Publication date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him. As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
I don't know why it took me so long to read this book. I would pick up the ARC at work, then put it down, then pick it up to look at it again, and then proceed to put it down. Not because it didn't sound appealing but because apparently I am dumb.
The Near Witch has a lot going for it. It has a narrator you can't not love, magic, creepy bits, suspense, and a cute boy I want for myself. Despite the tense moments of the book, it's a very calm read as a whole. This is a good thing. Schwab writes beautiful prose and the reader can tell how much thought and time went into creating the folklore of the Near Witch within the book. The story takes a bit to get going and the mystery of the book is predictable, but I didn't mind it because I was too busy enjoying the writing.
For a novel in which I didn't know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a good read.
I haven't gotten to read The Near Witch yet. I hope to get to it soon. Thanks for your great review.
ReplyDeleteI just got this book. Glad you liked this. Hopefully I'll get to read it soon.
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