its also neat to see well-known schwab themes present in this, just showing how consistent her writing has been over the years. but it definitely has an atmospheric, timeless quality to it, as most witch/fairy tale stories do. this is definitely a subtle story, one that takes an effort on the readers part to invest in because its not written in a flashy or enticing way. In VSs introduction, she calls this book strange and quiet, and i cant think of a better way to describe it. and i think ‘the near witch’ does exactly that. but i do think its always enlightening to see an authors roots and their beginnings. all authors have to start somewhere, so if the writing or story isnt as great as a reader might be used to, it can be difficult to remember to not judge. Reading an authors debut novel, especially after having read their other books first, can be tricky. so i was very interested when i found out that its actually a rerelease of her debut novel. When i saw this in my local library, i thought VS secretly released a new book that was somehow kept quiet. 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.

Something tells her she can trust him.Īs 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. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.īut 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 wind is lonely, and always looking for company.Īnd there are no strangers in the town of Near. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab