Name: The Apprentice Witch
ISBN: 9781549036767

James E. Nicol

Sent away in disgrace after failing her witch's assessment, Arianwyn learns that the remote community where she works as a magic apprentice is under the shadow of a dark hex infestation.

The Apprentice Witch

James Nicol

A special middle grade debut of magic and courage in a world of witches, written with the charm and enchantment of Circus Mirandus and The Apothecary. Arianwyn has flunked her witch's assessment: She's doomed. Declared an apprentice and sent to the town of Lull in disgrace, she may never become a real witch-- much to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma. But remote Lull is not as boring as it seems. Strange things are sighted in the woods, a dangerous infestation of hex creeps throughout the town, and a mysterious magical visitor arrives with his eye on her. With every spirit banished, creature helped, and spell cast, Arianwyn starts to get the hang of being a witch--even if she's only an apprentice. But the worst still lies ahead. For a sinister darkness has begun to haunt her spells, and there may be much more at stake than just her pride . . . for Arianwyn and the entire land.

Ariel Himboi

I chose to DNF this book at page 85. Unfortunately I found this book very long in a way that the book is very short in terms of story. There were several moments where descriptions went on for too long, and I do feel that the author was working on world-building far too soon in the story when we are just beginning to learn more about the characters in the story.

The reason I continued for as long as I did was because I looked forward to the character development of our MC, Arianwyn, the Witch Apprentice who is sent to Lull, an old fashioned town where darkness awaits her and her trial to becoming a full witch. It was an interesting premise enough but otherwise lacked in several areas. Not to mention, grammatical errors are really hard to ignore!

I suppose it is my own fault for wanting to read a children's book ( a genre I have no intention in reading ) but I did hope that literate would translate in different ages and styles. It seems like this book wasn't that book.

Some of the things I did not like:

One, being the repitiitious writing used by the author. Not just the, "He said", "She said" or "She gasped", but also the repetitive phrases that appear far too often every two chapters. It was mind boggling to lie in bed while reading and feel like someone was describing a shot by shot frame of a movie!

Now, it wasn't as bas as a book that someone couldn't get a few chapters into as I made it to eleven, but it is definitely not in my taste but I have no doubts that someone else will like it more than I do.

On a last note I found the chapter titles to be very lame and lacking in content. I do think it would be better off with just starting the chapters with a number. Though others' might like a title like, "___ Goes To Town" it was very frustrating to read when a new chapter started every two pages.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.

The Apprentice Witch

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