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V. E. Schwab

Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch Hardcover – March 12, 2019

by V. E. Schwab (Author)

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S BEST YA OF THE DECADE NEW YORK TIMES bestseller
Brand new edition of Victoria Schwab's long out-of-print, stunning debut.

All-new deluxe edition of an out-of-print gem, containing in-universe short story "The Ash-Born Boy" and a never-before-seen introduction from V.E. Schwab.

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.

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.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion.

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.

Reading age

12 - 17 years
Print length

360 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

8.4 x 5.25 x 1.2 inches
Publisher

Titan Books
Publication date

March 12, 2019
ISBN-10

1789091128
ISBN-13

978-1789091120
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Best YA of the Decade List - Entertainment Weekly

“gorgeous new release” - Entertainment Weekly

“we’re ready for it to come roaring back” - B&N SFF Blog

“If you missed Schwab's debut novel when it first appeared, now's your chance to get on board.” - Kirkus Reviews

“we’re ready for it to come roaring back” - Barnes & Noble Bookseller Picks for March

“Situated in the sweet spot of the supernatural and the melancholy alongside works like The Ocean at the End of the Lane, [The Near Witch] boasts the dark and inviting sensibilities of fairy tales” - Barnes & Noble SFF Blog

“a delicate, yet powerful novel that succeeds equally as either a journey back to the beginning or as a first tumble down the rabbit hole and into your next author obsession” - Barnes & Noble SFF Blog

“an absolutely beautiful story...you can truly see her future works twinkling in the background” 4.5* - mall3tg1rl

"[has] that timeless allure, like a fairy tale or legend you can pick up five, ten, or twenty years from now and still have its setting and mood resonate with readers" - The Bibliosanctum

“an entirely unique and original story with an exquisitely painted world and for a debut novel, it’s so well written and well done” - Travel the Shelves

“The prose is beautifully written, and the characters will take residence in your heart” 5* - Her Campus

“The prose is beautifully written, and the characters will take residence in your heart” 5* - Books in the Skye

“the most gorgeous kind of fairytale, yet it feels like the kind of thing that’s just odd enough to be real, and I mean it when I tell you that this was easily one of the best books I’ve read all year, and will undoubtedly go down as one of my favorite books, period” 5* - Howling Libraries

“a modern classic that will undoubtedly be regarded as a masterpiece within its own genre by future generations” - Risingshadow

“I loved getting to see themes in The Near Witch that I know become staples of her books...If you’ve read and loved other books by Schwab, I highly recommend sitting down with her debut.” - Bookish Staff Picks

“Schwab is truly a talented storyteller...Her characters are so well written that by the time you finish the story you feel as though you know them.” 4* - Misadventures of a Reader

"A slow but intense gothic romance set in the atmospheric winds of the moors, where a witch’s whisper can just barely be heard" - Buzzfeed

About the Author

V.E. Schwab is the No.1 New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including This Savage Song and the Darker Shade of Magic series, whose first book was described as "a classic work of fantasy" by Deborah Harkness. It was one of Waterstones' Best Fantasy Books of 2015, The Guardian's Best Science Fiction novels, and a Telegraph choice. The Independent has called her "The natural successor to Diana Wynne Jones."

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titan Books (March 12, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1789091128
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1789091120
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.4 x 5.25 x 1.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #135,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #541 in Teen & Young Adult Wizards & Witches Fantasy
- #1,793 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
- #2,177 in Folklore (Books)

Customer Reviews:
913 ratings

About the authors

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V. E. Schwab
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VICTORIA “V. E.” SCHWAB is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the Cassidy Blake series and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Her work has received critical acclaim, translated into over two dozen languages, and optioned for television and film. First Kill – a YA vampire series based on Schwab’s short story of the same name – is currently in the works at Netflix with Emma Roberts’ Belletrist Productions producing. When she's not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.
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Victoria Schwab
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Victoria "V.E." Schwab is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, This Savage Song, Our Dark Duet, City of Ghosts and Vicious. Her work has received critical acclaim, has been featured in the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post, and more, has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and has been optioned for television and film. When she's not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Nashville and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

5 star		61%
4 star		21%
3 star		14%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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InfirmBookworm

Schwab just had IT from the beginning! 4.5 Stars!

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Her first book, here now in re-reprint, is like getting to read a long-lost little gem. Yeah, it’s very “YA” and a few times I felt the main protagonists’ relationship was a bit rushed, as is sometimes a staple in the older “YA” books, but all this is easily looked passed and forgiven for such an interesting and new story. I love Schwab’s take on witches in this book, it’s refreshing and even a little brave, considering all the HP knock-offs out there. The only thing that really ever bothered me, was (and this may have been on purpose?) I could never really get a feel for what time period we were supposed to be in. I just made my best guess and went along.

The version of the book I just finished also had “The Ash-Born Boy” included at the end, which was a nice treat to get a backstory on one particular character that I will not name here for fear of spoilers, but it was a great addition to the main story of The Near Witch.

Just a quick note to add—any of you Audible members who might think about purchasing the Audible version of this book - DON’T!! I’ve been a member w/Audible for over 3 years now and THIS was the only book I’ve ever returned! I HATED to do that too, because I like to support my fav authors, but the Narrator is absolutely ridiculous! She sounds like my British-voiced Siri trying to read me a book. It’s truly unlistenable—the worse I’ve heard. But by all means—go buy yourself the actual physical book, or download the Kindle version. You will not be disappointed!

30 people found this helpful

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MAP

A hauntingly beautiful tale

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2019

Verified Purchase

Lexi Harris lives in the village of Near. Secluded in the vast stretches of the moor, Near and its residents live a quiet, if mundane, existence. That is until a strange, ethereal boy arrives in town. As young children begin to go missing in the middle of the night, the outsider is blamed, but Lexi is convinced a dark, older, more nefarious entity is behind the disappearances: The Near Witch. A story filled with magic, love, and heart, VE Schwab's THE NEAR WITCH is an absolutely beautiful read.

I will always freely admit i am a massive VE Schwab fan. THE NEAR WITCH seems different than her other works. As her first novel, THE NEAR WITCH is smaller, a more intimate story. Her characters don't quite have the complexity she is now known for, but you can see the beginnings of everything to come. Lexi is stubborn and filled with angst and conviction. She's the character you want to root for. Cole's mystery is what seems compelling. The love story is alright, but it is secondary to the overall conflict.

There are many themes throughout: family, love, acceptance, isolation. Everything is brought together well but unexceptionally.

What truly sets this book apart is the absolutely gorgeous writing and amazing setting/atmosphere. Schwab has a lyrical storytelling quality that makes you feel the grass of the moors at your feet, see the wind blown trees, and connect with the natural rhythm and beauty of Near just like Lexi does. This has become one of my favorite books for the writing alone.

THE NEAR WITCH is one of those hauntingly beautiful books you should crack open on a blustery, rainy night. It is subtle, quiet, and unimposing, but settles around you like a comfortable blanket. There is something familiar in the tale of witches and young love that makes this simple story a treat to experience. I have a feeling I'm going to read this book again and again.

25 people found this helpful

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K. J. Avila

If you're a fan of fairy tales, then this should definitely be your next read!

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

My first encounter with V.E. Schwab's work was her Shades of Magic series, and I immediately fell in love. So when I heard that her out-of-print debut was around the corner, I didn't hesitate to hit that pre-order button. I knew I was in for a treat and I was not disappointed!

As the blurb says, this story is part fairy tale and part love story. The narrative centers around a young woman who lives in a small town, trapped by the expectations of the men around her, but aching to follow in her late father's footsteps. She's wise beyond her years, and living in that special point of adolescence/young adulthood where she hovers between relating to children and wanting to be an adult, taken seriously by her seniors. Add to that that the men in her life are dismissive of her ideas on the basis of her needing to stay in her place as a girl, and that makes for a great heroine with a righteous rebellious streak. Lexi doesn't care what rules she has to break if it means saving the people she cares about.

The world of this book is one I didn't want to leave. Its mythos, while simple, was so well-developed and immersive that it felt like it could be real. My favorite kind of fantasy is the kind that feels like it could be happening in real life, and fairy tales that manage to spin magic with a touch of realism are my kryptonite. It made me wish the story was longer, if only so I could spend more time in that world.

I think my favorite part of the story, however, was how the character that should have been the prince in shining armor was more of a damsel in distress. Lexi was very much in command, and though she had many forces acting against her, she never really needed saving, or felt helpless, and was fully capable of kicking ass and doing what needed doing. Cole, on the other hand, while valiant and brave, played more of the role of the person that needed saving. This story had the familiarity of a fairy tale, but has a unique spin to it I wasn't expecting.

All in all, if you're a fan of fairy tales (think Holly Black's work), then this should definitely be your next read!

14 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Hannah

reminiscent of a fairy or old folk tale

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

I won't lie, I was a little nervous going in. This is the book where it all began, and I love Schwab's work so much. But writing styles change, and the craft develops. I was worried I'd find it lacking compared to the masterpieces she writes now.

I can confirm, it is not.

Schwab has written an introduction for this version, in it she calls it a quiet book. Compared to the wild adventures of ADSOM and the thrills of Vicious - it is. But it isn't any less wonderful.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑵𝒆𝒂𝒓

The story feels like an old tale. Lexi talks about the stories her father used to tell - and I feel like the book could have been one of them. It's eerie, feels almost like a ghost story. I love the stranger - and at the end of my copy (not sure if it's all) there's a short story showing his origins that I adored too.

Now, I do absolutely love Schwab's work, so I could be biased - but I'd definitely recommend. There is one of my least favourite tropes, instalove, but I don't mind it so much in this story. Probably as it's reminiscent of a fairytale.

5 people found this helpful

Lennie Reads

Beautifully eerie

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

"Funny how when we start to tell a secret, we can't stop. Something falls open in us, and the sheer momentum of letting go pushes us on."

Haunting, spooky, dreamlike debut novel from one of my all time favourite authors.

I loved our main protagonists, Lexi & Cole, their relationship was so sweet and heart warming. I really enjoyed Lexi's resilience and determination and Cole was the sweetest and his trepidation broke my heart a little. This book included the short story (The Ash-Born Boy) and that just solidified all my feelings for my precious Cole.

The setting of the village of Near is so eerie and creepy, and that coupled with the descriptions of the moor gave me such a vivid image in my head I felt like I could almost smell the grass!

This book deals with superstitions, witches, community mindset (for better or worse), seclusion and society expectations.

The whole effect of the book was dreamlike; Cole and his blurred edges, the singing wind, the darkness.. it all gave me the feeling of when you're half asleep and you're not sure what is real.

This book is fantastic in itself but the fact that it was Schwab's debut novel and she wrote it at the age of 19 just makes me even more in awe of her. She is a born writer and I absolutely love all of her work.

One person found this helpful

Laura Fenwick

Loved it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

This was honestly wonderful. I adore Schwab’s style of writing in this. I love the steady, easy rhythm of the writing and the beautiful imagery, describing the rolling moors and the howling wind and darkness of the nights.

Lexi, our young hero, is a force to be reconned with. She struggles to do what she feels is right due to the men of Near who overlook and belittle her, trying to control her. This was in utter contrast to how she was treated by the women around her, and I loved how those who knew her best encouraged her to be true to herself.

Schwab’s story of Lexi’s hunt for the truth seems to effortlessly take us through a whirlwind of emotions; anger, fear, faith, love and desperation, to name a few, with the help of a well rounded supporting cast, including my favourites; Magda and Dreska, to my least favourite; Tyler.

Covering a number of important themes, like prejudice, fear and belonging, Schwab sprinkles a little bit of magic to bring together this unique and lovely story.

The Girl With the Plants and Books!

This woman can do no wrong!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

After tearing through the City of Ghosts and Tunnel of Bones, my youngest bookworm was desperate to try another Victoria Schwab book. Because I wasn't quite sure how appropriate the Dark Shadow series would be for her (she is nearly 12 but with a reading age of 15) I went for The Near Witch instead.
As I expected, she devoured this and absolutely loves it. I don't quite know what it is about Schwab but she just seems to have the magic touch with her stories and style.

2 people found this helpful

Kaz

Good enough read, but disappointing ending

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

I would have given this book 4 stars if not for the end. A good enough story, well constructed and written, albeit not of the most profound or analytical. But the end comes rather suddenly. It is rushed, somewhat incoherent (how did some of the characters left behind get back before the one who ran ahead of the group?) and a little confused, with new questions emerging but no answer coming, nor are the questions raised from the start of the book resolved either. Before you know it, it's all over and all is well that ends well. That's it, folks! Oh, really? Just like that? OK...

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