Pages: 374
Published: January 2nd 2014 by Hodder Children’s Books
Series: Witch Finder #1
Source: Hachette Children’s Books via Netgalley
Amazon | TBD | Kobo | Goodreads
London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.
To say I was excited to read this might have been a slight understatement. I love witches, they are by far one of my favorite things to read about and recently I have gotten extremely interested in historical fiction with a paranormal twist… add in a TERRIFIC cover and I was sold.
Witch Finder starts off amazing. Luke is about to become initiated into the Malleus Maleficorum which is essentially an elite group of men that hunts and kills witches. He is given three tasks, the first two which is he passes and then a final one… to kill the witch whose name he has drawn. To undertake the task Luke poses as a groomsman at Rose’s family home. And then the excitement ended.
The problem with Witch Finder wasn’t the characters. I actually really enjoyed the characters, Rose was wonderful and wholesome and kind. Luke, very much the same. I thought there personalities were real, their instant love true for that time period. I really enjoyed both of them. No… the problem with Witch Finder for me was the plot, the plot devices and the pacing.
Though it had an intriguing start it quickly fell flat. There was next to no action that took place, and although Luke was supposed to be masterminding this kill of Rose, we didn’t see it happen. He made two attempts, both of course backfired, but there wasn’t any plotting and each time he prepared to kill her you could tell it wasn’t going to happen. Add that into the fact that the pacing is sooo slow and it just didn’t work for me. Oh, yes… and let’s also talk about the animal abuse and killing as a plot device. If it’s fitting to the story, great. It wasn’t here. Animal abuse was used as a way to make a character seem more evil and I thought it was disgusting. There are many other concepts that could have been used instead of beating a dog to death. Especially when the said character, Sebastian, is already horrendous and extremely unlikable. Once that part came it completely threw the story off for me and I had a hard time getting back into it. Now, the second half of the story did pick up quite a bit and became rather interesting so I was able to pick up the pace and finish but it wasn’t enough to make me fall in love with Witch Finder.
Unfortunatly, I probably wont continue on with this series. Although I liked both Rose and Luke, I’m not invested enough in their story. I may pick it up if I see the reviews on the second book are better, but it’s hard to say.
I also love books about witches but have yet to find one I really really like. Seems like this one won’t be it, either. The animal abuse sounds absolutely terrible and I can not stand a slow paced book.
I agree Alise, it seems to be hard pressed to find a good one! Have you read the Hex Hall series? Or the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness? Those two are both very good, in my opinion.. and both witches 😀
I’m happy you liked the characters, because I couldn’t stand most of them, haha. I disliked this book pretty much and will not be reading the next one either.. Such a shame, because the blurb + cover + beginning were so promising!
BAHA, I’m sorry you didn’t like the characters 🙁 It’s a big disappointment to start off the new year that’s for sure, because I was really excited for it!
I was interested in reading this, but then I found out about the puppy and there’s no way. I will never be able to get through that. I’ll be skipping it. Animal abuse is just too much. 🙁
Yah… definitely don’t! It seriously is too much, normally I would never warn anyone to NOT read a book but the animal abuse is really, really too much. A horse dies as well and it’s terrible. I’m glad someone else can’t stomach that stuff either because I felt like a softy for a minute 😛
This book sounded so neat, but I would not be able to read a book that had gratuitous animal abuse. Great review.
It’s such a disappointment 🙁 Thanks again Pamela!!
I have this book, looking forward to reading it, it looks amazing, sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy it enough to carry on with the series.
I really hope you love it Emma! I just have qualms with some things so unfortunately it wasn’t for me 🙁 I can’t wait to see how you do like it though!!!
Darn! I wish it was more enjoyable for ya! If you like books about witches, there’s Half Bad coming out by Sally Green. I heard great things about it and I’m anticipated it’s debut!
You can check out more on my WoW~ http://bookhangoversbb.blogspot.com/
P.S. I shared you button on my blog 🙂
Happy Reading xoxo
Half Bad is actually on my most anticipated list 🙂 I can’t wait for it to come out! I requested the eARC on Netgalley but I haven’t had any luck with it but I want to read it SOOO badly 🙂 Thanks for sharing my button!!!
Yay! I’ll be keeping an eye out for your review when it comes out. Xoxox
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