Reviews

The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

nahlareadss's review against another edition

1.0

DNF halfway through
Apart from the writing this book was simply bad. The world made 0 sense and nothing was explained. In 150 pages we had 0 explanation. Not only did it frustrate me but also bored me.

franka_ju's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense

3.5

kim4673's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rachelwujcik's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

erinnbatykefer's review against another edition

2.0

Listened to this one and was not bowled over by the narrator. It was ok. The budding relationship between Lexie and Cole simmers but never boils over the way I wanted.

bethiamichelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-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? No

4.25

shan_lawinger's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Child death and Death

vanducky's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

fihli's review against another edition

1.0

1 star
The Near Witch is a quiet and atmospherical story that is also, ultimately, very unexciting, especially when compared to Schwab’s later works. The plot is simplistic, predictable (just reading the blurb you know exactly how the story is going to play out and end) and at times contrieved, the writing nowhere near the level of her other works. The main character and the love interest have no chemistry, the stakes feel pretty low and the ending is too easy

Spoiler

both in how easily the Near witch is defeated and in how the conflict around Cole as a stranger is resolved resulting in everyone getting a happy ending that is way too convenient. And of course Tyler ends up with Helena, because that wasn’t stupid at all

.
As for the audiobook: I found the accent of the narrator quite grating, with her voice going up at the end of every sentence, resulting in the whole story being narrated in the form of questions. The accent wasn't too terrible, though, and also more of a me-issue and the audiobook definitely helped me getting quicker through this book, otherwise I porbably would have taken forever for a story that is less than 300 pages long.
So, would I recommend it? To young teens, maybe. I don’t think avid readers and adults will get that much out of this novel which is definitely one of Schwab’s weaker works (or, to put it in a nicer way: Victoria Schwab has developed a lot as an author, and I’m not quite sure how fair it is to compare her debut to books that are as great as, for example, A Darker Shade of Magic.)

amandaharkins99's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0