The Witch Minister is a concept commonly found in folklore and mythology. It refers to a powerful individual who possesses both the ability to practice witchcraft and hold a position of leadership or authority within a society. The idea of a Witch Minister is often associated with a sense of mystery and awe, as these individuals are believed to possess supernatural powers that set them apart from ordinary people. Throughout history, there have been many stories and legends surrounding Witch Ministers. In some cultures, they are revered as wise and benevolent figures who use their magical abilities for the betterment of their communities. They are seen as intermediaries between the mortal world and the spirit realm, using their powers to maintain balance and harmony.
A kingdom that embraces darkness but not evil is an interesting concept but not enough to make up for choppy pacing and flat characters; here’s hoping the sequel is better balanced. (map, cast of characters) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Twelve-year-old Thorn is unexpectedly purchased at a slave market far from home by Tyburn, executioner for the dread Shadow family, necromancer rulers of Gehenna. Here is a fantasy world you will lose yourself in with Six Great Families of magic, the nicest princess of darkness you ve ever met, a peasant boy with skills to rival Robin Hood, and a supporting cast of zombies, paladins, ghost puppies, executioners, minstrels, murderers, and a giant hero bat.
They are seen as intermediaries between the mortal world and the spirit realm, using their powers to maintain balance and harmony. However, not all depictions of Witch Ministers are positive. In some tales, they are portrayed as dark and malevolent figures, using their magic for personal gain or to cause harm.
Review: Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
Disney Hyperion, New York, 2016.
MG fantasy, 324 pages.
Lexile: 540L .
AR Level: 4.1 (worth 11.4 points) .
NOTE: First in a trilogy.
Thorn was just trying to find his outlaw father when he got caught by slavers and was sold to executioner Tyburn of House Shadow. Lilith Shadow was never supposed to rule Gehenna, but then her family was killed.
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
I picked this one up because of this review. Initially this series didn’t strike me as particularly diverse from reading the blurb, but the author’s commentary on the Middle Eastern inspiration as well as an #ownvoice Muslim reviewer’s thoughts quickly confirmed that this was a trilogy I wanted to read.
The white-guy-being a slave part made me nervous, but it was a small part of the overall story and not poorly done. I did also wish for the House of Shadow to have more skin tone variety, but some information about House Solar covered that to my satisfaction.
Khan invests heavily in three similarly-aged characters, but only two have viewpoints in this book, which was so smart. While K’leef is a main part of the trio and the plot, his motivations and actions ultimately have to be deduced, and the novel manages to be balanced. What I didn’t love, even though I understood it, is the whole arranged-child-marriage thing. Thankfully, Lilly was not afraid to repeatedly call out how ludicrous it was and exercise her own agency to change her situation (not always for the better).
Page 249 of Shadow Magic illustrates a dramatic moment in the book.The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
Khan does a good job of parceling out all this information without doing infodumps. He uses situations, like when Thorn angers the wrong noble and the other boys point out that he’s the outsider and they need to stay out of trouble. Of course, Thorn’s isolation combined with hidden heritage make him a good target for Lily’s friendship.
Lily finds that unexpected leadership comes with many more headaches and sorrows than desired. Her arc was all I could have desired, and I especially appreciated that Khan allowed her and Thorn (and K’leef) to be equal partners. Finding out that the character was inspired by Malala Yousafzai made so much sense.
The book is divided into three sections based on the location. Most is set at Castle Gloom, with the first and last sixth in another place. Chapters are kept short and the plot is always moving even when the characters are pinned down, to the very last page! Regular full page artwork is interspersed, which is mostly excellent with a few duds. Gehenna gets a full map with lots of interesting tidbits that don’t come in to this story, and I always appreciate that in a fantasy novel. This was still middle grade, but the plot was less MG-ish than most, which made it far more interesting to an adult fantasy fan.
Pages 128 and 129 of Shadow Magic show one of the full page illustrations as well as the flipbook bat in the upper right hand corner.
The interior pages made a little flipbook of a bat flying. The book as a whole had a interesting design and I appreciated that the letterer and cover designer got cover billing, even if they and the artist, were relegated to the back cover. It has a sturdy matte cover and acceptable pages and binding, which has me perplexed – Disney Hyperion is so inconsistent with paperback quality! I ended up buying a used softcover copy of this first book for expediency and cost efficiency, but maybe I’ll look at new for the others.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Yes, this had more death and gloom than I remember middle schoolers wanting in a fantasy novel. It’s not horror exactly, despite all the murders and zombies and so on. Those are all tied up in the magic and politics of this fantasy world. I think this would work well for kids who are into the School of Good and Evil series, or fans of Hoodoo. Simply because of said murders and horror trappings (plus very mild romance) I’d put this at the upper end of MG or a high-low read for teens.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
These stories often highlight the dangers of wielding power without a sense of morality or responsibility. The concept of the Witch Minister can also be seen in contemporary literature and popular culture. Many fantasy novels and films feature characters who combine magical abilities with positions of authority, echoing the archetype of the Witch Minister. These characters often face internal conflicts as they navigate the responsibilities of leadership and the temptations of their supernatural powers. In conclusion, the idea of the Witch Minister is a fascinating and multifaceted concept found in folklore and mythology. Whether they are portrayed as wise and benevolent or sinister and corrupt, these individuals embody the intersection of magic and leadership, offering valuable insights into the human condition and the nature of power..
Reviews for "The Witch Minater: Fact or Fiction?"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Watch Minater". The storyline felt completely disconnected and the characters were incredibly one-dimensional. The acting was subpar, and I found it difficult to connect or sympathize with any of the characters. Additionally, the special effects left a lot to be desired, and it felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on the monster flick trend. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had spent my time and money on a different movie.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "The Watch Minater" was a complete waste of time. The plot was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality. The dialogue was cheesy and cringe-worthy, and the acting was wooden at best. It was one cliche after another, with no real depth or substance. I couldn't wait for it to be over and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a good horror film.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Watch Minater", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with long stretches of dull moments and slow buildup that led to underwhelming payoffs. The scares were minimal, and the monster design was uninspired. It felt like a mix of various horror tropes without bringing anything new or exciting to the genre. I expected more from the film, and I can't say it's one I would watch again or recommend to others.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - This movie was a disaster. The plot was confusing and convoluted, and it was hard to follow what was happening on screen. The dialogue was cringeworthy, and the attempts at humor fell flat. The characters were poorly developed, and I didn't care about any of them. The special effects were cheesy, and it seemed like the filmmakers were trying to cover up a weak story with flashy visuals. I would not recommend wasting your time on "The Watch Minater".