The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

… Victoria Schwab writes beautifully and perfectly evokes the blustery weather on the moors and the xenophobia of the town of Near, where any stranger or nonconformist is automatically suspect… Schwab excels at describing what is almost seen, almost heard, almost felt: the sound of a song you can’t quite hear, or the tentative brush of a hand in the beginning stages of flirtation. The middle sags a bit, but as the book builds toward its climax, it’s suspenseful and scary. The climactic scene is almost over too quickly, but it works, and the ending is satisfying. (The Near Witch is a standalone.) Overall, The Near Witch is enjoyable, with a spooky atmosphere, haunting folklore, and a bit of romance. It also gets points from me for being so different from the rest of the current YA books. If you like novels that are heavy on mood and imagery, and you are OK with a bit of slowness in the plot, The Near Witch may be for you. Read the rest.