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The Witches of Orkney #1
The Blue Witch
Before Sam Baron broke Odin's curse on the witches to become the first son born to a witch and the hero of the Legends of Orkney series, his mother was a young witchling growing up in the Tarkana Witch Academy. In this first book of the prequel series, the Witches of Orkney, nine-year-old Abigail Tarkana is determined to grow up to be the greatest witch of all, even greater than her evil ancestor Catriona. Unfortunately, she is about to fail Spectacular Spells class because her witch magic hasn't come in yet. Even worse, her nemesis, Endera, is making life miserable by trying to get her kicked out.
When her new friend Hugo's life is put in danger by a stampeding sneevil, a desperate Abigail manages to call up her magic―only to find out it's unlike any other witchling's at the Tarkana Witch Academy! As mysteries deepen around her magic and just who her true parents are, Abigail becomes trapped in a race against time to undo one of her spells before she is kicked out of the coven forever!
Rich in Norse mythology, The Blue Witch is the first of a fast-paced young reader series filled with magical spells, mysterious beasts, and witch-hungry spiders!
When her new friend Hugo's life is put in danger by a stampeding sneevil, a desperate Abigail manages to call up her magic―only to find out it's unlike any other witchling's at the Tarkana Witch Academy! As mysteries deepen around her magic and just who her true parents are, Abigail becomes trapped in a race against time to undo one of her spells before she is kicked out of the coven forever!
Rich in Norse mythology, The Blue Witch is the first of a fast-paced young reader series filled with magical spells, mysterious beasts, and witch-hungry spiders!
216 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2018
16 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
About the author
Alane Adams
26 books212 followers"Dear Readers: I wrote the Legends of Orkney series for my twelve-year-old son who challenged me to write something he would enjoy reading. The Red Sun is filled with exciting characters who struggle to find their true path. Sam learns so much about his past and how to overcome his anger, but will he continue to use his power for good or will he be drawn to the dark side? I hope you enjoy reading the Legends of Orkney series as much as I enjoyed writing them for you. The picture book series are dedicated to my father, the original Coal Thief! Keep reading!" - Alane Adams
Alane Adams grew up in an old Quaker town called Whittier in Southern California. Adams attended Whittier High School and was active in every possible sport including basketball (proudly claiming the nickname Breakaway Adams!) and swimming and diving. For college, Alane attended the University of Southern California where she wanted to be an English major, but family convinced her to become an accountant to help run a family business. After spending the next few decades helping to build one of the largest recycling companies on the West Coast, Alane left the family business behind to pursue her writing career. Before launching into writing full-time, Alane began teaching full-time at a local university. Finally, the Legends of Orkney series was born when her then 12-year-old son challenged Alane to write a book he could read. She hasn't stopped writing since that day.
Alane's favorite books include any story involving folklore, fantasy and fairytales. When Alane is not writing or teaching, she is hanging out with her three boys, each who have grown up having adventures to rival those of her characters.
Find out more at: www.AlaneAdams.com
Alane Adams grew up in an old Quaker town called Whittier in Southern California. Adams attended Whittier High School and was active in every possible sport including basketball (proudly claiming the nickname Breakaway Adams!) and swimming and diving. For college, Alane attended the University of Southern California where she wanted to be an English major, but family convinced her to become an accountant to help run a family business. After spending the next few decades helping to build one of the largest recycling companies on the West Coast, Alane left the family business behind to pursue her writing career. Before launching into writing full-time, Alane began teaching full-time at a local university. Finally, the Legends of Orkney series was born when her then 12-year-old son challenged Alane to write a book he could read. She hasn't stopped writing since that day.
Alane's favorite books include any story involving folklore, fantasy and fairytales. When Alane is not writing or teaching, she is hanging out with her three boys, each who have grown up having adventures to rival those of her characters.
Find out more at: www.AlaneAdams.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 27, 2019
Fun, charming, & magical!
THE BLUE WITCH by ALANE ADAMS was such a quick, fun and cute story for young readers that had a wonderful mix of Norse mythology, adventure, witches, magical spells, villians, mysterious beasts, friendship, and witch-hungry spiders.
It has us following along the story of a young witch named Abigail and her adventures at the Tarkana Witch Academy as she struggles with her magic and to be the best witchling ever. Abigail was a very fun, brave and wonderful heroine and should be well received and liked by many a young readers out there.
It was extremely easy to read and mindless fun with enough mayhem and adventures to keep me entertained.
Thank you so much to BookSparks and Alane Adams for the complimentary copy! I was one of the lucky participants chosen for the Flat Abby Summer Reading & Photo Challenge. It has been loads of fun taking Flat Abby with me on some fun summer adventures.
THE BLUE WITCH by ALANE ADAMS was such a quick, fun and cute story for young readers that had a wonderful mix of Norse mythology, adventure, witches, magical spells, villians, mysterious beasts, friendship, and witch-hungry spiders.
It has us following along the story of a young witch named Abigail and her adventures at the Tarkana Witch Academy as she struggles with her magic and to be the best witchling ever. Abigail was a very fun, brave and wonderful heroine and should be well received and liked by many a young readers out there.
It was extremely easy to read and mindless fun with enough mayhem and adventures to keep me entertained.
Thank you so much to BookSparks and Alane Adams for the complimentary copy! I was one of the lucky participants chosen for the Flat Abby Summer Reading & Photo Challenge. It has been loads of fun taking Flat Abby with me on some fun summer adventures.
September 13, 2018
4.5
I would like to thank NetGalley, Alane Adams, and SparkPress for the opportunity to read The Blue Witch in exchange for an honest review.
Some books on NetGalley are only available on the Adobe Digital Editions reader, and some formats are a challenge to read. As this file from NetGalley was (I couldn't increase the document size). So, I put this one off for a bit. A happenstance upon a Twitter post by @RiseUpFdn, although a few months old, held promise of a physical copy of The Blue Witch, so I asked for one! They were very polite and sent a copy right away (much better than reading on the Adobe app). Unexpectedly, not only was the book sent with one day shipping, but came in a gorgeous box featuring the novel, as well as some awesome goodies, including a pencil, notepad, pin, postcards, and bookmarks! How above and beyond unexpected. I am a happy reader.
The Blue Witch, like its original counterpart, The Red Sun, has a matte cover, which is nice with its unique feel, but also gets full of fingerprints very easily! It also curves, too, but goes back to normal after letting it sit under another book for a bit. I also love how the cover correlates to the original series covers, and demonstrates friendship and adventure, part of what this book is about.
Abigail was a Tarkana witch long before she became a mother (she's Sam's mom). But her magic is a bit odd: it's blue, rather than green, an abnormal color that places her in the path of danger. With a mysterious parentage and a struggle to reach her magic, Abigail is a bit strange when it comes to being a witch. Hugo, a Balfin boy, befriends Abigail and tells her how he studies witches and magic, and he just might be able to help her learn.
Another character that readers who started with The Red Sun might be familiar with is the witch Endera. I feel like her mother influences her badness, but she's still not exactly the ideal friend. It was interesting to see a bit of the influence that developed Endera as the bad witch of the future.
There are also nice little hints to the events to happen in The Red Sun, which was fun, and didn't draw from the focus of The Blue Witch. We learn what an Omera actually looks like (illustrations, yay), which I also really liked. This book has roughly one illustration per chapter (with a few exceptions), similar to the cover. They are very cute and I feel they are just enough of an addition to make the novel more involved. The novel itself has a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it, with Abigail at the academy, taking magic and potion classes. While that idea is a bit old, the rest feels fresh and fun. Aside from a few references to The Red Sun and Odin himself, the Norse mythology didn't really filter through, but it didn't really need to. This story about finding oneself is just the right length for middle grade: not too short, not too long at approximately 200 pages with light, elegant prose and fun dialogue.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to see where the next book goes: The Rubicus Prophecy! Not to mention, I need to finish the Legends of Orkney trilogy! My experience with SparkPress and Alane Adams has been nothing but amazing so far, an author for young readers of our time!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Alane Adams, and SparkPress for the opportunity to read The Blue Witch in exchange for an honest review.
Some books on NetGalley are only available on the Adobe Digital Editions reader, and some formats are a challenge to read. As this file from NetGalley was (I couldn't increase the document size). So, I put this one off for a bit. A happenstance upon a Twitter post by @RiseUpFdn, although a few months old, held promise of a physical copy of The Blue Witch, so I asked for one! They were very polite and sent a copy right away (much better than reading on the Adobe app). Unexpectedly, not only was the book sent with one day shipping, but came in a gorgeous box featuring the novel, as well as some awesome goodies, including a pencil, notepad, pin, postcards, and bookmarks! How above and beyond unexpected. I am a happy reader.
The Blue Witch, like its original counterpart, The Red Sun, has a matte cover, which is nice with its unique feel, but also gets full of fingerprints very easily! It also curves, too, but goes back to normal after letting it sit under another book for a bit. I also love how the cover correlates to the original series covers, and demonstrates friendship and adventure, part of what this book is about.
Abigail was a Tarkana witch long before she became a mother (she's Sam's mom). But her magic is a bit odd: it's blue, rather than green, an abnormal color that places her in the path of danger. With a mysterious parentage and a struggle to reach her magic, Abigail is a bit strange when it comes to being a witch. Hugo, a Balfin boy, befriends Abigail and tells her how he studies witches and magic, and he just might be able to help her learn.
Another character that readers who started with The Red Sun might be familiar with is the witch Endera. I feel like her mother influences her badness, but she's still not exactly the ideal friend. It was interesting to see a bit of the influence that developed Endera as the bad witch of the future.
There are also nice little hints to the events to happen in The Red Sun, which was fun, and didn't draw from the focus of The Blue Witch. We learn what an Omera actually looks like (illustrations, yay), which I also really liked. This book has roughly one illustration per chapter (with a few exceptions), similar to the cover. They are very cute and I feel they are just enough of an addition to make the novel more involved. The novel itself has a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it, with Abigail at the academy, taking magic and potion classes. While that idea is a bit old, the rest feels fresh and fun. Aside from a few references to The Red Sun and Odin himself, the Norse mythology didn't really filter through, but it didn't really need to. This story about finding oneself is just the right length for middle grade: not too short, not too long at approximately 200 pages with light, elegant prose and fun dialogue.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to see where the next book goes: The Rubicus Prophecy! Not to mention, I need to finish the Legends of Orkney trilogy! My experience with SparkPress and Alane Adams has been nothing but amazing so far, an author for young readers of our time!
September 3, 2018
3,5 stars
I was, unfortunately, a bit disappointed with this book. I liked that the story was derived from North mythology, the setting of a magic school wasn't exactly original but it was interesting and the main protagonist had enough good qualities to be likeable. However, the story itself was overly simplistic and there was no actual depth to the characters, their motivations or the relationships between them. It honestly felt like chunks of the story were missing sometimes so maybe if the book were longer it would've eliminated some of the problems.
I still liked the story in the end but it's not something I'd commit to continue reading.
A big thank you to the publisher and the Edelweiss+ website for providing me with an early copy!
I was, unfortunately, a bit disappointed with this book. I liked that the story was derived from North mythology, the setting of a magic school wasn't exactly original but it was interesting and the main protagonist had enough good qualities to be likeable. However, the story itself was overly simplistic and there was no actual depth to the characters, their motivations or the relationships between them. It honestly felt like chunks of the story were missing sometimes so maybe if the book were longer it would've eliminated some of the problems.
I still liked the story in the end but it's not something I'd commit to continue reading.
A big thank you to the publisher and the Edelweiss+ website for providing me with an early copy!
August 5, 2020
4.5 stars
I received this book in my Once Upon a Book Club monthly box subscription. I have to say that I would have ended up purchasing this book (series) anyway as its right up my alley.
I'm baffled by the negative reviews in all honesty. Completely baffled...whatever. I loved it.
Basically the book is Harry Potter lite. I love our protagonist Abigail who is a first year student at a witch academy. She is surrounded by good...and bad students as well as good...and bad adults.
I love all the good folks she surrounds herself with. Not just a lukewarm love, we are speaking of the 100 degree hair curling in the humidity love. She has made some great choices in her friends. Some of her other choices make me cringe. Haha!
I look forward to book number two!
I received this book in my Once Upon a Book Club monthly box subscription. I have to say that I would have ended up purchasing this book (series) anyway as its right up my alley.
I'm baffled by the negative reviews in all honesty. Completely baffled...whatever. I loved it.
Basically the book is Harry Potter lite. I love our protagonist Abigail who is a first year student at a witch academy. She is surrounded by good...and bad students as well as good...and bad adults.
I love all the good folks she surrounds herself with. Not just a lukewarm love, we are speaking of the 100 degree hair curling in the humidity love. She has made some great choices in her friends. Some of her other choices make me cringe. Haha!
I look forward to book number two!
December 7, 2020
3.5 stars
Middle grade fantasy series about a young witchling attending her first year at the Tarkana Academy, a school for witches.
This has obvious similarities to the Harry Potter books but also has the addition of some Norse mythology.
Middle grade fantasy series about a young witchling attending her first year at the Tarkana Academy, a school for witches.
This has obvious similarities to the Harry Potter books but also has the addition of some Norse mythology.
October 8, 2022
3.5⭐️
August 7, 2020
The Blue Witch is the first book of the prequel to The Legends of Orkney series. It doesn't appear that you need to have read the Legends of Orkney prior to reading The Witches of Orkney, as some of the events are alluded to in the prologue and provide enough of the backstory to allow you to flow into the current plot easily. The black and white illustrations by Jonathan Stroh are lovely and really add to the story, the cover is a really good example of his style.
There are quite a few similarities between The Blue Witch and Harry Potter that I really enjoyed. There's a magical school, teachers and classes in potions, magical creatures and spells. Although, I personally would have loved to read more about the classes and the magical system. There's an orphan who knows nothing about their parents and doesn't have any magical abilities to begin. There's a prophecy and a hinting at a war to come. At first you think that the bullies have the upper hand, but then Abigail and Hugo figure out some defense spells. Abigail struggles with trying to be a good witch, she knows her heart is supposed to be made of stone, but she craves having friends. Calla's motives at the beginning kind of threw me off at first, I was never really sure whether she wanted to help Abigail or get her into more trouble. Abigail appears to be destined for great things, and like Harry there's a pull to have her join the dark side. Abigail learns in the end that she needs to make a choice, what kind of witch does she want to be? Will she be merciful and kind or slip into performing more dark magic? I quite enjoyed this introductory book to the series, sure it has Harry Potter vibes, but there's still a whole new set of magical beasts and the subplot with Odin, the prophecy and the revelation of who Abigail's parents were was interesting and kept me wanting to read more. The story moves along at a good pace, has some hints of Norse mythology and a fun budding friendship between Abigail and her scientist friend Hugo. I'm looking forward to reading The Rubicus Prophecy next. ** Thank you to SparkPress for the review copy**
There are quite a few similarities between The Blue Witch and Harry Potter that I really enjoyed. There's a magical school, teachers and classes in potions, magical creatures and spells. Although, I personally would have loved to read more about the classes and the magical system. There's an orphan who knows nothing about their parents and doesn't have any magical abilities to begin. There's a prophecy and a hinting at a war to come. At first you think that the bullies have the upper hand, but then Abigail and Hugo figure out some defense spells. Abigail struggles with trying to be a good witch, she knows her heart is supposed to be made of stone, but she craves having friends. Calla's motives at the beginning kind of threw me off at first, I was never really sure whether she wanted to help Abigail or get her into more trouble. Abigail appears to be destined for great things, and like Harry there's a pull to have her join the dark side. Abigail learns in the end that she needs to make a choice, what kind of witch does she want to be? Will she be merciful and kind or slip into performing more dark magic? I quite enjoyed this introductory book to the series, sure it has Harry Potter vibes, but there's still a whole new set of magical beasts and the subplot with Odin, the prophecy and the revelation of who Abigail's parents were was interesting and kept me wanting to read more. The story moves along at a good pace, has some hints of Norse mythology and a fun budding friendship between Abigail and her scientist friend Hugo. I'm looking forward to reading The Rubicus Prophecy next. ** Thank you to SparkPress for the review copy**
October 10, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Blue Witch
Author: Alane Adams
Book Series: The Witches of Orkney Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: witches, paranormal, childrens books, magic
Publication Date: October 23, 2018
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 216
Synopsis: Before Sam Baron broke Odin's curse on the witches to become the first son born to a witch and the hero of the Legends of Orkney series, his mother was a young witchling growing up in the Tarkana Witch Academy. In this first book of the prequel series, the Witches of Orkney, nine-year-old Abigail Tarkana is determined to grow up to be the greatest witch of all, even greater than her evil ancestor Catriona. Unfortunately, she is about to fail Spectacular Spells class because her witch magic hasn't come in yet. Even worse, her nemesis, Endera, is making life miserable by trying to get her kicked out.
When her new friend Hugo's life is put in danger by a stampeding sneevil, a desperate Abigail manages to call up her magic―only to find out it's unlike any other witchling's at the Tarkana Witch Academy! As mysteries deepen around her magic and just who her true parents are, Abigail becomes trapped in a race against time to undo one of her spells before she is kicked out of the coven forever!
Review: This was a cute and fast read! I loved the story and friendship storyline. I loved the character development and the world building was well done as well. The Norse mythology included in this book also gave the book a fresh, new feel to it and separates it a little from other magical school books.
The only fault I have is that I think the book relies on the reader to fill in some of the holes and I don’t know if a younger reader, like this book is suited for, can do that.
Verdict: It’s well done and a great Halloween read for younger kids!
Book: The Blue Witch
Author: Alane Adams
Book Series: The Witches of Orkney Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: witches, paranormal, childrens books, magic
Publication Date: October 23, 2018
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some scary moments)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 216
Synopsis: Before Sam Baron broke Odin's curse on the witches to become the first son born to a witch and the hero of the Legends of Orkney series, his mother was a young witchling growing up in the Tarkana Witch Academy. In this first book of the prequel series, the Witches of Orkney, nine-year-old Abigail Tarkana is determined to grow up to be the greatest witch of all, even greater than her evil ancestor Catriona. Unfortunately, she is about to fail Spectacular Spells class because her witch magic hasn't come in yet. Even worse, her nemesis, Endera, is making life miserable by trying to get her kicked out.
When her new friend Hugo's life is put in danger by a stampeding sneevil, a desperate Abigail manages to call up her magic―only to find out it's unlike any other witchling's at the Tarkana Witch Academy! As mysteries deepen around her magic and just who her true parents are, Abigail becomes trapped in a race against time to undo one of her spells before she is kicked out of the coven forever!
Review: This was a cute and fast read! I loved the story and friendship storyline. I loved the character development and the world building was well done as well. The Norse mythology included in this book also gave the book a fresh, new feel to it and separates it a little from other magical school books.
The only fault I have is that I think the book relies on the reader to fill in some of the holes and I don’t know if a younger reader, like this book is suited for, can do that.
Verdict: It’s well done and a great Halloween read for younger kids!
August 31, 2019
Thank you BookSparks for a copy of The Blue Witch for review.
I really liked this story. I think I would definitely share it with a young girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to be. It was fun to read and I always enjoy a good magic story and magical world!
Great message and fun characters, excited to read the second in the series!
I really liked this story. I think I would definitely share it with a young girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to be. It was fun to read and I always enjoy a good magic story and magical world!
Great message and fun characters, excited to read the second in the series!
October 22, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.75
The Blue Witch is such a fun, magical middle-grade tale! Loosely drawing on Norse mythology, this follows Abigail, a 9-year-old witch whose magic has not yet appeared. She attends a school for witches where she befriends a local boy and faces nasty bullies. Apparently this is a prequel to another series set in the world and I would definitely read more. It's just a very fun, witchy book that is perfect for younger readers, all about friendship, dealing with bullies, and deciding who you want to be. Also there are dragons! Sort of, although they are called something else. Regardless, it's a very cute, enjoyable, and quick read at just over 200 pages. I recommend this as a very high quality pick from an indie author. I was sent an advance review copy by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Blue Witch is such a fun, magical middle-grade tale! Loosely drawing on Norse mythology, this follows Abigail, a 9-year-old witch whose magic has not yet appeared. She attends a school for witches where she befriends a local boy and faces nasty bullies. Apparently this is a prequel to another series set in the world and I would definitely read more. It's just a very fun, witchy book that is perfect for younger readers, all about friendship, dealing with bullies, and deciding who you want to be. Also there are dragons! Sort of, although they are called something else. Regardless, it's a very cute, enjoyable, and quick read at just over 200 pages. I recommend this as a very high quality pick from an indie author. I was sent an advance review copy by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2021
The Blue Witch introduces the reader to a girl named Abigail, who fears she will be kicked out of the Tarkana Witch Academy because not only is she failing (or about to) fail her classes but her powers haven’t come in! That is until once day Abigail meets a Balfin boy named Hugo. Hugo loves science. Huge also helps Abigail learn how to reach her magicial abilities.
Abigail is also a bit of an outcast. Abigail is never picked on for a partner and she doesn’t even have a roommate. Her one friend, Endera, turned against her and bullies and torments Abigail any chance she gets.
One day at the witch academy, a competition is held. Afterwards, to prove herself to Endera, Abigail performs a spell from an unknown magic book without realizing the consequences. The spell sends Endera and two other girls to the Netherworld. Now if Abigail wants to prevent from being exiled from the academy and the coven, she must find a way to bring back all three girls.
The Blue Witch is a Norse mythology novel/series. There are mentions of Vor, zodiac, Rigel, Aurvandil, witches and many creatures.
Alane Adams’s writing style flows effortlessly across the pages. I’m not a fast reader but I can easily read 50+ pages and not even realize it. I immediately ordered the rest of the series and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with Abigail and Hugo.
Abigail is also a bit of an outcast. Abigail is never picked on for a partner and she doesn’t even have a roommate. Her one friend, Endera, turned against her and bullies and torments Abigail any chance she gets.
One day at the witch academy, a competition is held. Afterwards, to prove herself to Endera, Abigail performs a spell from an unknown magic book without realizing the consequences. The spell sends Endera and two other girls to the Netherworld. Now if Abigail wants to prevent from being exiled from the academy and the coven, she must find a way to bring back all three girls.
The Blue Witch is a Norse mythology novel/series. There are mentions of Vor, zodiac, Rigel, Aurvandil, witches and many creatures.
Alane Adams’s writing style flows effortlessly across the pages. I’m not a fast reader but I can easily read 50+ pages and not even realize it. I immediately ordered the rest of the series and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with Abigail and Hugo.
September 12, 2018
Witches? School story? Magical beasts? Brave, headstrong girls? Yup, I was sold on this book instantly – it’s as if it was written for me! Luckily, it did more than just tick plot boxes, it was utterly charming and magical. It’s got a wonderful mix of adventure, friendship, and witchery!
I didn’t realise until I had already finished it, but The Blue Witch is a prequel to Adams’ other series, The Legends of Orkney, and focuses on the main character of that series’s mum when she was a child. I thought it stood alone perfectly – nothing was confusing and I felt at home in the world instantly. Abigail felt like a wonderfully realistic character in her own right, and there is no prior knowledge needed to fall in love with her. However, I’m definitely going to be picking up the other books, because there are plenty of hints at the prophecy which forms a major plot point in The Legends of Orkney books.
Abigail was a perfect example of my favourite type of heroine – she’s clever, resourceful, brave and stubborn. And a witch. I really loved getting to know her as she tackled her classes and her bullies, and as she learned about the truth behind her history and the uniqueness of her magic. I loved that sometimes she was extremely logical, and sometimes completely impulsive – it made me like her a lot to see that she was still learning how to handle things. I think I would have worshipped her if I’d have read this as a kid. She’d be great friend with Mildred Hubble, that’s for sure!
The other characters are also very fun, from bully Endora (who we actually find out is bullied herself, by her mother), to the proud and loyal Calla (whose magic hasn’t come in yet), to the inquisitive and supportive Hugo (a non-witch who befriends Abigail). The teachers are an array of weird and wonderful caricatures, which always helps create humour and tension in children’s books. Even Abigail’s mother, who has died well before the story starts, is a vivid presence. I got the sense that there was a lot of complexity to this world, and I can’t wait to read more.
There’s an excellent balance of high stakes and more mundane events – if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that my pet peeve with magical school stories is when there isn’t enough about the actual school! But we get to see several lessons, and the school itself is really well described, so you get a feel for the system and the teachers and the society that they are creating. Towards the end of the book, there’s much more adventure, but the doing-well-at-school plot never fades entirely into the background, which was brilliant. There’s also a spot of Norse mythology thrown in, which brings a slightly more serious aspect to the story, as it hints at machinations on a much larger scale. These will presumably become much more apparent as the story continues.
The Blue Witch was an excellent read, and will quickly become a favourite for any middle grade readers who enjoy a fantastic heroine, an interesting school, and a great adventure. I definitely recommend it if you loved Witch Wars, Witch for a Week or The Worst Witch!
Five out of five witch’s cats!
I didn’t realise until I had already finished it, but The Blue Witch is a prequel to Adams’ other series, The Legends of Orkney, and focuses on the main character of that series’s mum when she was a child. I thought it stood alone perfectly – nothing was confusing and I felt at home in the world instantly. Abigail felt like a wonderfully realistic character in her own right, and there is no prior knowledge needed to fall in love with her. However, I’m definitely going to be picking up the other books, because there are plenty of hints at the prophecy which forms a major plot point in The Legends of Orkney books.
Abigail was a perfect example of my favourite type of heroine – she’s clever, resourceful, brave and stubborn. And a witch. I really loved getting to know her as she tackled her classes and her bullies, and as she learned about the truth behind her history and the uniqueness of her magic. I loved that sometimes she was extremely logical, and sometimes completely impulsive – it made me like her a lot to see that she was still learning how to handle things. I think I would have worshipped her if I’d have read this as a kid. She’d be great friend with Mildred Hubble, that’s for sure!
The other characters are also very fun, from bully Endora (who we actually find out is bullied herself, by her mother), to the proud and loyal Calla (whose magic hasn’t come in yet), to the inquisitive and supportive Hugo (a non-witch who befriends Abigail). The teachers are an array of weird and wonderful caricatures, which always helps create humour and tension in children’s books. Even Abigail’s mother, who has died well before the story starts, is a vivid presence. I got the sense that there was a lot of complexity to this world, and I can’t wait to read more.
There’s an excellent balance of high stakes and more mundane events – if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that my pet peeve with magical school stories is when there isn’t enough about the actual school! But we get to see several lessons, and the school itself is really well described, so you get a feel for the system and the teachers and the society that they are creating. Towards the end of the book, there’s much more adventure, but the doing-well-at-school plot never fades entirely into the background, which was brilliant. There’s also a spot of Norse mythology thrown in, which brings a slightly more serious aspect to the story, as it hints at machinations on a much larger scale. These will presumably become much more apparent as the story continues.
The Blue Witch was an excellent read, and will quickly become a favourite for any middle grade readers who enjoy a fantastic heroine, an interesting school, and a great adventure. I definitely recommend it if you loved Witch Wars, Witch for a Week or The Worst Witch!
Five out of five witch’s cats!
December 18, 2018
THE BLUE WITCH is a story full of likable heroes, despicable villains, magic, and plenty of dangerous adventure. Middle grade readers are sure to be entertained, as they cheer on Abigail and her friends.
This was a really fun read! I liked the idea of Abigail and the witch school. She is a character who hasn't worked out who she is yet and is facing choices that will lead her to become a dark witch or away from that. I did wish she was a little stronger. She was so easily swayed or caught up in the moment, but I also got it. I can see so many places where enemies could become friends and vice versa. There's just lots of potential here and a nice lead-in at the end for the next book. I would have liked more character and story development, but that also would have made this a much longer story. For a chapter book, it was done really well. An overall enjoyable read!
In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this one. It's an entertaining read ideal for middle grade readers age 7 - 11.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Jean BookNerd Tours, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
This was a really fun read! I liked the idea of Abigail and the witch school. She is a character who hasn't worked out who she is yet and is facing choices that will lead her to become a dark witch or away from that. I did wish she was a little stronger. She was so easily swayed or caught up in the moment, but I also got it. I can see so many places where enemies could become friends and vice versa. There's just lots of potential here and a nice lead-in at the end for the next book. I would have liked more character and story development, but that also would have made this a much longer story. For a chapter book, it was done really well. An overall enjoyable read!
In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this one. It's an entertaining read ideal for middle grade readers age 7 - 11.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Jean BookNerd Tours, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
December 3, 2018
This is my first book by this author so i think i need to go back and check out some of the others books by this author. I did not feel like i was missing out on anything you can jump into this book and you be just fine. This is a middle grade story that follows a 9 year old girl as she goes off to magic school to learn to use her magic. She knows next to nothing about her mother other then she named Lissandra and she was fleeing the coven with her when she died. As the story moves along we also learn that due to who Abigail farther is she also has special magic. Join Abiligal as she navigates bullies, witch classes and a few dangerous beasts you will not be disappointed.
May 15, 2022
Saw this pop up at my local library and thought I'd try it out. It's a cute magical adventure story for middle schoolers, although it's just as good for elementary-age kids or read to littles. It's short and simple with the usual magic school / chosen one tropes, but with some fun world building around Norse Mythology. Apparently a prequel to a series I haven't read, it is definitely fine as a stand-alone.
Fun!
Fun!
December 16, 2018
There is so much going on in this fast paced story about a young witch who doesn't fit in. Young readers will enjoy reading about Abigail's adventures with her best friend Hugo, learning about her parents and her magic, and trying to outwit her nemesis Endera, all while trying to pass all of her classes at the Tarkana Witch Academy.
October 1, 2023
Very exciting read! I felt so intrigued, was looking for a witchy read and this book served! Our main character is a novice witch who joins the Witch academy. She was raised as an orphan and you guessed it right, mysterious background! Probably the most powerful bg ever cz her witchfire might make her a traitor to the witches. Also there is a trio of mean girls who are out to get her but she also makes these cute friends, who are there to support her through everything!!
October 27, 2019
DNF at 50% too pedestrian and amateurish. A kids book only kids will enjoy. The writing and storyline is too juvenile for a reader older than 10
June 24, 2021
Thank you, Alane Adams and Sparkpress for sending me a copy of this book series and other goodies!
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I've been reading ebooks for a while now, so it was great to hold a real book in my hands. And this was such a delightful read! Fantasy is probably my favorite genre, but sometimes you have to pay a lot of attention to it to understand what’s going on and how the world works. But this book had plenty of exciting events while having a light and breezy feel. Plotwise, it took a somewhat cliche idea of a boarding school for magic and made it into something new and fun. As a big fan of Harry Potter, I liked the similarities between them like how both Abigail and Harry were orphans with a special history, but to be honest, I could have done without the prologue. The first chapter drew me right in and it could have been a great beginning, and the prologue didn’t really seem necessary. Prophecies are common in the fantasy genre, but it could have been shown in a different way.
When it comes to the descriptions and writing, Alane Adams did a really good job of describing the teachers and the school- the place seemed so awful, part of me was hoping she would get expelled! I especially enjoyed reading about the different creatures, and the illustrations were great too!
Overall, it was a fun quick read, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
Read More reviews like this one on my blog Reading Frenzy: https://emailsmily.wixsite.com/readin...
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I've been reading ebooks for a while now, so it was great to hold a real book in my hands. And this was such a delightful read! Fantasy is probably my favorite genre, but sometimes you have to pay a lot of attention to it to understand what’s going on and how the world works. But this book had plenty of exciting events while having a light and breezy feel. Plotwise, it took a somewhat cliche idea of a boarding school for magic and made it into something new and fun. As a big fan of Harry Potter, I liked the similarities between them like how both Abigail and Harry were orphans with a special history, but to be honest, I could have done without the prologue. The first chapter drew me right in and it could have been a great beginning, and the prologue didn’t really seem necessary. Prophecies are common in the fantasy genre, but it could have been shown in a different way.
When it comes to the descriptions and writing, Alane Adams did a really good job of describing the teachers and the school- the place seemed so awful, part of me was hoping she would get expelled! I especially enjoyed reading about the different creatures, and the illustrations were great too!
Overall, it was a fun quick read, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
Read More reviews like this one on my blog Reading Frenzy: https://emailsmily.wixsite.com/readin...
August 11, 2020
This is definitely my type of witch book! This is a super cute middle-grade book with fun adventure and characters!
September 12, 2018
Witches? School story? Magical beasts? Brave, headstrong girls?
Yup, I was sold on this book instantly – it’s as if it was written for me! Luckily, it did more than just tick plot boxes, it was utterly charming and magical. It’s got a wonderful mix of adventure, friendship, and witchery!
Image result for the blue witch alane adams
Book: The Blue Witch by Alane Adams
Read before: No
Ownership: E-ARC provided by NetGalley for fair review.
I didn’t realise until I had already finished it, but The Blue Witch is a prequel to Adams’ other series, The Legends of Orkney, and focuses on the main character of that series’s mum when she was a child. I thought it stood alone perfectly – nothing was confusing and I felt at home in the world instantly. Abigail felt like a wonderfully realistic character in her own right, and there is no prior knowledge needed to fall in love with her. However, I’m definitely going to be picking up the other books, because there are plenty of hints at the prophecy which forms a major plot point in The Legends of Orkney books.
Abigail was a perfect example of my favourite type of heroine – she’s clever, resourceful, brave and stubborn. And a witch. I really loved getting to know her as she tackled her classes and her bullies, and as she learned about the truth behind her history and the uniqueness of her magic. I loved that sometimes she was extremely logical, and sometimes completely impulsive – it made me like her a lot to see that she was still learning how to handle things. I think I would have worshipped her if I’d have read this as a kid. She’d be great friend with Mildred Hubble, that’s for sure!
The other characters are also very fun, from bully Endora (who we actually find out is bullied herself, by her mother), to the proud and loyal Calla (whose magic hasn’t come in yet), to the inquisitive and supportive Hugo (a non-witch who befriends Abigail). The teachers are an array of weird and wonderful caricatures, which always helps create humour and tension in children’s books. Even Abigail’s mother, who has died well before the story starts, is a vivid presence. I got the sense that there was a lot of complexity to this world, and I can’t wait to read more.
There’s an excellent balance of high stakes and more mundane events – if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that my pet peeve with magical school stories is when there isn’t enough about the actual school! But we get to see several lessons, and the school itself is really well described, so you get a feel for the system and the teachers and the society that they are creating. Towards the end of the book, there’s much more adventure, but the doing-well-at-school plot never fades entirely into the background, which was brilliant. There’s also a spot of Norse mythology thrown in, which brings a slightly more serious aspect to the story, as it hints at machinations on a much larger scale. These will presumably become much more apparent as the story continues.
The Blue Witch was an excellent read, and will quickly become a favourite for any middle grade readers who enjoy a fantastic heroine, an interesting school, and a great adventure. I definitely recommend it if you loved Witch Wars, Witch for a Week or The Worst Witch!
Five out of five witch’s cats!
Yup, I was sold on this book instantly – it’s as if it was written for me! Luckily, it did more than just tick plot boxes, it was utterly charming and magical. It’s got a wonderful mix of adventure, friendship, and witchery!
Image result for the blue witch alane adams
Book: The Blue Witch by Alane Adams
Read before: No
Ownership: E-ARC provided by NetGalley for fair review.
I didn’t realise until I had already finished it, but The Blue Witch is a prequel to Adams’ other series, The Legends of Orkney, and focuses on the main character of that series’s mum when she was a child. I thought it stood alone perfectly – nothing was confusing and I felt at home in the world instantly. Abigail felt like a wonderfully realistic character in her own right, and there is no prior knowledge needed to fall in love with her. However, I’m definitely going to be picking up the other books, because there are plenty of hints at the prophecy which forms a major plot point in The Legends of Orkney books.
Abigail was a perfect example of my favourite type of heroine – she’s clever, resourceful, brave and stubborn. And a witch. I really loved getting to know her as she tackled her classes and her bullies, and as she learned about the truth behind her history and the uniqueness of her magic. I loved that sometimes she was extremely logical, and sometimes completely impulsive – it made me like her a lot to see that she was still learning how to handle things. I think I would have worshipped her if I’d have read this as a kid. She’d be great friend with Mildred Hubble, that’s for sure!
The other characters are also very fun, from bully Endora (who we actually find out is bullied herself, by her mother), to the proud and loyal Calla (whose magic hasn’t come in yet), to the inquisitive and supportive Hugo (a non-witch who befriends Abigail). The teachers are an array of weird and wonderful caricatures, which always helps create humour and tension in children’s books. Even Abigail’s mother, who has died well before the story starts, is a vivid presence. I got the sense that there was a lot of complexity to this world, and I can’t wait to read more.
There’s an excellent balance of high stakes and more mundane events – if you’ve been reading for a while, you know that my pet peeve with magical school stories is when there isn’t enough about the actual school! But we get to see several lessons, and the school itself is really well described, so you get a feel for the system and the teachers and the society that they are creating. Towards the end of the book, there’s much more adventure, but the doing-well-at-school plot never fades entirely into the background, which was brilliant. There’s also a spot of Norse mythology thrown in, which brings a slightly more serious aspect to the story, as it hints at machinations on a much larger scale. These will presumably become much more apparent as the story continues.
The Blue Witch was an excellent read, and will quickly become a favourite for any middle grade readers who enjoy a fantastic heroine, an interesting school, and a great adventure. I definitely recommend it if you loved Witch Wars, Witch for a Week or The Worst Witch!
Five out of five witch’s cats!
January 30, 2021
What is a great fantasy book for elementary and middle school kids?
The Blue Witch by Alane Adams is!
Imagine that you are starting school. Everyone else has their mothers taking them and you don't. Now imagine that you are a witch starting your first year at the Tarkana Witch Academy yet you have no powers. To make things even worse, you have no friends and the most powerful witch in your class has it in for you.
What would you do? This is exactly the position that Abigail finds herself in.
She wants more than anything to become the Head Witchling for her class, but how can she with no friends and no powers? After a run-in with Endera, the class bully and whose mother is an extremely powerful witch at the academy, Abigail runs out into the forest to get away, only to be trapped by Endera and bully friends. Then out of a tree hops a boy from the Balfin School for Boys, Hugo. Hugo tries to help Abigail but considering that he has no powers, he and Abigail have no choice but to run away.
While in the forest they are attacked by a sneevil, a massive wolf-like creature with razor-sharp teeth. They have no hope until Abigail digs down deep and finally gets her magic, but her magic is not like the others so she has to disguise it. Then Abigail meets Calla, a glitch-witch who has not received her magic yet. She is not allowed to go to school, she is only allowed to work there. Abigail, Calla, and Hugo form a fast friendship and they are there for Abigail when she forms an unhealthy bond with Endera's mother's spellbook.
The spellbook is full of dark magic!
Abigail tries to fight the dark magic but when Abigail is once again put on the spot by Endera, Abigail blasts Endera and her friends to the netherworlds. Abigail, Hugo, and Calla have to travel to the netherworld to try to save the girls from Octonia, the queen of the Arachnia, a race of nasty ravenous spiders.
Can the trio battle the killer spiders when only one of them have magic? Can they save Endera and her friends to keep Abigail from being expelled from school? Will Calla ever get her magic or is she doomed to be a glitch-witch the rest of her life? Read this exciting, magical story to find out these answers and so much more!
Why I love this book!
I am really not a big fantasy and magic kind of girl but I really loved this book! There is so much love and friendship even in the midst of hate and dark magic. This book leaves you wanting so much more from Abigail and her friends when she hopefully enters year 2 of Tarkana Witch Academy!
Don't miss this one!!
The Blue Witch by Alane Adams is!
Imagine that you are starting school. Everyone else has their mothers taking them and you don't. Now imagine that you are a witch starting your first year at the Tarkana Witch Academy yet you have no powers. To make things even worse, you have no friends and the most powerful witch in your class has it in for you.
What would you do? This is exactly the position that Abigail finds herself in.
She wants more than anything to become the Head Witchling for her class, but how can she with no friends and no powers? After a run-in with Endera, the class bully and whose mother is an extremely powerful witch at the academy, Abigail runs out into the forest to get away, only to be trapped by Endera and bully friends. Then out of a tree hops a boy from the Balfin School for Boys, Hugo. Hugo tries to help Abigail but considering that he has no powers, he and Abigail have no choice but to run away.
While in the forest they are attacked by a sneevil, a massive wolf-like creature with razor-sharp teeth. They have no hope until Abigail digs down deep and finally gets her magic, but her magic is not like the others so she has to disguise it. Then Abigail meets Calla, a glitch-witch who has not received her magic yet. She is not allowed to go to school, she is only allowed to work there. Abigail, Calla, and Hugo form a fast friendship and they are there for Abigail when she forms an unhealthy bond with Endera's mother's spellbook.
The spellbook is full of dark magic!
Abigail tries to fight the dark magic but when Abigail is once again put on the spot by Endera, Abigail blasts Endera and her friends to the netherworlds. Abigail, Hugo, and Calla have to travel to the netherworld to try to save the girls from Octonia, the queen of the Arachnia, a race of nasty ravenous spiders.
Can the trio battle the killer spiders when only one of them have magic? Can they save Endera and her friends to keep Abigail from being expelled from school? Will Calla ever get her magic or is she doomed to be a glitch-witch the rest of her life? Read this exciting, magical story to find out these answers and so much more!
Why I love this book!
I am really not a big fantasy and magic kind of girl but I really loved this book! There is so much love and friendship even in the midst of hate and dark magic. This book leaves you wanting so much more from Abigail and her friends when she hopefully enters year 2 of Tarkana Witch Academy!
Don't miss this one!!
March 26, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “The Blue Witch“.
I enjoyed reading this book for the most part, mainly for its adventure! The pacing is fast and does not contain a dull moment. There is always a grand adventure taking place, and I loved the way the author maintained this momentum. The main highlights of the story is when they battle with Queen Octonia, and their adventure with the Omera. I also liked the mysterious way in which Abigail meets some characters like her father, and Baba Nana.
In fact, I liked the plot more than the characters. There characters are mediocre for the most part. Apart from Hugo, I really did not love any of the other characters including Abigail. I hated that she never stood up to Endera. I didn’t like Calla either because she appears in the middle of the story and seems self-centered.
However, my main problem with this book was with how mean the villains act towards Abigail. The story is always fun with dastardly villains, but here, it was a bit too much. The tricks Endera and Melistra pull on Abigail were beyond devious and did not gel with the story. Surprisingly, the villains are highly abusive for a middle grade novel. I have not witnessed this kind of bullying in any other middle grade novel. Secondly, as this book is a prequel to the Legends of Orkney trilogy, there are quite a lot of references to the previous series which I could not comprehend, as I have not read the series.
Overall, I did enjoy The Blue Witch, but would have probably liked it better if the author toned down on the bullying. I am keen on continuing the series to see how it turns out.
I enjoyed reading this book for the most part, mainly for its adventure! The pacing is fast and does not contain a dull moment. There is always a grand adventure taking place, and I loved the way the author maintained this momentum. The main highlights of the story is when they battle with Queen Octonia, and their adventure with the Omera. I also liked the mysterious way in which Abigail meets some characters like her father, and Baba Nana.
In fact, I liked the plot more than the characters. There characters are mediocre for the most part. Apart from Hugo, I really did not love any of the other characters including Abigail. I hated that she never stood up to Endera. I didn’t like Calla either because she appears in the middle of the story and seems self-centered.
However, my main problem with this book was with how mean the villains act towards Abigail. The story is always fun with dastardly villains, but here, it was a bit too much. The tricks Endera and Melistra pull on Abigail were beyond devious and did not gel with the story. Surprisingly, the villains are highly abusive for a middle grade novel. I have not witnessed this kind of bullying in any other middle grade novel. Secondly, as this book is a prequel to the Legends of Orkney trilogy, there are quite a lot of references to the previous series which I could not comprehend, as I have not read the series.
Overall, I did enjoy The Blue Witch, but would have probably liked it better if the author toned down on the bullying. I am keen on continuing the series to see how it turns out.
September 20, 2019
The Blue Witch is such a fun read for elementary-aged readers and tweens. My boys (2nd and 5th grade) were immediately drawn into the stories and begging for one more chapter of this interesting story each night before bed.
It's a great mix of witches, mythology, peer relationships, magic, fantasy and there are references to Thor and Odin which my superhero-movie loving boys LOVED.
The pacing of the writing is quick and compelling. I read most of the book aloud to them, but my 5th grader also took turns reading chapters aloud.
We follow the main character, Abigail, who doesn't fit into the witches coven correctly (her magic is blue, not green) and there seems to be some mystery behind her mother Lissandra's story and death. We do learn about Abigail's father during this book, but we don't solve the mystery of Lissandra or why Melistra (one of the teachers at the coven) is out to destroy Abigail. We see just enough chaos from Melisatra's daughter Endera's manipulations and attempts to outmaneuver Abigail to keep the suspense high. And this first book ends with foreshadowing of what's to come in the sequel, The Rubicus Prophecy, that comes out in October 2019.
As a parent, reading aloud books to my kids is a high priority, but sometimes the content is hard to be excited about and enjoy - but The Blue Witch is not that case.
Highly recommend.
It's a great mix of witches, mythology, peer relationships, magic, fantasy and there are references to Thor and Odin which my superhero-movie loving boys LOVED.
The pacing of the writing is quick and compelling. I read most of the book aloud to them, but my 5th grader also took turns reading chapters aloud.
We follow the main character, Abigail, who doesn't fit into the witches coven correctly (her magic is blue, not green) and there seems to be some mystery behind her mother Lissandra's story and death. We do learn about Abigail's father during this book, but we don't solve the mystery of Lissandra or why Melistra (one of the teachers at the coven) is out to destroy Abigail. We see just enough chaos from Melisatra's daughter Endera's manipulations and attempts to outmaneuver Abigail to keep the suspense high. And this first book ends with foreshadowing of what's to come in the sequel, The Rubicus Prophecy, that comes out in October 2019.
As a parent, reading aloud books to my kids is a high priority, but sometimes the content is hard to be excited about and enjoy - but The Blue Witch is not that case.
Highly recommend.
February 19, 2020
This book seemed highly acclaimed, and I like to keep current with popular children's books, so I gave it a shot on Overdrive. Frankly - it's not good. It's full of weird creatures and gods/goddesses that the author seems to expect you to know in advance...or maybe just accept without question? The mythology/world building comes out of nowhere and really seems forced. The writing is extremely simplistic, but has some reasonably advanced vocabulary throughout, so I'm not sure what age reader she's aiming for. The characters are flat. There's good, evil, and nothing else in between. The plot is just a laundry list of "stuff happening" without any logical progression...every adventure the main character embarks on is caused by her rival repeatedly creating mischief. That's it. The whole book is so shallow, even for a kid's book, that I really struggled to finish it. Overall not sure why it's so highly recommended, except that it's about witches n' stuff which young people seem to like. I guess...??
I also discovered after reading that it's part of a prequel/companion series for another set of books she's already written. Perhaps it would feel more interesting (or I'd understand the world better) if I'd read those, but I honestly don't have a desire to based off of this title.
I also discovered after reading that it's part of a prequel/companion series for another set of books she's already written. Perhaps it would feel more interesting (or I'd understand the world better) if I'd read those, but I honestly don't have a desire to based off of this title.
January 29, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by The Blue Witch. Since I am an adult, I can't make a 100% recommendation for a younger reader but I do think it several positives to offer. To me, it seems like it would be best suited for an elementary school level reader (as long as parents are comfortable with the content...i.e., magic, bullying and some violent animals) and I could see it being a nice option for someone who doesn't love to read and needs a smooth read that moves along nicely (and isn't too long).
While it has magic, it didn't read Harry Potter to me but more like a Fairy Tale. When I was younger, I liked to break up longer/harder reading with Fairy Tale-like stories and 'The Blue Witch' fits this bill for me as an adult. It was simply constructed and moved along at a very fast pace. There were a couple places where actions were glossed over, but it didn't take away from the story too much.
This is the first in a series and I can say that some of the questions I had as far as character motivations and the witch hierarchy become a little more clear in the second book. I haven't read the whole series, but this book left me wanting to see what happened next.
And for what it's worth, I would have loved to have Hugo as my BFF when I was a kid.
While it has magic, it didn't read Harry Potter to me but more like a Fairy Tale. When I was younger, I liked to break up longer/harder reading with Fairy Tale-like stories and 'The Blue Witch' fits this bill for me as an adult. It was simply constructed and moved along at a very fast pace. There were a couple places where actions were glossed over, but it didn't take away from the story too much.
This is the first in a series and I can say that some of the questions I had as far as character motivations and the witch hierarchy become a little more clear in the second book. I haven't read the whole series, but this book left me wanting to see what happened next.
And for what it's worth, I would have loved to have Hugo as my BFF when I was a kid.
December 12, 2018
I received a copy of Blue Witch for an honest review. There was no compensation given for this review. Everything that I say is in my opinion and mine alone.
What drew me to request this book for review was the cover. I mean, look at that cover! It says excitement, magic, and dragons! And, really, it had two out of the three (possibly 3/3 except that what I thought was a dragon is actually called an Omera).
From the very beginning of the book, I was hooked to the story. The pacing is well done, the world is a fantasy world that is inspired and embraces Norse lore, and there is enough suspense that has me wanting to read more.
Blue Witch is actually the first book in a prequel series from the same author. The first series centers around Abigail's son, Sam. You do not need to have read that series to understand this one. If anything, this book has me wondering what the other series is like.
All in all, I really liked this book and am definitely going to have Bug read this as well. The world is so interesting that there is no doubt that when a sequel comes out, I'll be getting it.
Final Rating: 4/5
What drew me to request this book for review was the cover. I mean, look at that cover! It says excitement, magic, and dragons! And, really, it had two out of the three (possibly 3/3 except that what I thought was a dragon is actually called an Omera).
From the very beginning of the book, I was hooked to the story. The pacing is well done, the world is a fantasy world that is inspired and embraces Norse lore, and there is enough suspense that has me wanting to read more.
Blue Witch is actually the first book in a prequel series from the same author. The first series centers around Abigail's son, Sam. You do not need to have read that series to understand this one. If anything, this book has me wondering what the other series is like.
All in all, I really liked this book and am definitely going to have Bug read this as well. The world is so interesting that there is no doubt that when a sequel comes out, I'll be getting it.
Final Rating: 4/5
October 21, 2018
This middle grade book was an amazing start to a new prequel series in the Orkney world by Alane Adams and it is just as wonderful as the original and even more so with illustrations I love Jonathon Stroh's work and that being implemented throughout the book was fantastic. Fast paced and easy to read this is a great introduction for younger kids to start with and as they grow up they can read her original series. I read this with 2 people who have never read her books before and they also truly enjoyed it so it is also great for older people to read as well. There are some things that made me have theories on how this is going to continue and how things may or may not be connected to the original series so I'm excited to see how it continues..overall I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars I truly enjoyed this and I'm so glad Alane is writing again!!!
July 2, 2019
It was such a quick read. The story had me wanting to keep turning the pages until there were no more to turn. I really liked how each chapter was short because there were time where I had to do so something so finishing the chapter really quickly was easy.
I had so many feelings from the beginning of this book. Endera made me so mad, I just wanted to keep reading to find out if karma finally caught up to her. I love the friendship that Abigail and Hugo have. No matter what, they are best friends.
The chapters leading up to the end, no thank you. If you know, you know 🕷 but omg, love the dragonflies and the Omera 💜💜
Just when you think the story is about to wrap up, something else happens that keeps you enthralled. I almost felt bad for Endera and then that feeling went away very quickly.
I can’t wait until The Rubicus Prophecy comes out in October!!
I had so many feelings from the beginning of this book. Endera made me so mad, I just wanted to keep reading to find out if karma finally caught up to her. I love the friendship that Abigail and Hugo have. No matter what, they are best friends.
The chapters leading up to the end, no thank you. If you know, you know 🕷 but omg, love the dragonflies and the Omera 💜💜
Just when you think the story is about to wrap up, something else happens that keeps you enthralled. I almost felt bad for Endera and then that feeling went away very quickly.
I can’t wait until The Rubicus Prophecy comes out in October!!
October 7, 2021
I went into this one knowing very little about it other than I've liked previous books by the author. This was an absolutely adorable story and a great beginning to a series. I enjoyed getting to know Abigail, Hugo and the others as Abigail starts her learning. I also really liked the little tidbits of figures from Norse Mythology and little tidbits of mythology here and there. It is definitely Abigail's story, but also shows signs of tying into an even bigger mythos. Adams gave each character distinct voices and personalities, showing how some of them weave together really well. Abigail doesn't always make the right decisions and sometimes stumbles - but has friends who are willing to help, even when those friends are from unlikely places.
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