Saturday, March 17, 2018

Nicol, James. The Apprentice Witch.

Nicol, James. The Apprentice Witch. Scholastic/Chicken House  2017 318p $16.99   ISBN 978-1-338-11858-2     ms   Fantasy  E-BN       

Arianwyn has failed her witch’s assessment test and will not get her silver star. She is shuffled off to the distant town of Lull on the edge of the Great Wood to spend her life as an apprentice witch.  However, things are not so quiet in Lull. All sorts of unusual creatures are showing up unexpectedly, and Arianwyn must discover the source of the mysterious occurrences. Her magical abilities are tested as never before and she also has to contend with trouble closer to hand in the shape of  her archrival Gimma.  

This exciting magical adventure written in a sprightly manner is utterly spellbinding. It offers both fantasy and suspenseful fiction in a well-paced plot and features engaging characters. The plot is full of surprises, the locations are beautifully rendered, and even the secondary characters are very three-dimensional. The author mixes adventure, political intrigue, and mystery into this very well done novel.     Highly recommended for middle-school libraries.   

Summary: Airanwyn has failed her assessment test and will always be an apprentice witch.  She is sent to the small town of Lull on the edge of the Great Woods, where her magical abilities are truly tested.

Magic-Fiction, Witches-Fiction                --Susan Ogintz

No comments: