kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
A beguiling book if a little too gobsmacked with the religious analogies.
cn_scott's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
craftysilicate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lisalark's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5. Very creative, weird, new, fun writing, somehow never quite gelled for me, personally. I'd rec to fans of Gregor the Overlander, Kingfisher/Vernon fans.
pnw_michelle's review against another edition
5.0
I'd never heard of this book or of John Schoffstall, but happened upon it at my local library. This is why the library is an authors best friend, and a readers too! I would maybe never have heard of this book if not for the library.
ANYWAY. Half-Witch is delightfully quirky, darker than it seems, sometimes gruesome, sometimes touching, sometimes funny, ALWAYS irreverent and unexpected. While it is nothing at all like The Princess Bride, I think people who enjoyed that book will enjoy this one. Ditto John Barnes' One for the Morning Glory: this isn't LIKE that, but it scratches a similar itch. LOVE.
ANYWAY. Half-Witch is delightfully quirky, darker than it seems, sometimes gruesome, sometimes touching, sometimes funny, ALWAYS irreverent and unexpected. While it is nothing at all like The Princess Bride, I think people who enjoyed that book will enjoy this one. Ditto John Barnes' One for the Morning Glory: this isn't LIKE that, but it scratches a similar itch. LOVE.
esseastri's review against another edition
5.0
This book isn't coming out until July, which is a tragedy because I just want to talk to everyone about it now.
Half-Witch gave me the same atmospheric shivers that the Bear and the Nightingale gave me; it's got that same fairy-tale quality that makes every word seem a little bit like it's shrouded in fog, like you are discovering the book as you are reading it. And it has that same weird blend of folk-lore and Christianity that makes for a wild and excellent contrast of ideas and themes and makes me want to just dig in and discuss this book.
It's the sort of book that makes me want to have a book club, before I remember that I never really liked book club.
I don't know if Schoffstall meant for his two main characters to read as super fucking gay, but as a queer woman, I'm staking my claim on Lizbet and Strix. Their development from wary dislike to absolute trust and devotion to one another is the core of this book, the backbone of the narrative. It's the most beautiful thing to watch unfold, and while the plot and the other characters are important and interesting, they all pale in comparison to the vital lesson of friendship these two girls learn. There's an intertwining that happens, a mutual creation as these two girls rebuild themselves for each other out of love that made my heart ache for them in the best of ways. Like I said: even if they weren't meant to be gay, they are now. You can't stop me.
The worldbuilding and magic in this book is equally heart-wrenching. Everything in this book aches, and everything has that same, slightly unsettling feeling I got from The Hazel Wood. Everything is slightly off in impossible-to-pinpoint ways and it made for a truly interesting read. I wanted to discover things while at the same time fearing whatever weird goblin creature was going to pop up on the next page. The more mundane threats and antagonists were just as unsettling, albeit in a more human way, and made the magic and devils seem not quite so out of place after all.
Lizbet's journey--both physical and emotional--was harsh and unforgiving, but she rose to every challenge with a realistic amount of fear that made it impossible for me to dislike her. She tried her best, even when she was scared--even when I was scared--and I think there is much to be learned from her strength. Just as there is much to be learned from Strix's harshness, her uncompromising attitude, her shrugging acceptance of the knowledge that life is a fight and fighting for what you love is what makes living worth it. Lizbet wasn't the only one who had a coming-of-age narrative in this book, and I loved Strix's journey just as much.
Half-Witch is a slightly creepy, unsettling, atmospheric, beautiful story about friendship and love and the journey it takes to get to those emotions, the trials humans face and the ways they change when faced with growing up and losing their ways. It's about Loss. It's about Finding. It's about Being Made New. And while I don't know if I really liked this book, I absolutely enjoyed it.
(Also the cover is gorgeous. That's important to note.)
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!!
Half-Witch gave me the same atmospheric shivers that the Bear and the Nightingale gave me; it's got that same fairy-tale quality that makes every word seem a little bit like it's shrouded in fog, like you are discovering the book as you are reading it. And it has that same weird blend of folk-lore and Christianity that makes for a wild and excellent contrast of ideas and themes and makes me want to just dig in and discuss this book.
It's the sort of book that makes me want to have a book club, before I remember that I never really liked book club.
I don't know if Schoffstall meant for his two main characters to read as super fucking gay, but as a queer woman, I'm staking my claim on Lizbet and Strix. Their development from wary dislike to absolute trust and devotion to one another is the core of this book, the backbone of the narrative. It's the most beautiful thing to watch unfold, and while the plot and the other characters are important and interesting, they all pale in comparison to the vital lesson of friendship these two girls learn. There's an intertwining that happens, a mutual creation as these two girls rebuild themselves for each other out of love that made my heart ache for them in the best of ways. Like I said: even if they weren't meant to be gay, they are now. You can't stop me.
The worldbuilding and magic in this book is equally heart-wrenching. Everything in this book aches, and everything has that same, slightly unsettling feeling I got from The Hazel Wood. Everything is slightly off in impossible-to-pinpoint ways and it made for a truly interesting read. I wanted to discover things while at the same time fearing whatever weird goblin creature was going to pop up on the next page. The more mundane threats and antagonists were just as unsettling, albeit in a more human way, and made the magic and devils seem not quite so out of place after all.
Lizbet's journey--both physical and emotional--was harsh and unforgiving, but she rose to every challenge with a realistic amount of fear that made it impossible for me to dislike her. She tried her best, even when she was scared--even when I was scared--and I think there is much to be learned from her strength. Just as there is much to be learned from Strix's harshness, her uncompromising attitude, her shrugging acceptance of the knowledge that life is a fight and fighting for what you love is what makes living worth it. Lizbet wasn't the only one who had a coming-of-age narrative in this book, and I loved Strix's journey just as much.
Half-Witch is a slightly creepy, unsettling, atmospheric, beautiful story about friendship and love and the journey it takes to get to those emotions, the trials humans face and the ways they change when faced with growing up and losing their ways. It's about Loss. It's about Finding. It's about Being Made New. And while I don't know if I really liked this book, I absolutely enjoyed it.
(Also the cover is gorgeous. That's important to note.)
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!!
hboyd494's review
adventurous
4.0
super cute friendship novel, also deeper thoughts. fun adventure!
quote
" I know it’s still hard. But it’s always better to be hopeful than despairing. You can at least be hopeful, can’t you, Strix? "
“What are you now?”
“Honestly, I’m not exactly sure,” Lizbet said.
“I understand that’s a common puzzlement among mortals,” Juliana said. “My sympathies.”
“It’s not! It’s real. It’s true as light and air, as the sun and the earth. Lizbet is my friend!” She clutched at her chest. “When Lizbet is with me, it hurts, right here. That’s how I know it’s real.”
“Are you certain it’s not just heartburn?” Mrs. Woodcot asked.
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s friendship,” Strix said.”
quote
" I know it’s still hard. But it’s always better to be hopeful than despairing. You can at least be hopeful, can’t you, Strix? "
“What are you now?”
“Honestly, I’m not exactly sure,” Lizbet said.
“I understand that’s a common puzzlement among mortals,” Juliana said. “My sympathies.”
Spoiler
“It’s not! It’s real. It’s true as light and air, as the sun and the earth. Lizbet is my friend!” She clutched at her chest. “When Lizbet is with me, it hurts, right here. That’s how I know it’s real.”
“Are you certain it’s not just heartburn?” Mrs. Woodcot asked.
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s friendship,” Strix said.”
readingrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While heavy in terms of writing style, Half Witch has a lot to offer those that are in the mood for a modern, tongue-in-cheek fairy tale: high stakes, an amazing dynamic between our two leads that grows into something truly beautiful, and witches that come straight out of your nightmares. Though I wasn't too keen on the religious aspect, the book manages to keep from being too preachy and have it be an element of the story rather than its entire purpose. I would definitely say that this is probably more for the teen crowd, as there are a lot of mature themes being thrown around as well as some disturbing imagery.
nadel's review against another edition
5.0
Are you looking for a fun, sad, thought-provoking story, beautifully written fantasy book. Half-witch is all that and more. Schoffstall is as courageous as young Lizbet and Strix in exploring the nature of friendship and the difference of being good and being religious as they travel through an almost familiar medieval world full of untrustworthy adults and goblins. Both girls are the complimentary half to the other and it is through their journey they become whole, each transforming the other. It is their tale of gaining trust in oneself and one another that gives the story its deep emotional resonance. The many worlds, from the witch's forest home to the underground sewers are vividly created; the creatures are appropriately slimy and grotesque. Strix and the goblin Fudge offer frequent doses of humor and there is one adventure after another to keep the reader going. I hope that Lizbet's desire to save God is the seed for the next book as I am sure she (and Schoffstall) are up to the task.
ohanabataskye's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book because of the cover art. As I read through the story it explained everything on the cover. The world is explained well in terms of magic, God, and how everything works. At the beginning I really didn’t like the God aspect of the book. At times it felt a little preachy or overly religious. As the story went on there is a balance between religion and magic. I wouldn’t classify this as YA for readers under 13 because some of the events that happen in the story might be a little too heavy for young kids.
It gets four stars because the writing behind lizbet and strix’s friendship and evolution through the story is really solid. I was crying by the end because they really grew together and came to appreciate and complete each other. I took off a star because I don’t think the religious aspect fit perfectly with the story and the author could have found a different plot device but the mix of religion and magic does make this story really unique.
It gets four stars because the writing behind lizbet and strix’s friendship and evolution through the story is really solid. I was crying by the end because they really grew together and came to appreciate and complete each other. I took off a star because I don’t think the religious aspect fit perfectly with the story and the author could have found a different plot device but the mix of religion and magic does make this story really unique.