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the_loudlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this cute middle grades fantasy about a witch who, when her assessment is inconclusive, is sent to be an apprentice in a small, remote village until her powers are strong enough to be a full witch. Little does she know, she has more power working within her than she ever thought possible. It has a fun cast with lots of little adventures and lessons along the way.
milkqbiscuit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ashnreads's review against another edition
5.0
Arianwyn is an endearing and quirky witch who also happens to live in a magical world where she is still somewhat misunderstood. Her optimism in the face of many setbacks, along with the unique creatures and magic system Nicol establishes in The Apprentice Witch had me rooting for Arianwyn from the beginning, and loving the story altogether.
This book has wide appeal— I read it for a high school book group I work with, but my middle school daughter enjoyed it as well!
This book has wide appeal— I read it for a high school book group I work with, but my middle school daughter enjoyed it as well!
kimpics's review against another edition
2.0
I'll admit I was a bit distracted reading this book, but it didn't really hang together for me.
groundedwanderlust's review against another edition
1.0
Full Review: http://groundedwanderlust.blogspot.com/2017/07/arc-review-apprentice-witch-by-james.html
I would have given this book a 2 out of 5 stars if it weren't for the overwhelming similarity this book has to too many other stories. As such, I have to give this book 1 out of 5 stars. There really wasn't much beyond the beautiful cover to recommend this book.
I would have given this book a 2 out of 5 stars if it weren't for the overwhelming similarity this book has to too many other stories. As such, I have to give this book 1 out of 5 stars. There really wasn't much beyond the beautiful cover to recommend this book.
rallythereaders's review against another edition
3.0
Also posted on Rally the Readers.
* I received an advance copy from the publisher for review.
It’s quite difficult for me not to compare every middle grade magic book I read to a certain series that turned 20 this year about a certain boy wizard, especially when it comes to its appeal to readers of all ages. I try to keep my mind as open as possible, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to pick up books about witches, wizards, and the like again, and there’s just something irresistible about the possibility that magic exists.
Poor Arianwyn Gribble flunks her evaluation exam to be recognized as a fully qualified witch and is stuck at the apprentice level. Although she receives an assignment to help the town of Lull with tasks like dealing with unfriendly magical creatures, it’s not much of a consolation to Arianwyn, especially since her grandmother is a very prominent witch. Arianwyn is a very relatable heroine; she tries so hard to prove that she’s ready for the next step up in rank, but fate just keeps seeming to throw a wrench in her efforts. Readers will quickly find themselves cheering her on to succeed.
One of my favorite aspects of The Apprentice Witch was its magical creatures, even the pesky ones like snotlings. The vivid descriptions of the creatures were also one of the novel’s strong points; they were what truly made me feel like I’d been whisked away to another world.
Unfortunately, another area of the world-building was not quite on the same level. There’s mention of a war going on and Arianwyn’s father is off fighting in it, but the book doesn’t go into further detail about it. Lull is the novel’s focal point, and that’s fine, but I couldn’t help being curious about what was happening outside of the town.
Something else that became a bit distracting was the book’s quite liberal use of exclamation points in the dialogue. After a while, they lost some of their effectiveness because they kept popping up.
The book’s plot is fairly straightforward and doesn’t deviate much from its projected path. There is a certain charm, however, in watching Arianwyn gradually settle into her new life in Lull and into her new duties as its apprentice witch. Anyone who’s ever searched for a sense of belonging is sure to find a kindred spirit here in Arianwyn.
* I received an advance copy from the publisher for review.
It’s quite difficult for me not to compare every middle grade magic book I read to a certain series that turned 20 this year about a certain boy wizard, especially when it comes to its appeal to readers of all ages. I try to keep my mind as open as possible, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to pick up books about witches, wizards, and the like again, and there’s just something irresistible about the possibility that magic exists.
Poor Arianwyn Gribble flunks her evaluation exam to be recognized as a fully qualified witch and is stuck at the apprentice level. Although she receives an assignment to help the town of Lull with tasks like dealing with unfriendly magical creatures, it’s not much of a consolation to Arianwyn, especially since her grandmother is a very prominent witch. Arianwyn is a very relatable heroine; she tries so hard to prove that she’s ready for the next step up in rank, but fate just keeps seeming to throw a wrench in her efforts. Readers will quickly find themselves cheering her on to succeed.
One of my favorite aspects of The Apprentice Witch was its magical creatures, even the pesky ones like snotlings. The vivid descriptions of the creatures were also one of the novel’s strong points; they were what truly made me feel like I’d been whisked away to another world.
Unfortunately, another area of the world-building was not quite on the same level. There’s mention of a war going on and Arianwyn’s father is off fighting in it, but the book doesn’t go into further detail about it. Lull is the novel’s focal point, and that’s fine, but I couldn’t help being curious about what was happening outside of the town.
Something else that became a bit distracting was the book’s quite liberal use of exclamation points in the dialogue. After a while, they lost some of their effectiveness because they kept popping up.
The book’s plot is fairly straightforward and doesn’t deviate much from its projected path. There is a certain charm, however, in watching Arianwyn gradually settle into her new life in Lull and into her new duties as its apprentice witch. Anyone who’s ever searched for a sense of belonging is sure to find a kindred spirit here in Arianwyn.
hellesn's review against another edition
5.0
The Apprentice Witch is a delightful witchy adventure. I adored Arianwyn! The world with its glyphs and creatures is rich and imaginative. (And I’m a huge fan of books within books.)
whalesnark's review against another edition
5.0
I knew this story would be good from the start! The cover is enchanting, for one thing. Vines enveloping a round bottle with a rabbit leaping from within.
The fast pace of this story keeps it going and each chapter is a quick, intriguing read. I never got tired of characters. It is a well-weighted book that doesn't dwell too much on specific details. It gives you enough to go on and leaves the rest to the reader's imagination.
The fast pace of this story keeps it going and each chapter is a quick, intriguing read. I never got tired of characters. It is a well-weighted book that doesn't dwell too much on specific details. It gives you enough to go on and leaves the rest to the reader's imagination.