Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the woods, there was a legend about a lost witch. According to the legend, centuries ago, a powerful witch named Eveline had lived in the village and possessed a magical amulet that granted her endless powers. She was feared and respected by all who knew her. One fateful night, a group of jealous villagers plotted against Eveline. They believed that by stealing her amulet, they could harness its power for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, they broke into Eveline's cottage and stole the amulet, leaving her powerless and devastated.
Under the cover of darkness, they broke into Eveline's cottage and stole the amulet, leaving her powerless and devastated. Realizing the grave injustice that had been done, the villagers formed a search party to find Eveline and return her amulet. They searched high and low, through the darkest corners of the forest, but she was nowhere to be found.
[Review] The Lost Witch – Melvin Burgess
How I read it: I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Get it at Amazon UK: The Lost Witch
Bea has started to hear and see things that no one else can – creatures, voices, visions. Then strangers visit Bea and tell her she is different: she has the rare powers of a witch. They warn her she is being hunted. Her parents think she is hallucinating and needs help. All Bea wants to do is get on with her life, and to get closer to Lars, the mysterious young man she has met at the skate park. But her life is in danger, and she must break free. The question is – who can she trust?
This book was, in short, utterly baffling.
I’m no stranger to Melvin Burgess’s work – often heralded as the godfather of UKYA, his 1996 novel JUNK is a controversial, yet extremely popular book. THE LOST WITCH is completely different – it’s still YA, but instead of being a gritty look at drug addiction and runaways, it’s a fantastical tale about witches. And I LOVE WITCH BOOKS.
In books, I mean. Don’t burn them.
I thought I knew what I was in for when I read the blurb, and to be honest, the first quarter or so of the book is exactly what it says on the tin. Bea, our protagonist, slowly begins to realise that she has the powers of a witch. She’s also drawn to Lars, the cute and mysterious older boy at the local skate park. It sounds pretty typical of a lot of paranormal romance and fantasy YA, but after the first chunk of the book it goes off in a completely different direction to what I was expecting.
This is a really surreal novel – there’s some seriously weird scenes (including one with a man with two faces) and I found it to be quite quirky in a slightly creepy way. A lot of the book takes place in the countryside and Burgess’s descriptions effectively evoke an atmosphere of ancient, earthy magic – perfect for a story about animal-shifting witches who are connected to nature.
Bea isn’t the greatest character – I found her a bit irritating and I was slightly weirded out that she was 13 at the beginning of the novel (she’s 15 by the end), especially considering the way her relationship with Lars develops. I would have personally aged her up (to 15 going on 16/17), although I suppose her young age makes the numerous questionable decisions she makes seem more realistic. Lars, on the other hand, is probably the most interesting character in the book – he starts off seeming like a generic YA male love interest but soon reveals different sides of himself that kept me curious.
Burgess’s writing style is interesting, though I honestly thought for a while that the novel was set in the 90s – it was only when Bea used her phone that I realised it was actually meant to be set in the present day. Still, it made the novel feel a little more timeless and rustic, almost – like it was stuck in a dreary part of England which hadn’t caught up with the rest of the country yet.
This book isn’t for everyone – Burgess has a very unique style of writing – but it’s definitely a surprising and unpredictable read, which makes it worth picking up. I loved the creepy, quirky atmosphere and the developing darkness – I’m interested to see what happens in the sequel.
For fans of: THE WREN HUNT by Mary Watson, HALF BAD by Sally Green, THE WITCH’S KISS by Katherine & Elizabeth Corr
Iris Gray knows witches aren't welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches' Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they're keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.
Over time, the villagers lost hope and the legend of the lost witch gradually faded into obscurity. Years passed, and the village underwent significant changes. The once-thriving community dwindled, and its former glory was mere memories. One day, a young girl named Lily found an old book hidden in the attic of her family's house. As she flipped through its pages, a familiar symbol caught her eye: an amulet that bore a striking resemblance to the one described in the legend. Driven by both curiosity and a sense of adventure, Lily embarked on a quest to solve the mystery of the lost witch. She delved deeper into the village's history, speaking to the older residents who still remembered the legend. With each piece of information she gathered, a clearer picture of Eveline and her lost amulet emerged. Lily discovered that Eveline was not the evil witch the legend portrayed her as. Instead, she was a wise and benevolent sorceress who used her powers for the betterment of the village. The jealous villagers had misunderstood her intentions and wrongly accused her of black magic. Their betrayal left a lasting scar on the village, one that was evident even in the present-day. Motivated by the desire to right the wrongs committed against Eveline and restore the village's lost glory, Lily rallied the remaining villagers. Together, they scoured the village, searching for any remnants of Eveline's presence. With each hidden clue they discovered, the villagers' hope began to reignite. Finally, after months of tireless searching, Lily stumbled upon an ancient underground chamber, hidden beneath the village square. To her astonishment, she found Eveline, at last reunited with her amulet. The years of isolation had taken their toll on Eveline, but she still possessed her magical powers. Lily pleaded with Eveline to return to the village and help restore its former glory. Eveline, touched by Lily's determination and compassion, agreed. With her powers restored, she set to work, healing the wounds inflicted on the village and bringing prosperity once again. As the lost witch returned, the village flourished. New life was injected into the once-dying community, and tales of Eveline's incredible powers spread far and wide. The legend of the lost witch transformed into a legend of resilience and redemption, reminding the villagers of the importance of compassion and unity. And so, the lost witch became a symbol of hope and restoration, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a chance for redemption and a new beginning..
Reviews for "The Lost Witch: A Fascinating Piece of History"
1. Mark - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "The Lost Witch" after hearing so many great reviews, but I found myself disappointed. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and their motivations felt forced. The writing style was also mediocre, with a lack of descriptive language and a tendency to tell rather than show. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the hype.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - "The Lost Witch" had an interesting premise, but it failed to live up to its potential. The pacing was uneven, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The world-building was shallow and left many questions unanswered. Additionally, I didn't connect with the characters, who felt flat and didn't undergo much growth throughout the book. While there were moments of excitement and intrigue, overall, I found this book to be a mediocre read.
3. Alex - 2/5 - I really struggled to finish "The Lost Witch". The dialogue was awkward and stilted, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The plot was convoluted and didn't make much sense, with random subplots that added nothing to the overall story. The writing style felt amateurish, with repetitive phrases and an overuse of cliches. I found myself frustrated and uninterested, and I would not recommend this book to others.
4. Emily - 2/5 - "The Lost Witch" had an interesting concept, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt unbelievable. The romance subplot was forced and lacked chemistry. The pacing was slow, and the story failed to build enough tension to keep me engaged. The writing style was also uninspiring, with a lack of descriptive language and vivid imagery. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.