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Witch Boy Trilogy #1
Witch Boy
The spirit is willing... Strange but I can move things with my mind. Even stranger, but just as Lately, I've been looking in the mirror and seeing a face I don't recognize. I've been knocking down trees and throwing boulders without touching them. And I've done some seriously heinous something to my girlfriend in this kind of ... I don't know ... freak out. I don't know what it was. I don't know if she's dead or alive. You think I'm scared that I'm melted in the head? You don't know the half of it. Melted in the bead would be a blessing, compared to this. I'm not afraid of being crazy. I'm afraid of being whatever I am. What am I?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2002
7 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Russell Moon
5 books3 followersRussell Moon's deep interest in Celtish magic and mythology compelled him to write Witch Boy, his first fantasy novel.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 12, 2018
Okay, I first read this book back in middle school and never finished the trilogy as the local library didn't have the sequels. I recently read through the whole series and have some thoughts.
Plot-wise, the series as a whole is unremarkable. The author blurb mentions how Russell Moon was interested in Celtic mythology and that is how he was inspired to write the books, but aside from some terms thrown around here and there, this really could be any generic "boy discovers he has magical powers" story. However, the difference between Witch Boy and the first Percy Jackson books (aside from Witch Boy's SLOW pacing) is that there are much more mature themes, and most of the characters are unlikable.
This first book, Witch Boy, is the strongest in the trilogy. However, it is also the most slowly paced book out of the three. If you consider slow pacing to be atmospheric and believe it builds tension, then great. And I want to make it clear that these books DO have an atmosphere to them. It reminds me strongly of Southern Gothic literature where the setting itself is like a character, and everything is out to get you. Marcus' growing paranoia, guilt, anxiety, and basic mental deterioration make the book feel really uncomfortable in all the ways it was intended.
But on the other hand, if you dislike slow pacing and want the story to GET TO THE POINT (which I admit is a problem here), then this may not be the best match.
Other people in these comments have mentioned the book's mature themes. The very first chapter opens with Marcus at a party mentally preparing himself to boink his girlfriend for the first time, and everything goes to hell during the act of hanky being pankied. (Funny note; as a kid I had NO idea what was going on. Not just because of the Birds and the Bees aspect I hadn't been educated on, but also because the author tends to use super vague terminology for what's actually happening. I thought these two were, like, sitting next to each other, and then suddenly Jules is vanished, someone's bleeding, and Marcus got bit by a snake. It was WEIRD.) There's also scenes of murder, mutilation, drug use, underage drinking, naked girls teleporting themselves into Marcus' bed (to his annoyance), and so on.
One of the more unusual writing choices in this story is how unlikable almost everyone is.
Marcus has an excuse; he's emotionally unstable and dealing with the (possible) death of his girlfriend that he may or may not have caused while being mentally and emotionally tormented and stalked by two magical factions who want him to join them-- maybe. A large part of the first and second book are playing up how little Marcus knows about what's going on, and how he cannot trust anyone or anything (including his own memories). However, his indecision (in this book and in the later books) is infuriating and may turn a lot of readers off.
No spoilers, but the two factions vying for his attention are both equally unsympathetic. One side is based round a group of overly-clingy teenage witches (and a few adults) who call themselves the Coven, who are part of a much larger population of witches, all of whom are apparently desperate to get Marcus to join them. The other side is the old King of the witches, whose actions have apparently doomed all of witch-kind. The Coven are doing everything they can to convince Marcus to join them and stop the evil King. The only problem? Everyone in the Coven is bugnuts insane. For characters trying desperately to convince Marcus and the audience that they are the good guys, they sure do a lot of dog-napping, coercion, spying, mind reading, kidnapping, stalking, blood sacrifice, sexual assault, and general pestering.
Marcus indecision about who to trust becomes a lot less sympathetic or believable when you actually take a step back and examine the situation. This is more prominent in the second book where they do a bait and switch and make us believe the previously jerkass-but-ultimately-sympathetic character is the most evil one (despite all evidence to the contrary), and then turn around again and establish that, no, the sympathetic character has been the less-evil one all along.
However, all of this (despite the occasionally clumsy writing) actually serves to make the book more memorable, as it isn't a straight up story of black and white, good and evil, but rather one about gray and gray morality. Neither of these sides are good, and Marcus knows it, but he still has to deal with them while also trying to find out what happened to his girlfriend and how to manage his own powers, as well as keep his mom safe.
Speaking of the mom; I like the mom. Eleanor is cool. Occasionally she doesn't react the way one would expect a normal mom to (If I had a kid who kept passing out and losing time, I'd've probably called the hospital), but I like her relationship with Marcus.
I guess the moral of the story is that this is the kind of book with an old premise done in a way that isn't exactly novel, but can hold your interest if you don't get too irritated at the characters.
Also, totally a nitpick here, but the story is supposedly set in the North American countryside (woods and forests and things). At one point, Marcus is emotionally rattled when he kills a snake that has been following him constantly and attacking him occasionally. I guess maybe there aren't a lot of snakes where Russell Moon lives, because killing snakes isn't a big deal at all. Granted, I'm from the west, and Marcus is supposed to be from the east, and we have rattlesnakes, so maybe we're more blase about it, but I find it hard to believe Marcus or his Mom never had to take a shovel to a snake before.
Plot-wise, the series as a whole is unremarkable. The author blurb mentions how Russell Moon was interested in Celtic mythology and that is how he was inspired to write the books, but aside from some terms thrown around here and there, this really could be any generic "boy discovers he has magical powers" story. However, the difference between Witch Boy and the first Percy Jackson books (aside from Witch Boy's SLOW pacing) is that there are much more mature themes, and most of the characters are unlikable.
This first book, Witch Boy, is the strongest in the trilogy. However, it is also the most slowly paced book out of the three. If you consider slow pacing to be atmospheric and believe it builds tension, then great. And I want to make it clear that these books DO have an atmosphere to them. It reminds me strongly of Southern Gothic literature where the setting itself is like a character, and everything is out to get you. Marcus' growing paranoia, guilt, anxiety, and basic mental deterioration make the book feel really uncomfortable in all the ways it was intended.
But on the other hand, if you dislike slow pacing and want the story to GET TO THE POINT (which I admit is a problem here), then this may not be the best match.
Other people in these comments have mentioned the book's mature themes. The very first chapter opens with Marcus at a party mentally preparing himself to boink his girlfriend for the first time, and everything goes to hell during the act of hanky being pankied. (Funny note; as a kid I had NO idea what was going on. Not just because of the Birds and the Bees aspect I hadn't been educated on, but also because the author tends to use super vague terminology for what's actually happening. I thought these two were, like, sitting next to each other, and then suddenly Jules is vanished, someone's bleeding, and Marcus got bit by a snake. It was WEIRD.) There's also scenes of murder, mutilation, drug use, underage drinking, naked girls teleporting themselves into Marcus' bed (to his annoyance), and so on.
One of the more unusual writing choices in this story is how unlikable almost everyone is.
Marcus has an excuse; he's emotionally unstable and dealing with the (possible) death of his girlfriend that he may or may not have caused while being mentally and emotionally tormented and stalked by two magical factions who want him to join them-- maybe. A large part of the first and second book are playing up how little Marcus knows about what's going on, and how he cannot trust anyone or anything (including his own memories). However, his indecision (in this book and in the later books) is infuriating and may turn a lot of readers off.
No spoilers, but the two factions vying for his attention are both equally unsympathetic. One side is based round a group of overly-clingy teenage witches (and a few adults) who call themselves the Coven, who are part of a much larger population of witches, all of whom are apparently desperate to get Marcus to join them. The other side is the old King of the witches, whose actions have apparently doomed all of witch-kind. The Coven are doing everything they can to convince Marcus to join them and stop the evil King. The only problem? Everyone in the Coven is bugnuts insane. For characters trying desperately to convince Marcus and the audience that they are the good guys, they sure do a lot of dog-napping, coercion, spying, mind reading, kidnapping, stalking, blood sacrifice, sexual assault, and general pestering.
Marcus indecision about who to trust becomes a lot less sympathetic or believable when you actually take a step back and examine the situation. This is more prominent in the second book where they do a bait and switch and make us believe the previously jerkass-but-ultimately-sympathetic character is the most evil one (despite all evidence to the contrary), and then turn around again and establish that, no, the sympathetic character has been the less-evil one all along.
However, all of this (despite the occasionally clumsy writing) actually serves to make the book more memorable, as it isn't a straight up story of black and white, good and evil, but rather one about gray and gray morality. Neither of these sides are good, and Marcus knows it, but he still has to deal with them while also trying to find out what happened to his girlfriend and how to manage his own powers, as well as keep his mom safe.
Speaking of the mom; I like the mom. Eleanor is cool. Occasionally she doesn't react the way one would expect a normal mom to (If I had a kid who kept passing out and losing time, I'd've probably called the hospital), but I like her relationship with Marcus.
I guess the moral of the story is that this is the kind of book with an old premise done in a way that isn't exactly novel, but can hold your interest if you don't get too irritated at the characters.
Also, totally a nitpick here, but the story is supposedly set in the North American countryside (woods and forests and things). At one point, Marcus is emotionally rattled when he kills a snake that has been following him constantly and attacking him occasionally. I guess maybe there aren't a lot of snakes where Russell Moon lives, because killing snakes isn't a big deal at all. Granted, I'm from the west, and Marcus is supposed to be from the east, and we have rattlesnakes, so maybe we're more blase about it, but I find it hard to believe Marcus or his Mom never had to take a shovel to a snake before.
September 21, 2024
what in the everliving fuck did i just read
felt like a fever dream the entire time and i was confused throughout the entire thing
that being said i will be back for more
terrible but strangely addictive
felt like a fever dream the entire time and i was confused throughout the entire thing
that being said i will be back for more
terrible but strangely addictive
August 9, 2014
A decent enough pemise. A weak, unimpressive execution. I've always been a big fan of young adult paranormal books, but this one just didn't do it for me. Marcus is a hard character to feel anything other than irritation for. I get that it's a trilogy and you can't answer everything in the first book, but it's slow paced and leads to more questions than answers. It seems like it's supposed to be written for teens (somewhere around 14, 15, or so) but the style seems more middle school. But I probably wouldn't recommend this for children under 14 due to certain parts involving sex and "violence." Honestly though, I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, age wise. Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone. If you do decide to read it and enjoy it, more power to you. I, however, will not be reading the rest of this trilogy.
August 4, 2012
I stumbled upon this little gem when I was in Middle School, my mother had taken me to a used bookstore with her and while she was searching around for her books I was browsing as well. From the bottom shelf I spotted a title that caught my eye "Witch Boy" I read the back of the book, then started in on the first chapter. I was hooked, and as soon as I heard "Alright, let's go." I jumped up and put the book on the counter. (My mother would never say no to one of her children reading.) Either way, I finished the book and read through the next two. They all still play vividly inside my mind whenever I think of them. I am now 24 years old, and still read this book.
March 30, 2012
Hero (5) - Marcus' character is pretty amazing. The way he's confused and scared is well done.
Other characters (4)- The other characters are pretty good as well, such as his mother and Marcus' crush. The only thing that bothered me about them, particularly the other witches, was that they didn't seem to understand how to approach Marcus or how to convince him to join them. They did it in a pretty ineffective way and couldn't fix that.
Other characters (4)- The other characters are pretty good as well, such as his mother and Marcus' crush. The only thing that bothered me about them, particularly the other witches, was that they didn't seem to understand how to approach Marcus or how to convince him to join them. They did it in a pretty ineffective way and couldn't fix that.
October 7, 2011
Amazing book! Haunting and heartbreaking. Its like being caught in a nightmare that you don't want to wake up from. I can't find any other books by this author. Russell Moon, if you read ever read this (unlikely), WRITE MORE BOOKS PLEASE!!!! Its like nothing I've ever read, a definite must read.
July 23, 2012
This book was definitely worth reading. It's far from one of my favorites but I did enjoy it. I believe that if/when I finish this series I'll probably like the book a lot more but I have many other books that I would prefer to read before I continue with this series.
April 27, 2013
Too frustrating to want to read the other 2. dragged out much too long. normally i consider a book a success if the author conjures up strong feelings in me but i think my feelings moved from being frustrated with the main character to being frustrated at the book. GET TO THE POINT!!!!
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June 20, 2009Witch Boy by Russell Moon (2002)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews