to see much more of them in the sequel.
The Witch Hunter moves at a fast pace and Ms. Boecker beautifully balances action with character development. I do have to note that the language seemed a bit modern for a story set in the sixteenth century, even taking into account that it’s a fantasy tale. Whether or not this bothers you depends on reader preference. I noticed it, but I enjoyed Ms. Boecker’s writing so much that it didn’t bother me in the slightest. My only complaint is that I finished the book and wanted to jump right into the sequel. Alas, I’ll have to be patient, but I have no doubt that it’ll be worth the wait. If The Witch Hunter is any indication of her talent, Virginia Boecker is an author to watch. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Boecker has in store for Elizabeth, John, and all the characters I’ve come to love.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Witch Hunter is a spellbinding supernatural adventure. Virginia Boecker’s debut fantasy is imaginative, spirited, and wholly entertaining. I dashed through the pages of The Witch Hunter, as eager to unravel the world of Ms. Boecker’s making as I was to follow Elizabeth’s journey.
Elizabeth is an interesting, wonderfully flawed heroine. She’s a witch hunter, devoted to her calling not just because magic is perceived to be evil, but because being a witch hunter gives her a family and ties her to her best friend, Caleb. Though she’s undeniably strong, her fear of dying alone has made her vulnerable and she doesn’t let herself question her work even though she’s smart enough to know that all is not right. When she’s sentenced to death and is subsequently rescued by Nicholas Perevil, the man who should be evil incarnate, Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down. She enters a world of witches and seers, of magic and ghosts, revenants and pirates. Old loyalties are tested by new ties and it’s not easy for Elizabeth to come to terms with what must be done now that the blindfold is off.
Once she’s forced to question everything she ever believed to be true, the real adventure begins. The action doesn’t stop as Elizabeth uses her talents honed as a witch hunter to help the very people she would normally be hunting. With each new discovery made, it becomes more and more clear that something is rotten in Anglia, and it’s up to Elizabeth and her newfound allies to root it out. Along for the journey is a fascinating group of characters who are sure to endear themselves to readers. Nicholas’s Reformist cohorts include a loveable pirate, a feisty witch, a fool who is anything but foolish, and more. But my favorite character in The Witch Hunter (aside from Elizabeth) is John, a healer who is pure goodness itself. John grabbed my heart from the start and didn’t let go, and it’s no spoiler to say that he and Elizabeth fall for one another. In a world where innocence is swiftly corrupted, there’s a sweetness to their romance I couldn’t resist and I hope to see much more of them in the sequel.
The Witch Hunter moves at a fast pace and Ms. Boecker beautifully balances action with character development. I do have to note that the language seemed a bit modern for a story set in the sixteenth century, even taking into account that it’s a fantasy tale. Whether or not this bothers you depends on reader preference. I noticed it, but I enjoyed Ms. Boecker’s writing so much that it didn’t bother me in the slightest. My only complaint is that I finished the book and wanted to jump right into the sequel. Alas, I’ll have to be patient, but I have no doubt that it’ll be worth the wait. If The Witch Hunter is any indication of her talent, Virginia Boecker is an author to watch. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Boecker has in store for Elizabeth, John, and all the characters I’ve come to love.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bought this book because I got a good deal on the Kindle version and then thoroughly enjoyed it..
Si no le doy una estrella, es porque a partir del último tercio de libro empieza a ser interesante. Pero todo lo que va antes... me sobra.
Más de veinte capítulos de señores llevando a la protagonista de aquí para allá sin que ocurra nada que haga avanzar la trama apenas. La protagonista es incoherente, las cosas que dice, piensa y hace no se corresponden y no tiene sentido. La excusa por la cual la encarcelan está muy mal llevada, no se le da apenas importancia durante la trama cuando es algo MUY grave que no debería ser tratado a la ligera.
Por lo menos, el mensaje que queda al final está bien llevado. Y hay algunas escenas absurdas que son divertidas.
Más de veinte capítulos de señores llevando a la protagonista de aquí para allá sin que ocurra nada que haga avanzar la trama apenas. La protagonista es incoherente, las cosas que dice, piensa y hace no se corresponden y no tiene sentido. La excusa por la cual la encarcelan está muy mal llevada, no se le da apenas importancia durante la trama cuando es algo MUY grave que no debería ser tratado a la ligera.
Por lo menos, el mensaje que queda al final está bien llevado. Y hay algunas escenas absurdas que son divertidas.
Why I chose this book:
I saw this book on Goodreads a couple months back, and immediately thought that this book was right up my alley. Fantasy, witches, epic quest… all I could think is that I had a mighty need. Luckily, Little Brown was kind enough to provide me with an advanced copy. I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Bookish Thoughts:
This book started out at a great pace. I never thought the pacing was off. It had action spattered throughout the entire novel, so if you are looking to be entertained, this may be the perfect book for you; however, I felt like the writing lacked severely. There were a couple of good lines here and there, but overall, this is not one of those books you finish and think, “That was a well-written book.”
Despite the average writing, I stuck with it, because I wanted so badly for something else to redeem this book. Maybe the blossoming attraction between John and Elizabeth, or even the self-discovery of the journey Elizabeth had to undertake. There was ample opportunity for Boecker to include good character development or well-devised lines of prose. But sadly, there was none of that. Everything felt stilted and forced.
Final Thoughts:
I will say that I am a pretty picky person when it comes to my fantasies. I love fantasy dearly, so when I read a very average fantasy, the minor things turns from brush-off-the-shoulder issues to irksome, drive-me-mad issues. And this is sadly the category the category this book fell into for me. That’s not to say that this book won’t be to someone else’s liking. And granted I DNF’d it at 61%, so this book may have been redeeming by the end. I will leave that up to you to decide.
I gave this book 1.5 stars
I saw this book on Goodreads a couple months back, and immediately thought that this book was right up my alley. Fantasy, witches, epic quest… all I could think is that I had a mighty need. Luckily, Little Brown was kind enough to provide me with an advanced copy. I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Bookish Thoughts:
This book started out at a great pace. I never thought the pacing was off. It had action spattered throughout the entire novel, so if you are looking to be entertained, this may be the perfect book for you; however, I felt like the writing lacked severely. There were a couple of good lines here and there, but overall, this is not one of those books you finish and think, “That was a well-written book.”
Despite the average writing, I stuck with it, because I wanted so badly for something else to redeem this book. Maybe the blossoming attraction between John and Elizabeth, or even the self-discovery of the journey Elizabeth had to undertake. There was ample opportunity for Boecker to include good character development or well-devised lines of prose. But sadly, there was none of that. Everything felt stilted and forced.
Final Thoughts:
I will say that I am a pretty picky person when it comes to my fantasies. I love fantasy dearly, so when I read a very average fantasy, the minor things turns from brush-off-the-shoulder issues to irksome, drive-me-mad issues. And this is sadly the category the category this book fell into for me. That’s not to say that this book won’t be to someone else’s liking. And granted I DNF’d it at 61%, so this book may have been redeeming by the end. I will leave that up to you to decide.
I gave this book 1.5 stars
I'm giving this 3/3.5 stars. It was a really good, fun, light read. The Characters had great depth to them which is something that I really liked. Same with each endeavor Elizabeth went on, it felt well written and thought out. The only complaints I have is that the romance could have felt a little more convincing and that the ending felt too rushed... but then again, I'm not sure if the ending was left incomplete for another book. Overall though, it was a nice, quick read.