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paradoxically's review against another edition
3.0
The first word that comes to mind having read A Nameless Witch is 'charming'. Because it is. The characters are all fun in their own way, the world is quirky, and the main character--who is unnamed, because she doesn't have a name--is a pleasantly easy-going, but always mindful of how she should appear to others as a witch.
Nominally, the main plot is vengeance. In actuality, it is less about the witch's pursuit of vengeance and more about the way she goes about it, as well as the subplot of wrestling with one's inner demons (her curse) and self discovery. The witch does embark on a quest to save the world (though if she fails, others would eventually succeed, even if there are more deaths overall), but that's not the most important bit. On a world scale, it is. On the witch's personal scale? Perhaps not so much.
That was one of the things that bothered me about the book. Of course it should be about the journey rather than the destination, but the main vengeance plot seemed weak to me, like the witch was just going through the motions because it's something she's supposed to do.
I also felt the witch's reasons to be a witch were rather weak, especially coupled with the fact that, for a witch, she is helpful and kind and doesn't really curse anyone at all. That she was raised to be a witch--is that the only reason why she should act so? Again, it just seems like she's going through the motions just because. She is a fun character, but not particularly deep in any way.
The romance was... eh. I was disappointed that The romance at the end was also subtly disappointing--it fit, but I stood apart, read it, and went, "That's it?"
On the upside, I find Newt to be my favorite character and thought him hilarious. A demonic duck. Who would be happiest maiming and dismembering things. The troll who joins the group, Gwurm, is also fun to read, if shallow.
Overall, the book is light and fun, but I just expect more. It was good, but it could have been so much better--it feels as if it should have been better. The book rates 3 stars because it was decent, the humor was right up my alley, but I wanted more from it.
Nominally, the main plot is vengeance. In actuality, it is less about the witch's pursuit of vengeance and more about the way she goes about it, as well as the subplot of wrestling with one's inner demons (her curse) and self discovery. The witch does embark on a quest to save the world (though if she fails, others would eventually succeed, even if there are more deaths overall), but that's not the most important bit. On a world scale, it is. On the witch's personal scale? Perhaps not so much.
That was one of the things that bothered me about the book. Of course it should be about the journey rather than the destination, but the main vengeance plot seemed weak to me, like the witch was just going through the motions because it's something she's supposed to do.
I also felt the witch's reasons to be a witch were rather weak, especially coupled with the fact that, for a witch, she is helpful and kind and doesn't really curse anyone at all. That she was raised to be a witch--is that the only reason why she should act so? Again, it just seems like she's going through the motions just because. She is a fun character, but not particularly deep in any way.
The romance was... eh. I was disappointed that
Spoiler
Wyst had seen her bathing in the beginning of the book and knew her to be beautiful, because it would have been more interesting if he had fallen in love with her while thinking her ugly.Spoiler
After everything that happens, all they go through, they part from each other and you expect it, but some part of you always hopes differently. It also feels like it's cramming a bit of 'this is the way things are, you just have to move on and keep moving forward.' at the readers. I would have liked to have seen the characters try to combat against the curse, perhaps go their separate ways in order to find a way to be together. Not this inevitability that just rubs me entirely the wrong way.On the upside, I find Newt to be my favorite character and thought him hilarious. A demonic duck. Who would be happiest maiming and dismembering things. The troll who joins the group, Gwurm, is also fun to read, if shallow.
Overall, the book is light and fun, but I just expect more. It was good, but it could have been so much better--it feels as if it should have been better. The book rates 3 stars because it was decent, the humor was right up my alley, but I wanted more from it.
justgina93's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved the witch with no name and her duck newt. Very good character development along an adventure. Their embarkment of this journey was great especially at the end for whom they battle it got me with their doubles. I had to reread that to understand. The battle against the sorcerer was alright could have been a bit better. And I really liked the ending.
swancubine's review against another edition
2.0
Surprisingly bland. The jokes get stale and nothing feels consequential. I get that it's a light read but in that case I wish it were more fun and outrageous and creative. (Or shorter.) Instead it repeats points like how beautiful the mc is and how edible the knight is as if the author was trying to meet a word count.
My favorite part is obviously the demon duck but more in concept because even he isn't allowed to do much past the halfway point. That's pretty much where the whole thing goes downhill anyway so if you don't love this book, stop once they leave the fort and imagine your own ending instead.
My favorite part is obviously the demon duck but more in concept because even he isn't allowed to do much past the halfway point. That's pretty much where the whole thing goes downhill anyway so if you don't love this book, stop once they leave the fort and imagine your own ending instead.
disastrouspenguin's review against another edition
3.0
Cute. Well-written, if in a style that seems clearly best aimed at youth - which is the target audience of this book. I find the book's simplistic/youth-oriented approach much at odds with the author's sometimes very descriptive "romantic" scenes and main character's decisions.
A nice light read to break up some of the heavier texts.
A nice light read to break up some of the heavier texts.
elizabethp73's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this little gem! A witch who is cursed with being too beautiful, a broom that loves to sweep, a gentlemanly troll and a duck that’s a demon. What’s not to love?
vermidian's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was absolutely lovely.
One thing that I really appreciated is how his world building in this book takes classic fantasy species and ideas and turns them on their heads just slightly where it isn't jarring but it's enough that you take specific notice of it. There were several times where I was really interested in how he'd reinvented a classic thing just slightly, like elves and trolls. (You'll see what I mean when you get there.) If you go into this expecting classic Tolkein, you're going to be very confused. If you go into this expecting Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, you'll be in a much better place. Actually I found some of the sections of this book to have very Pratchett-like vibes and I thought it was lovely. I described it to my partner as feeling like Terry Pratchett's take on Stardust as a general vibe, but I also know this is textbook A Lee Martinez, whose writings I have been steadily collecting over the years. If you enjoy this book, I heavily recommend his other books.
I LOVED that Martinez made the White Knight the DARKEST skinned person the protagonist had ever seen. We absolutely need more people of color in fantasy and the shade of one's skin should never be a descriptor of purity of character.
The whole story has a very fairy-tale vibe about it, like being told a saga by your grandmother while you eat chocolate chip cookies by the fireplace kind of thing. The humor was gentle and kind and very charming. The characters were also quite charming, from our undead magical protagonist to her demon duck companion to the others he picks up along the way.
I was mildly concerned about how it would end, but I found the ending was probably the best thing I could have hoped for. I love an ending that doesn't change characters or take away their agency in order to satisfy that fairytale ending. And I know I did say it was very fairytale, but that was one difference I would never have changed.
The only thing I might have tweaked would have been to scale back the thirst a smidge. It's a pretty constant thing, especially in the latter half of the book and I could have done with a little less of it. I know it was plot important, but sometimes I just wanted to get back to the plot itself and brush past it.
I will say that this is definitely intended for more mature readers. There are a couple of non-descriptive moments of romantic intimacy. Nothing too bad, but definitely more than a PG rating. If your kids know people in relationships have sex sometimes, you're probably golden to hand this to your teen. As far as language goes, I don't recall there being any cursing, aside from the magical variety.
I will absolutely be recommending this to every fantasy fiction reader I know. If you're reading this review, I'm recommending it to you too.
One thing that I really appreciated is how his world building in this book takes classic fantasy species and ideas and turns them on their heads just slightly where it isn't jarring but it's enough that you take specific notice of it. There were several times where I was really interested in how he'd reinvented a classic thing just slightly, like elves and trolls. (You'll see what I mean when you get there.) If you go into this expecting classic Tolkein, you're going to be very confused. If you go into this expecting Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, you'll be in a much better place. Actually I found some of the sections of this book to have very Pratchett-like vibes and I thought it was lovely. I described it to my partner as feeling like Terry Pratchett's take on Stardust as a general vibe, but I also know this is textbook A Lee Martinez, whose writings I have been steadily collecting over the years. If you enjoy this book, I heavily recommend his other books.
I LOVED that Martinez made the White Knight the DARKEST skinned person the protagonist had ever seen. We absolutely need more people of color in fantasy and the shade of one's skin should never be a descriptor of purity of character.
The whole story has a very fairy-tale vibe about it, like being told a saga by your grandmother while you eat chocolate chip cookies by the fireplace kind of thing. The humor was gentle and kind and very charming. The characters were also quite charming, from our undead magical protagonist to her demon duck companion to the others he picks up along the way.
I was mildly concerned about how it would end, but I found the ending was probably the best thing I could have hoped for. I love an ending that doesn't change characters or take away their agency in order to satisfy that fairytale ending. And I know I did say it was very fairytale, but that was one difference I would never have changed.
The only thing I might have tweaked would have been to scale back the thirst a smidge. It's a pretty constant thing, especially in the latter half of the book and I could have done with a little less of it. I know it was plot important, but sometimes I just wanted to get back to the plot itself and brush past it.
I will say that this is definitely intended for more mature readers. There are a couple of non-descriptive moments of romantic intimacy. Nothing too bad, but definitely more than a PG rating. If your kids know people in relationships have sex sometimes, you're probably golden to hand this to your teen. As far as language goes, I don't recall there being any cursing, aside from the magical variety.
I will absolutely be recommending this to every fantasy fiction reader I know. If you're reading this review, I'm recommending it to you too.
jackirenee's review against another edition
3.0
Born with the curse of immortality and overwhelming beauty, a young girl is saved from her family's cellar by Ghastly Edna and finds herself trained as a witch. When tragedy strikes, she sets off with her broom and half-demon duck to seek vengence.
Hiding behind her ghastly disguise, she finds comfort and companionship with her familiars and a troll until the White Knight makes an entrance. Now carnal desires battle her cannibalistic appetite, and all while she must save the world.
Like other books Martinez, A Nameless Witch has a kooky sense of humor, but ultimately a hidden moral teaching. His characters are strange, wacky, and yet very real, even in the form of a troll whose parts are only held together by magic.
While I loved the witch and her emotional and moral struggles, I believe my favorite portions of the book involved the batter between her duck familiar, Newt, and Gwurm the troll (who is so lovable I could hug him all day long).
The book's plot is a little lacking in its development, yet the ultimate message is clear without being thrown in your face. The vengence side of the story is a not dark as I thought it would be given the characters in the book. In fact, I am not certain I would even consider this a story of vengence.
Regardless, it is a fun and easy read and if you love Christopher Moore or Douglas Adams, you are likely to enjoy this tale.
Hiding behind her ghastly disguise, she finds comfort and companionship with her familiars and a troll until the White Knight makes an entrance. Now carnal desires battle her cannibalistic appetite, and all while she must save the world.
Like other books Martinez, A Nameless Witch has a kooky sense of humor, but ultimately a hidden moral teaching. His characters are strange, wacky, and yet very real, even in the form of a troll whose parts are only held together by magic.
While I loved the witch and her emotional and moral struggles, I believe my favorite portions of the book involved the batter between her duck familiar, Newt, and Gwurm the troll (who is so lovable I could hug him all day long).
The book's plot is a little lacking in its development, yet the ultimate message is clear without being thrown in your face. The vengence side of the story is a not dark as I thought it would be given the characters in the book. In fact, I am not certain I would even consider this a story of vengence.
Regardless, it is a fun and easy read and if you love Christopher Moore or Douglas Adams, you are likely to enjoy this tale.
octoberdream's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0