The Near Witch

I liked that the writing in The Near Witch was very atmospheric (even though it sometimes got on my nerves and felt as though Schwab was trying too hard) and that there was a strong sense of mystery while I was reading. Even when I was most annoyed by the writing style, I still was intent upon solving the mystery and getting to the end of the story; the strength of the book is the story line and the suspense. The present tense sometimes feels awkward, though, and the characters were often unbelievable and/or annoying. Overall, I did not enjoy it, and while it might still be enjoyed by younger or less picky readers, I can think of plenty of similar books that are written much better.

Emma, 17