Review: 5/5 for The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published August 2nd 2011 by Hyperion Books CH
Source: Purchased, Signed by author
Buy the Book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

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.
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.

Just by reading the synopsis alone I knew this was going to be a different kind of fairy tale. The idea behind it is different compared to a lot of books I've read lately and it was really refreshing. It has some of the best writing I've seen in a while. It is absolutely beautiful in many parts of the book. Descriptions and details make this book. It will feel like you are walking through the scenes with characters. The musical and story-telling attributes in this book will melt your heart.

The town's setting is a little different than what I am used to, but it really gives a great base for the story to build on. Lexi is a very genuine character; what you see is what you get with her. She has many personality traits that I admire: loyalty to herself and family, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. Her relationship with both her parents and sister is one to be admired by all. It also plays key parts in the plot of the book because of the lengths that her mother would go for her, the wonderful influence her father has on her life, and the absolute trust of her sister. On the other hand, Lexi's love interest and their relationship is interesting, but I'm not completely sold on it. It has its complexities, but is just slightly over the top. It is not something that I consider detrimental enough to drop a "sticky", but just enough for me to notice. A factor in this may be the length of the book. It's a short book compared to many others and I guess things just have to happen quicker.

I loved the concept and layout of this book. For the length of the book, there are many, many depths to it. The plot flows fluidly through the stories and songs of Near and keeps you entertained and glued till the last page. It has almost the perfect balance of romance, trials and tribulations, and creepiness that kept me mesmerized and enthralled. Yes, I said creepy. Was I expecting that? Ha. No. That was definitely a bonus for me. It fits so well in the plot, it's almost hidden...until it jumps out at you!

I could not recommend this book enough to everyone of all ages. It's storyline, details, mystery, and creepiness make for an amazing combination and a great read.