The start of The Witch and the Beast introduces readers to a dark and mysterious world, filled with magic, danger, and a profound sense of unease. The story begins with the introduction of a young girl named Nyx, who is marked by a curse and possesses the ability to see the true forms of magical creatures. Nyx serves as an intriguing protagonist, as her cursed status forces her to live a life of isolation and secrecy. The main idea of the story becomes evident as Nyx is tasked with capturing a dangerous and elusive witch named The Beast. The pursuit of The Beast becomes a central focus, driving much of the tension and conflict in the narrative. As Nyx delves deeper into this quest, she uncovers shocking truths about herself and the world she inhabits.
As Nyx delves deeper into this quest, she uncovers shocking truths about herself and the world she inhabits. The start of The Witch and the Beast sets the stage for an exciting and dark fantasy adventure, brimming with secrets, magic, and complex characters..
Some natural wines with the Grape Witches
A few weeks ago I was invited to host a tasting of natural/authentic wine in Toronto with Nicole and Krysta, the Grape Witches. It was for local somms and trade and was a sell out. The wines were lovely: here are my notes.
Guiberteau Les Moulins Saumur 2016 Loire, France
13% alcohol. Tight and complex with lively apple and citrus fruit. Really linear with high acidity and some appley, spicy complexity. Vivid and expressive with real zing. Distinctive and bracing. 92/100
Brash Higgins ZBO Zibibbo 2016 Riverland, Australia
From Ricca Terra Farms, this is left on skins for 150 days in amphorae. Complex and aromatic with lovely grape, pear and orange peel characters. Lively and exotic with freshness and depth, and a slightly pithy finish. Pure, compelling and delicious. 93/100
Birichino Old Vines Chenin Blanc Jurassic Park Vineyard 2015 Santa Ynez Valley, California
13% alcohol. 37 year old vines in Calcareous soils. 9 barrels produced. Linear and nicely spicy with lovely apple, pear and citrus fruit. Pure with nice fine-grained structure. Lovely texture and mouthfeel: a really complete wine with depth and harmony. 93/100
Phanus Loureiro 2016 Vinho Verde, Portugal
This is made in clay amphorae lined with beeswax. Deep gold in colour. Complex and intense with keen acidity under some citrus and pear fruit with a lively spiciness and an earthy, stony edge from the terracotta. Quite structured wit a grippy finish. Lively stuff that’s thought-provoking and delicious. I’m really impressed by this vintage. 94/100
Envinate Lousas Vinas de Aldea 2016 Ribeira Sacra, Spain
Supple, fine and expressive with lovely detailed, peppery cherry and raspberry fruit with a lovely smooth structure and a bit of grainy grip under the silky, sweet fruit. Compelling and vital, combining alluring fruit with complex texture and structure, and a slight sour cherry finish. There’s a very faint buscuitty edge here under the fruit. 95/100
Savage The Girl Next Door Syrah 2015 Cape Peninsula, South Africa
12.5% alcohol. Beautifully floral nose shows red cherries and some peppery spice. The palate is fresh, silky textured and nicely structured with midweight cherry and plum fruit and some fine supporting peppery spiciness. Seductive, elegant and fine: quite thrilling. 95/100
Jean-Claude Lapalu Beaujolais Villages 2017
Fresh and fine-grained with nice stony structure under the sweet cherry and plum fruit. Has lovely freshness and concentration with a bit of sour cherry on the finish. Benchmark Beaujolais with nice purity. Chilled down a bit this is so smashable, but has some seriousness, too. 93/100
Gut Oggau Josephine Rot 2015 Weinland, Austria
This is incredibly deeply coloured, and bustles with rich flavours of sour cherries, raspberries and blackcurrant. Grippy, peppery and edgy, with good structure and acidity. Very interesting, with some mineral reductive hints and just a little wildness. 93/100
Herve Souhaut La Souteronne 2016 Vin de France
12% alcohol. Juicy, lively, a bit spicy and with nice grainy, stony structure under the sweet cherry and plum fruit. Nice grip with a lovely drinkability. Some smoky, meaty notes adding interest, too. Lovely weight, with a smidgeon of natural wildness. This is smashable. 92/100
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Envinate Lousas Vinas de Aldea 2016 Ribeira Sacra, Spain
Supple, fine and expressive with lovely detailed, peppery cherry and raspberry fruit with a lovely smooth structure and a bit of grainy grip under the silky, sweet fruit. Compelling and vital, combining alluring fruit with complex texture and structure, and a slight sour cherry finish. There’s a very faint buscuitty edge here under the fruit. 95/100
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Reviews for "The Witch and the Beast: Unraveling the mysteries of its compelling start"
1. Emily - 1/5
"The Start of the Witch and the Beast was a total disappointment. The story lacked depth and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, making it difficult to stay engaged. The writing style was also quite dry and did not do justice to the potential of the concept. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read that failed to live up to its premise."
2. Mike - 2/5
I had high hopes for "The Start of the Witch and the Beast," but it fell short in many ways. The pacing was extremely slow, making it hard to stay invested in the story. The characters were one-dimensional and their motivations often felt forced and unrealistic. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, leaving me feeling disconnected from the setting. While the book had potential, it ultimately failed to deliver a compelling narrative. I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for an engaging fantasy read.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I found "The Start of the Witch and the Beast" to be a disappointing read. The writing was inconsistent, with some parts feeling rushed and others dragged on unnecessarily. The character development was weak, and I struggled to care about their fates. The romantic subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry between the characters. Overall, the book failed to capture my attention and left me feeling underwhelmed. I would advise others to look elsewhere for a more captivating fantasy novel.