Name: Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches
ISBN: 9781732569928

Michel Guyon

Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches

The audiobook ARC was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really like this book. It has some Spirderwick vibes - it's just magical in the same way.
You follow two simultaneous stories. One is Archibald himself as he is trying to understand what has he gotten himself into, and the other one is his sister as she is trying to solve the mystery that is her brothers' disappearance.
Both kids encounter interesting allies and enemies along the way and their stories are interesting making this book quite easy to finish in one sitting.

The audiobook is great. The narrator does an amazing job.

Some spoiler-ish notes below:

I must note that there are some topics that some readers might think are outdated like Archibald having to pose as a girl since the world is full of female witches and him not liking that. (you know the old girl-stuff, boy stuff discussions)... But I don't know... I liked the story and it didn't bother me that much. Maybe it might bother someone else...


Regardless the story is interesting and it might be a cool series.

everlinet

I’m not a fan of middle grade that much anymore, or I usually I Am not in the mood for them. 
But first of all, this book is very beautifully made. The hardcover is good quality, the dust jacket very smooth. The illustrations inside the book are MAGICAL. It brings so many childhood memories. You can feel the mysterious and beautiful atmosphere of it. 
The story itself is very cute, I think very suitable for 12-13 years old readers. But even for adults that seek nostalgia of childhood. Plus the book is very funny and cute, so it’s not boring at all. 
I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but mainly it’s because I am having hard time getting into middle grade lately. Other than that, it was fun and I enjoyed it. Especially the illustrations that basically created the atmosphere.

Cath

This book is just made for the nostalgic, the daydreamers, and the adventurers. There's lots of unique, magical elements going around in the book, while still keeping the family dynamic true to the story. It's amazing to see that family plays a huge part in this book. Most Fantasy novels don't really explore family elements in general , so it's always nice to read about it whenever I get the chance to come across it in a book. The characters are so loveable and charismatic, and the story just sucks you right in! All this talk about antique stores, an old manor, a thousand year old secret, and witches just makes the book brim with so much atmosphere <3 So much Halloween/Autumnal vibes! It's just perfect. October has made me become a major mood reader, and Archibald Finch topped my reading game this month with its immersive story and charming characters. 

This book switches back and forth between two perspectives - one Hailee who lives in London, and the other of her brother who gets sucked into a world called Lemurea. The transition between both perspectives was done so well! Alongside the magical creatures and wars, we also get to venture around Central London. We get to see a world where witches fight and beasts dwell, but we also get to follow the perspective of a young girl experiencing real life problems. Hailee is lost and upset, but she's also curious and strong. Archibald is brilliant and a tad ignorant, but he's loving and sensitive. Both Hailee and Archibald grow as characters in different ways, which was an absolute delight to see. Although I did enjoy both perspectives, I was definitely more keen to read Hailee's perspective. The setting and antagonist just appealed more to me. Whilst I did enjoy the world of Marodors, Lemurea still remains an unexplored world. It needs more depth and room for the characters to grow and the world to expand. But I know this is only the beginning of Archibald Finch! I can tell that the next book will have lots more in store for us readers! 

Archibald Finch and The Lost Witches is the perfect fantastical coming of age story. It's action-a=packed, enigmatic, and super charming. I'm not usually one for Middle-grade Fantasy books, but Archibald has my heart<3 I enjoyed every second of it! Please, please pick this book up if you haven't thought of doing so already! 

Many thanks to Michel Guyon for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! :)

Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches

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