The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Source: Publisher

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

The Near Witch is haunting and poetic. Each word reads like a fairy tale from ages ago and you can't help loving every moment that you are on this spectacular journey. I really liked Lexi. She is trying to figure out who she is and what she believes in. She was very stubborn, strong, and clever. She also didn't give into pressure and wasn't afraid to take a risk. The romance between Cole and Lexi was very sweet. I like that it slowly built up. The setting of Near was perfect. It is a small town, full of fears, mostly from stories and legends. Schwab's writing made it creepy at times and made you guess what would happen next. The setting really helped the plot. The plot is exciting at times, there are a few slow parts that make it drag, but it is made up by the characters and setting. The plot was really unique and surprised me along the way. Schwab's writing was amazing. I enjoyed Near Witch. It was fresh and unlike anything that I have read. It was an amazing book that I highly recommend that you read as soon as possible.