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Witch Hunt
The greatest danger facing New Salem comes from inside its own walls.
For sixteen-year-old Ruth, life in New Salem is simple. Obey her parents, go to school, stay inside the walls, and never question the will of the Council. The Council governs New Salem and keeps its people safe, burning mysterious effigies to remind the villagers of the physical and spiritual dangers that seek to infiltrate New Salem's walls.
When Ruth takes to exploring the woods at night, she makes a terrifying and exhilarating discovery: she and her friends Sarah and Elizabeth are witches. But it's dangerous to be different in New Salem, and it isn't long before rumors of witchcraft spread from the Council to the townspeople. After Elizabeth is imprisoned by the Council, it is up to Ruth and Sarah to fulfill their destiny. A coven of witches harbors great strength, and it is only with that strength that they will be able to save New Salem.
For sixteen-year-old Ruth, life in New Salem is simple. Obey her parents, go to school, stay inside the walls, and never question the will of the Council. The Council governs New Salem and keeps its people safe, burning mysterious effigies to remind the villagers of the physical and spiritual dangers that seek to infiltrate New Salem's walls.
When Ruth takes to exploring the woods at night, she makes a terrifying and exhilarating discovery: she and her friends Sarah and Elizabeth are witches. But it's dangerous to be different in New Salem, and it isn't long before rumors of witchcraft spread from the Council to the townspeople. After Elizabeth is imprisoned by the Council, it is up to Ruth and Sarah to fulfill their destiny. A coven of witches harbors great strength, and it is only with that strength that they will be able to save New Salem.
- GenresDystopiaYoung Adult
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2013
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 8, 2016
This book is pretty amazing. It starts out as one genre and ends as another, almost the complete opposite, with a strand of fantasy woven all the way through.
This isn't the best written book out there, but I was hooked.
Better to be afraid of witches and murderers than to be one.
Witch Hunt is creepy and mysterious and thrilling, with twists and turns and little surprises. There are scenes to gush at, scenes to have you frozen in horror, scenes to make your blood boil, and scenes to make you cry. This is a full emotional roller-coaster, so get ready.
The characters develop really well and are well written; their understanding of various scenarios is very natural given the circumstances. You start to feel for the characters. Ruth probably grows and changes the most, but boy is she a little blind at times. Again, this is understandable, it's how it should be.
The ending was great too. Most of the loose ends were tied up, everything came together, but it's not happily ever after. The ending is left open so that there could be a follow on, but I like it as it is, all on its own.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
This isn't the best written book out there, but I was hooked.
Better to be afraid of witches and murderers than to be one.
Witch Hunt is creepy and mysterious and thrilling, with twists and turns and little surprises. There are scenes to gush at, scenes to have you frozen in horror, scenes to make your blood boil, and scenes to make you cry. This is a full emotional roller-coaster, so get ready.
The characters develop really well and are well written; their understanding of various scenarios is very natural given the circumstances. You start to feel for the characters. Ruth probably grows and changes the most, but boy is she a little blind at times. Again, this is understandable, it's how it should be.
The ending was great too. Most of the loose ends were tied up, everything came together, but it's not happily ever after. The ending is left open so that there could be a follow on, but I like it as it is, all on its own.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
March 29, 2025
This was a super fast read with a decent story line. However, the entire plot feels cliche. The story is very surface level and doesn’t spend time getting into details. I never have a chance to love any of the characters or, honestly, even care what happens to them. This book feels very flat and not very exciting. The last 3 characters were decent, but still lacked an overall depth that makes a book feel real.
July 23, 2013
I received an electronic copy of this from the publishers via NetGalley.
There were some good aspects to this young adult book, but ultimately I found it disappointing and lacking.The overall plot is an interesting take on witch trials and, (I'm being vague so as not to give spoilers) is actually a mix of several genres, not simply a rehash of history with an exaggerated magical spin.
As a young adult genre book it has a certain amount of thematic predictability: a focus on strong young characters that must step up to take on responsibilities of the impotent adults; a focus on action, protagonists getting out of stick situations; forbidden romance and erotic yearning. Yet each of these elements are handled well from a plot perspective. The plot is kept lively, it is not predictable in the details of its outcomes, and it features both strong female and male characters without that mistake of making the females beholden to their attraction to the male and reliant on his presence to save them from trouble. The action scenes are well composed and the more horrific supernatural moments are perfectly described.
However, the downside of the book is foremost its character development. The protagonist begins the book clueless of her reality, both personal and universal. She does not yet know she has magical powers. Her powers appear, and her knowledge increases in bursts from chapter to chapter with little explanation on how they have developed or how they truly affect her. No particular rules for the magic are established, so its ultimate use in the conclusion of the novel feels like a fantastic deus ex machina - there is no reason to suspect anything isn't possible for the witches, so there is no resonance with or empathy from the reader when the climax arrives. This lack of character development is not limited to magic. Many actions or decisions by characters seem to just happen. At times explanations for actions are given by characters, but with nothing more than a statement that makes it appear nothing more than the author covering their bases of 'explanation'. In other worss, it often felt as though the author was 'telling' rather than 'showing'. Other actions or key elements of the setting that are eventually revealed are not explained at all, perhaps setting up a sequel, but leaving this novel unfulfilling.
Despite my not liking the book much due to the above, it would likely be of interest to a young person wanting to read a quick entertaining fantasy tale with characters they can relate to. The themes are obviously overt and not subtle, but they are all good themes and moral dilemmas for a young person to consider. With a little more work establishing this world and its characters it could have been phenomenal, so I would read something else by the author in the hopes of that aspect improving.
There were some good aspects to this young adult book, but ultimately I found it disappointing and lacking.The overall plot is an interesting take on witch trials and, (I'm being vague so as not to give spoilers) is actually a mix of several genres, not simply a rehash of history with an exaggerated magical spin.
As a young adult genre book it has a certain amount of thematic predictability: a focus on strong young characters that must step up to take on responsibilities of the impotent adults; a focus on action, protagonists getting out of stick situations; forbidden romance and erotic yearning. Yet each of these elements are handled well from a plot perspective. The plot is kept lively, it is not predictable in the details of its outcomes, and it features both strong female and male characters without that mistake of making the females beholden to their attraction to the male and reliant on his presence to save them from trouble. The action scenes are well composed and the more horrific supernatural moments are perfectly described.
However, the downside of the book is foremost its character development. The protagonist begins the book clueless of her reality, both personal and universal. She does not yet know she has magical powers. Her powers appear, and her knowledge increases in bursts from chapter to chapter with little explanation on how they have developed or how they truly affect her. No particular rules for the magic are established, so its ultimate use in the conclusion of the novel feels like a fantastic deus ex machina - there is no reason to suspect anything isn't possible for the witches, so there is no resonance with or empathy from the reader when the climax arrives. This lack of character development is not limited to magic. Many actions or decisions by characters seem to just happen. At times explanations for actions are given by characters, but with nothing more than a statement that makes it appear nothing more than the author covering their bases of 'explanation'. In other worss, it often felt as though the author was 'telling' rather than 'showing'. Other actions or key elements of the setting that are eventually revealed are not explained at all, perhaps setting up a sequel, but leaving this novel unfulfilling.
Despite my not liking the book much due to the above, it would likely be of interest to a young person wanting to read a quick entertaining fantasy tale with characters they can relate to. The themes are obviously overt and not subtle, but they are all good themes and moral dilemmas for a young person to consider. With a little more work establishing this world and its characters it could have been phenomenal, so I would read something else by the author in the hopes of that aspect improving.
August 8, 2013
My review is also available on my webpage.
Witch Hunt is unexpected. It starts off in New Salem with Abigail, a young woman, being burned alive, much like what happened in the original Salem. The difference being, of course, that the townsfolk don’t realize what’s happening. The fire is smothered in sweet-burning incense, and for some reason no one can hear her screams. It’s a horrific start to the novel, and the horror only continues to grow as you begin to realize the insidious truth behind all the banishments that have gone on for untold years.
Ruth and her friends Elizabeth and Sarah have manifested magical talents, and even though they have been raised to fear witchcraft, they have fun with their magic and bond together, establishing themselves as a small coven. Unfortunately, all is not right in their town of New Salem, and the deaths aren’t about to stop just because there is a coven of witches in town. Things get worse, actually, and the girls are betrayed by each other and by others in town.
The characters are developed really well, especially for such a short novel. While we stay with Ruth’s point of view after the prologue, it’s easy to fall into her head and believe everything she tells you, leading to the shocking twists when she is surprised by something. I love when you can sink so deep into a character that you see things the same way they do, with their biases and beliefs clouding things.
And the latter half of the book was… Well, it’s definitely not what I expected from the start! See, this is New Salem, and the old world, our world, is gone, right? But New Salem feels a lot like old Salem with the same prejudices and beliefs. Girls are shunned for spending time with boys, one girl is banished for turning up with a red mark on her neck (I assume that was a hickey), and getting pregnant outside of wedlock is pretty much the worst thing ever (except for witchcraft and murder which trumps everything). But things aren’t as they seem to be in New Salem.
What starts off as a dystopian fantasy turned into something far from that, though the fantasy part remained. This was definitely a unique and interesting novel from Tabitha Morrow. I’m interested in seeing what she comes up with next!
Witch Hunt is unexpected. It starts off in New Salem with Abigail, a young woman, being burned alive, much like what happened in the original Salem. The difference being, of course, that the townsfolk don’t realize what’s happening. The fire is smothered in sweet-burning incense, and for some reason no one can hear her screams. It’s a horrific start to the novel, and the horror only continues to grow as you begin to realize the insidious truth behind all the banishments that have gone on for untold years.
Ruth and her friends Elizabeth and Sarah have manifested magical talents, and even though they have been raised to fear witchcraft, they have fun with their magic and bond together, establishing themselves as a small coven. Unfortunately, all is not right in their town of New Salem, and the deaths aren’t about to stop just because there is a coven of witches in town. Things get worse, actually, and the girls are betrayed by each other and by others in town.
The characters are developed really well, especially for such a short novel. While we stay with Ruth’s point of view after the prologue, it’s easy to fall into her head and believe everything she tells you, leading to the shocking twists when she is surprised by something. I love when you can sink so deep into a character that you see things the same way they do, with their biases and beliefs clouding things.
And the latter half of the book was… Well, it’s definitely not what I expected from the start! See, this is New Salem, and the old world, our world, is gone, right? But New Salem feels a lot like old Salem with the same prejudices and beliefs. Girls are shunned for spending time with boys, one girl is banished for turning up with a red mark on her neck (I assume that was a hickey), and getting pregnant outside of wedlock is pretty much the worst thing ever (except for witchcraft and murder which trumps everything). But things aren’t as they seem to be in New Salem.
What starts off as a dystopian fantasy turned into something far from that, though the fantasy part remained. This was definitely a unique and interesting novel from Tabitha Morrow. I’m interested in seeing what she comes up with next!
February 14, 2016
Received an ARC from the publisher at Netgalley.
I wasn't sure what to think of the blurb, it sounded interesting, and also modern (New Salem part). Now I have read the book, I can only say this: Wow... It was great.
Welcome to the town of New Salem, where lately people have gone missing (exiled?), there are processions, girls and boys live under strict rules. Break the rules, and vanish.
Ruth, was a really nice, good girl. She was sweet, but she was also a teenager, trying her best to fit in, but with all the strict rules it isn't always going well. She is worried about her friends who have vanished.
One day, after not being able to sleep for a few days, she sees a light outside and follows it, and finds out she, and 2 of her friends are witches!
The story was great. I loved the New Salem town, how everything was ruled with fear and a tight regime, it scared me sometimes, and I was rooting for our girls.
The magic part, was so-so. It seemed to me their powers weren't that great, it was mostly destructive (though they did try their best). And silver blood? What?
The various plot twists in this book are super-b, though you can guess some of them quite soon, there are hints here and there. Still when you actually find it out, when they get to the part, you are still going to be saying: Wow!
Ethan and Caleb, our two guys (though I must say, I thought Ethan was still a kid, not a guy) who are be playing a big role in the story.
The ending.. well it felt a bit rushed.
Anyways, the book was good. I really liked it and I would give it 4 stars in total.
I wasn't sure what to think of the blurb, it sounded interesting, and also modern (New Salem part). Now I have read the book, I can only say this: Wow... It was great.
Welcome to the town of New Salem, where lately people have gone missing (exiled?), there are processions, girls and boys live under strict rules. Break the rules, and vanish.
Ruth, was a really nice, good girl. She was sweet, but she was also a teenager, trying her best to fit in, but with all the strict rules it isn't always going well. She is worried about her friends who have vanished.
One day, after not being able to sleep for a few days, she sees a light outside and follows it, and finds out she, and 2 of her friends are witches!
The story was great. I loved the New Salem town, how everything was ruled with fear and a tight regime, it scared me sometimes, and I was rooting for our girls.
The magic part, was so-so. It seemed to me their powers weren't that great, it was mostly destructive (though they did try their best). And silver blood? What?
The various plot twists in this book are super-b, though you can guess some of them quite soon, there are hints here and there. Still when you actually find it out, when they get to the part, you are still going to be saying: Wow!
Ethan and Caleb, our two guys (though I must say, I thought Ethan was still a kid, not a guy) who are be playing a big role in the story.
The ending.. well it felt a bit rushed.
Anyways, the book was good. I really liked it and I would give it 4 stars in total.
November 15, 2013
Every time I see the words "inside the walls" I have no control over the fact that I instantly think of the movie The Village by M Night Shyamalan. I suppose this is because 1) I love that movie and 2) am always searching for similar stories.
This was one of those stories that hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed the characters, the community and the witch craft. In New Salem there is a separation between the council and the townspeople mainly by the color of robes or clothing they wear. The council is known for their red robes, and the townspeople a very modestly dressed and the town has a very old feeling to it, no technology, farmland and everybody having to do their part for the town to keep alive. The behavior of the townspeople to stay in line is really strict and the kids are watched carefully. Don't forget the forest surrounding the village and the stone wall that blocks them off from any other societies that may be outside.
Ruth is a great main character. She is daring and courageous, the fact that she does question things..mostly because she is different, is a huge plus in this story. There is very little down time and a combination of great elements and characters that really drives the storyline. There is a mystery of where the banished people end up going when they leave. Ruth and her coven are able to develop very amazing powers as they become stronger, and when they are together, that power grows.
I really had a lot of fun reading this story. (I have actually read it twice in the last 4 months) and think that it's definitely one you'd enjoy to read as well. Especially if you are into witches and creepy settings
This was one of those stories that hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed the characters, the community and the witch craft. In New Salem there is a separation between the council and the townspeople mainly by the color of robes or clothing they wear. The council is known for their red robes, and the townspeople a very modestly dressed and the town has a very old feeling to it, no technology, farmland and everybody having to do their part for the town to keep alive. The behavior of the townspeople to stay in line is really strict and the kids are watched carefully. Don't forget the forest surrounding the village and the stone wall that blocks them off from any other societies that may be outside.
Ruth is a great main character. She is daring and courageous, the fact that she does question things..mostly because she is different, is a huge plus in this story. There is very little down time and a combination of great elements and characters that really drives the storyline. There is a mystery of where the banished people end up going when they leave. Ruth and her coven are able to develop very amazing powers as they become stronger, and when they are together, that power grows.
I really had a lot of fun reading this story. (I have actually read it twice in the last 4 months) and think that it's definitely one you'd enjoy to read as well. Especially if you are into witches and creepy settings
September 4, 2013
When I started Witch Hunt, I had assumed it belonged to the Fantasy genre, with the New Salem, witches and the medieval-style community. However, it actually turned out to be sort of dystopian - New Salem is a sequestered community enclosed by a Wall, where 7 Stewards (who are, in reality, warlocks) govern the city/town/village (I wasn't sure what New Salem was) and basically keep all the citizens in this Bible-preaching atmosphere, and instill in them that any sin is a sign of the Devil and that such sinners are cast out of the Eden in which they live. Ruth, one of the teenagers, has seen many of her classmates 'disappear' due to such 'sins' and when her best friend, Abigail, also disappears, she starts to become wary of the Stewards' motives. Turns out, there are real witches in New Salem, which if was uncovered, would meant burning at the stake for said witches. If you realized that Ruth also is a witch, you guessed right. That's a part of the problem of this book - it's quite predictable. I could see every plot twist coming - even who betrayed whom. For a short book, it packs a lot of events in them and the ending is rushed. The characters are barely defined - they are just named and you go with it.
So, while the book had a good writing style, I wish it had more character development and some pauses between every major event/attack - it was like a warzone - things just kept happening around.
Received a copy from Diversion books via NetGalley for an honest review
So, while the book had a good writing style, I wish it had more character development and some pauses between every major event/attack - it was like a warzone - things just kept happening around.
Received a copy from Diversion books via NetGalley for an honest review
August 7, 2013
Whilst this was an interesting book, it was not quite what I had thought it would be after reading the description. This was not a bad thing at all. Since this was intended for a younger market and featured witchcraft at the central story line, I expected to have a complete feeling of seen it, done it before which; I did not.
The characters in this novel are interesting, but I did feel that they did not have much in the way of identity as individuals. The potential for further development was there, but it seemed they were always together and none of them really had a tremendous amount of back history that made it easy to relate to them.
What I did enjoy the most about this book was the description of the setting and the ethereal, somewhat Gothic feel of the story. The lands were described wonderfully and it was easy to imagine that you were there with the characters, seeing through their eyes. There were times where I wanted to go back and read a passage again so that I could envision it once more.
Overall, this was an interesting book with a lot of elements that made me like it. I did feel the pace could have been a little quicker in some spots. This was not much of a hindrance though, as the dialogue was well written.
I would recommend this for those who enjoy magic, witchcraft and unraveling a bit of a mystery.
This review is based on a Digital ARC from the publisher and provided through Netgalley.
The characters in this novel are interesting, but I did feel that they did not have much in the way of identity as individuals. The potential for further development was there, but it seemed they were always together and none of them really had a tremendous amount of back history that made it easy to relate to them.
What I did enjoy the most about this book was the description of the setting and the ethereal, somewhat Gothic feel of the story. The lands were described wonderfully and it was easy to imagine that you were there with the characters, seeing through their eyes. There were times where I wanted to go back and read a passage again so that I could envision it once more.
Overall, this was an interesting book with a lot of elements that made me like it. I did feel the pace could have been a little quicker in some spots. This was not much of a hindrance though, as the dialogue was well written.
I would recommend this for those who enjoy magic, witchcraft and unraveling a bit of a mystery.
This review is based on a Digital ARC from the publisher and provided through Netgalley.
August 15, 2014
Rather Be Reading YA
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read 36% of Witch Hunt before I decided to give up. Even now, I can't figure out what went wrong. I love reading about witches and (old) Salem. This should have been the perfect book for me. The writing wasn't bad, but the story just didn't seem to be going anywhere. I didn't feel connected to or interested in any of the characters, not even the main character Ruth. Overall it was a disappointing read.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read 36% of Witch Hunt before I decided to give up. Even now, I can't figure out what went wrong. I love reading about witches and (old) Salem. This should have been the perfect book for me. The writing wasn't bad, but the story just didn't seem to be going anywhere. I didn't feel connected to or interested in any of the characters, not even the main character Ruth. Overall it was a disappointing read.
July 24, 2013
Very well written. The flow of the entire book was spot on and kept me turning pages eagerly. Characters felt fleshed out and realistic with actions and reactions exactly in line with their personalities and situations. About half way through the book I began to recall a movie I had seen in 2004 with several similarities to the setting and events. Although this was a bit disappointing it didn't take too much away from my enjoyment of the book since it was well worth the read.
Want to Read
September 8, 2013This looks good, however, I'd like to point out that no one was burned in Salem, they were hanged. Just a pet peeve of mine, stuff made up.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews