Welcome to Litsy!

I liked the writing up until the last bit where the end felt rushed, a big lead up to a quick result and then all was good. Some questions remain so I think the end could have been developed further to make a more complete story..

Schwab is one of my favorite authors and The Near Witch did not disappoint! I had a couple of strange and creepy dreams last night, but nothing overly scary. I've earned another 125 points for #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

Overall, it was a fine book for a debut novel. You can see the bones of a good writer and if it wasn‘t an audiobook to listen to while cleaning, I probably would have bailed. I wasn‘t invested in the characters or story line but as someone who‘s really enjoyed Schwab‘s other work, it was nice to see where she started. I‘d recommend skipping this story for one of her later works and only read this if your obsessed and read everything else.

It‘s a slow start to my morning and Merlin is on the same page with me of a lazy Monday morning. Hoping to get a couple hours of my audiobook (tagged) in today while puttering around. Still not loving it, but not hating it enough to bail.

How do you decide if you‘re going to bail on a book?

Started my next audiobook this afternoon. Not loving it so far, but I know it‘s a debut novel so I‘m willing to hang on a bit longer than I might typically.
However, my moment of shock when I thought, “wow, Schwab‘s written a lot of stories over the last 2 years” before realizing 2019 was 4 years ago 😅

A cozy little folk tale for Halloween.👻🎃

- All I knew about this one before reading were (1) it's by Schwab—her debut novel—and (2) there's a witch
- First-person narrative (maybe the only 1 of her books? At least from the ones I've read. Bonus story's in 3rd-person, though)
- Quick read but it wasn't easy
- Not bad but her later books are definitely better
- So far, I don't like Schwab + romance

I know my father's story.

This, for those who don't know, is a book about magic.

It is also a book about fear.

Specifically, about the fear of the inside toward the outside, the antagonism between those who belong, and those who don't. Little did I know then that it would become a theme so central to my work.

This book was a bit more YA than I anticipated with an insta-love type story that I found lacking development (as is usually the case with that trope). But STILL, VE Schwab has an incredible way of world building and making these fantasy and witchy books very vibrant and easy to fall into. you can tell this is her debut, as her later books are better but I enjoyed this story and liked Cole as a character.

So, I get the mixed reviews with this book. The mythology and setting were lovely, but the rest of it falls flat. The majority of the book is obnoxiously cloying YA insta love. Many reviewers warned me of this, but it was still worse than I anticipated. The narrative itself is also super flat. It‘s a shame, because there‘s a lot of potential here.

A witchy tale, good for October reading. It‘s atmospheric, with a nice mystery at its centre, but it could do away with the romance part 🙄. Overall, it felt ‘meh‘. Her City of Ghosts, Cassidy Blake series are much more enjoyable.

#AuthorAMonth

My #AAM choice this month did not disappoint. I really love Schwab‘s Shades of Magic and Villains series, so was excited to read her debut, a witchy fantasy. It‘s fairly YA and has a bit of annoying insta-love in it, but the spooky vibe, the village witches, and the mysterious goings-on kept me listening attentively. Very good audiobook choice for the season!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Is it just me or was anyone else bothered by the amount of 'touching' in this story? Lots of fingers being suddenly intertwined without there having been any character or relationship development. A cute read still 3.5 🌟
#aamveschwab #scarathlon #teamhendrix #spookoweenathon #wickedathon #outstandingoctober
#screamathon week 3 #hocuspocus and #ominousoctober #dontjudgeabook #roaringwolf

Here are my books finished for #outstandingoctoberreadathon
There was one more “You Are a Badass” but I bailed in the 3rd chapter

@Andrew65

“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.

There are no strangers in the town of Near.

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

This started out so well! But it lost me halfway through. Maybe it was the clunky narration. But the tone and mood gave it potential

#authoramonth2021
#bookspinbingo

Another audiobook victim of my poor attention span recently. This was a Gaiman-esque fairy tale. I‘ve loved others by Schwab, so I am hoping this was just a outlier for me. I might have enjoyed it better as a book, since I had a hard time getting into the narration. The narrator sounded like a 49 year old woman narrating a teenager in the first person. This audiobook edition also included The Ash Born Boy novella. #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

I really enjoyed this one! Lexi is convinced that the Near Witch is to blame for the disappearance of the children in the village. The villagers are convinced that the stranger is to blame, not the Near Witch who they believe is dead. Lexi must convince them in time to save the stranger.
@Soubhiville #AuthorAMonth

Friday morning #coffeeandabook on this extra day off this week- all schools in the district are closed today because of the homecoming festivities at the local university.

I‘m surprised by the low rating — I loved this as a quick spooky YA read. In my head, I pictured this akin to a Tim Burton/Roald Dahl piece. Spooky but with an edge and a dash of whimsy. I‘m surprised no film iteration came of it — Cole gave me similar vibes to Thackery Binx when I watched Hocus Pocus as a child. 👻🧟‍♀️ #AuthorAMonth

This was a quick,.young adult fantasy read. I found the cadence of the narrator to be difficult. They stoped at odd places throughout the story and so it was difficult to get into the story. It had some great plot movement throughout the story and I liked the ending. This should be read, not listened to. 3.5 stars for me.

Another great read by V.E. Schwab. I enjoyed the story and the lore of the world. The ending was a little predictable for me, but I don't think that takes away from the creation of the story.

Excellent YA audio!

Took me until chapter 13 to get into the story - not the story's fault. Then it was smooth sailing until way past my bedtime.

Low pick: YA decision making. 🥴 A tiny love triangle. Breaths that were held without the breather's notice. 😵

I found this first novel by VE Schwab difficult to stay invested in. The author herself describes it as a “quiet book” and that‘s a great way to explain it. It‘s a nice story, but perhaps lacking in the sort of details needed to make it more compelling. I also wonder if my Covid-affected attention span is the problem. Try it.
Meanwhile, that‘s a dusting of snow out the window. With 70s forecasted in a few days. #springinmichigan #puremichigan

New Audiobooks! #BookHaul

Tried to read the book then moved to the audio version. The narrator didn't grab my attention but happy that I finished it, it's a good story but would've loved more of the fairytale inserts about the witch. More storytelling from the sisters. Excited to read some of Schwab's other stuff.

Not a bad read, but predictable and the writing style didn‘t hold my interest at times. Early effort from Schwab.

I could read V.E. Schwab's writing all day. She just has a way with words that is so immaculate and profound. I love how her characters are so well developed without being boring. And her relationships are just amazing. A love that is all consuming but not clingy and annoying. She just has an amazing way with words and a great mind for astonishing stories ❤

I had originally planned on reading a ton of vampire books this fall, but I actually have been reading a lot of books about witches! 🎃💖📚 It must be the season of the witch! 😁🎵🎵🎵

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This may be V.E. Schwab‘s debut, but it was still well-written. My major criticism of this book would be that the romance between Lexi and Cole was very rushed and that moments of the book were predictable. In addition, my edition included a short story of Cole‘s backstory and it was probably the most heart-wrenching short story I‘ve read in a long time and I wish it was included in the actual story as it is so well done.

This one was just OK. I know this was her debut novel and it read like that. The characters lacked depth especially the minor characters. The plot was a little awkward. Specifically I felt one small part could have been cut out entirely. It was redundant and nothing happened to move the story forward. A bit more world building was needed. Her later books are a night and day difference. I am glad I didn't read this one first or I might not have⬇️

Here are Day 8 results for #Scarathon2020 and #screamathon2020 I finished The Near Witch last night and worked more on A Discovery of Witches. I am surprised at how much I have been able to read this month. 🧡🧛‍♂️🖤🧙‍♀️🎃📚

@StayCurious @4thhouseontheleft
Points = 61

I don‘t read much fantasy, but I occasionally like something witchy, so I thought I‘d give this a try. It really didn‘t work for me. Lots of filler writing, ludicrous insta-love, and an audio reader with a deeply annoying, choppy cadence. Nope. (I know lots of people love this author, so, sorry!)

#bookspinbingo audio edition

Day 5 results are in! I read a total of 5 hours and worked on these two books. Love those vampires and witches! 🖤🧛‍♀️🧙‍♀️ Points = 51

#Screamathon2020 @4thhouseontheleft
#Scarathon2020 @StayCurious #TeamHarkness

Got this gem today on sale at Goodwill. I need to go back when I have more time to look around. Now to decontaminate!

The Near Witch - 2.5 ⭐️

#unpopularopinion V.E. Schwab is just not for me. I get this was her debut book, but just couldn‘t connect with the MC. I should‘ve been rooting for her. Instead, I was detached. An intriguing and somewhat endearingly naïve premise that read a bit too bumbling and awkward. Full review on GR.

Another #bookspin bingo space filled – one more until my first Aug bingo!

I love taking dust jackets off of hardbacks and finding fun designs on the book cover. 💜

Starting this one today. I really liked City of Ghosts, but didn‘t care for Shades of Magic. So we‘ll see how this one goes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book is so atmospheric & moody - Schwab takes on some well-used ideas: isolated townspeople, independent female not listening to male relatives, misunderstood witches on the outskirts of town, etc. but uses them in ways that though they feel familiar, don‘t feel repetitive. There was enough action & suspense driving the plot, and I appreciated that it all for wrapped up in the end. This is a fun one for sure!

My current listen while I do some sketching, it‘s been years since I put real effort back into my art. This year though I have really dived into Audiobooks, and my library is exploding with new ones so what better way to mindlessly sketch and get back in the grove then listening to a book!! So far I am enjoying it, the writing style is a bit awkward to me but I like the story idea.

"Fear is a strange thing", "it has the power to make people close their eyes, turn away. Nothing good grows out if fear."

This was cute, but felt a bit dragged out.
The story didn't flow as her more recent books does, but as a Debut it's not bad.
I think if I read it before reading her other work I would have found it better.

I've read this as my #DebutNovel #ReadWithMrBook

Great escape, myth and legend and mystery to engage a reader. Love this author and recommend this book!

This story was wonderful, magical, and also a little spooky. Its truly a great tale of lore. Definitely recommend!