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34 reviews for:
Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches (Archibald Finch #1)
Michel Guyon, Zina Kostich
3.87 AVERAGE
34 reviews for:
Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches (Archibald Finch #1)
Michel Guyon, Zina Kostich
3.87 AVERAGE
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing company for my advanced copy audiobook of Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches by Michel Guyon.
Guyon gives us a hero in Archibald Finch who is the epitome of everything you would think to not be heroic and that is what truly appeals about the youngest member of the Finch family. He's introverted and extremely clever, a child who seems to know everything about everything although often, Archiband cannot explain just how he knows his latest tidbit of information. I love how realistic the Finch family are as a unit, and you can easily imagine the family living right next door - and for anyone who reads this story? You might just wish they did so you can find yourself apart of the adventure, after all? Who doesn't like a story about witches, monsters and mysteries?
As always, I don't want to ruin the story for you so I'm going to limit my spoilers, because I personally, hate them!
In the wake of moving into his late Grandmother's home with his family, an artifact sends Archiband to an unusual land with demons and the witches who have been held there for centuries- although they remain at the age they were snatched away. This unusual magical world is one that is terrifying for the anxious Archibald, and Guyon brings it to life with incredible world-building, the wonderful characteristics of the witches and monsters who emerge from rivers etcetera. I can honestly say that nothing on Earth would get me there willingly even as an adult - it's the perfect 'scary' world for children who will be eager to know more and probably relate to Archibald's horror at having to eat more vegetables than normal!
His sudden disappearance leaves those who love him bereft and confused but it's his normally disinterested sister who fights the hardest for answers and I love how she grows as a person from the typical teenager who wants her baby brother to disappear to someone who desperately wants to find Archibald and get to just what happened to him. She is cast into a web of mysteries, men who should have been dead for centuries, magic and hundreds of questions as to just what and how the artifact came from and what it can do.
Everything is a fight to get Archibald home for both Finch children when everything seems set to keep everyone where they are and I want more!The audio book is fantastic, read in such a manner that you are drawn into the story from the first till the last word and wow! Not fair to be left on such a ledge with that ending...
Go get yours no matter how old you are.
Guyon gives us a hero in Archibald Finch who is the epitome of everything you would think to not be heroic and that is what truly appeals about the youngest member of the Finch family. He's introverted and extremely clever, a child who seems to know everything about everything although often, Archiband cannot explain just how he knows his latest tidbit of information. I love how realistic the Finch family are as a unit, and you can easily imagine the family living right next door - and for anyone who reads this story? You might just wish they did so you can find yourself apart of the adventure, after all? Who doesn't like a story about witches, monsters and mysteries?
As always, I don't want to ruin the story for you so I'm going to limit my spoilers, because I personally, hate them!
In the wake of moving into his late Grandmother's home with his family, an artifact sends Archiband to an unusual land with demons and the witches who have been held there for centuries- although they remain at the age they were snatched away. This unusual magical world is one that is terrifying for the anxious Archibald, and Guyon brings it to life with incredible world-building, the wonderful characteristics of the witches and monsters who emerge from rivers etcetera. I can honestly say that nothing on Earth would get me there willingly even as an adult - it's the perfect 'scary' world for children who will be eager to know more and probably relate to Archibald's horror at having to eat more vegetables than normal!
His sudden disappearance leaves those who love him bereft and confused but it's his normally disinterested sister who fights the hardest for answers and I love how she grows as a person from the typical teenager who wants her baby brother to disappear to someone who desperately wants to find Archibald and get to just what happened to him. She is cast into a web of mysteries, men who should have been dead for centuries, magic and hundreds of questions as to just what and how the artifact came from and what it can do.
Everything is a fight to get Archibald home for both Finch children when everything seems set to keep everyone where they are and I want more!The audio book is fantastic, read in such a manner that you are drawn into the story from the first till the last word and wow! Not fair to be left on such a ledge with that ending...
Go get yours no matter how old you are.
A joyful read, with many unexpected events, the main characters were hilarious
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is packed full of history, magic, and mystery. Archibald is a quirky kid who unlocks an old family heirloom that transports him to an unknown land. As Archibald is trying to figure out how to survive in the new place, his older sister is back in London trying to figure out how to bring him home.
Since my daughter is getting closer to being able to read, I decided I’d start reading books that I could add to her TBR shelf as she gets older. This book is absolutely one she’ll enjoy around age 12. There is a scary “henchman” type figure and some very odd creatures that might be a bit too much before that age.
I enjoyed this book so much myself, so I’m not saying it’s just for middle grade kiddos. It’s for anyone who enjoys a magical read.
*The story ended with a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping that means there’s more to come!
Since my daughter is getting closer to being able to read, I decided I’d start reading books that I could add to her TBR shelf as she gets older. This book is absolutely one she’ll enjoy around age 12. There is a scary “henchman” type figure and some very odd creatures that might be a bit too much before that age.
I enjoyed this book so much myself, so I’m not saying it’s just for middle grade kiddos. It’s for anyone who enjoys a magical read.
*The story ended with a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping that means there’s more to come!
I received this as an Audio ARC through Netgalley. While this is listed as Children's Fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story as an adult. The narrator really made all the characters come alive. When I got to the end of the story I thought I was missing part of the book, but then realized it is the first in a series and now cannot wait to see what happens with Archibald, Hailey, and all the Lost Witches whenever the second book may be out! Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches addresses what it is like to feel like you do not fit in and finding the things that make you quirky, make you special.
I’m not a fan of middle grade that much anymore, or I usually I Am not in the mood for them.
But first of all, this book is very beautifully made. The hardcover is good quality, the dust jacket very smooth. The illustrations inside the book are MAGICAL. It brings so many childhood memories. You can feel the mysterious and beautiful atmosphere of it.
The story itself is very cute, I think very suitable for 12-13 years old readers. But even for adults that seek nostalgia of childhood. Plus the book is very funny and cute, so it’s not boring at all.
I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but mainly it’s because I am having hard time getting into middle grade lately. Other than that, it was fun and I enjoyed it. Especially the illustrations that basically created the atmosphere.
But first of all, this book is very beautifully made. The hardcover is good quality, the dust jacket very smooth. The illustrations inside the book are MAGICAL. It brings so many childhood memories. You can feel the mysterious and beautiful atmosphere of it.
The story itself is very cute, I think very suitable for 12-13 years old readers. But even for adults that seek nostalgia of childhood. Plus the book is very funny and cute, so it’s not boring at all.
I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but mainly it’s because I am having hard time getting into middle grade lately. Other than that, it was fun and I enjoyed it. Especially the illustrations that basically created the atmosphere.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Only by writing in that classic cheeky Brittish way is it possible for an author to include bullying, school drama, new house, orphans, haunted mansions, inter-dimensional travel, magical warfare, secret cults, gangster empires, kidnapping, Christmas shopping, time warps, good vs evil, deceptions unraveled and young romance all into 350 pages and make it both exciting and charming. This book starts like many an adventure, as a teacher's pet with anxiety is uprooted into a new home--but things get much weirder from there as Archibald is warped to another dimension where he must face monsters and lies in order to try to not only survive but help the young witches trapped in the dark. Meanwhile, his sister can't help but feel there's something suspicious about the globe Arch was toying with the night he disappeared, and instead of selling it to the first creepy antiques dealer who offers her a vast sum for it, she goes on a dangerous quest to discover its meaning and use.
It's hard to write a summary for a book in which so much happens. In this case, the style stands out the more eloquently than the plot. I've always loved books with cheeky narrators, like Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and even Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, whose narrators who are proud to offer persistent opinions that never fail to make me smile as I attempt to wade through the facts of the matter. After 250 pages, I was naturally horrified to discover that there were only 2 hours left in the audiobook and nothing had been quite resolved yet, and sure enough, the story ends on a dismal "to be continued" while raising more questions than it answered. I hope that the sequel comes out soon. I normally hate cliffhanger endings, but the writing was so charming that I'll forgive it this once.
It's hard to write a summary for a book in which so much happens. In this case, the style stands out the more eloquently than the plot. I've always loved books with cheeky narrators, like Alex and the Ironic Gentleman and even Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, whose narrators who are proud to offer persistent opinions that never fail to make me smile as I attempt to wade through the facts of the matter. After 250 pages, I was naturally horrified to discover that there were only 2 hours left in the audiobook and nothing had been quite resolved yet, and sure enough, the story ends on a dismal "to be continued" while raising more questions than it answered. I hope that the sequel comes out soon. I normally hate cliffhanger endings, but the writing was so charming that I'll forgive it this once.
This book was okay. I felt that it could have been shorter but the story was interesting. Archibald was annoying and his catchphrase made me dislike him even more. I love the idea behind being sucked into another world where no one ages and pretty cool that it was all women. I know this is geared towards middle grade and they will probably find it a funny fantasy book. There's a lot of lessons in here about how it doesn't matter what you look like or don't listen to bullies. Although even though Archibald is Young I felt like he was kind of stuck up and I know it all but not in a good way.
HUGEEE cliffhanger 😭 (I’m talking this isn’t a finished book on its own big). I wouldn’t have picked this up until the next book came out if I’d known.