The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab is a story of old. It it set in some undetermined time. It doesn't feel like years ago but it doesn't quite feel like contemporary times either. This helps build the eerie atmosphere that makes The Near Witch unforgettable.
Synopsis: 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. (Goodreads.com)
Can I just say WOW! This book engaged me from the get-go and I was really sad to have to put it down to go to work or bed. It is downright eerie and spooky in a way that many of the YA paranormal titles being written today have no hope of ever achieving. But, and this is a big but, I don't really consider this a paranormal. More like a gentle horror story built on the stories we hear as children, passed down from generation to generation. The stories get so old to the point where they don't seem like they could have even been true. They have taken on that fairy tale quality and that is perhaps the closest thing Schwab has written, a fairy tale of sorts.
And it is an utterly lovely story. The language! Victoria Schwab has some impressive writing skills. Words were used sparingly, to create chills up the spine and fear in the heart. And then you're hit with this WHAM when the true evil finally appears. And it's not even the witch, though of course she has her own vendetta. I think the power in this story is the power of words itself, how the town is turning against its own in the hunt for answers that do not fit at all.
I really liked Lexi, the main character. She is protective of her younger sister, Wren. She is sad and misses her father and wants to emulate him but is being held back by her Uncle. She just wants to wrap herself in his memories, to use them to move forward but then discovers she has to use her memories of him for a higher, more dangerous purpose. This is not a stupid character. She is wily, cunning, and ready to tackle danger head-on. She faces challenges, threats of banishment, and ire from her fellow villagers in her quest for the truth.
And back to the language because I think more than anything, the language is what sold me on this story. This could have been a very mediocre story but in the right hands, it takes off and is thrilling. There are so many passages I wish I could quote but I think they are best experienced in the heart of the story itself. Here is one small example, from page 118 of the finished book:
"It is a strange thing, the way the world goes quiet when we hear our own name, as though the walls grow thin to make way."
SERIOUSLY, this rang so true for me. I mean, who doesn't feel this way when they hear their name?? It's like Victoria Schwab was inside my head and pulled that thought right out and made it better with her writing. There is something old-fashioned to the writing that makes it stand out in a sea of other YA novels right now.
If I had one (or two) small criticisms, it would be that at times, the action just wasn't swift enough. There were a few portions, particularly scenes from in the woods, where I was skimming. All the talk of wind became kind of mind-numbing after awhile. I also found the romance to be rather lackluster and would have been happier if they had just joined in their quest as friends because even the kisses they shared seemed kind of forced.
However, that's it. I can say wholeheartedly I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The town of Near and its moors come to life with intriguing descriptions and characters. This is a book I'll be nominating for the Morris Award (if I still can!) because I think it has that complex combination of brilliant writing and well done storytelling just right.
Other reviews:
Ticket to Anywhere reviews The Near Witch
Steph Su Reads reviews The Near Witch
Early Nerd Special reviews The Near Witch
Reviewed from my public library book.
