Review'd: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Book Review:
TItle: The Near Witch
Author: Victoria Schwab
Published: August 2nd 2011 by Hyperion Books CH
Source: Much thanks to Brooke from Brooke Reports for the ARC
Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
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.

And 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. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
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.

DeLibrarie (Nic) Review:
I was very lucky to get to read this ARC because I absolutely fell in love with it. The Near Witch brings you into a somewhat fairy tale-like world and presents believable, loveable characters. You're rooting for Lexi the entire time and you hate those that get in her way just as much as she does. It's a quick read because the story takes place over about a week, maybe less than that. And the writing style is perfect. You forget that you're reading and become completely engrossed in the world of Near. For those of you who read specifically for the amazing guys in YA fiction, The Near Witch has a great love story with a loveable guy but it's not the main plot of the story; it's just another part of the overall story. So don't expect something revolving around a relationship like in Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; there's a lot more going on in this story. Though the romance was perfect when it did come up; it made you ache to have a relationship like theirs. It doesn't have a modern setting but it's very realistic and it speaks to your heart. This is an amazing story that will leave you dreaming of witches, moors, and love for a very long time. I know I intend on buying it as soon as it comes out so that I can read it again. This is officially one of my favorite novels and I hope you all enjoy it, too!