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The Near Witch by V. E. Schwab

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The Near Witch

The Near Witch Series (Related to this series)

Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Publish Date
12 March 2019
Run Time
9 hours 28 minutes
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

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What to expect

“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.

This new edition of The Near Witch also included the in-universe short story “The Ash-Born Boy” and a never-before-seen introduction from V. E. Schwab.

Critics Review

  • “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.com

  • “Part fairy tale, part legend with a little romance, this well-written mystery will capture the attention of teens…The ending of the story is intense, and young adults will read frantically to discover the outcome.”

    School Library Journal

  • “Schwab’s debut, a story of forbidden love, ancient magic, and unearthed secrets, surpasses the stereotypical teen witch novel through rich language and an entrancing story. With its bleak, Brontë-like setting and its relatable and realistic young couple, this will have immediate appeal.”

    Booklist

  • “This highly atmospheric debut crackles with tension and has a shivery horror tang…Part mourning and healing tale, part restless ghost story, the strengths here are Lexi’s sophisticated characterization (strong, sad, fiercely protective) and the extraordinary sense of place.”

    Kirkus Reviews

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Details

Author
V. E. Schwab
Narrator
Heather Wilds
Duration
9 hours 28 minutes
Release Date
12 March 2019
ISBN
9781982648244
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Genre
Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction

Synopsis

“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.This new edition of The Near Witch also included the in-universe short story “The Ash-Born Boy” and a never-before-seen introduction from V. E. Schwab.

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