The Witch's Boy

by Alex Beecroft

When the hope of redemption is balanced against the lure of revenge, which will prove stronger, flawed good or perfect evil? A dark fantasy set in a world where magic is a curse.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Magic

315 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2008

About the author

Spaceships and galaxy spanning empires, conversations with angels, viking villages, haunted mansions and forbidden love in the Age of Sail... I love a good strong plot in an exotic setting, with characters you can admire, and a happy ending.

If you make a venn diagram of genres, including historical, fantasy, gay romance and mystery, I occupy the space in the middle where they overlap.

~

BTW, if you're thinking my reviews on here are a bit mean, most of the books I really enjoy will get a 4 star. I am saving 5 stars for books I find genuinely life changing. 4 is still "this was really really good, you should read it." 5 is "OMG, my mind is blown and my life will never be the same again."

Reviews

[Alex]

I wrote this, so I'm biased, but if you like fantasies with anti-heroes, blood magic, repressed dysfunctional m/m platonic relationships, ancient artifacts, pseudo-Saxons and elves, this is probably your cup of tea.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been just perfect for me, but it wasn't. The worldbuilding wasn't enough, the characters development wasn't enough, the story wasn't enough... The premise is good, but the book read as a disjointed collection of ideas. I've been said that this book was one of the first by this author, so I bear that in mind. The book wasn't bad, not really, the writting wasn't bad, I've read far worse by well known authors, but it could have been much better.

[Enal Nellam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are a lot of things very right with it, and the writing itself is clean. However, few writing sins are worse than an irrational and contradictory character (acting against themselves or that which any sane person would do) for the sole purpose of pushing the plot forward. It sours the middle of the story into aggravating unbelievability, recovering only once the author has shoved said plot down the character's throats.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

I found this by accident while looking for The Witch's Boy. I didn't like that one but maybe I'll like this one.

[Martha H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at the part with the idiot Adela and Adam. Stupidest woman ever. Stupid king. Nothing to do with the first part of the story or if there is, the link is so small I need a microscope. I didn't even really like the first part of the book, either. Just nooo.

[KT McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Alternate reality, complex characterization, fabulous story, elves, witches (good & bad), women stepping up, this book has it all. When I looked up, and it was over, I was dazed by my own reality. I was consumed with the story.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting fantasy set in what appears to be a fairly standard fayre faux medieval land with magic and elves. However the quality of writing lifts it well above mediocrity, with an engaging duel tale of a boy who is inexplicably baught into the service of a dangerous and feared witch, and a nun pursued by a would be lover. This is all brought together in a great climax and the pace of the novel does not drag up to that point either.

Yes this book has elves. But at least these are not tolkien elves - these ones seem somehow wilder. Many aspects of the book are not wholly original, but the author does a good job of making an engaging tale that could be enjoyed by any lover of the fantasy genre.

[Tamarrion Lash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Это не мм-романс никоим образом, не обманывайтесь. Это фентезятиня, в принципе не совсем плохо написанная, если не считать крайне раздражающего авторского любования главным персонажем. Девушка-героиня мне понравилась, вот еще бы ее так стремительно не выпихали в роман с эльфом, вообще было бы замечательно.
Исключительно для любителей непритязательного фентези.

[Donnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

too long, way too many descriptions of grass, rocks, dirt and etc. this was a decent story but it was constantly interrupted buy useless babbling, and I found myself skim reading alot. and sometimes there were big jumps in the development of the story without any reason.

[Lupita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, and a very interesting explanation for how magic came to be in this outlier village. Althogh it felt like 2 or 3 stories pieced together. The mother, the son's and the magic, it was at the end a heart warming and lovely tale.

[Jessica Freely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beecroft's beautiful writing imbues every line of this intense and heartrending story with emotion. One of the best things I've read in a long, long time.