What do you think?
Rate this book
District Witch 1976
Tom and his school survive the gym hall clash of 1976. His grandparents conquer the invading witches with words, a mop, a ladle and an old painting. Amidst the bizarre fallout, the truth is spurted out - Tom is a witch, placed in hiding to get away from the mistakes of his parents.
He embraces an apprenticeship offer, as it means escape from his grandparents and a greater understanding of the Witchside.
Shining as a witch, Tom attracts a mysterious entity, named Pharos. It empowers him.
Edith, Tom’s rival apprentice, is shocked and jealous when he exhibits extraordinary abilities - abilities granted by Pharos. Her concern is whether Pharos is benign or dangerous, the effects on Tom, and the effects on her chances of beating him to win the role of district witch.
On the orders of her superiors, Edith conceals her disdain for Tom, becoming their spy and Tom’s pretend friend. Her relationship with Tom becomes an intriguing game that suits her dark and scheming nature.
During their daily duties, piece by piece, an unknown influence leaves clues and steers them towards the full truth: the fate of Tom’s parents; the real nature of Pharos; and a dark future for all witches.
He embraces an apprenticeship offer, as it means escape from his grandparents and a greater understanding of the Witchside.
Shining as a witch, Tom attracts a mysterious entity, named Pharos. It empowers him.
Edith, Tom’s rival apprentice, is shocked and jealous when he exhibits extraordinary abilities - abilities granted by Pharos. Her concern is whether Pharos is benign or dangerous, the effects on Tom, and the effects on her chances of beating him to win the role of district witch.
On the orders of her superiors, Edith conceals her disdain for Tom, becoming their spy and Tom’s pretend friend. Her relationship with Tom becomes an intriguing game that suits her dark and scheming nature.
During their daily duties, piece by piece, an unknown influence leaves clues and steers them towards the full truth: the fate of Tom’s parents; the real nature of Pharos; and a dark future for all witches.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 25, 2020
I was a little underwhelmed with this book. The blurb sounded interesting, and I was very curious to see how setting this story in 1976 would impact it. Sadly, other than references to Top of the Pops, and needing to use land-lines/phone boxes, there is no reason that this story couldn't have happened in 2020. Most of this story felt very Harry Potter derivative, and while I love those books, this just didn't have the same magic.
The magic system in this book is very murky and it seems very easily open to abuse and possession. If all power is based on opening your psyche up to sentient energy sources in the Shadowlands, then you're pretty much guaranteed to be overwhelmed by something not caring about your own welfare most of the time. And what does being partially integrated into the commoner (read muggle) world take away from witches? We have this nebulously radical/revolutionary group that calls themselves Free Witches, but how are witches not already free? They live, isolated and secure, in their own villages and settlements. It seems that only the District Witches have any significant contact with commoners, and that, only in the course of their official duties to the Crown.
I also spent most of this book being confused about what the author wanted me to feel/think about Edith. Honestly, I thought that she was WAY more likely to become unstable and turn to the dark side than Tom ever was. I also didn't much mind if that was how the story was going to turn out, because she was simply selfish, spiteful, and cruel - all while bemoaning the fact that she was such a victim. For example, she told Tom that she was content being in the shadow of Megan so that she wasn't the focus of anyone's attention, and then promptly whinged about how Tom kept on being the focus of everyone's attention and she wasn't content to be sidelined.
Finally, Tom and Edith's ages seemed to jump about a bit. In the beginning of the book, when they are leaving their schools, the author mentions something about Edith being sixteen(ish), and yet, at the end of the book, they turn twelve - meaning that their boarding schools were merely primary schools. Granted, if they were only eleven in most of the book, that made the whole truancy concern much more logical.
Overall, I don't know if I am curious enough about Tom, Edith, Dotty, and Pharos to read any further.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
The magic system in this book is very murky and it seems very easily open to abuse and possession. If all power is based on opening your psyche up to sentient energy sources in the Shadowlands, then you're pretty much guaranteed to be overwhelmed by something not caring about your own welfare most of the time. And what does being partially integrated into the commoner (read muggle) world take away from witches? We have this nebulously radical/revolutionary group that calls themselves Free Witches, but how are witches not already free? They live, isolated and secure, in their own villages and settlements. It seems that only the District Witches have any significant contact with commoners, and that, only in the course of their official duties to the Crown.
I also spent most of this book being confused about what the author wanted me to feel/think about Edith. Honestly, I thought that she was WAY more likely to become unstable and turn to the dark side than Tom ever was. I also didn't much mind if that was how the story was going to turn out, because she was simply selfish, spiteful, and cruel - all while bemoaning the fact that she was such a victim. For example, she told Tom that she was content being in the shadow of Megan so that she wasn't the focus of anyone's attention, and then promptly whinged about how Tom kept on being the focus of everyone's attention and she wasn't content to be sidelined.
Finally, Tom and Edith's ages seemed to jump about a bit. In the beginning of the book, when they are leaving their schools, the author mentions something about Edith being sixteen(ish), and yet, at the end of the book, they turn twelve - meaning that their boarding schools were merely primary schools. Granted, if they were only eleven in most of the book, that made the whole truancy concern much more logical.
Overall, I don't know if I am curious enough about Tom, Edith, Dotty, and Pharos to read any further.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
September 27, 2019
I enjoy a good urban fantasy and am especially attracted to excellent world building. This novel caught me early on when it was revealed that Winston Churchill, as a matter of national security for the British Empire, made a secret treaty with the witches of England to protect their human neighbors from supernatural dangers. Thus was born the office of district witch—individuals called in by those few members of law enforcement who are in the know—to protect England by quietly neutralizing supernatural problems.
District Witch 1976 follows two young district witch apprentices who are in competition to become a district witch one day. Both of them have problems. One lost her sister to fell magic and remains very bitter about it, making her somewhat difficult to like even if she is in many ways a sympathetic character. The other was hidden among the humans for reasons that begin to become apparent as the novel progresses. He finds out during the course of the novel that he is a witch and begins to develop his powers very rapidly.
Many (if not most) magic powers appear to come from arrangements with beings from the other side and the boy, Tom’s, magical companion is so powerful it worries everyone—except Tom who really doesn’t know enough to know if he should be worried. The leaders of the witches want Tom watched as they attempt to determine if he will prove to be a danger to them and England.
The novel offers a couple of interesting cases that the two apprentices and their district witch investigate together and lays the groundwork for a sequel. There are moments that are quite exciting, but there were also moments that I wished the pacing of the story would pick up considerably. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. If you like magical systems and the idea of supernatural beings secretly moving about in our world, you’re likely to enjoy this novel.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
District Witch 1976 follows two young district witch apprentices who are in competition to become a district witch one day. Both of them have problems. One lost her sister to fell magic and remains very bitter about it, making her somewhat difficult to like even if she is in many ways a sympathetic character. The other was hidden among the humans for reasons that begin to become apparent as the novel progresses. He finds out during the course of the novel that he is a witch and begins to develop his powers very rapidly.
Many (if not most) magic powers appear to come from arrangements with beings from the other side and the boy, Tom’s, magical companion is so powerful it worries everyone—except Tom who really doesn’t know enough to know if he should be worried. The leaders of the witches want Tom watched as they attempt to determine if he will prove to be a danger to them and England.
The novel offers a couple of interesting cases that the two apprentices and their district witch investigate together and lays the groundwork for a sequel. There are moments that are quite exciting, but there were also moments that I wished the pacing of the story would pick up considerably. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. If you like magical systems and the idea of supernatural beings secretly moving about in our world, you’re likely to enjoy this novel.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
March 24, 2020
They are 11, how can one be so dark and the other so light?
I enjoyed reading this one. Edith was raised a witch and when it is time to start her apprenticeship she is happy to know she is the only one until Tom mysteriously comes along. Tom has been raised as a commoner, non witch, until the day comes that a travelling troup comes to his school and seems to put a spell on everyone, until his grandparents come to the rescue with a painting and a mop. That is when they tell him he is a witch and request that Dotty, Edith's mentor, to be his mentor.
Only one apprentice can become a district witch and thus Tom and Edith are rivals. Follow them on the beginning of their journey and learn more about their pasts and what is in store for them in the future.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
I enjoyed reading this one. Edith was raised a witch and when it is time to start her apprenticeship she is happy to know she is the only one until Tom mysteriously comes along. Tom has been raised as a commoner, non witch, until the day comes that a travelling troup comes to his school and seems to put a spell on everyone, until his grandparents come to the rescue with a painting and a mop. That is when they tell him he is a witch and request that Dotty, Edith's mentor, to be his mentor.
Only one apprentice can become a district witch and thus Tom and Edith are rivals. Follow them on the beginning of their journey and learn more about their pasts and what is in store for them in the future.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
May 25, 2020
A really good book with and engaing story and arange of interesting characters. The multifaceted story is engaging though personally I sometime found it challenging to follow who was speaking in some of the longer dialogues. But overall I would recommend reading if you like a world of fantasy and adventure.
December 12, 2020
Good YA book, though a bit slow for my taste. A few cases to get your feet wet, then they get to the main point of the series. Enough action to keep it interesting and makes you think. It'll be interesting to see how their lives play out.
October 12, 2019
Interesting premise for a story, I hope it develops more in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews