Review of 'The Black Witch'

Powerful magic. A deadly legacy. A world at the edge of war. Prepare to be spellbound by The Black Witch.

Elloren Gardner is the spitting image of her grandmother, who drove back the enemy forces in the last Realm War. But while her people believe she will follow in her grandmother's footsteps and become the next Black Witch of prophecy, Elloren is devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at Verpax University. But she soon realizes that the university may be the most treacherous place of all for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, Elloren's best hope of survival may be among a secret band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.

Review

Laurie Forest weaves together a tale of fantastic fantasy in The Black Witch, one that sweeps the story off its feet while dealing with important themes such as racism, bigotry, and xenophobia.

Amazing Story

What Forest did very well here was structuring her world. Of course, there is much world-building going on around here, but more than that, she gives depth by focusing on the politics in the world, intricacies of the different clans, their religious beliefs, and mythologies.

This is a world full of Witches, Kelts, Elves, Lupines, and Icarals. There is so much magic in this world, so much lore that it adds depth to the story. Forest devoted much time to making her world cohesive. She gives the story dimension by focusing on these separate groups of people, what separates them, defines them, and brings them together. There is much culture here, and it leads to bigotry, xenophobia, and racism.

Elloren sees all this. As the descendant of the famous Black Witch – the most powerful witch to ever exist – she has had many privileges in her life. So she is unaware of the privileges she has in life. Until she comes face to face with the injustices and prejudices, other races face while at school.

I love how Forest deals with racism and prejudices; how she uses that to evolve Elloren to fight against them connects to the reader.

It is refreshing to see a privileged character educate herself on the struggles others face. It makes the reader think of their privileges and the injustices brought on by prejudices based on gender, sexual orientation, race, and religious beliefs.

Fantastical

The Black Witch, among its deep and thoughtful storytelling, also has incredible characters.

There were times in the beginning when Elloren fell a little flat as a character. Early on, some of her best moments are when she subtly stands up to Fallon Band, the token mean girl. However, she is more than that as the story develops. Moreover, that is what makes Forest a strong writer.

Forest knows how to flush out and grow out her characters in a way that keeps the story moving forward. At times, they risk becoming tropy, but Forest adds depth in her dialogue, the characters’ narrative, and growth.

The character growth is impressive. It is slow and steady and extends beyond the main character. Everyone Elloren connects with grows alongside her, making for a captivating read.

Final Thoughts

The Black Witch is fantastic. As a start to a new series, it has incredible world-building that continues throughout the novel. The focus Forest has on developing complex and relevant politics and creating various mythologies and prejudices highlights how talented she is.

I am excited to see how this series plays out.

• Writing Quality : 9/10
• Character Development : 9/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 10/10
• Intellectual Depth : 10/10
• Originality: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.