Young Adult
Pages: 288
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: August 2, 2011

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.

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!