The Witch of Duva: An Ancient Sorceress from a Forgotten Past

The mystical witch of Duva is a character from the short story of the same name written by Leigh Bardugo. This haunting and mysterious tale is part of the Grisha Verse, a fantasy world created by the author. The story follows Nadya, a young girl living in Duva, a bleak and desolate village plagued by wolves and cruel winters. The villagers whisper tales of a witch who hunts in the woods, stealing children and turning them into monsters. Everyone lives in fear, constantly looking over their shoulder, wondering who will be the witch's next victim. Nadya's life takes a twisted turn when her mother dies, leaving her alone with her harsh and uncaring father.

I just wanna clear that this book doesn’t solely focus on issues mentioned above and doesn’t directly talk about them. But if you have experienced such traumatic events, or you will read closely through all the scenes, you will definitely notice the small details.

On the other hand, this story subtly tackled sensitive themes such as sexual harassment and incest, so if you re not comfortable with those topics then this is not for you. I could say it was very effective since the presented phenomenon existing in Duva was not yet solved nor proven, so it was morelike an urban legend retold by local elders to the younger ones.

Nadya's life takes a twisted turn when her mother dies, leaving her alone with her harsh and uncaring father. As winter sets in, Nadya's father goes out in search of a new wife, leaving her vulnerable and fearful. The villagers, believing Nadya is the witch's new target, isolate her and subject her to harsh treatment.

The mystical witch of duva

I adore Leigh Bardugo. I first heard of her a few months ago, when I requested Shadow and Bone on NetGalley. At first I didn't think I would read it. Then I gave it a chance. And it blew my mind. Shadow and Bone is one of my favorite books. And I love Leigh's writing style. Her writing is perfect. Her words is perfect. Her characters are perfect. And the worlds she creates are perfect as well. I cannot wait to read more from Leigh.

The Witch of Duva is a short story of 32 pages. But even though it is short, I managed to love it a whole lot. It is creepy. And scary. But it is also sort of real. Even though it is Fantasy, it seemed like it could happen. But that might be because I believe in a lot of things. :) This short story is a lot like many fairy tales I have read. But it is also very unique and a lot better than those I have read.

Because Leigh has a special way with words. And I just adored this short story. It is creepy and sad, but it is also amazing. I liked the ending of it. Even though it is mostly horrible. Still. It is written so good and I had no problem getting into it. I just didn't want it to end. But, well, it did. Since it is a short story and all ;p I didn't mind much, though. Because it was enough. And so good.

I don't really want to talk about what happens in it, since it's so short. I don't want to spoil it all. :) But I can say that I liked the characters in this book. I loved Nadya. And Magda. And Vladcheck. So adorable. There is no romance, but I didn't mind that either. I didn't like Maxim. And I didn't like Karina. But every character is done really well even though it is short. And it is so brilliant.

I really think you should read The Witch of Duva. Especially if you like sort of dark fairy tales. And if you have read Shadow and Bone, and loved it like I did, then you really should read this. :) And if you haven't read Shadow and Bone yet, then I do not know what you are waiting for. Cause it is amazing. And you really need to read it. Both of them. I cannot wait to read more by Leigh. Posted by Carina Olsen at 9:00 PM

4 comments:

A great review Carina, I will definitely be looking this up. I just bought the gorgeous UK edition of Shadow and Bone (what's it called? something light, gathering light? Jeez, my memory lol)

I think there's a bit of a wait for the second in the Grisha trilogy, I was hoping for something else from Leigh. :) Reply Delete

Awesome review, Carina! I jumped at the chance to check out this short story as Shadow & Bone was so amazing. ;) Leigh really does have a way with words. I didn't want the story to end either! This just makes me more excited for book 2. ;) Reply Delete

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Nadya's only solace is her little sister, who brings light and joy into her dark existence. One evening, as the snow falls heavily, Nadya's sister goes missing. Nadya's worst fears have come true, and she is convinced that the witch has taken her. Filled with grief and rage, Nadya ventures into the woods, determined to find her sister and confront the witch. Despite the warnings and tales of the witch's cruelty, Nadya is undeterred. She believes that her love for her sister will shield her from the witch's malevolence. However, as Nadya delves deeper into the heart of the forest, she realizes that the true witch is not who she expected. The mystical witch of Duva is not some external monster lurking in the shadows; she is the darkness within Nadya's own heart. The witch represents the fear, anger, and desperation that Nadya feels in her isolated and cruel world. Nadya's journey becomes a battle against her inner demons, as she confronts her own capacity for darkness. In this story, Leigh Bardugo explores the themes of fear, love, and the power of storytelling. The mystical witch of Duva serves as a metaphor for the darkness that resides within every individual. It is a reminder that our actions, fueled by fear and desperation, can turn us into the monsters we fear the most. Overall, "The mystical witch of Duva" is a thought-provoking and chilling tale that delves into the depths of our own capacity for darkness. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us of the importance of love, empathy, and understanding in the face of fear and despair..

Reviews for "The Witch of Duva: A Beacon of Light in a Dark World"

1. Mary - 2/5 stars - I found "The Mystical Witch of Duva" to be quite underwhelming. The plot felt rushed and predictable, lacking any real complexity or depth. The characters were one-dimensional and difficult to connect with. Additionally, the world-building was minimal, leaving me with many unanswered questions about the setting and magic system. Overall, I was hoping for much more from this story, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.

2. James - 1/5 stars - "The Mystical Witch of Duva" was a complete letdown for me. The writing felt amateurish and disjointed, making it hard to follow the narrative. The story was unoriginal and cliché, offering nothing new or exciting. Furthermore, the pacing was off, with certain scenes feeling rushed while others dragged on unnecessarily. I couldn't find anything redeeming about this tale and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying read.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was disappointed by "The Mystical Witch of Duva." The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, hindering the development of the characters. The themes and messages were heavy-handed and lacked subtlety. Additionally, certain plot points were predictable, taking away any element of surprise. Overall, I found this piece to be lackluster and not worth the hype it had received.

The Witch of Duva: Immortalized in Art and Literature