Once upon a time, in a small village nestled amidst a dense forest, there lived a witch. The villagers had always been wary of her, believing in the age-old tales of her dark magic and sinister ways. However, little did they know that there was more to the witch than met the eye. Deep within the woods, the witch’s cottage stood tall, surrounded by overgrown foliage and an eerie silence. Many claimed to have seen strange occurrences around her dwelling – glowing orbs, twinkling lights, and even peculiar sounds. These rumors only fueled the villagers' fear and suspicion towards the witch.
4. Incredible Friendship Across the Board
A whole lot of this story is wrapped within incredible friendships. It creates some wonderful found family bonds but also Tea’s bond with her brother is never forgotten either. The two are always mindful of each other, giving them space and protection as and when is needed. Additionally seeing all the found family friendships bloom and grow over the trilogy is wonderful.
The story begins when a bard arrives to the beach where the exiled bone witch lives surrounded by the bones and skulls of monstrous creatures, bones that she uses to resurrect the daeva seven of them ; she raises each one of these creatures from the dead and orders them to die again in an attempt to tame them. You can be the most powerful witch in the land, but you will always have a weakness, and that will always make you believe you have no power when someone exploits it.
These rumors only fueled the villagers' fear and suspicion towards the witch. As the seasons changed, the villagers became more curious about the witch and her powers. They wondered about the secrets she held within the depths of her abode.
BOOK REVIEW: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Hello everyone. Welcome back to Bibliophilia Book Reviews. Today I will review The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco, the first book of The Bone Witch trilogy. I first saw this book at Barnes and Noble and bought it primarily for its gorgeous cover. This review has spoilers. For more information about this author and her books, visit her website here.
“Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there’s anything I’ve learned from him in the years since, is that the dead hide truths as well as the living.”
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco is a fantasy young adult novel about a girl, Tea, who discovers that she is a necromancer—or bone witch—when she raises her brother Fox from the dead. Consequently, she is taken from her home in Knightscross to train as an asha—or magic wielder—at the Valerian (school for ashas) in Kion, where she is inevitably immersed in the politics of the kingdoms and immediately at odds with the elders of the asha association. The book consists of two intertwined stories—one in the present, where a bard relates his experiences with the young bone witch as she is telling him her story, and another in the past where Tea is telling her story to the bard in the form of flashbacks.
The story begins when a bard arrives to the beach where the exiled bone witch lives surrounded by the bones and skulls of monstrous creatures, bones that she uses to resurrect the daeva (seven of them); she raises each one of these creatures from the dead and orders them to die again in an attempt to tame them. Each chapter contains a passage in italics where we are told the story in the now, which is narrated by the bard, and a flashback where we are told the story in the past, whose narrator is Tea. Neither storyline converges by the end of the first book. The story ends however where it began, with the main character exactly in the same place (in the past) she was in when the story started (in the present). In other words, at the beach in the Sea of Skulls. Thus the story structure is a circle, so technically they do converge but only at the end of the entire trilogy.
One brave adventurer decided to take matters into his own hands and ventured into the forest to uncover the truth about the witch. The adventurer followed a barely visible path through the thickets, until he stumbled upon an old book abandoned on the forest floor. Its dusty pages revealed the origin of the witch, providing insight into her struggles and journey towards embracing the mystic arts. It detailed her desire to protect and heal, rather than cause harm. Intrigued by what he read, the adventurer continued his trek until he reached the outskirts of the witch's cottage. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door, unsure of what awaited him on the other side. To his surprise, the witch eagerly welcomed him inside, revealing a humble abode filled with healing herbs, crystals, and potions. As they spoke, the adventurer learned about the witch's true intentions – to help the villagers in times of need. She explained that her spells were not meant to harm, but rather to bring positive change and healing. Over time, the villagers' misconceptions had caused her to retreat into solitude, leading to her reputation as a sinister figure. Seeing the witch's sincerity and kind-hearted nature, the adventurer decided to share the truth with the villagers. He held a gathering in the village square and spoke about his encounter with the witch in the woods. Many listened with skepticism, but some began to question their blind fear. In an act of bravery and curiosity, a few villagers followed the adventurer into the woods, eager to meet the witch themselves. As they stepped foot into her cottage, the once overwhelming fear dissolved into warmth and acceptance. The witch, now surrounded by open hearts, shared her knowledge and offered her services to the village. From that day forward, the witch in the woods became an integral part of the village community. Her remarkable abilities and unique perspective enriched the lives of the villagers. Through understanding and acceptance, the villagers learned that sometimes one must look beyond appearances and rumors to truly discover the goodness that lies within..
Reviews for "The Witch in the Woods Switch: A Bridge Between Nature and the Supernatural"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Witch in the Woods Switch," but I was left disappointed. The story lacked depth and had a predictable plot. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions felt forced and unnatural. I also found the writing style to be dull and unengaging. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity for an interesting and unique storyline.
2. Ryan - 1 star - "Witch in the Woods Switch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was so cliché and unoriginal that I could barely finish the book. The dialogue was unrealistic and the characters were forgettable. The attempts at humor fell flat, and there was no emotional depth or tension in the story. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy novel.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch in the Woods Switch," but unfortunately, it fell short. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The world-building was lacking, leaving me with little understanding of the magical elements in the story. The main character was hard to relate to, and her motivations were unclear. Overall, the book left me feeling unsatisfied and wishing for more depth and coherence.