The Witch Collector Series is a popular young adult fantasy book series written by Loretta Ellsworth. The series consists of two books: "The Witch Collector" and "The Witch's Revenge". The books follow the story of Josie, a young girl who discovers she has the ability to see witches and is thrown into a world of magic and danger. In the first book, "The Witch Collector", Josie is introduced to a secret society of witch hunters called the Guardians. She learns that her ability to see witches is rare and that the Guardians are tasked with protecting the world from the evil they bring. Josie joins the Guardians and begins her training to become a witch hunter herself.
I left this review on Amazon as well but wanted to include it here.
As the story unfolds, the expanse of the world is revealed and the politics between the Gods became much clearer which is going to be expanded with the next installment. The other girl is supposedly talented, but she also has no experience or true soldier training, so idk how that would be enough to take on war-hardened soldiers.
Josie joins the Guardians and begins her training to become a witch hunter herself. As Josie delves deeper into the world of witch hunting, she uncovers a dangerous plot by a powerful witch known as the Witch Queen. The Witch Queen plans to unleash her dark magic upon the world and it's up to Josie and the Guardians to stop her.
The witch collector series
Series: The Witch Walker Trilogy # 1
Format: E-Galley, 439 pages
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Publisher: City Owl Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy
Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.
Today is that day—Collecting Day.
But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for all that time he has passed me by.
His mistake.
Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.
Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?
The Witch Collector is the first installment in author Charissa Weaks' The Witch Walker Trilogy. Every Collecting Day, a man known as the Witch Collector rides into the valley of Silver Hollow and leads someone to Winterhold; home of the Frost King where they train to be witch walkers. 8 years ago, 24-year old Raina Bloodgood lost her older sister Nephele to the Witch Collector. The Witch Collector has chosen not to take Raina which allowed her to simmer with anger, and rage, and vowing revenge against him.
But the Witch Collector isn't Raina's only target. She wants revenge on the Frost King who was responsible for taking her sister from her. Removing both from the world would ensure that no more women are taken and ensure that her family is finally reunited. And, thanks to her father, she holds a weapon known as the God Knife which can kill anything. Why should we care about Raina's anger you ask? Raina is a witch without a voice. She communicates with a unique style of American Sign Language which only a few people understand and communicate with her.
But what Raina doesn't understand, is that Alexus Thibault aka Witch Collector, and Colden Moeshka aka the Frost King, want to get Raina to safety since she may hold the key to saving the Kingdom from a very powerful Prince of the East who has broken a long held peace agreement. But before Alexus arrives her Raina's village, he is met by the Prince's hoards, and action ensues. Raina goes from the only witch in the village without a voice, to going on the run and trying to stay ahead of a wild, action packed, life or death run for their lives to stay one step ahead of the Prince, and to hopefully meet with Nephele who is a powerful witch walker.
This story does alternate between Raina and Alexus which makes this book even better because you, as the reader, can get a sense of what is happening and what has happened leading up to Collecting Day. The more time that Raina spends with Alexus, she learns who he really is, and pretty much puts her life in his hands so that he can try to keep her from falling into the powerful Prince's hands which would be a catastrophe. It's not coincidence that I chose to read this around Halloween. The story is action packed with lots of scenes fighting, slow burn enemies to lovers, witches & magic, and villains which scare the crap out of you. As the story unfolds, the expanse of the world is revealed and the politics between the Gods became much clearer which is going to be expanded with the next installment.
Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?
Along the way, Josie forms unlikely alliances and discovers hidden truths about her past. In the second book, "The Witch's Revenge", Josie faces new challenges as the Witch Queen continues her quest for ultimate power. Josie must navigate a treacherous landscape of dark magic, betrayal, and sacrifice to save herself and those she loves. The Witch Collector Series is praised for its engaging storylines, well-developed characters, and vivid world-building. It combines elements of magic, fantasy, and adventure to create a thrilling and immersive reading experience. The series appeals to readers of all ages who enjoy tales of magic, witches, and epic battles between good and evil. Overall, The Witch Collector Series is a captivating and enchanting book series that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world of witches and witch hunters. With its compelling characters and suspenseful plot, it's a series that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end..
Reviews for "Reliving the Magic: a Retrospective of The Witch Collector Series"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Witch Collector Series". The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and cliché. The writing style also left a lot to be desired, as it lacked depth and failed to engage me. Overall, I found it to be a lackluster and uninspiring read.
2. John - 1/5 - I couldn't stand "The Witch Collector Series". The concept seemed interesting at first, but it quickly fell flat. The story was poorly developed, and the pacing was all over the place. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and their motivations felt forced. Additionally, the dialogue was cringe-worthy and unrealistic. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this series.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Witch Collector Series", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing was average at best, and the plot lacked originality. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to become invested in their journeys. Overall, I found it to be a mediocre series that didn't live up to its potential.
4. Michael - 3/5 - "The Witch Collector Series" was just okay for me. It had some intriguing elements, but they weren't executed well. The pacing felt off, and there were unnecessary subplots that added nothing to the main story. The world-building was lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions. While it had its moments, overall, I found it to be a forgettable read.
5. Jessica - 2/5 - I was hoping for a captivating and immersive experience with "The Witch Collector Series", but unfortunately, I was disappointed. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, and I quickly lost interest. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore a fascinating world of witches. Sadly, I wouldn't recommend this series to others.