The Near Witch

Near is a village where all are taught that there are no strangers - there have never been strangers. The arrival of a mysterious young man coincides with children beginning to disappear from their beds at night, leading the villagers to grow increasingly fearful and suspicious. Sixteen-year-old Lexi Harris, who learned the old ways of tracking and wind-working from her father, searches for the missing children while investigating the legend of the Near Witch. Her quest puts her at odds with the Council of Near and challenges everything she has been told about her village's history. The story combines elements of dark fairy tales and folk horror within an isolated moorland setting. At its core, the novel examines fear of the unknown, the power of stories, and how communities react when faced with threats they don't understand.

Readers describe this as a slow-burning fairy tale with a dark, atmospheric mood. The writing style receives frequent mentions for its lyrical, poetic quality that sets the eerie tone. Liked: - Vivid descriptions of the moors and wind - Romance develops naturally without overtaking the plot - Strong folklore elements - Character Lexi's determination and independence Disliked: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Some found the plot predictable - Supporting characters lack depth - Writing style occasionally feels overdone Many reviews note this was Schwab's debut novel and displays less polish than her later works. Several readers mention struggling to connect with the characters despite enjoying the atmosphere. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (27,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (500+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (100+ ratings) Most common comparison in reviews is to Neil Gaiman's writing style and fairy tale retellings.

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🌙 The Near Witch was Victoria Schwab's debut novel, published when she was just 23 years old. Though it went out of print, fan demand led to its republication in 2019. 🌿 The story's setting, Near, was inspired by the misty moors of Scotland, where Schwab spent time during her university years studying abroad. 💨 The author wrote much of the novel while sitting in her college's bell tower, which helped her capture the eerie, windswept atmosphere that features prominently in the story. ✨ The book's central theme about fearing those who are different was influenced by Schwab's own experiences feeling like an outsider during her childhood. 📚 Though classified as Young Adult, Schwab specifically crafted the novel's prose to have a folklore-like quality, similar to traditional fairy tales and oral stories passed down through generations.