The Near Witch

by Victoria Schwab

Hardcover, 2011

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Hyperion Books (2011), 282 pages

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Mythology. Romance. HTML:ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S BEST YA OF THE DECADE NEW YORK TIMES bestseller Brand new edition of Victoria Schwab's long out-of-print, stunning debut. All-new deluxe edition of an out-of-print gem, containing in-universe short story "The Ash-Born Boy" and a never-before-seen introduction from V.E. Schwab. 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. 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. 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. Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member MrsBoswellBooks

The Near Witch takes a typical children's bedtime story and puts a haunting and terrifying spin on it. Passed down through generations, much of the original story seems to have been lost with only the good ending being retold through time. Songs and games have been created around the tale of the

Near Witch. With the witch gone and no strangers in Near, no bad can happen. But one night Lexi sees a boy that she has never seen around town before, and children begin disappearing from that point on. Is this mysterious boy tied to the disappearances or is something more sinister lurking on the outskirts of Near?

Victoria Schwab has written a beautiful story that is charming and lyrical. The Near Witch is one that you just want to fly through but instead you find yourself taking your time, savoring each word, phrase and passage.

Each and every character adds their own special spark to the story. From strong, confident Lexi to silent and sure Cole. Toss in the commanding Elders and the enigmatic witches living on the outskirts of Near and you have a great and well-rounded cast.

The pages come to life with an eerie plot, rich settings, haunting tales and intriguing characters. Victoria Schwab has written an amazing and beautiful debut. After The Near Witch, I can't wait to read more of Schwab's tales.

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LibraryThing member YABliss

The Near Witch brilliantly blends supernatural with fairytale adventure. The writing was simply delicious, very lyrical and definitely the best part of this debut novel. It's the kind of writing that pulls you in and makes you hold on. The descriptions, the way she envelops you with words and the

wind, makes you feel her tale rather that read it. I had a perfect mental image of the setting, and could feel the wisp of magic flowing around me. It's a unique feeling that few authors accomplish. I swear, the wind was like another character.

Up until the page 200 or so, the story was unbelievably spellbinding. I was mesmerized by the eerie and fascinating world that Schwab created. The sexy chemistry and mystery between the Lexi and Cole was also very gripping. My only problem was the resolution felt a bit... er, stretched. Like, Lexi knew what to do for some time and still went fussing about other stuff and going back home to sleep.

The little rhymes and songs that Schwab created for this story were amazing. It added to the mystery and the magical feeling of the book. Readers of all ages will be captivated by this incredible debut and I cant wait to read more from Victoria Schwab!

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LibraryThing member readingdate

The Near Witch is a deliciously eerie and captivating book that drew me in with the first pages. The book reads like a fairy tale with lush, vivid descriptions. I could visualize the curling wind and tall grasses depicted in the story. The story has a timeless and mysterious quality that is in turn

dark, chilling, and romantic. This is the perfect book to curl up and read on a cold winter night.

The protagonist, Lexi, lives with her mother and younger sister in the town of Near. After her father’s death, she has stepped up to care for her family. She is comfortable with her father’s hunting knife and chopping firewood. She is a feminist and a free thinker. She does not see why she should not be able to do these chores or why she would not be included in the search for the missing children. Lexi is a strong heroine that is inquisitive and determined. She remains true to herself even when she becomes romantically involved.

The town of Near is a character itself, with the forest and the moors, the gardens and the wind. It is a quiet small town that is shaken by the stranger’s arrival and the missing children. The townspeople include the council members who are searching for the stranger, and the families grieving their missing children. The two witches in the town are fascinating with their gardens, charms, tea, and historic knowledge of the town.

The action ramps up throughout the novel to the final tension filled chapters. It is impossible to put this book down until you reach the riveting conclusion. The ending was exciting, satisfying, and complete. I don’t know if there are plans for a sequel, but I would love to read more.

I recommend The Near Witch for the gorgeous writing, vivid descriptions, and the suspenseful fairytale story. This is Victoria Schwab’s debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of her work. The Near Witch is due to be published August 2, 2011.

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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary

Lexi has grown up in the town of Near listening to the legend (well, more like bedtime story) of the Near Witch, a woman who supposedly once lived outside of Near and whose tale serves only to frighten young children into obedience. Now that she's left to raise her sister, Wren, she tells the tale

to Wren every night. Then, one night, a strange boy appears outside her window who seems....otherworldly. Soon after, Near's children start disappearing from their beds. Naturally, the outsider becomes the town's first target in the hunt for the children, though he insists that he's innocent. To prove his innocence, he insists on helping Lexi discover the truth behind the disappearances, even after the supposedly superstitious Near Witch is suspected.

Part fairy tale, part ghost story and part romance, The Near Witch is a fascinating and atmospheric tale of witches, superstition, romance and, most importantly, one girl's drive to discover the truth. At its core, the story is a simple, quick read that revolves around the romance between Lexi and the boy with an eerie, ghost story-like backdrop. More than anything, author Victoria Schwab paints a wonderfully atmospheric and haunting portrait of the village of Near, its inhabitants and their traditions. Though there isn't much action in the novel overall, the writing captivates readers and transports them to a completely emotional and dense world dominated by dreary tones.

While I enjoyed Near Witch for the most part, I had some trouble with the novel's pacing. The story starts out a little slow and, though there are moments of page-turning goodness, there are several other moments when I felt like the plot was standing in one place and refusing to move. It doesn't help that the action is a little uneven, but picks up closer to the end.

I'd recommend Near Witch to readers looking for an easy, simple love story with great atmosphere and who truly enjoy getting caught up in an author's writing, rather than expecting endless action on every page (this book just isn't about action). But I think that Near Witch has a place for fans of fairy tales/ghost stories looking for a little romance.

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LibraryThing member usagijihen

I love the fairy-tale setting of this book, not gonna lie. And also the physical redefinition of the idea of the witch – as not necessarily a human individual, but one that is made of the earth itself and not just in tune with it, or able to use it as an element. I really love that idea – that

the witch’s skin is that of the moor itself.

Much like the recently updated version of “Little Red Riding Hood”, you get the feeling that the villagers are sacrificing their own freedom for the safety of their children, but completely unaware of the evil they’re letting in in order to do so. Lexi says it herself later in the book: “The Council has always ruled Near through fear.” This story isn’t just about “it’s okay to be different”, but also to acknowledge and even, I daresay, shine the light of truth on those who would rule tyranically through preying on the ignorance of a collective people. And what that costs.

I also love the fact that “the stranger” is a male witch – you don’t get that too often in fairy tale-like stories, not at all. It was refreshing to have a gender change here, and despite Lexi falling for the stranger, it all worked. Both are different, and both are feared and/or ridiculed (and later hunted) for being different, so their coming together wasn’t a surprise. I saw it coming. But nevertheless, it was refreshing to have an old trope turned on its head.

I guess my one main issue of the book was – why was romance needed at all? I talk about this in terms of Lexi falling for the stranger, because it just kind of seemed to come out of nowhere. And yes, while it was slow compared to other “love at first sight” deus-ex-machina devices used as of late, it didn’t seem like they waited long before they started making out. At least they got to know each other first, I guess, but I would have liked more time to pass between them before the romance part happened.

Nevertheless, a wonderful debut. I look forward to reading more from this author!

(crossposted to goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)

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LibraryThing member molliekay

After reading this book, I'll definitely think twice about going outside after dark! Schwab weaves a perfect fairy tale ghost story about a witch who lived long ago and a stranger who may or may not be responsible for the disappearance of the town's children. The only downside to the book was that

some of the questions went unanswered, including a big one. But overall, I'd say it was a creepy chiller of a tale, and I'd suggest checking it out.

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LibraryThing member cjbh

“The Near Witch” by Victoria Schwab is a tale set in a time long ago in the village of Near when people still believed in magic and witches both evil and not so evil...but mainly it's a tale about the Near Witch and redemption.

Children have been disappearing from their beds at night without a

trace and the townsfolk of Near look with suspicion at a mysterious stranger that seems to be able to appear and disappear at will. He unfortunately appeared in Near the night before the disappearances began. Lexi, a young lady living at the outskirts of Near with her mother and little sister Wren, wants to be like her deceased father…a man in touch with the magic of the moors and an expert tracker. Lexi even wears his boots with socks stuffed in the toes and his knife belted around her waist. She is determined to keep the children, especially Wren, safe from what she believes could be the ancient Near Witch come back to life from centuries before. However, with a strange young man appearing and disappearing before Lexi’s own eyes even she is not sure who is the real culprit could be.

Victoria Schwab has written a tale reminding me of those by the Brothers Grimm that can be read, re-read and enjoyed by young adults and adults alike and as Grimm’s tales and fables there are also lessons to be learned woven throughout the story. I was totally immersed in the author’s description of the town and people, the sound of the moors singing in the wind and especially the magic and humor of the witches both evil and not so evil, feeling almost as one of the villagers myself in Near watching the drama unfold before my eyes and not merely reading words on a page. Victoria Schwab has offered the reader a bit of her own magic in her tale of “The Near Witch”.

Totally enchanting!!!

(Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC before the release date!)

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LibraryThing member allureofbooks

Y'all, this novel stands out. The elegance and subtlety of both the writing and the story are rare enough on their own - forget about finding them together.

The plot completely transports you to another world: specifically, the town of Near. Children in Lexi's small town begin disappearing around

the same time that she starts seeing a person that seems to be made of smoke floating around outside after dark. When she meets the otherworldly boy, they form an unlikely alliance that plunges them into the thick of a witch's centuries old grudge. The way the story is told is so dream-like that the words practically float above the page.

Fairy tales are meant to be ethereal in this way - but the good ones also capitalize on the evil. The legitimate menacing tone that Victoria Schwab manages to capture in the story while never losing the sense of fanciful innocence is absolutely brilliant. I can't say enough about the beautiful writing and how much I respect how much Victoria was able to accomplish within the story.

As soon as I finished the book, I kept recommending it to people by comparing it to something that would be written by Neil Gaiman. I 100% stand by that. This book belongs on the shelves next to writers just Gaiman or Diana Wynne Jones. High praise that is totally deserved!

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LibraryThing member krystal_osmond

My Review:
The Near Witch, by debut author Victoria Schwab was a fantastic read! There is not one negative thing I can say about it, other than - it ended. Seriously, if the only thing that bothered me about The Near Witch was that the author had to stop writing the book at some point, than that's

saying something I think!
This book is about a town called Near, it's a small town, houses surrounding the main part of the town, the moor around the houses and everyone knows each other. Near is a peaceful town until a stranger is spotted in town one day, then unfortunate events begin to happen the next day - children start to disappear. The whole idea of the novel is original, unique and frightening. I may be chicken, but I get scared when children are involved whether it's a book, TV or movie - if kids and witches/paranormal events etc are together, then I'm bound to be a chicken. The Near Witch was no exception.
Schwab creates characters that will become so familiar to you. You will get to know these characters such as Lexi, Cole, the Sisters, Otto, Tyler and Wren and you'll get attached to them in one way or another. Whether it is to feel bad for them, to want to help them or maybe even smack some sense into them - you're attached. Lexi, the main character is a strong young women, who, like her deceased father is a tracker. She is able to pick up clues in nature to find her way around and to feel more connected to her surroundings. She feels she has to be a protector of her family (her mother and her younger sister) as she takes on the role of her father. Cole is a mysterious character who forms a relationship with Lexi that is just so special. And the Sisters, Magda and Dreska play a huge role in The Near Witch and were two of my favourite characters. They have an eerie way to them, and add to the whole creepy feeling of the novel.
The setting in The Near Witch becomes very clear with Victoria Schwab painting it. Down to the ripples in the fields to the wind whispering secrets, you're there and all of your senses will be awake. Victoria Schwab has a writing style unlike any other. The whole novel reads like poetry and you will get lost in her writing and story telling.
The Near Witch was one of the best 2011 books I've had the chance to read and review.And mark my word, this will become a classic. We'll be reading The Near Witch for years to come. I highly recommend this book and I'm eager for more to come from Victoria Schwab!

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LibraryThing member booktwirps

The story of the Near Witch is just a story told to frighten children. Lexi knows this. She’s heard the story her entire life. She’s heard the story so many times it is engrained in her memory, and she often tells the story to her younger sister before she goes to sleep. One night, after

tucking her sister in, Lexi notices the strange figure of a boy standing outside her home. The boy appears to flicker in the wind and eventually disappears right before her eyes. While most people in the town of Near would be frightened, Lexi is intrigued. She was always told by her late father that not all witches are evil. Like humans, they can be good or bad. So, when the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, Lexi tracks down the boy and enlists him in helping her find the children before the townsfolk begin blaming the witches.

As more children disappear, the townspeople become more and more unsettled and the truth behind the legend of the Near Witch is questioned. Is she really only a myth? Can Lexi find the children and learn the mystery of the strange boy before it’s too late?

I probably shouldn’t have read The Near Witch right after reading Chime. While both are totally different stories, and both authors have completely different writing styles , I couldn’t help but compare the two books to one another at first. In the beginning, I felt Ms. Schwab’s writing was too flowery and poetic, but halfway through the story I realized that this style perfectly fits the tone of the book. It gives the reader a sense of floating through the story. I felt the characters were strong and I was completely caught up in the mystery surrounding the missing children and the Near Witch. There’s a definite haunting vibe to both the story and the prose. I highly recommend it.

(Review based on an advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley)

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LibraryThing member breakingdownslowly

This really is a beautiful, enchanting fairytale.

I loved Lexi. She was totally bad ass and smart and brave. She's protective and loving and wants to be obedient but she just can't and just...yes. So much yes.

The writing was captivating. It's addicting and beautiful. I read this in one or two

sittings because I just had to know how it ended. Yet at the same time, I never wanted to leave that world.

I loved the romance, too. Lexi and Cole were so adorable and amazing together. It was truly an amazing love story. There was a hint of the forbidden mixed with the "They Don't Care What Anyone Says" love and it was just so perfectly and beautiful.

EVERY THING this summary says about the book is true and every positive thing you've heard is true and I just...adored this book. Please go pre-order it. Or wait until Tuesday and buy it.

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LibraryThing member BookishBrunette

Do you remember the movie Hocus Pocus? You know? With Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker... Sarah Sanderson sings to the children and they all come to her??? The Near Witch reminded me of Hocus Pocus - which is wicked fabulous because it remains to be one of my fav movies ever to this day!

In the

town of Near a mysterious stranger shows up and then children start disappearing in the middle of the night... Lexi has to find out who is responsible for taking the kids, before her sister become one of the missing and prove Cole innocent before her Uncle shoots him for no other crime than being an outsider (therefore he must be blamed.)

Now "Cole" as Lexi has named him has quite the tragic history... NO. I will not tell you what it is, you must read the book, but you should probably have a few tissues handy. Just saying.

The people of Near are ready, willing and able to blame Cole for the children's disappearance. Lexi, however thinks it is the Near Witch calling the children from their beds each night... The only problem with her theory is that the witch has been dead for a loooong time.

You can't believe how this turns out!!! I am literally DYING to put spoilers all over this review!!! Just *ugh* because I can't say anything or I will give everything away!

Victoria Schwab has written a completely entrancing, romantic and suspenseful read in The Near Witch. Absolutely amazing! Never a dull moment in this utterly enchanting tale- I couldn't put it down! This is a MUST READ of 2011!

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LibraryThing member brandileigh2003

The Near Witch is not what I was expecting, but I still loved it! Lexi is a strong main character with fierce devotion to her family, and who defies expectations. All in a good way- she needs to find out what is going on, and she wants the best for the village.
Cole is mysterious, and turns out to

be very dependable, charming, and with a very sad story that he had to overcome.
The Sisters are awesome- cryptic, and they still care for the village who has seemingly turned their backs on them.
The writing itself was lyrical, seamless and polished- the descriptions and imagery drew me in.

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LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks

If you only do one thing this week, I suggest you read this book. It was freaking amazing!

The story takes place in an intoxicatingly small town where everyone knows everyone else and their business. The people of Near are stuck in their ways, they don't like visitors and they don't like listening

to anyone else. When children start disappearing the day after a stranger comes to town, the stranger immediately has the town after his blood. But Lexi thinks she can solve the mystery, and the stranger might be the only one who can help her.

This book was great in so many ways. I loved the plot, I loved the setting, I loved the characters - I really just loved every little thing about this book. Set at the perfect pace, is was adventurous, intriguing, suspenseful, creepy, frightening and consuming. As much as I wanted to know what happens, I didn't really want the story to end. This was one freaking fantastic debut, one that has me eagerly awaiting a day when another book by Victoria Schwab is in my to-read pile.

I don't really have much else to say except - read it, read it, read it!

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LibraryThing member danijohns

Wow. The Near Witch is such a lyrical, beautiful debut. I cannot even describe the awe I was in while reading this book.

The first thing about this book that will capture your attention and hold you captivated is the writing. The writing is impeccable. From the first line, the writing captivates

your senses: “It starts with a crack, a sputter and a spark.” I found myself in awe of the beauty of the writing. Victoria Schwab is able to write such beautiful descriptions, I literally could picture everything There are so many beautifully written passages. I felt wrapped up in the story because of the writing. Victoria’s writing captivates the senses, literally making you think you can hear the wind and feel the breeze on the moors. It’s amazing the effect her writing has. There are just such beautiful passages and phrases. One of my favorite lines from the entire book is “The wind is lonely.” I think that is such a beautiful sentiment and makes complete sense. Wind is an extremely important element in this book and Victoria is able to capture the many different aspects of wind spot on. While the writing is so beautiful, it does not seem forced. Victoria’s writing seems so effortless, a fact a bet was not true, but it just flows so seamlessly and effortless, a skill some writers can never attain in their writing.

While I could continue on and on about how the writing left me in awe and literally gave shivers because it was so good, I will continue on to the other aspects of the book. I loved the character of Lexi. She is such a strong heroine. In a town were women are supposed to stay at home and take care of the children, Lexi is not afraid to defy authority or her family to fight for what is right. I loved that even though Lexi’s uncle would expressly tell Lexi to stay home and even force her to stay home, she would still manage to escape and try to figure out the mystery of the disappearances. Lexi always had the best intentions in mind, keeping those she loved safe, and would not be influenced by the towns irrational fear of outsiders. When Lexi knows something is wrong, she is willing to stand up a fight, no matter what the consequence. I really loved Lexi’s relationship with her younger sister Wren. You could really feel how much Lexi loves and looks out for her younger sister. Wren is what motivates Lexi to fight for the truth; she is willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. That type of love is hard to fake and their relationship immediately jumps off the page and is extremely relatable to any person who has a sibling, or loves some enough to do anything to protect them.

Then there is Cole. Cole is this mysterious enigma. Lexi knows little about him and so do the readers. He is a strange in the town of Near, an outsider, and instant scapegoat. He is a mystery. I loved how his role was unraveled and slowly the mystery behind Cole was peeled away. Cole was definitely a mystery that I liked unraveling. He was so secretive and very sad and I wanted to know why. I also sympathized with him because the people of Near automatically jumped on Cole as the culprit of the disappearance even as he was helping Lexi try a solve the problems. The length that Cole ends up going to help Lexi is extraordinary. You really end up sympathizing with him and hating the men of Near for what they do to him because they think that because he is a strange and arrived right as the disappearance occurred that he must be responsible and he is the only thing that could be responsible.

Once I started this book, I found it nearly impossible to put it down. I was engrossed in the story. The mystery of the disappearance was intriguing and had me turning pages until Lexi figured it out. I really enjoyed the sections of the plot that dealt with Lexi deifying what naturally expected of her and the conflict between herself and her Uncle Otto. Those scenes were some of my favorites. Towards the end of the book, the action really picked up and the last couple of chapters flew by until the book was over. I really liked how Victoria Schwab was able to wrap up everything in the end and I was satisfied with how she chose to end everything.

This book is a must read. It’s stunningly beautiful. I will definitely be picking up a finished copy to have one my bookshelf because it is just so beautifully written and captivating. It left me in awe and I felt I would never be able to explain how this book made me felt.

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LibraryThing member ReadingFanatic09

When I began reading The Near Witch, I wasn't sure that this was a book that I was going to enjoy or even be able to get through. It sounded intriguing enough, but I was quite wary. I loved being proved wrong every minute of reading this. The Near Witch is an enchanting tale of magic, family, and

first love set against a small-town backdrop of suspicion and fear.

Enter the town of Near--an undefined, historical town settled in the moors, where the wind sings through the windows and the people live in fear of those things unknown. When a stranger arrives in the town, there is an immediate panic, which escalates as children begin disappearing from the beds in the dead of night. Could this stranger be to blame? For most of the villagers, he is the obvious person--and the easiest--to blame. But Lexi believes otherwise; she will go to great lengths to prove this stranger's innocence.

Lexi was a character that I liked from the very beginning. Her tomboyish nature and clear, unwavering love for her mother and sister (and deceased father) combine to create a lovable, real main character. I especially connected with her profound desire to protect her sister--a natural response between close sisters. Lexi is the type of character who knows what she wants/believes and doesn't waver from those things. She proves this over and over again during the hunt for the children--never wavering in her belief that it wasn't the stranger, never giving up searching despite set-backs. She was strong and courageous, even in those moments when the reader was allowed a glimpse of her loving nature and true despair at her father's death.

The stranger, whom Lexi names Cole, is intriguing throughout and I never quite knew what to make of him. Don't take that the wrong way--I thought he was perfectly done. The "strangeness" of him complemented the town of Near and it's fear of the outside. His friendship with Lexi stood to complement the situation more and more as she struck out on her own to find the children, even when the people of Near didn't believe her. Now, I will say that the romance between the two seemed to pop up out of nowhere. I saw it coming in a sense, but I thought that it progressed at an interesting, slightly too sudden tempo. I liked them together, but they didn't have enough to get to know each other before that first kiss pops up.

Overall, Ms. Schwab has written a truly stunning novel, one that I can't wait to buy for myself and read over and over again (and maybe pass along to kids someday).

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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite

What I liked most about this book is the mystery of it. Here you have a small town with lots of stories of The Near Witch. Children sing songs of it, people whisper about it. But what really happened? I like that the author wrote such a detailed and well presented story to the reader. The reader is

presented with this great illusion, that you have no idea what is going to happen. With so many great plot twist and turns, the reader is gasping for their dear life!

The story line of this book kept me on my toes. I always like it when an author keeps me crawling after the bread crumbs she drops. As I continue to follow the bread crumbs, Ms. Schwab filled my appetite with lots of new characters, elements of magic, and lost children that are no where to be found. The reader is able to feel the mysterious of the near witch and the small town that hold the secrets.

The characters in this book were well developed. I love that the main character, Lexi, is strong and determined. Just like her father, she sets out to find out what is happening to the missing children. She uncover webs of lies, deceitful townsmen, and one heck of an angry witch. I like that she had help in the most unlikely place. She didn't follow rules or take orders from anyone. She stood strong and fought, even is she was alone.

The Near Witch is an upstanding, worthy witch book. Told like no other, The Near Witch will ground you with fear and hold you tight. Want a good witch story? Then read this one. With Ms. Schwab's masterful writing, this book will captivate you to follow the bread crumbs to a great story.

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LibraryThing member stephxsu

Lexi lives in the village of Near, surrounded on all sides by miles and miles of hilly, mysterious moor. A village legend tells of a witch who was killed by villagers after a child was found dead in her garden. But when the arrival of a stranger in Near coincides with a string of children’s

disappearances, the villagers want this stranger’s blood.

However, Lexi gets to know the mysterious stranger with the powers of the wind, whom she names Cole, and is convinced that he is not involved in the children’s disappearances. But in order to prove Cole’s innocence and save his life, Lexi must find proof of who she suspects the culprit is: the ghost of the Near witch, coming back to take her vengeance on the village.

I’m not usually a fan of being scared, but I make an exception for Victoria Schwab’s gorgeous debut novel THE NEAR WITCH. Reading THE NEAR WITCH is like treating to yourself to a five-star restaurant, with an especially decadent dessert to top it all off: the characters and plot may at times be frustrating, but the very experience of reading this story is worth it.

I’m going to continue with the dessert analogy to describe the writing. Victoria Schwab is like an innovative master pastry chef: she takes common ingredients and spins them together with such intricacy and skill as to create formations we had never dreamed of before. I wanted to bookmark every other page in this book, to be able to go back and reread the surprising yet utterly delightful ways in which Victoria Schwab uses language.

In comparison to the writing, sometimes I felt that the characters and plot were a bit lacking. Because THE NEAR WITCH is so tightly set around one village, the atmosphere and relationships feel intentionally claustrophic. The majority of Lexi’s actions involve running back and forth between houses to figure things out. Sometimes it gets tiring, reading of the ever-increasing cycles of suspicion and desperation chapter after chapter. And some of the “bad guys” feel a little one-sided in their “badness.” But THE NEAR WITCH winds tensions up for a truly creepy resolution that will steal your breath away, an ending that was, in my opinion, worth any character or plot frustrations I had along the way.

THE NEAR WITCH proves itself to be one of the stronger debut novels I’ve read in 2011 so far. It’s a delightful treat for those who think they’re tired of magical books about witches and romance. I’m looking forward to seeing what Victoria Schwab has for us next!

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LibraryThing member amwo

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab is a novel I have been eagerly waiting to read. I just had this feeling that Victoria Schwab's writing was going to be absolutely beautiful. Well, after finally reading it, The Near Witch did not disappoint.

I was instantly hooked by the creepy and mysterious themes

throughout the story. I haven't read many witch novels, but this one really intrigued me. Near is a town where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows what's right and what's wrong. Everyone is intrigued by the idea of witches, but deathly afraid of them at the same time. Victoria Schwab created a beautiful world with her talk of witches and lonely wind that you should be careful not to listen to.

I very much enjoyed the Salem Witch Trial effect Victoria creates in The Near Witch through her input of superstitions, fairytales, and her excellent mix of characters. She gave us the strong female character and protagonist, Lexi, a teenage girl determined to protect her family and find out the truth. Then she gave us Cole, the mysterious yet comforting stranger who was determined to help set things right in Near and protect Lexi. But then you had the villagers and the ones in charge of protecting them. Otto, Lexi's uncle and the Protector, who always seemed to do what was "necessary", and then the Council, who were too wrapped up in tradition and duty to see outside the obvious. The overall mix of characters and events in The Near Witch caused a witch hunt that ended up going far beyond just protecting the children.

Aside from the interesting mix of characters, Victoria also had some of the most descriptive and beautiful writing I have seen in a long time. In the Near Witch, everything was about the scenery and the moor. If you live in Near, the moor and everything that is a part of it is a part of you. Victoria described the scenery beautifully. From the rich, steady earth to the haunting melody of the moor wind, Schwab drew you in as a reader so that you felt the icy but ever changing feeling of the moor all the way down to your bones.

Victoria also did an impeccable job writing the relationship between Lexi and Cole. Both of them had a strange connection to the moor (for different reasons) and you could see that in their relationship. Cole and Lexi's relationship was complicated, as he had some interesting secrets to hide, and Victoria portrayed that well in her writing. Cole constantly seemed like he was a part of the wind, about to drift away at any second, but for Lexi he was more solid and whole. Amidst all of the problems Lexi and Cole encountered throughout the book, the fact that they clung to the newest and strangest thing of all, their relationship, said a lot about their characters. I am frequently disappointed by relationships in YA novels, especially fantasy ones, but Victoria Schwab did an excellent job of adding depth to Lexi and Cole's relationship.

Victoria Schwab payed attention to every miniscule detail in The Near Witch, creating a story that is both beautiful and scary, nerve-wracking and breathtaking. If Victoria Schwab can write a debut this good, I can't wait to see what she does next.

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LibraryThing member Saisquoi

An excellent first novel.

I found this book a little bit slow to start, but once it picked up it was a well-executed fairy-tale focusing on what fear, exclusion, and rush to judgment can ultimately cost a community. The supernatural elements of the story were well-incorporated and the main

characters were nicely developed. Look forward to more from this author.

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LibraryThing member katiedoll

The Near Witch is, without a doubt, one of the most gorgeously written novels I have ever read. Victoria Schwab's spectacular debut is magical, romantic, haunting and has secured a spot on my all-time favorite list.

First, let me express to you all how beautifully this book is written. Seriously.

The descriptions and dialogue and everything about it is just so lyrical and expressive and graceful that at times it really felt like I was reading a classic fairytale. And when it came to the scenes about the witch, I got goosebumps. Even while being ridiculously creepy, this book still managed to be beautiful.

The story kind of reminded me of Hocus Pocus (well ... the beginning of the movie, anyway) what with the disappearing children in a small town and the hated witch and such. I love that beyond the romance (which is also amazing) this is sorta like a Whodunit. This book would've been fantastic had it just been about Lexi and Cole's romance, but I like the touch of adventure and intrigue it has.

And even though I mentioned it earlier, I have to bring it up again. The romance between Lexi and Cole ... *dreamy sigh* I thought it was absolutely perfect. Not overbearing, not too intense. Just perfect.

Overall, The Near Witch is simply captivating. I loved every part of this novel and I will now be chomping at the bit for another novel by Victoria. If my gushing review hasn't already made it's point - get your hands on a copy of this book. Right now!

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LibraryThing member writersherry

This book is haunting and beautifully written. I liked the heroine and the romance was believable. A must-read for fans of witchcraft, supernatural, and Gothic tales!

LibraryThing member KevinTC

“It starts with a crack, a sputter, and a spark. The match hisses to life.”

So begins the beautiful and beautifully lyrical The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. This reader was immediately mesmerized by the intoxicating poetic prose in which this enchanting fairy tale/paranormal love story was

written. Schwab’s debut novel is a fast paced charmer destined to be a classic. Her storytelling prowess, combined with her excellent ability to mash the best elements from the Gothic horror novel with those from modern YA romance and paranormal novels, and, remarkably, those from the latest wave of dystopian YA, leaves the reader hooked from page one to the end.

The town of Near seems trapped in a near trance of fear and suspicion as they live their lives deep inside a whirlwind undercurrent of fairy tales, rumours, truths and half-truths swirling around the presence of the witches on the town’s outskirts…both living and dead.

One of the best aspects of The Near Witch is the headstrong and independent main character, Lexi Harris. Lexi lives in a small secluded town dominated by its male citizens. But Lexi doesn’t accept her station in her male dominated society; and she certainly doesn’t take no for an answer. When the rest of Near gets up in arms over the arrival of a new stranger—something the isolated town doesn’t usually deal with—Lexi is the only one capable of keeping a level head. It is her determination to do the right thing that propels this story forward at such a galloping pace. And the first person present tense voice of our protagonist puts the reader right at her side, cheering her on along the way. Schwab picked the perfect voice to tell her story.

When the town’s youngest children begin to disappear, Lexi will do anything to prevent her little sister Wren from becoming one of the missing. She will also do anything to save those who are already gone. But the men of her town, led by a Council of three and her own Uncle Otto, do whatever they can to prevent her intrusions and interventions.

This story is so well written, the reader will want to devour it in one sitting. But it’s also one of those books they will want to take their time with, so they can cherish the ride. Every character is well drawn, from the stranger Cole, to the sisters Thorne (Magda & Dreska), to Lexi’s jilted paramour Tyler Ward.

This was a remarkable adrenalin spiked read. Schwab is a master storyteller with a beautiful lyrical style readers will fall in love with immediately. The Near Witch is marketed as a YA, but it is absolutely a story for all ages. I look forward to seeing the next offering from Victoria Schwab. And the next and the next. A writer who can tell such a tight fast-paced story in such a lovely voice is definitely a writer to watch.

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LibraryThing member Kskye

I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about The Near Witch, and was glad I was approved for a galley. The Near Witch is a hybrid of folklore and fairy tales. There is a slight semblance to The Pied Piper, and yet Miss Schwab manages to make the story all her own. It is certainly worth the hype. What an

awesome debut novel.

It is said witches and hunters live on the edge of the village of Near. Lexi Harris being a child of the latter lives in such a spot, having the advantage of seeing the comings and goings of town. The thing is, there are no strangers in Near, so when one catches her eye in the window she is curious about him. He seems to melt into the darkness. The town where everybody knows everybody wants to know who this stranger is, but before anyone can meet him the children of Near start vanishing. Lexi’s sister Wren hears children outside asking her to come play; a melody that adults do not hear. Who is responsible for luring the children out of bed and can Lexie convince the town from repeating history?

The Near Witch gave off a nostalgic feeling and it flowed so well. It was well paced and it had just enough romance. It's lyrical, full of pretty prose and not in a confusing way. One thing I wasn’t expecting was to genuinely be scared. What started as sort of mysterious grew into a genuinely chilling book. One scene in particular really freaked me out and I had trouble sleeping that night. It had me wanting to double check my windows. It's funny because although some parts scared me, I felt the book was lovely (such a strange dichotomy, but it worked.) I felt for the characters, and I felt outraged at the villagers. I wanted to be best friends with Lexi, and I wanted a sister like Wren. I love when I actually care for the characters I'm reading about.

I love this book. It has everything, it's a ghost story with magic and witches. What's not to love? It kept me repeatedly guessing, and I also learned a lot about how fear can blind us. You know what else is awesome? It's a standalone! Buy it and stick it next to Grimm's Fairy Tales on your shelf.The Near Witch comes out August 2.

P.S. Has anyone seen Sigur Ros's Glósóli video? It sort of reminded me of The Near Witch, with the same kind of eerie, magical, fairy tale feeling.

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LibraryThing member taleofnight

You know those characters that get under your skin with just one sentence that makes you wish you could punch them or set them straight? This book has a few of those characters, and it made it hard for me to read at times. I had to put the book down and take a deep breath before continuing because

I was getting that mad at these said characters. And that proves to me even more that this book is awesome.

I read a few reviews for this book before reading it myself, and a lot said that the writing was lyrical and beutiful, which is all very true, but when I saw those words, I got scared. When books are described as 'lyrical' I usually am very bored with them. But this was not the case. The words flowed so nicely together, I wanted to make sure that I fully comprehended every word. And Schwab keeps you on your toes throughout every scene.

I loved Lexi and Cole. Especially Cole. At first I was wary about him, along with Lexi and the other villagers, but as the story moves along I grew to enjoy every page with him and every sentence he said. And Lexi and the bond she had with her father? I was almost in tears.

This is such a beautiful tale, I would recommend it to anyone.

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Fewer

Awards

Young Adult Favorites Award (2012)

Language

English

Original language

English

Original publication date

2011-08-02

Physical description

282 p.; 5.5 inches

ISBN

1423137876 / 9781423137870

Local notes

The children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and a newly arrived mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them.

Ex-library.