The Witch Hunter

The Witch Hunter definitely ended up as a top favorite of mine in the fantasy genre. I really thought it was great!

One of the things I thought was great was the fact that this book is about a witch hunter. I've read a few books with a witch in the lead, so it's nice to have a change in that.

I thought Elizabeth was a good character. She had some flaws and that was great because I didn't want to read about another perfect heroine yet again. But even though she had flaws, she could still kick serious ass!

The story was really good and I loved the plot. My only negative point is John. Ugh. Yeah, I think I'm in the minority here but I thought he was so dull and I just didn't like him and Elizabeth together. I was more of a Caleb fan, to be honest.

The side characters were all awesome to read about. I loved Nicholas, Fifer, Schuyler (especially him!), George and of course Caleb. And Blackwell definitely was a topnotch villain.

Adventure, danger, romance and magic, The Witch Hunter has it all. Not to mention the friendships, which were awesome. I'm definitely a fan and can't wait for the second book!

When I first read the blurb for The Witch Hunter, I thought I would love this book and I couldn't wait to dive in. Then, I started seeing all the hype surrounding it, and I feared it wouldn't be as good as I was expecting it to be. I just tend to have a bad relationship with really hyped books... So I put it aside. Until now. And wow, did I like this book! Now I've actually finished reading it, I'm kicking myself for leaving it so long. It wasn't a disappointment at all! In fact, it's easily one of the best books I have read this year so far.

Right from the very start, I was immediately drawn into the story. The setting is an alternative 16th-century England where magic has been banned and witches and wizards are now being hunted by witch hunters, and I really enjoyed the way the author dealt with the world building. I could understand how things worked, and even some of the main events that had brought that situation to life without ever feeling like I had just been given a lecture in the history of Anglia. Of course, this is a fantasy novel, so most of the stuff that happens doesn't really make a lot of sense if closely examined, but I did find it easy to suspend disbelief and just go with it. The merit for this definitely goes to the writing. The descriptions weren't too heavy, the narrator wasn't overwhelming and most of the dialogue was really witty and well-constructed.

As for the characters themselves, I ended up really liking all of them. I had some difficulties getting attached to Elizabeth, the main character, initially. But as the story progressed, and she developed as a character developed, I started to feel a stronger connection with her. The growth she undertakes throughout the novel is just great, and I felt like I really saw her develop and mature in front of me. The romance was also really cute. I particularly liked how it developed slowly and didn't take over the whole plot. It was just there, on the sidelines, which is exactly where it should have been. I also liked how each of the secondary characters had a part to play to make sure that things went the way they were supposed to. Of course, not everyone's personalities were incredibly well developed, but I guess that's kind of normal when there are as many characters as there were here. I do hope we'll get to know those under-developed characters better in the sequel.

Overall, this was a really great read and I highly recommend it to everyone! A nicely-paced fantasy with good characters and settings. There were quite a few twists throughout, and even though a few very predictable, it did manage to surprise me a couple of times. Definitely a new favourite series for me!

Note: I received an e-arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

There are some really good novels that are targeted at YA’s but are enjoyable for those of all ages; this is one of them. The central character is Elizabeth a medieval witch hunter, who is betrayed by a childhood friend when he accuses her of witchcraft and she is jailed. This is the era in history where nearly everyone accused of witchcraft was condemned to death and she is sentenced to die at the stake. When she is rescued by those she has spent her life hunting her life is turned upside-down and her journey is filled with distrust, trickery and hatred as she begins to question everything she was brought up believing.

This is a wonderful book for both boy and girls, ages 13+; while there is violence there is not any sexual scenes or bad language. This is the first book in a two-part series but you are not left with a cliff*hanger ending and I look forward to reading the next book.

4.25 STARS **Receiving this book through the store Vine did not influence my rating or review of this book; all opinions are my own..**

Rating: 4.5 Death Curses

Magic, political intrigue, a subtle romance, and one bad-ass heroine who isn’t afraid to kill people! Need I say more?

Oh, so you want more information than that? All right then! First I want to get into the two things that are keeping me from giving The Witch Hunter a full five stars because it’s such an awesome fantasy and I’d really love to give it all the stars but something was nagging at me in the end during the showdown with the villain. Now the villain is a bad person but at the very end he/she seemed to act overly evil. It almost felt like they were being evil so that the story had a really heinous villain and an awesome showdown against him/her. I really hope the next book in the series shows more of his/her mentality and explains why they acted the way they acted. Specifically in regards to ***SPOILERS*** how he had no problem killing a girl who he spent years training. You’d think he’d get a little attached, at least enough to offer her the chance to come back and work for him especially considering he admitted she was one of his best hunters. Also I don’t understand why he didn’t kill King Malcolm as a child when he killed his father. I mean he would have become king and that was what he wanted right? Did he think it would have been suspicious if Malcolm died too? Or was he just satisfied being in control even if Malcolm was officially king? ***END OF SPOILERS*** The other thing keeping me from a full five stars was I a little disconnected from the story in the beginning even when exciting things were happening. I just wasn’t feeling the strong emotions I should have had considering what was happening. This went away after a while but for the first 100-150 pages my interest was just moderate. Then I got super into it and could hardly bear to put it down. But even when I wasn’t really feeling it I still enjoyed The Witch Hunter which is why I’ve only reduced half a star.

Now for all the things I love about The Witch Hunter! There’s Elizabeth who unlike most heroines will actually kill someone when it’s her life of theirs. I just find it really refreshing when I’ve read a lot of books about girls who are amazing fighters and in some cases supposedly trained to kill but are almost never willing to kill someone even when the other person is trying to kill them. She’s genuinely tough but without being overly cruel or a shirking damsel. Elizabeth was just a great main character and I really enjoyed being in her head.

I loved all the secondary characters and even some of the characters who where only around for one or two scenes. Every person seemed to have a specific voice or tone or some kind of thing that made their personality feel that it was distinctly theirs. Virginia Boecker has a real talent for making characters feel like a three-dimensional person and I feel like I understand everyone’s personality and motivations. One of my favorite characters is John the love interest.(although the romance in Witch Hunter is very minimal if that’s not your thing) He was so adorable and sweet! I just loved him to pieces!

The magic elements in The Witch Hunter are really superb especially ***SPOILERS*** the magic tree and the creatures that Elizabeth fought like those giant rat things. The death curse and the magic knots were also really interesting to me. ***END OF SPOILERS*** I can’t wait for more of that magic in the sequel!

The ending is fantastic, wrapping up parts of the plot but still leaving things to conquer in the next book. Exactly how I like series to start and I can tell it’s going to segue nicely.

Do I recommend and does it have reread potential? Definitely yes and I’ll probably reread or skim before reading the sequel.

I received a copy from the NOVL newsletter which in no way affected my review. PS. you can sign up for that newsletter and get GIFs of adorable puppies every month here>http://thenovl.com/

This is a totally fun to read young adult paranormal romance! Set in the 1500s, Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter. Her parents died of the plague when she was 11 years old and a boy named Caleb took her under his wing and together they were trained to be witch hunters. When Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft herself and put in prison, she is rescued by people working for Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom, because she has been designated in a prophesy. There is action, magic, betrayal, love and more action in this fun first book in what promises to be a fabulous series! I look forward to reading the next book.

"The Witch Hunter" by Virginia Boecker is a wonderful fantasy that immediately draws you into the life of Elizabeth Grey, one of the king's witch hunters. Alongside Caleb, the only family she's ever really known, she does what she's been taught by the fearsome and enigmatic Blackwell. But nothing is what it seems in this magical realm and when circumstances beyond her control place Elizabeth on the opposing side of Blackwell's wrath, destiny steps in and leads her to a group of people and a new way of life, one that will take her through fiery trials and the darkest of fears, but will ultimately give her a new life filled with hope and a future.

This is a breath-taking tale that will compel you to keep reading, giving rise to the question of whether the author has infused a little magic into the book itself.

The Witch Hunter, while it mixes and matches the usual YA fantasy tropes, is still a fun and fast read that kept me entertained. It has the standard kickass heroine, Elizabeth, a highly trained medieval witch hunter with a shameful secret. There is the standard handsome, quiet, young hero, John, who feels a mutual attraction to Elizabeth but he is a healer, one who practices witchcraft. The story would not be complete without their paths crossing due to circumstances beyond their control. And, despite their political, ideological, spiritual, whatever differences they must become comrades-in-arms. There is truly nothing new or surprising in The Witch Hunter but that does not detract from its charm. I devoured it in a day.

Although considered one of the king's best witch hunters, Elizabeth's shameful secret is revealed and she herself is accused of being a witch. Tossed into jail by the man who hired her and abandoned by a comrade hunter, her best friend since childhood, Elizabeth is sentenced to burn at the stake. But, her salvation comes in the form of an enemy: a wizard. Forsaken and sentenced to die in her own world, Elizabeth is rescued and suddenly surrounded by the criminal yet fascinating world of witches and ghosts and seers and believers in the art of magic and healing. And they need her help. Unable to return home, Elizabeth strikes a deal with the wizard.

There are some truly lovely moments in this book and, call me a romantic softie, I did find myself rooting for Elizabeth and John. I love the scene in the library with the magical tree and the description of the witches' party that Elizabeth attends with her frenemy, Fifer. Flashbacks to Elizabeth's training as a witch hunter are powerful. And I loved the loyal sidekick character, George, and the sexy, unpredictable revenant, Schuyler. But then there are scenes ruined by dialogue that is juvenile and annoying, like high school banter, and usually they involve the frenemy, Fifer. The identities of the bad guys and the semi-bad guys are too obvious, so there are no shocking twists. And the ending, while not a cliffhanger thank god, is rushed with all the pieces falling together in a matter of pages.

Apparently this is the first of two Witch Hunter novels so the stage is set. We know where all the characters stand. The only unanswered question is: will I read the next novel? Heck, yes. I enjoyed The Witch Hunter. It was charming and entertaining; perfect for a rainy day.

The author's flawless writing immediately drew me in to this fast paced, suspenseful fantasy novel about witches and magic, but also about fear, choice, personal and political change, instinct, trust and love. The heroine is Elizabeth who despite being unassuming and naive is a fierce and skilled witch hunter who knew nothing else but to carry out her duties with loyalty to the king. But her world gets turned upside down when she's accused of being a witch herself and can be saved only by the last person she would expect help from - - her worst enemy, Nicholas Perevil -- the most powerful and feared wizard of all. She must agree, however, to break a curse that's killing Perevil which, according to Veda, a seer, can only be broken by Elizabeth. To her disbelief, her friend Caleb has abandoned her, and with no other option she agrees to try and break the curse as she has no other chance for survival. Through her action packed journey, I felt just as anxious as Elizabeth about whether she was making the right choices or trusting the right people or whether her fate was predestined as foretold by Veda or could be changed. The story has magic and witches, but it's also about how Elizabeth grows and changes when new relationships with witches are forced upon her and her eyes are opened to the truth about witches, the people she had always believed in and the world she thought she understood. I'm not giving more details because no one likes a spoiler!

This book seems perfect for the range of teens (13 or 14) and up. There's no bad language and nothing sexually explicit (just a sweet underlying love story). It does refer to alcohol, has violence, witch chants and rodents, but nothing really intense in my opinion. I'm older than the targeted teen/young adult range, but I still appreciated the book and enjoyed it a ton because Boecker was able to draw me in with her keen writing and vivid descriptions of the characters and events so much that I could visualize how the characters looked and what was happening as I read the book and felt like I was right there with Elizabeth throughout her journey. That is fantasy writing at its best, in my opinion. Although I'm not a seer or psychic like Veda, I predict The Witch Hunter may turn into a series of books and could end up a movie! Elizabeth is such a great character, and the book was open ended. I would definitely read them if there were a series of books. My only criticism is that the end seemed a little rushed given all the build up to that point. But it's a great book and hard to believe it's Boecker's first book as it's definitely written like a pro.

WOW! The Witch Hunter is everything I hoped it would be and more! It has amazing characters, an interesting setting, and a unique plot that will have you shocked and on the edge of your seat!

I think the summary is spot on when it says a cross between Graceling and Game of Thrones. I love both of these to pieces so I knew this book was going to be for me. Virginia Boecker has definitely crafted something unique which I have found is hard to find these days. Her writing will draw you in and make you wish you were running right along side Elizabeth and John!

I have a feeling this book will be a huge hit this year. It combines everything I think readers will love and that 16th century London setting is just amazing! You will definitely not go wrong picking this book up!

I cannot believe how much I loved The Witch Hunter. I could not put it down. I listened to it every free minute I could, even sitting in my car longer than I needed to just so I could get a couple more sentences. I NEED the rest of the series right now. I must binge. The audiobook was read by Nicola Barber and was 10 hours, 4 minutes long.

Likes:
The story was unique, new and refreshing. I loved that it was about the normal “fantasy” characters – witches, the undead, creatures, ect, but it didn’t feel like anything I had read before.
The writing was amazing. Virgina Boecker, I bow down to you. I loved the writing, the style and the plot. I would love to sit down and have coffee with her someday! Very inspiring.
Characters. I cannot say enough about her characters. They were all so well-developed, even the side characters. I loved Elizabeth’s character arc and her timeline.
Swoon girls, swoon. John. I just want to reach into the book and pull him out (let’s not tell my husband about this). It was definitely love at first word with John. He is MY OTP! Back off ladies, he is taken!
I cannot wait to see how this series goes. I have to tell you that one reason I admired and loved this first book so much was that it was a full story. There was a complete plot and climax, but it also lead right into the rest of the series. That is high on my needs list for series I love.
Nicola was an amazing narrator. I actually searched for more books that she narrated just because I enjoyed listening to her story telling so much.

Gripes:
Are you kidding?! There is nothing I can say bad here. FIVE STARS!

Oh, Virginia Boecker, what have you done to me? You've positively ruined the rest of my 2015. How ever shall I continue to read books knowing that I'll forever be comparing them to the absolute epicness of 'The Witch Hunter'?

This book is beyond phenomenal. The characters are rich and diverse with just enough dark to make them irresistible. The plot is thickly woven with magic, adventure, betrayal, love and of course, a true rebellion with a cause.

This book has made it onto my favorites list and Ms. Boecker has quickly climbed to the top of my new favorite authors list.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have discovered her writing and cannot wait to read more from her.

I liked this story. It was very different from what I was expecting it to be. It seems very real yet it isn't. Virginia has a book to make you think. I can't say it's paranormal but it has lots of Magic at work here. Caleb and Elizabeth are the best Witch Hunter's. Nicholas and John are using Magic to help people. Nicholas has been cursed and is dying. Elizabeth was caught breaking the Magic laws and was sent to burn. Major Spoilers. She gets away and now is working for her opposition. This is one spoiler after another. Check this book out. It got better the more you read. There is a lot of fighting and action. This could be a story you will really like. Don't let it get away! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.

The Witch Hunter is one of those rare reads where you feel so immersed in the story and culture (alternate 16th century England) that you forget to put the laundry in the dryer and the bathtub nearly overflows. Elizabeth is the only female witch hunter in her country, part an elite group that hunts down witches to be burned at the stake. The stakes (ha) are raised when she is accused of being a witch hunter herself, and she finds refuge with the people who used to be her enemies, while trying to figure out how to prove her innocence. Boecker's strength as a writer is not just her ability to paint a scene so vividly you believe you're in it, but also in giving her heroine tough choices where the answer is not always obvious, and her 'fight' to do the right thing is what we admire about her. I loved this book, and you will, too.

First and foremost, the statement printed on the outside of this book that reads, "The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut", well, I find that a bit misleading with a lot wishful thinking. Having read the Graceling and considering it one of my top 10 books, this book is a pale comparison. As to placing it in the same vein as Game of Thrones, that is absurd in my mind. Game of Thrones is a sprawling, multilayered series, while The Witch Hunter seems much more one dimensional and simplistic.

I picked out this book based on the above statement and was pretty excited to start reading it. The BAM! By the end of the first chapter , I felt like it was just another young adult read with a lead character that did not impress me. The main character, Elizabeth, comes across as a childish teenager who happens to have fighting skills that don't match her personality. She is a witch hunter, one of the best apparently, and she doesn't kill people, but knowingly hands them over to her "boss", Blackwell, so they can ultimately be burned at the stake. She doesn't think twice about what she does and has clearly drank the KoolAid that Blackwell has given to her. In Graceling, Katsa is also like an enforcer, but has much more inner turmoil about what she does and she has a brooding personality to reflect her profession, while Elizabeth treats her job like a kid who doesn't seem to understand what she is doing.

Without giving much away, Elizabeth gets into trouble, gets rescued and (in my mind) continues to be blind by thinking about how to hurt her rescuers even though they have done nothing bad to her. There are a handful of other characters in the book, and when one is said to stick their tongue out at another person, I can't help but roll my eyes a bit. I struggled to finish this book, but do admit that finally about halfway through the action started to pick up and it wasn't so plodding to read. I realize I am in the minority here about loving this book, and maybe for the middle school group, this book is fine, but when you expect Graceling/Game of Thrones, you are bound to be disappointed.

I give the book a 2.5, I didn't hate it by any means, but I had no emotional investment in it. A single match is to a roaring fire as Witch Hunter is to Graceling. My analogy.

I really loved this book the story was interesting and a take on a topic that I never really paid much attention to before, which would be around the time of the Salem witch trials and witch burnings.

The story follows our 16 female protagonists Elizabeth, who like her best friend Celeb is a Witch Hunter. Elizabeth has hated magic since she was a young child, knowing that her parents were killed by the use of magic to great the plague. She soon learns that magic isn’t all that bad and can be used to help people making her see the wrongs she has done by capturing other witch’s and wizard’s.

The story opens with Elizabeth and Celeb doing their general witch hunting, and with Elizabeth making a massive mistake by breaking one of the rules. This leads us into the local bar where she then proceeds to get drunk. From here the story begins to bloom into an amazing adventure filled with Magic, Mystery and a thrilling suspense. We meet some great characters such as Nicholas, the most wanted Wizard in Anglia, John a healer who is also a pirate's son, George the King's fool who is also spy for Nicholas and the beautiful Fifer a witch in training under the guidance of Nicholas himself.

What I really love about these characters is that they are different from each other, and that it plays highly on the phase “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.

Elizabeth is also a very strong person, and this is shown through out the book at different stages as well as a very caring person who continually thinks of others before herself. This has become very common in a lot of YA books especially for protagonists who do not wish to gain anything from their actions.

Of course as many YA books, there is a bit of romance within the air, and thankfully the romance that develops and grows with the characters in a very tasteful way, although it can be seen from early on in the story. With romance there is also friendships, some happen so fast blink and you miss it but others take time to manifest with the help of something happening first.

I did find some things similar to other books I have read, although I don’t see that as a bad thing since this story is still very original. What I find very similar is how friendships are form, the romance development and the protagonists who just happens to get caught up in everything without wanting it etc.

I really liked the Virginia’s writing style it felt as though Elizabeth was the one who was telling you the story of what was or had happened and that he flowed well and didn’t go over your head at all. It was imaginative and creative.

I’ve given this story a 5 out of 5 stars cause I truly enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing and look forward to reading about Elizabeth’s next adventure.

Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter in an alternate 16th century England. When she is accused of witchcraft herself (for a heartbreaking reason) and sentenced to burn at the stake, she is busted free by and falls under the protection of the wizard who was once her greatest enemy. As she spends more time with the wizard and his group of followers, she comes to question the rightness of her former occupation, ultimately facing the decision of whether to abandon her best friend (and love interest, and fellow witch-hunter) forever, or to join the cause of her new friends. This book is full of thrilling fantasy and adventure characters and scenes—even a little Arthurian lore—that is certain to please any reader of fantasy, adventure, or romance.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fresh and intriguing with sharp personalities and interesting little quirks/traits. They developed as the story went along and interacted in brilliant ways. I also really enjoyed the plot. We have a lot of stories about fantasy and magick but not many about those who may be on the other side of it, and probably even less who are originally in the story as a prosecutor or hunter of those who possess magick.

The words and prose were mesmerizing. It was nothing incredibly...complex and ethereal, per se, but it was intelligent and conjured the images that a great story teller should.

I highly recommend this book for young adults as well as any reader interested in historical fiction with magick. This was brilliant and I eagerly look forward to Ms. Boecker's next installment...

This book, man , this book ...
The story is great if you love fantasy and witches. Besides look at that gorgeous cover.

We have this girl that is wrongly accused of witchcraft and she is rescued from jail by the biggest and powerful wizard of the entire kingdom in exchange that she will break the curse lay upon the wizard.

I had my doubts to continue the book because at the middle it got a little bit of tedious but man, I am glad I finish it, the final was awesome and adorable.

*Characters: You will love all of them, except one miserable and little person.
*World: It's a great world and the book have a beautiful map.
*Narrative: Steady and in first person.
*Story: Unique.
*The cover: Read the book and you will understand the meaning of the beautiful symbol.

Give it a chance, it's worth it and it's a fresh unique story.

This book is AMAZING. It was everything I wanted and more. The story is gripping, it has you hooked from page one forgetting the outside world. Seriously. It’s a really wonderful blend of 16th century England and magical elements. Boecker does a fantastic job at world building and explaining necessary details without going overboard with info-dumps. There is action, romance, witches, wizards, pirates and a bad ass female protagonist. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of 2015.

Entertaining YA read. Elizabeth is a witch hunter of exceptional skill who is betrayed by the people who trained her and finds her only allies a group of magic practitioners. Despite both her and their misgivings, they agree to work together to overthrow the evil villain who is intent on taking over the kingdom. The pacing and characterization in this book were quite good. The descriptions of Elizabeth's training and many of the fight scenes were particularly gory, and there is some kissing and romantic tension. I'd save this for at least a young teen and not younger. That said, I enjoyed the book and found it well worth the time to read.

Book #30 Read in 2015
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (YA)

This was a good paranormal, young adult book. Elizabeth is a witch hunter...which is exactly as it sounds. She is then found with witch's herbs in her possession and jailed as a witch. Nicholas, a famous wizard, rescues her in the hopes that she will be able to fulfill a prophecy that might save his life. Will she? This book was a good, quick read. It had elements of suspense, humor and romance. I enjoyed it. I received a copy of this book from the the store Vine program in exchange for a honest review.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

I would like to thank Orchard Press for allowing me an ARC of this book for an open and honest review.

I am in two minds with this book. I absolutely and utterly LOVED the story… right up to the end. I found it a fun, enticing and highly enjoyable read that had my ‘One more chapter’ mantra going into the small hours of the night… day. But I felt the ending really fell flat and let it down. We went from a fast paced and exciting story do a bit of an anti-climactic moment followed by a few brief pages and then it was done. Not saying this is the case, but it felt as if the author hit her required word count and then put her pen down.

Now I do believe this book is the first in a series and there is more to come, but that is still no excuse to finish it with such an ending. A cliff hanger, an apparent ‘all lived happily ever after… or did they?’ moment. They would have worked. But not what we got. It’s really left me feeling disappointed and has made me mark the book down for lower than the rest of it really deserved.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT story. It just needed a better ending. I mean, to let you know how much I really did enjoy this book, the electronic copy I received got corrupted on the download. And I didn’t realise this until after it had been archived (so I couldn’t try again). This meant any time a sentence began with ‘Th’ or the letter ‘f’ was used in most words… the f and the letter next to it were missing. So, sentences beginning with ‘the’ or ‘There’ became ‘e’ and ‘ere’. Fireplace became ‘ireplace’ and so on. And yet, despite noticing this issue within the first few pages... Those pages had me so hooked I just had to keep reading. So it was a good book. And possibly why I was so disappointed with the ending? I put up with digital issues to read and you ended it like this? How could you! ;-)

Seriously, this is a great book and yes I WILL be looking for the next one. Why? The characters are engaging, the world it’s set in (though not historically accurate) is still believable and very visual. The story idea is a mixture of old themes with a gorgeous flourish of new life and vibrancy. It is a good book. Just brace yourself for the flat ending and pray for the next book to be ready soon so you can pick the adventure back up. I know I will be. I want to read on… So well done.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Though I might suggest people wait until the next book in the series is out so you can just pick it up where this one stops. I have to wait and do hope the next book picks up in a good spot and throws us all back into the fray.

Would I buy this book myself? Yes, I really would. But if I’m getting it as an eBook I hope the digital corruption issues I had in my ARC have been fixed in the finished piece.

I look forward to seeing where this story/ series takes me and I can’t wait to hear the next book is out.

A great new story for lovers of the magical world around us.

This is definitely ok as far as YA fiction goes. It's readable and has a certain amount of action and romance in it. The main problem is that it's highly predictable and you're likely to have the feeling that you've read this before. However, if you're a YA fantasy fan, give it a try. If you're not looking for fresh and innovative plotting but just want an easy to read fantasy adventure, you should like it.

The Witch Hunter brought me back to my first year of discovering the YA genre, when I was craving an adventure, compelling set of characters, a brave strong heroine, and a sweet romance. I loved this book. I especially liked seeing a strong-willed confident woman fighting for what she believes… and when she is shown—lovingly, gently—of how wrong she is, turns around to fight for what she knows is right. Beautifully written, full of adventure and excitement and very hard choices, The Witch Hunter is the great start of an awesome new series!

THE WITCH HUNTER is described as “The magic and suspense of GRACELING meet the political intrigue and unrest of GAME OF THRONES in this riveting fantasy debut.”

Uhm, no. It’s not.

First, let me say I’m really tired of publishers describing books as “X meets Y.” I understand why they do it, but when the book is neither, it’s incredibly misleading. And believe me, most of the time those comparisons are untrue.

So what is THE WITCH HUNTER? It’s an average YA fantasy. There were times it was good and times I wondered why I wasn’t in love with it like everyone else seemed to be. The writing is decent and the book is readable. But the plot is predictable and there’s not a lot of memorable stuff.

Elizabeth is a witch hunter, one of the best, but lately she’s been distracted and has made mistakes. When she’s discovered with herbs in her pocket, she’s sentenced to death, just like all the witches she’s captured. And then when she’s rescued by Anglia’s most wanted wizard, she starts to question everything she’s been told.

THE WITCH HUNTER has a historical setting, but it’s not really developed. Anglia is basically 16th century England with witches. Elizabeth is sexually abused by the king, but her feelings on this are never explored; it’s just a thing to get her into trouble. I would’ve expected some reaction, especially when she crushes on John, the cute wizard healer. The plus about their romance is the author doesn’t go the insta-love route, but I’m not sure why John liked Elizabeth.

For me, THE WITCH HUNTER is one of those books I enjoyed while reading and that’s it. If I thought more about it, I’d probably rate it lower, so I’ll stop here. It’s not a book that’ll stick with me, but that’s okay.

This is actually a pretty great book! I am becoming an even bigger fan of YA fantasy because of books like this. But I guess I expected too much and it just didn't meet that expectation. I really hope the next book (which I believe to be the last) would be better, more action-packed and more swoon inducing. I already love the writing, the world and the characters but I just need more.

Definitely looking forward to book two!

Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2015/06/arc-review-witch-hunter-by-virginia.html

in short

The mixed reviews around the blogoverse made me a little nervous for The Witch Hunter, but I set those aside and dove in with an open mind. I'm pleased that I gave it a chance. The Witch Hunter is a fun, light fantasy without pretensions. It's charm comes from a spunky, utterly competent heroine, a sweet romance, and a madcap adventure sort of plot. Fans of the dark, gritty fantasy trend, with lots of angst and pathos, may be disappointed. The tone here is little more commercial and a little less deeply philosophical than, say, Throne of Glass. It also reads a little younger. However, take it for what it is and there's a great deal to enjoy: magic, pirates, ancient swords, ridiculously swoony healers, snarky demons, ghost butlers, and a fast-paced plot. I may not gush over it the way I have with other fantasies, but I really had a lot of fun with it.

in depth

it's a fun, frothy fantasy adventure
Don't listen to the blurb when it compares this book to Graceling and Game of Thrones. It's neither as slow-moving (don't hate me) and character-driven as Graceling, nor anywhere near as grave, twisty, or dark as Game of Thrones. The Witch Hunter is the candy of the fantasy world. It follows the adventures of master witch hunter Elizabeth, condemned to die for possessing illegal magical herbs and saved by Nicholas Perevil, a powerful and cursed wizard. He pledges to hide her from the witch hunters if she'll break his curse. In the process, she falls head over heels with a sweet young healer, befriends a demon, fights a ghost butler with dead geese, and wields an ancient sword. Boecker makes some stabs at gravity with Elizabeth's inner angsty fears of being alone, but never enough to derail what's truly a swashbuckling sort of adventure.

with charming characters.
Many people will probably hate Elizabeth. She's sort of spastic. She's not always the cleverest. I didn't mind. I found her much preferable to some of the saccharine sweethearts served up in other fantasies. Elizabeth is a badass witch hunter. She know's it. She's a bit in love with her best friend, but not enough to distract her. I appreciated that. Nicholas is a little less central than expected; you mostly come to know him through the fierce admiration of his underlings. There's John, an absolutely refreshing love interest. He's not a bad boy. He's not untouchable or brooding. He's just a really sweet guy who likes to joke and would die for his friends. How novel! I loved it. Fifer was a little more difficult to pin down, seeming somewhat different depending on which half of the novel we were in, and Blackwell was basically your typical supervillain. These aren't deeply drawn people. They're a bit exaggerated. They're just fun.

the writing is a bit simplistic
And that's really the crux of it. There's much here to entertain, but it's done with a sort of commercial appeal. You can think of it somewhere between Ella Enchanted the book and Ella Enchanted the god-why-did-you-make-that movie (these being the poles on a spectrum from breathtaking to horrifying). Most of the writing is solid, but it's nothing special. There were few points at which I thought, "Yes, that!" Some of the dialogue is quite funny, but much of it reads more like a bouncy contemporary than a fantasy. Every time the characters used modern teenage slang, I was yanked out of the world and had to dig my way back in. It's just...okay.

and the plot begs some suspension of disbelief
And that okayness carries over into the plotting. There's nothing overtly wrong with it. Boecker has a keen sense of pacing. It's probably what kept me reading through some of the muddier parts. I really wanted to know what would happen next. But it's commercial fantasy. I thought a lot of the movie Dungeons and Dragons while I read this. The Witch Hunter is similarly hand-wavey with its explanations, similarly over-the-top and tropey. But I have a great fondness for that movie, even though I know it's flimsy. Sometimes, you just need a fun adventure, and you don't need it to be Pulitzer-worthy. Blackwell is a paper villain. The sword, Azoth, is utterly too convenient and not well explained. There is an eye-rolly number of coincidences. If that bothers you, maybe consider another book.

but ultimately, it delivers on its promise of excitement.
If you can set that aside, then there is much to enjoy. Boecker writes with an underlying humor and liveliness that kept my interest. She also has a certain flair for the cinematic. Her fight scenes were pretty epic. The one scene, a fight between Elizabeth and a ghost butler mostly involving dead fowl as weapons, was just hilarious. Some of the magical scenes towards the end were really atmospheric. I also cared enough about the characters that I wanted to see them succeed and felt nervous for them when danger drew near. Plus, she so neatly avoids a love triangle that I wanted to clap. The Witch Hunter probably won't make it on my Best Of lists, and it certainly doesn't eclipse the intricate brilliance of Throne of Glass or even Graceling. Then, it doesn't need to.

in a sentence

The Witch Hunter is a fun, frothy fantasy. While it leans too heavily on tropes, it certainly delivers an exciting adventure for anyone seeking a light summer read.

The thing about The Witch Hunter is that I expected something dark and really intense. I expected a horrible and violent group of witch hunters, a terrified community, an action-packed plot. And that is not what I got. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just what I really wanted, so I was a little disappointed.

The Witch Hunter is really a much lighter fantasy that the synopsis led to me believe. Don't get me wrong, it's a very fun and quick book. But the "political unrest" on the levels of Game of Thrones absolutely did not happen. Instead, we have your typical ban on magic - which is, thankfully, explained for once, though not in depth enough - and a group of people who have been trained to hunt those who use magic. They unquestioningly follow Blackwell. Political intrigue and unrest? Not even close. Politics are barely involved, besides one man's thirst for the throne. And although it was important to the plot, we never really got to see it, I feel like. In Game of Thrones, the stakes are so high. We see countless men and women die because these people want the throne. In The Witch Hunter, I didn't fear for anyone's life. One person I didn't even care about may have died, but I highly doubt he did.

"Nothing good comes to a girl after midnight."

Honestly, I didn't really care all that much about what happened to the characters in this novel. Sure, Elizabeth is fun, strong, and clever. I didn't hate her. I just didn't feel 100% invested in her, you know? She didn't feel fully developed to me. She's caught with witch herbs, which is what starts all of this, and I really feel for her situation. But not for her.

Elizabeth finds a little crew in the witches, and they're definitely entertaining! While these characters also didn't feel fully developed to me, their interactions with each other were fun to read about as they tried to work together. George was probably my favorite; he was definitely the funniest. There is, of course, a romance that develops with John, but it's a romance that lacks chemistry. Lacks anything besides "Oh, that's kinda cute." Romance definitely DOES NOT take a front seat here, though, which was a refreshing change.

"How did you survive?"
"Because I was afraid to do anything except live."

In addition, this book supposedly takes place in the 1500s. The dates are stated multiple times throughout the book. But that is absolutely not the vibe I got. They don't speak like that AT ALL. There's really nothing to indicate that this would take place in the 1500s besides the dates being stated. And the topic of witches and witch hunters, I suppose, but I would have rather the dates not been stated at all and I could just assume this was taking place in a fantasy world, you know.

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't have been able to get through this if the characters spoke like they did in the 1500s. But I don't get the point of stating that this is when it takes place and then not following through at all. I think I've seen the author say that it takes place in alternate reality England, but I still would have simply preferred for no date to be mentioned at all. That's super nitpicky of me, though.

Blackwell as a villain fell really short for me. I either like my villains totally morally conflicted or hardcore evil. He was neither. He was just . . . boring. There was nothing unique about him. Maybe if he had once been kind to Elizabeth, been a sort of father figure to her, I would have appreciated his betrayal more. But it was all just so bland.

"It's only now I realize how deep that plague of ambition has spread inside him. Like a disease, it rules him now: his thoughts, his actions, the things he chooses to see, the things he chooses to ignore. And, like a disease, one day it will be the death of him."

Nicholas Perevil, our resident Dumbledore, is a character I'm interested in seeing more of. He's intriguing, but as he's sick, he doesn't get much time in this novel. He's an incredibly powerful wizard and I would love to see some internal conflict from him.

In terms of the plot, I believe my biggest problem is that it's all focused on this one single event. And it wasn't a particularly exciting one. As I mentioned earlier, I never felt like the stakes were very high, and I think that's what contributed to my disinterest in the big goal - finding the cursed tablet to cure Nicholas. It's just a fairly linear plot, so to speak, and I wish some other stuff had been thrown in there to keep me interested.

Overall: As usual, this ended up sounding more negative than I intended. I enjoyed the dialogue and the fun characters. If you like light fantasies, then I would definitely suggest you check this one out. And if you don't, I would still suggest you check it out - as long as you understand that you're not getting into a dark and heavy novel but a much lighter and quicker one. 3 stars.

Original Review Link: http://asdreamsaremade.com/2015/06/book-tuesday-the-witch-hunter/

This book was…good.

Elizabeth is one of the Kingdom’s finest witch hunters. Along with her friend Caleb it’s her mission to find any and all magic and eradicate it. The tables are turned when she is accused of being a witch herself and sentenced to burn at the stake. The man she thought was her number one enemy, Nicholas Perevil, now becomes her savior. She agrees to help him break the curse that’s been laid upon him, but her quest leads her to question her own beliefs and what she always thought was right and wrong.

Like I said earlier, this book was good. It wasn’t bad, it wasn’t amazing, it was good. I think what didn’t really drive me over the edge with this one was the characters seemed a bit one dimensional. I mean, some of them were funny and witty, but, with the exception of Elizabeth, I don’t think we really get to the meat of them. I think if we had seen a bit more character development, I wouldn’t have felt so detached.

The plot moved pretty fast, but it seemed a bit predictable at times. Especially regarding allegiances and motives.

I mean we all saw where that was heading right???

Like I was saying earlier however, some of the characters would make decisions solely based on instinct and then change their minds later on in the book. It just seemed a bit convenient at times. I did enjoy Fifer and her no nonsense hoity-ness. George was amusing. John was just a good soul. They all seemed to be filling a stereotype though and I would have liked to have seen more.

Also, was it just me, or did anybody else picture Blackwell as Septimus in Stardust?

I know. Completely random, but their characters just seemed so similar to me for some reason! Ok back to the review!

The world building was well done and I have a feeling we’ll see more history in the forthcoming installments. The ending left you feeling satisfied even if it did suffer from a bit of “tied-with-a-bow” syndrome. I will probably pick up the next installment, because I did enjoy this one; I was just hoping for a bit more than I got.

I didn't know what to expect with Virginia Boecker's novel. Elizabeth Grey is the title character who, along with her unrequited love, storms across Britain ridding the land of magic and magic users. She's a very by the book person until the day she is accused of being a witch. Taken in by the ill Nicholas Perevil,a powerful wizard, she sets out on a quest for freedom and self discovery.

At first, the writing felt like a campy horror story, in the vein of ARMY OF DARKNESS or THE MUMMY movies. But when it's revealed why Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft, all campiness flees like an exorcised ghost. This book has so many surprises cleverly paced throughout the book that you have to keep reading. And Ms. Boecker's only scratched the surface. The more you read on, the more supernatural creatures are revealed; not just ghosts and ghouls, but nymphs, revenants, and even demons. It's a very fun world where everything blends together seamlessly.

Elizabeth is a tough, gritty person who has a great sense of humor regardless of her circumstances. She never feels sorry for herself or complains about her circumstances. This is a girl who can wield a sword and holds her own in a fight. I enjoyed going on this journey with her. Her companions are very atypical at first: Fifer is a tiny girl who hates her guts but becomes her friend, the stoic unlikely mentor in Nicholas, the funny yet loyal George, and the hot, composed healer John; however, you are given time to step into their shoes until you see what makes them tick.

There are a few things I can quibble about. I liked the book, but I could put it down and break. The plot about who was behind making magic illegal was a bit predictable. But the thing that got me most was the use of common slang. The book's taking place in what I'm assuming is the Dark Ages of England, yet the characters say "I dunno" or "okay." All grumbling aside, these are very minor critiques. I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what Ms. Boecker plans next.

THE WITCH HUNTER will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about books of the year. The fully-realized alternate 16th century London setting combined with the most well-developed world building I’ve read in a long time make for a book that is compulsively readable. The protagonist, Elizabeth, is bad ass and wicked smart. Oh how I loved the secondary characters (Fifer!). And the boys…the boys! Dibs on John!

I need book two in my life immediately. Virginia Boecker is one skilled author.

THE WITCH HUNTER features an interesting cast of characters, unique dilemmas and lots of danger.

I didn't love Elizabeth Grey from the moment she was introduced, it took me time to connect with her. I found her to be super tough, but way too set in her ways and beliefs. That is to be expected in the way she was raised, but I was pushing her to be more open to things way before she finally was. She is SO stubborn.

I wasn't that pulled into the reason as to why Elizabeth was arrested. It didn't feel real in the sense that I was expecting MORE to happen for her to get sentenced to burn and the reason's behind her actions were a pretty good excuse.

The romance in THE WITCH HUNTER was very light, but sweet. Elizabeth has always loved her best friend Caleb, but John changes things for her. There is a lot of love hate going on for all involved due to who Elizabet is/was, but I was rooting for the same person for the whole book.

THE WITCH HUNTER was a fun read. There were a few slow parts and I wish some things would have been explored more, but I had no problem staying interested in the story. I'm not 100% sure that I would read more of this series, but it's on my radar.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Witch Hunter and will be looking for the sequel. I predicted basically all of the plot turns, but that doesn't have to be a deal breaker unless you want your books to constantly keep you guessing. Even if it was a bit predictable, it was a fun ride and the flawed but engaging main character and interesting and well-developed cast of supporting characters kept me turning the pages.

Sissy: I was drawn into the story immediately and couldn't put the book down through magic and plot twists, a storyline I couldn't predict, and a true romance that was not immediately apparent.
Bubby: I especially appreciate how author Virginia Boecker told a complete story but still left room for another book (oh please oh please!) without leaving us dangling off the edge of the proverbial cliff. Read full review at www.bubblebath-books.com

I think this book was AWSOME!!!! Although there was some stuff i didn't get. When Elizabeth put her hand on her pocket, at first I thought she was just doing that as a sign of nervousness but I never did come to the conclusion that what she was holding was the witched herbs until i read the book a 3rd time. But over all I love this book! The plot was amazing I felt like i was in the story it self. Fell in love with the characters, I think it did leave some plot holes in the characters life, which was fine in my opinoin it left a mystery feel to it. Overall i think this book was amazing and I would read the whole series!

My son the reluctant reader is LOVING this book. I hardly have to remind him to do his daily reading, he is enjoying it so much! Enough fast-paced adventure to keep him interested, with just a touch of romance, enough to keep the girls happy but not to enough to make the boys cringe.

Keeps the interest high and. of course, leaves you waiting anxiously for the next installment.

I loved this book. Strong characters, magic, wizards, witches, good, and evil. This book had them all. Elizabeth, the main character, a sixteen-year-old girl, was easy to identify with even by a senior citizen. I can't wait to read the next book.

I really enjoyed reading The Witch Hunter. I love reading books about witches and being drawn in to a completely other world. Virginia Boecker did a wonderful job of creating this other world and it's cast of characters. Elizabeth was easy to sympathize with and I loved being sucked into her story. This book is perfect for fans of YA fantasy fiction!

Simply fantastic. I love YA fantasy, and The Witch Hunter reminded of all the reasons why.

The tables have been turned on Elizabeth Grey. For years, she's served the king, as one the greatest witch hunters of the realm. Now she's on the run, hunted by the one man she's always trusted and cared for, a fellow hunter. Elizabeth's been accused of witchcraft, and there's no going home.

Enemies may or may not be allies. Secrets and spells will unravel. Prophecies will upend fortunes, unmask fates, and foreshadow the truth.

Elizabeth is the hunted now.

Don't miss this one. It's sure to make plenty of "Best of '15" lists.

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker is a phenomenal debut young adult fantasy book full of magic, mystery, trust and self discovery. Check out my detailed review on my blog Books I Love A Latte via wordpress.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, this does not affect my opinion AT ALL!

I didn’t really know what The Witch Hunter was about since it was one of Brianna’s requested books. I just thought the cover looked cool and the title sounded like an action packed, witch hunting story. Well there was action, but there wasn’t a lot of witch hunting.

What I Liked:
I’ve never read a book with witch hunters in it before. I’ve played The Witcher Wild Hunt but a Witcher isn’t exactly a Witch Hunter..they aren’t alike and if I were to chose the one I’d like better, I’d say I liked The Witcher better. Sorry…I just couldn’t get into this book! One thing I LOVED about this book was how the action scenes were written. They were descriptive so the whole book was pretty much a movie in my head (I didn’t really like The Witch Hunter, but it’d be a GREAT movie!) The author also did a GREAT job creating and writing monsters, they were creepy and wonderfully done *cue the applause*! Another thing is that the Kingdom is called Anglia (I think it’s missing an ‘e’ and an ‘n’ because it’s really supposed to be Angelina because the Kingdom is MINE!) *
*She is kidding about the kingdom being hers :) because it is MINE! -Brianna

What I Didn't Like:
The main character had an issue with trusting the nice people, which I guess is understandable, for me though, I found it a bit annoying. She should have realized that someone would find out who she was…but like I said her lack of trust made sense. And can we please all glare at one certain character *GLARE* *ENDLESS GLARE* I NEVER liked him anyways…but still! One of the main issues I had with The Witch Hunter was the lack of actual Witch Hunting. Perhaps I was a bit misguided by the title and disappointed by not reading the plot first (this was, after all, a book Brianna originally wanted to read) but I was sad. I wanted more Witch Hunting, more evil witches that cackled under a full moon with their black cats and whatnot.

Overall:
I still suggest you give The Witch Hunter a try because you might like it! I expected more witch hunting and it sadly didn’t deliver. But the DESCRIPTION and DETAIL were A-MAZIN’!!!!

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

Elizabeth has devoted much of her life so far to becoming one of the best witch hunters in the kingdom. She has worked hard and has earned a stellar reputation that has even drawn notice of the king. But in a surprising twist she stands accused of witchcraft and all of that work seems in vain. The accusations are the first clue that things are not at all as they seem in the kingdom, and Elizabeth soon learns the conspiracy runs far deeper than she could have imagined. She is but a single small target in a larger plot that makes an ally of the enemy and turns friend to foe. Elizabeth learns she will have to rely on those she previously worked against if she’s going to save the kingdom, even if she might not be able to save herself.

Virginia Boecker has created a unique and engaging fantasy world that made for a fun and interesting read. Elizabeth’s journey from hero to purported villain and her quest to save her kingdom, her friends, and her name feels like it could be the start of an epic story. The characters, the plot twists, and the magic of this world all combine to create something that is certainly worth reading.

The ending feels a bit more unresolved than I would have liked, but since this is clearly the beginning of a series, that’s likely forgiven in that more resolution will hopefully be given in the next book. I recommend checking this out if you’re looking for a new YA fantasy world in which to immerse yourself.

A wonderful debut novel that I can already tell will be a great series.
The plot was fast paced and made the book nearly impossible to put down. I was reading it while also running the lights for a play because I couldn't make myself stop.
This book did have it's draw backs. It was slightly predictable at some points and I found myself often annoyed with certain character, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
3.5/5 stars