What do you think?
Rate this book
Witch in the White City
Thousands of exhibits. Millions of visitors. One fiendish killer.
Neva's goals at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago are simple. Enjoy the spectacle—perhaps the greatest the United States has ever put on (the world’s fair to end all world’s fairs!). Perform in the exposition’s Algerian Theatre to the best of her abilities. And don't be found out as a witch.
Easy enough … until the morning she looks up in the theatre and sees strangely marked insects swarming a severed hand in the rafters. Before she can scream, the bugs drop and swarm her.
And every one of them seems to have a stinger.
They strike fast—it only takes them a moment to inject her with so much venom that the same strange marks begin to rise on her skin. She's horrified, but there's worse to come: once the insects disperse, a Columbian Guard notices her rashes and warns that five people with similar sores have been murdered and dismembered. Before they died, the victims also seem to have lost their minds.
Neva considers fleeing the exposition. But that won't stop her from going mad. So she marshals her powers and searches for the killer.
Within hours, it becomes clear he's searching for her too.
An intricate story with a breakneck pace, Witch in the White City blends history, mystery, and magic in a way that will appeal to fans of The Devil in the White City, The Golem and the Jinni, and Black Leopard, Red Wolf.
Neva's goals at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago are simple. Enjoy the spectacle—perhaps the greatest the United States has ever put on (the world’s fair to end all world’s fairs!). Perform in the exposition’s Algerian Theatre to the best of her abilities. And don't be found out as a witch.
Easy enough … until the morning she looks up in the theatre and sees strangely marked insects swarming a severed hand in the rafters. Before she can scream, the bugs drop and swarm her.
And every one of them seems to have a stinger.
They strike fast—it only takes them a moment to inject her with so much venom that the same strange marks begin to rise on her skin. She's horrified, but there's worse to come: once the insects disperse, a Columbian Guard notices her rashes and warns that five people with similar sores have been murdered and dismembered. Before they died, the victims also seem to have lost their minds.
Neva considers fleeing the exposition. But that won't stop her from going mad. So she marshals her powers and searches for the killer.
Within hours, it becomes clear he's searching for her too.
An intricate story with a breakneck pace, Witch in the White City blends history, mystery, and magic in a way that will appeal to fans of The Devil in the White City, The Golem and the Jinni, and Black Leopard, Red Wolf.
296 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2021
53 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Nick Wisseman
31 books79 followersNick Wisseman lives in the woods of Michigan with his wife, kids, ten dogs, sixty cats, and forty horses. (The true number of pets is an order of magnitude smaller, but most days it feels like more.) He's not quite sure why he loves writing twisted fiction, but there's no stopping the weirdness once he's in front of a computer. You can find the complete list of oddities on his website: www.nickwisseman.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 27, 2021
We’re at the Columbian Fair in Chicago in 1893, a massive exposition to celebrate that America was discovered 400 years earlier (be that in 1492 though)
Neva is a 21-year-old Chicago born woman who works as an oriental dancer on the fair. She has extraordinary abilities. She can bend, ply and stretch her bones and the marrow inside at will, something that’s more than handy as a dancer. One day during her performance, a load of all sorts of bugs fall on top of her and she gets severely bitten. Those crescent shaped bites itch like hell. Wiley, a South African guard, tells her that at least 5 people died in mysterious circumstances, all showing the same markings. Her twin brother disappears and later on, he tears off a man’s leg before he dies. The insect bites, seem to infect the victims with unnatural aggression and a yearning for human blood or flesh. While battling her own urges, Neva swears to find out who or what is behind these mysterious events. We also find a young boy wandering around the fair on his own after his mother has disappeared. Is she also a victim?
There are a lot of mysterious and strange elements in this story that complicate Neva's quest for help and understanding of what’s going on. There’s an anarchist group that wants to launch an explosion on the Ferris Wheel on Chicago Day, a club of murder enthusiasts might want to put their admiration for Jack the Ripper into practice. There’s also competition between the Chicago police, the fair’s guards and Pinkerton’s detectives to solve these murders. They can’t even agree whether this is supernatural or just a clever disguise from an evil mastermind.
This story takes place only 2 decades after the great fire of Chicago and not 30 years after the civil war. All the sensitivities and conflicts thereof are all but forgotten. The author must have done meticulous research on various subjects that are integrated into the narrative and provide time-appropriate couleur locale. Don’t be squeamish though as the realistic but gruesome descriptions of the workings of a slaughterhouse are sickening. It paints a less than pleasant picture of society and its prevalent social problems of the time include unemployment and homelessness. It appears that not very much has changed over time. It was also a perfect breeding ground for the anarchist theories and complots that we encounter.
As Neva is descended from slaves, her skin colour is repeatedly thrown at her. She reacts and thinks with all the defiance and rigour of the 21st century, as she should. But if you place a story in that time period and setting, you know that this is the going common attitude and Neva will be used to this. This doesn’t mean that it is acceptable or that it hurts less but, in those days it would be even dangerous to question or oppose the attitude. It does show in the thinking and actions of Neva that the book is a modern creation. Not just because she's black, but being a woman and all, she would never have been able to think and look at the world as open and free as she does in the book. She would have been brought up under the ruling social inequalities and even expect them, not that it makes them any more acceptable.
The title is carefully chosen as ‘the WHITE city’ carries several meanings, mainly because it’s the nickname for the Fair with its white buildings as opposed to the rest of Chicago. After it closed the buildings rapidly The title is well chosen, the white city has multiple meanings. To start it was the nickname of the fair as the buildings were are painted pristine white, most visitors were white (even most guides and personnel apart from the cleaners). After it closed most structures started to fall apart and lost their whiteness as factories could spud their black smoke again and the premises filled themselves with homeless people.
This is not a black and white story about good battling evil, it’s a realistic tale about a world where good people do bad things sometimes and where the bad also have a human side that does good things. This is a beautiful story with many levels of symbolism.
I love the mix between murder mystery and historical fantasy. It's great to see how the author mixes real facts and his own imagination to create a new almost-reality that’s plausible. It is a truly fascinating story.
I advise everybody to do a bit of googling on the Chicago Fair and especially the Chicago History Museum, I found some brilliant posters and drawings. Well worth the effort. At the end of the book, the author wrote a short note as to where he got his inspiration and also a list of recommended reading for those who want to know more about the subjects in the book.
I received a free ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
Neva is a 21-year-old Chicago born woman who works as an oriental dancer on the fair. She has extraordinary abilities. She can bend, ply and stretch her bones and the marrow inside at will, something that’s more than handy as a dancer. One day during her performance, a load of all sorts of bugs fall on top of her and she gets severely bitten. Those crescent shaped bites itch like hell. Wiley, a South African guard, tells her that at least 5 people died in mysterious circumstances, all showing the same markings. Her twin brother disappears and later on, he tears off a man’s leg before he dies. The insect bites, seem to infect the victims with unnatural aggression and a yearning for human blood or flesh. While battling her own urges, Neva swears to find out who or what is behind these mysterious events. We also find a young boy wandering around the fair on his own after his mother has disappeared. Is she also a victim?
There are a lot of mysterious and strange elements in this story that complicate Neva's quest for help and understanding of what’s going on. There’s an anarchist group that wants to launch an explosion on the Ferris Wheel on Chicago Day, a club of murder enthusiasts might want to put their admiration for Jack the Ripper into practice. There’s also competition between the Chicago police, the fair’s guards and Pinkerton’s detectives to solve these murders. They can’t even agree whether this is supernatural or just a clever disguise from an evil mastermind.
This story takes place only 2 decades after the great fire of Chicago and not 30 years after the civil war. All the sensitivities and conflicts thereof are all but forgotten. The author must have done meticulous research on various subjects that are integrated into the narrative and provide time-appropriate couleur locale. Don’t be squeamish though as the realistic but gruesome descriptions of the workings of a slaughterhouse are sickening. It paints a less than pleasant picture of society and its prevalent social problems of the time include unemployment and homelessness. It appears that not very much has changed over time. It was also a perfect breeding ground for the anarchist theories and complots that we encounter.
As Neva is descended from slaves, her skin colour is repeatedly thrown at her. She reacts and thinks with all the defiance and rigour of the 21st century, as she should. But if you place a story in that time period and setting, you know that this is the going common attitude and Neva will be used to this. This doesn’t mean that it is acceptable or that it hurts less but, in those days it would be even dangerous to question or oppose the attitude. It does show in the thinking and actions of Neva that the book is a modern creation. Not just because she's black, but being a woman and all, she would never have been able to think and look at the world as open and free as she does in the book. She would have been brought up under the ruling social inequalities and even expect them, not that it makes them any more acceptable.
The title is carefully chosen as ‘the WHITE city’ carries several meanings, mainly because it’s the nickname for the Fair with its white buildings as opposed to the rest of Chicago. After it closed the buildings rapidly The title is well chosen, the white city has multiple meanings. To start it was the nickname of the fair as the buildings were are painted pristine white, most visitors were white (even most guides and personnel apart from the cleaners). After it closed most structures started to fall apart and lost their whiteness as factories could spud their black smoke again and the premises filled themselves with homeless people.
This is not a black and white story about good battling evil, it’s a realistic tale about a world where good people do bad things sometimes and where the bad also have a human side that does good things. This is a beautiful story with many levels of symbolism.
I love the mix between murder mystery and historical fantasy. It's great to see how the author mixes real facts and his own imagination to create a new almost-reality that’s plausible. It is a truly fascinating story.
I advise everybody to do a bit of googling on the Chicago Fair and especially the Chicago History Museum, I found some brilliant posters and drawings. Well worth the effort. At the end of the book, the author wrote a short note as to where he got his inspiration and also a list of recommended reading for those who want to know more about the subjects in the book.
I received a free ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
November 23, 2021
*
free copy provided for a review
*
I'm gonna start by admitting that after the 50% mark I started reading faster and skimming through some parts because of how much I just wanted to finally finish this book.
I did not like this. at all.
firstly, because the main idea and plot surrounding this book is racism, and this book is written by a white man, from the perspective of a black woman. I don't think I would've had anything against that if this book was about something else and just happened to have the main character be a person of color. but in my opinion, it is crucial that books about experiencing racism (not to mention the overuse and amount of offensive/derogatory terms when it came to race that the author had used) should be written only by people who experience racism.
I do think that there are exceptions to this, though. if you're writing about something else and happen to have one of the characters talk about/mention their experience with being a part of a minority (whether that is racism, homophobia, transphobia, or anything else), and you don't use it as a plot-point, write it sensitively, and get feedback from people who are ACTUALLY a part of that minority, then I see no problem with it.
another great example is Alice Oseman, who writes stories that sometimes are led by characters of color, even if alice is white, but don't center around their identity.
aside from the obvious criticism I pointed out, this wasn't very interesting.
usually, I give books a chance to interest me in 25% of it, and if they don't, they usually end up being my least liked books.
the story wasn't for me. it was too mature, didn't have any jokes, didn't have action that would interest me. I think the only part I did like was the main character, Neva.
historical fiction is a very hard genre for me to get into, to be fair. any time I'd ever liked historical fiction was if it was queer, which this wasn't.
overall, I didn't like this. and I wouldn't recommend it.
I'm gonna start by admitting that after the 50% mark I started reading faster and skimming through some parts because of how much I just wanted to finally finish this book.
I did not like this. at all.
firstly, because the main idea and plot surrounding this book is racism, and this book is written by a white man, from the perspective of a black woman. I don't think I would've had anything against that if this book was about something else and just happened to have the main character be a person of color. but in my opinion, it is crucial that books about experiencing racism (not to mention the overuse and amount of offensive/derogatory terms when it came to race that the author had used) should be written only by people who experience racism.
I do think that there are exceptions to this, though. if you're writing about something else and happen to have one of the characters talk about/mention their experience with being a part of a minority (whether that is racism, homophobia, transphobia, or anything else), and you don't use it as a plot-point, write it sensitively, and get feedback from people who are ACTUALLY a part of that minority, then I see no problem with it.
another great example is Alice Oseman, who writes stories that sometimes are led by characters of color, even if alice is white, but don't center around their identity.
aside from the obvious criticism I pointed out, this wasn't very interesting.
usually, I give books a chance to interest me in 25% of it, and if they don't, they usually end up being my least liked books.
the story wasn't for me. it was too mature, didn't have any jokes, didn't have action that would interest me. I think the only part I did like was the main character, Neva.
historical fiction is a very hard genre for me to get into, to be fair. any time I'd ever liked historical fiction was if it was queer, which this wasn't.
overall, I didn't like this. and I wouldn't recommend it.
February 17, 2021
This is truly a blend of real life events, alternate history fiction, fantasy fiction with a splash of the supernatural. If this is your genre, you will love this.!
I will admit that, personally, I guess I am a bit of an old-school fantasy fiction reader (Mists of Avalon, Lord of the Rings, etc), and my only real alternate history outing was a poorly done book about Anne Boleyn and a rather good one from Colin Taber on the Viking settlement of the US. So it was with a little bit of trepidation that I agreed to give this a go when offered by the author, Nick Wisseman.
The premise certainly was intriguing - being a non-US resident, I was not familiar with the names given to these "expos" - so that alone sent me scurrying away to do some more reading. I was delighted to know that this was a real event!
It is a slow build as the storyline unfolds, with multiple protagonists, each with their own agenda, who both help and hinder Neva (our heroine) in her quest to battle this supernatural enemy before she too, becomes one of its many victims. Throughout it all are the parallel (and challenging) themes of inequality, racism, political and social change, new ideas (including spiritualism) and concepts.
However, the Columbian Exposition was a mirage, an illusion, a temporary idyll - "Chicago changed its spots for a time, but not for long" and "when the mask comes off, everyone is laid bare" - how very apt. For after the exposition's closure and subsequent fire, the idle smokestacks were fired up once again, blanketing the city in a perpetual grey cloak of fog that hid much from view.
I will admit that, personally, I guess I am a bit of an old-school fantasy fiction reader (Mists of Avalon, Lord of the Rings, etc), and my only real alternate history outing was a poorly done book about Anne Boleyn and a rather good one from Colin Taber on the Viking settlement of the US. So it was with a little bit of trepidation that I agreed to give this a go when offered by the author, Nick Wisseman.
The premise certainly was intriguing - being a non-US resident, I was not familiar with the names given to these "expos" - so that alone sent me scurrying away to do some more reading. I was delighted to know that this was a real event!
It is a slow build as the storyline unfolds, with multiple protagonists, each with their own agenda, who both help and hinder Neva (our heroine) in her quest to battle this supernatural enemy before she too, becomes one of its many victims. Throughout it all are the parallel (and challenging) themes of inequality, racism, political and social change, new ideas (including spiritualism) and concepts.
However, the Columbian Exposition was a mirage, an illusion, a temporary idyll - "Chicago changed its spots for a time, but not for long" and "when the mask comes off, everyone is laid bare" - how very apt. For after the exposition's closure and subsequent fire, the idle smokestacks were fired up once again, blanketing the city in a perpetual grey cloak of fog that hid much from view.
October 31, 2021
“Witch in the White City” follows Neva, a young and gifted woman performing at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago when the unexpected occurs. In the middle of her act, a swarm of insects fall onto the stage, stinging and biting her. The venom has a strange effect, leaving distinctive marks on her skin.
Overall, I enjoyed this genre bending combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and murder mystery. The setting of the World’s Fair in Chicago provides a dramatic backdrop to an equally intriguing story. The approach to the “gifts” depicted in the story drew me in and followed through the remainder of the story. The way they were incorporated into the story was creative and different. Neva, as a protagonist, was complex and endearing. Her emotions shown through the story and her plight with her family was felt through the pages. The full blog post can be found at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this genre bending combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and murder mystery. The setting of the World’s Fair in Chicago provides a dramatic backdrop to an equally intriguing story. The approach to the “gifts” depicted in the story drew me in and followed through the remainder of the story. The way they were incorporated into the story was creative and different. Neva, as a protagonist, was complex and endearing. Her emotions shown through the story and her plight with her family was felt through the pages. The full blog post can be found at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
February 12, 2021
I'll be honest in saying I wasn't sure how to rate this book, but not in a bad way, more in a holy sh*t what the f*ck kind of way. Our heroine, Neva, is strong, confident, and easy to feel sorry for. Most of the book I just felt for her as she continually goes through trial and heartache. The fantasy elements were mixed in so well with the historical setting, and I really loved both. Towards the end there were so many twists and turns that I definitely did not see coming. It was the climax and ending that leads me to my ultimate conclusion of what the f*ck did I just read. I did enjoy it though!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2021
Set in Chicago at a time when, with the civil war a living memory, many "white" individuals still openly looked down on nonwhites. Neva, of Afro-American descent, finds employment as a dancer in the great fair. Frightened of being thought of as a witch, she is able to utilise her power of bending and reshaping her bones to great effect in this without drawing too much attention to herself. A series of murders, producing fear that Jack the Ripper has come to America, and an infestation of biting insects draws Neva into a group of friends, several of whom also have special powers, opposing the evil. Set in the Great Fair, that brought together people and inventions from all over the world to Chicago in 1893, and the strike that followed it, I found the book a little difficult to get into at first due to the unusual ability of the heroine and my initial difficulty to become involved with her but it was well worth continuing and I soon became interested in her and the plot. I recommend it as an enjoyable read.
January 14, 2021
This fun and engaging story reads like your favorite, most imaginative fantasy novel full of characters with personal superpowers has been superimposed directly onto late-19th century historical fiction, with a bit of murder mystery stirred in to boot. The author weaves together significant and meticulously researched real-life events, like the Chicago world's fair and the Pullman strike, into a mesmerizing story of a young woman, Neva, who's trying to figure out who or what is causing a series of mysterious and gruesome deaths. The grisly specter of Jack the Ripper looms large, and the fantasy world the author has built is fascinating, but what really drew me in is the tenuous relationships between the characters - you never quite know who is who, and neither does Neva as she navigates shifting relationships with friends and family.
June 5, 2021
I enjoyed Wisseman's writing, the plot was pretty decent with its touches on racism and socio-economic politics (? forgive me, it's not my strong point), and I also really enjoyed reading about the loose magic system he's created.
I didn't quite give a lot of credence to the story being "dark" - while it's not a genre I actively explore any more, it's not something I haven't read before, and quite honestly, I completely, completely forgot about the story supposedly being dark (not even when the guy got his leg ripped off by the porter)... until I got 88% of the way through and the scene utterly floored me with its disturbing nature. The story lulled me into a false sense of security with the serial murder mystery, which I found pretty intriguing, and learning more about Neva.
Anyway, so yeah. This book did get pretty dark and it'll keep you on your toes.
Thanks to BookSirens for a free copy of the book.
I didn't quite give a lot of credence to the story being "dark" - while it's not a genre I actively explore any more, it's not something I haven't read before, and quite honestly, I completely, completely forgot about the story supposedly being dark (not even when the guy got his leg ripped off by the porter)... until I got 88% of the way through and the scene utterly floored me with its disturbing nature. The story lulled me into a false sense of security with the serial murder mystery, which I found pretty intriguing, and learning more about Neva.
Anyway, so yeah. This book did get pretty dark and it'll keep you on your toes.
Thanks to BookSirens for a free copy of the book.
April 15, 2021
Witch in the White City transports us to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893. Neva Freeman is a dancer in the Algerian Theatre Exhibition, drawing crowds due to her amazing suppleness and agility. However, when oddly-marked biting insects begin to drop on her during the act and grisly murders are discovered, Neva befriends a group of Exposition workers who are also able to draw on extraordinary powers in an effort to defeat the evil lurking at the Fair and beyond.
Witch in the White City is a fast-paced historical fantasy action horror thriller that does not disappoint and ably straddles the several aforementioned genres. The beginning is considered, intriguing and intelligently written. The reader is straight into the action as the bugs fall on Neva. Throughout the novel, the insects are unpleasantly well-realised and serve as a really creepy, unnerving addition. Neva is a capable main character; outwardly strong but with a hint of vulnerability. As the book progresses, her portrayal evolves so that by the time we are nearing the end, she assumes the mantle of a science-fiction superhero. It works despite moving quite a way from where we begin with her; nonetheless, I would have liked her abilities to have been more obvious from the start. However, the overwhelming main character is the Exposition itself. Within a few chapters, you feel utterly immersed; the research is meticulous and the attention to detail is scrupulous; it’s quite thought-provoking. Further food for thought is the fact that Mr Wisseman has not sugar-coated the issues that existed at, and surrounded the World’s Fair. The constant, overt racism that Neva is subjected to, is a thread that runs through the narrative as are the conditions the workers are exposed to, echoing the brutal societal dichotomy of the time. Part II was eerily poignant in this respect with the homeless existing among the dereliction of the now defunct but once costly exhibitions.
The plot is well-constructed although does become a touch convoluted, especially towards the end. There were some good twists but a few turns that occasionally stretched credibility despite the fantasy framework of the novel. I loved the interweaving of fact and fiction; it can be a difficult technique to blend realism and fiction successfully and Mr Wisseman is very adept at integrating the narratives together. It’s convincing and the non-fictional environment and events help to ground and add authenticity to the more fantastical, fictional elements of the story. It is a very pacey novel and a slightly slower tempo would have been welcome at times, especially with Neva but it’s testament to Mr Wisseman’s writing that the blistering rhythm never falters.
Overall, I found Witch in the White City to be an entertaining, imaginative and exciting read which has been faultlessly researched and edited. Highly recommended.
Witch in the White City is a fast-paced historical fantasy action horror thriller that does not disappoint and ably straddles the several aforementioned genres. The beginning is considered, intriguing and intelligently written. The reader is straight into the action as the bugs fall on Neva. Throughout the novel, the insects are unpleasantly well-realised and serve as a really creepy, unnerving addition. Neva is a capable main character; outwardly strong but with a hint of vulnerability. As the book progresses, her portrayal evolves so that by the time we are nearing the end, she assumes the mantle of a science-fiction superhero. It works despite moving quite a way from where we begin with her; nonetheless, I would have liked her abilities to have been more obvious from the start. However, the overwhelming main character is the Exposition itself. Within a few chapters, you feel utterly immersed; the research is meticulous and the attention to detail is scrupulous; it’s quite thought-provoking. Further food for thought is the fact that Mr Wisseman has not sugar-coated the issues that existed at, and surrounded the World’s Fair. The constant, overt racism that Neva is subjected to, is a thread that runs through the narrative as are the conditions the workers are exposed to, echoing the brutal societal dichotomy of the time. Part II was eerily poignant in this respect with the homeless existing among the dereliction of the now defunct but once costly exhibitions.
The plot is well-constructed although does become a touch convoluted, especially towards the end. There were some good twists but a few turns that occasionally stretched credibility despite the fantasy framework of the novel. I loved the interweaving of fact and fiction; it can be a difficult technique to blend realism and fiction successfully and Mr Wisseman is very adept at integrating the narratives together. It’s convincing and the non-fictional environment and events help to ground and add authenticity to the more fantastical, fictional elements of the story. It is a very pacey novel and a slightly slower tempo would have been welcome at times, especially with Neva but it’s testament to Mr Wisseman’s writing that the blistering rhythm never falters.
Overall, I found Witch in the White City to be an entertaining, imaginative and exciting read which has been faultlessly researched and edited. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2021
This book started off with a weird premise: a witch, who can bend her bones, is performing onstage when bugs fall from the ceiling and bite her.
I’ll admit, the weirdness of it drew me in. It’s not everyday you find a book that starts off with a magical insect swarm swallowing the heroine while she gyrates onstage for the masses. And as I got started, the visceral writing drew me in. I genuinely felt those shivers (which always seem to happen to me when bugs are either seen or mentioned) slither down my back as I dove into this book.
From there, I was off, and what an adventure it was! The powerful writing was superbly done, giving us a gorgeous cast of characters with quirks and flaws that made them well rounded. And the setting itself, *chef’s kiss*, was divine.
The setting definitely solidified itself as my favorite part of this story (but learning that Nick ran this as a D&D campaign before putting it in book format is a very, very close second!). Wisseman took careful planning and effort in setting the scene, and as such, the scene became a character in itself. The majesty and allure of the Fair was on full display, but Wisseman also tackled the veneer of that allure too: the working conditions and the unemployed droves displaced by the Fair’s construction. That rich layer greatly added to the story, giving the characters a strong backdrop as their tale unfolded.
My only problem (and let me just preface this by saying it’s more a personal preference of mine, rather than a full-blown problem) was the lack of an emotional connection with Augie at the beginning of the tale. I won’t dive too deep and spoil the story, but in the opening chapters, Neva rushes to her brother, Augie, for assistance after she’s been bitten. He disappears soon afterward, and her search for him drives a large chunk of the story, but the emotional connection between the two felt stilted.
With Augie and Neva, their relationship tends to be more telling, less showing. Understandable, considering Augie disappearances in the first act of the story. But still, I would have loved a chapter showing the depth of their relationship beforehand. Granted, while searching, Neva does recount instances in their past that show the relationship, but it’s still hard for me to establish that emotional connection at the beginning, when Neva realizes he’s gone. I don’t feel that same frantic need to find him, because I didn’t see how much she cared for him. She told me through her narration, but it’s not the same.
Overall, this book is stellar. My nit-picky preference aside, I loved this book. The setting, the magic, the characters all created a compelling and irresistible story.
I’ll admit, the weirdness of it drew me in. It’s not everyday you find a book that starts off with a magical insect swarm swallowing the heroine while she gyrates onstage for the masses. And as I got started, the visceral writing drew me in. I genuinely felt those shivers (which always seem to happen to me when bugs are either seen or mentioned) slither down my back as I dove into this book.
From there, I was off, and what an adventure it was! The powerful writing was superbly done, giving us a gorgeous cast of characters with quirks and flaws that made them well rounded. And the setting itself, *chef’s kiss*, was divine.
The setting definitely solidified itself as my favorite part of this story (but learning that Nick ran this as a D&D campaign before putting it in book format is a very, very close second!). Wisseman took careful planning and effort in setting the scene, and as such, the scene became a character in itself. The majesty and allure of the Fair was on full display, but Wisseman also tackled the veneer of that allure too: the working conditions and the unemployed droves displaced by the Fair’s construction. That rich layer greatly added to the story, giving the characters a strong backdrop as their tale unfolded.
My only problem (and let me just preface this by saying it’s more a personal preference of mine, rather than a full-blown problem) was the lack of an emotional connection with Augie at the beginning of the tale. I won’t dive too deep and spoil the story, but in the opening chapters, Neva rushes to her brother, Augie, for assistance after she’s been bitten. He disappears soon afterward, and her search for him drives a large chunk of the story, but the emotional connection between the two felt stilted.
With Augie and Neva, their relationship tends to be more telling, less showing. Understandable, considering Augie disappearances in the first act of the story. But still, I would have loved a chapter showing the depth of their relationship beforehand. Granted, while searching, Neva does recount instances in their past that show the relationship, but it’s still hard for me to establish that emotional connection at the beginning, when Neva realizes he’s gone. I don’t feel that same frantic need to find him, because I didn’t see how much she cared for him. She told me through her narration, but it’s not the same.
Overall, this book is stellar. My nit-picky preference aside, I loved this book. The setting, the magic, the characters all created a compelling and irresistible story.
June 18, 2021
English / Spanish
Thank you to BookSirens for allowing me to read this Arc.
Witch in the White City is a weird book to the point it is a Little difficult to talk about, and the topics it talks about. First of all it has several stories or points to start that are introduce in few time. It seems they don´t have any connection at all. There was a point I didn’t even know what I was reading, I didn’t know if it was about witchcraft, zombies, epidemies or everything together.
The good thing: I love the descriptions, the details of them, they were so vivid I could feel the insects walking on Neva’s skin, I could see the building falling in slow motion. That was a real good work and I enjoyed them.
The bad thing: The way of coneccting the events, as I said before, everything was happening without connection, well it looked like that at the begining . And even if the books actually connects everything it took me at least 40% of the book to understand what was happening.
To sum up, this is a interesting book that if it dose the information a Little bit it would be much easier to keep Reading. Also the mistery in it is well mantained thoughtout the book and that’s good it helps the reader to keep going with the story. 3/5 stars
--------------------------
Witch in the White city es un libro extraño, al punto que es difícil de abordar el tema o el conflicto principales, tenemos varios hilos de historia que son introducidos de golpe y que parece no tener sentido o conexión alguna. Tanto que me costó entender de que iba, no sabía si leía algo de brujería, zombis, una epidemia o todo junto.
Lo bueno, las descripciones, son sumamente detalladas, tanto que puedes sentir a los insecots caminar en el cuerpo de Neva, como Neva ver caer en cámara lenta un edificio, están muy bien trabajadas y se sienten reales.
Lo malo, la forma de conectar los sucesos, como ya dije anteriormente, todo iba sucediendo sin conexión y aunque si logra juntar cada uno de los problemas, me llevó al menos el 40% del libro entender que estaba sucediendo, tanto que no sabía si quería continuar o no.
En conclusión, es un libro entretenido que si estuviera dosificado en cuanto a información sería mucho más fácil de seguir. También el misterio se logra mantener a lo largo del libro y buscas formas de encontrar una respuesta, eso es lo que ayuda a que el lector quiera terminar seguir avanzando. 3/5 estrellas.
Thank you to BookSirens for allowing me to read this Arc.
Witch in the White City is a weird book to the point it is a Little difficult to talk about, and the topics it talks about. First of all it has several stories or points to start that are introduce in few time. It seems they don´t have any connection at all. There was a point I didn’t even know what I was reading, I didn’t know if it was about witchcraft, zombies, epidemies or everything together.
The good thing: I love the descriptions, the details of them, they were so vivid I could feel the insects walking on Neva’s skin, I could see the building falling in slow motion. That was a real good work and I enjoyed them.
The bad thing: The way of coneccting the events, as I said before, everything was happening without connection, well it looked like that at the begining . And even if the books actually connects everything it took me at least 40% of the book to understand what was happening.
To sum up, this is a interesting book that if it dose the information a Little bit it would be much easier to keep Reading. Also the mistery in it is well mantained thoughtout the book and that’s good it helps the reader to keep going with the story. 3/5 stars
--------------------------
Witch in the White city es un libro extraño, al punto que es difícil de abordar el tema o el conflicto principales, tenemos varios hilos de historia que son introducidos de golpe y que parece no tener sentido o conexión alguna. Tanto que me costó entender de que iba, no sabía si leía algo de brujería, zombis, una epidemia o todo junto.
Lo bueno, las descripciones, son sumamente detalladas, tanto que puedes sentir a los insecots caminar en el cuerpo de Neva, como Neva ver caer en cámara lenta un edificio, están muy bien trabajadas y se sienten reales.
Lo malo, la forma de conectar los sucesos, como ya dije anteriormente, todo iba sucediendo sin conexión y aunque si logra juntar cada uno de los problemas, me llevó al menos el 40% del libro entender que estaba sucediendo, tanto que no sabía si quería continuar o no.
En conclusión, es un libro entretenido que si estuviera dosificado en cuanto a información sería mucho más fácil de seguir. También el misterio se logra mantener a lo largo del libro y buscas formas de encontrar una respuesta, eso es lo que ayuda a que el lector quiera terminar seguir avanzando. 3/5 estrellas.
September 25, 2023
In Which In The White City bye Nick Whisman Neva is an African dancer at one of the exhibits at the world fair in Chicago in 1893 she loves her job despite the fact some audience members only pay to disparage her and yell rude comments. During her dance people throw coins at her so when she feel something drop on her forehead she thinks it is another coin but notices it is a flying cockroach… But that isn’t the worst of it there’s other things like worms centipedes praying mantises and they’re all biting her when she runs off stage one of her most staunch admirers Wiley who is a guard at the fair goes after her when he notices the bite marks he begs her to go to the center where his boss is and when she says she isn’t going he then tells her that she is the fifth or sixth victim to have been bitten and all the others have gone crazy and passed away. She agrees to go but only if he finds her brother but when they find him moments later he too goes missing another man is bitten and Neva only wants to find her brother. She does however follow Wiley to speak to his boss but after that she gives him the slip and this is when the game of cat and mouse begins with Wiley always one step behind. This is one crazy supernatural race to find the answers she needs so she will not be another victim there is so much that happens in this book I cannot give a complete summary just know if you love great awesome stories that are fresh and unlike anything you’ve read before then you definitely need to read which in the white city by Nick Wisseman oh I absolutely love this book and wish I could’ve given it more than five stars. I listen to the audiobook and the narrator did a pretty good job for this awesome awesome book! I want to thank the author and story origin for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
October 4, 2021
Wow, just….. wow!
I was blown away by the first novella "Magic at the Mud Show".
"Witch in the White City" handily walks away from that one by leaps and bounds!
At the end of "Mud Show" Neva & Augie had made the decision to leave the circus. At the beginning of "White City" they are both working attractions at the Columbian Exposition/World's Fair of Chicago. The famed White City that was the preferred hunting ground of the world's first confirmed serial killer, H.H. Holmes and his 'Murder Mansion'. (a caveat, H.H. Holmes does NOT make an appearance in this book.)
Neva is a dancer in the Algerion pavilion and Augie is manning the Great Ferris Wheel, centerpiece of the Fair horizon. Then the unthinkable happens, Neva is attacked by a swarm of mysterious bugs and Augie disappears.
"White City" builds on the magical background previously laid in 'Mud Show' furthering Neva's understanding of her special abilities while also pulling her deeper into the mysterious happenings occurring all over the Fair. People are presenting with a strange, sickle shaped rash then later turning up dead, is Augie's disappearance tied in with these occurrences.
"Magic in the White City" ties together the actual events happening in Chicago at the time of the Columbian Exposition of 1880 with the fantasy/magical world of Neva and her brother in a new and rewarding way. The Pullman riots, the shooting of the Mayor of Chicago, the disappearances of people at the World's Fair to never be seen again. It's all tied together with wit, aplomb and a series of devious twists of fate.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to Neva's continuing adventures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was blown away by the first novella "Magic at the Mud Show".
"Witch in the White City" handily walks away from that one by leaps and bounds!
At the end of "Mud Show" Neva & Augie had made the decision to leave the circus. At the beginning of "White City" they are both working attractions at the Columbian Exposition/World's Fair of Chicago. The famed White City that was the preferred hunting ground of the world's first confirmed serial killer, H.H. Holmes and his 'Murder Mansion'. (a caveat, H.H. Holmes does NOT make an appearance in this book.)
Neva is a dancer in the Algerion pavilion and Augie is manning the Great Ferris Wheel, centerpiece of the Fair horizon. Then the unthinkable happens, Neva is attacked by a swarm of mysterious bugs and Augie disappears.
"White City" builds on the magical background previously laid in 'Mud Show' furthering Neva's understanding of her special abilities while also pulling her deeper into the mysterious happenings occurring all over the Fair. People are presenting with a strange, sickle shaped rash then later turning up dead, is Augie's disappearance tied in with these occurrences.
"Magic in the White City" ties together the actual events happening in Chicago at the time of the Columbian Exposition of 1880 with the fantasy/magical world of Neva and her brother in a new and rewarding way. The Pullman riots, the shooting of the Mayor of Chicago, the disappearances of people at the World's Fair to never be seen again. It's all tied together with wit, aplomb and a series of devious twists of fate.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to Neva's continuing adventures.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2021
I really enjoyed/loved this book. The author's attention to detail in describing the people and the settings for this time period was so thorough and meticulous that I couldn't help but feel like I was watching a movie. Not all books I read provide such a great sense of detail related to the sights, sounds, and smells of the time period like this book does. And, for this book, "being there" helped me understand how ALL the characters played important roles in the storyline. Neva, the main character in the book, is a dancer at the world's fair who has the ability to bend and stretch her body using magic, yet at the same time, she feels she must hide her magical abilities from others. While the book is a murder mystery, it also portrays the difficulties experienced by those who often don't fit into the expectations society often demands in terms of looks and behaviors. For example, the story takes place after the Civil War; however, as an African American, Neva is the brunt of racist and derogatory insults because of how she looks. Many of the characters faced the same scrutiny and loathing based on how they looked. Yet, the focus in the book is on a series of murders - a "who done it" - with an exciting cast of characters who all have their own secrets (magic?) and could be guilty. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 23, 2021
“Witch in the White City” was a vastly different story then I first thought. It was a paranormal story, but it also addressed prejudices, race and economical strife in the 1800’s during Chicago’s Exposition. The author addressing these issues was admirable and the plot was unique.
It however bothered me about the protagonist, Neva Freeman and her choices. In fact, it seemed as if the author saw no redeeming qualities of being African American except for entertaining white people during the exposition. It appeared as if the author was saying it was easier being white (which it was, but not because of the faults of the Blacks)so white is right.
I was also appalled at the ending and the incident with Neva’s brother, Augie. This book was challenging, informative and thought provoking. The characters were not one dimensional and I was especially interested in Neva’s and Brin’s plight. They were strong women on a mission despite their struggles and sad circumstances. I just wished the author attempted to see his characters of color with forethought and empathy; and through the prism that despite their awful treatment, constant abuses and economic conditions that they would always choose to be themselves——skin color and all. For this reason, I could not give the book its top rating.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
It however bothered me about the protagonist, Neva Freeman and her choices. In fact, it seemed as if the author saw no redeeming qualities of being African American except for entertaining white people during the exposition. It appeared as if the author was saying it was easier being white (which it was, but not because of the faults of the Blacks)so white is right.
I was also appalled at the ending and the incident with Neva’s brother, Augie. This book was challenging, informative and thought provoking. The characters were not one dimensional and I was especially interested in Neva’s and Brin’s plight. They were strong women on a mission despite their struggles and sad circumstances. I just wished the author attempted to see his characters of color with forethought and empathy; and through the prism that despite their awful treatment, constant abuses and economic conditions that they would always choose to be themselves——skin color and all. For this reason, I could not give the book its top rating.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
July 7, 2021
I read this after reading the prequel, and I'm now thinking I should have read the books in the opposite order. This book also felt oddly rushed (as did the prequel) it could have been written as two separate stories, honestly, which is where the fifth star gets dropped. There is just so much going on it becomes difficult to focus on what is important. Pieces of the story seem to get lost and then are picked up later when you have all but forgotten them. The story itself is fascinating and rather amazing and the concept is pretty intense. Her gift makes more sense in the context of a bunch of other people who also have assorted miscellaneous gifts of their own. The family dynamics that come out make my life growing up feel simple. When you throw in the crazy alternative history of the world fair in this timeline it makes everything a bit surreal. By the end, you're left wondering what in the world could possibly happen next.
It's an enjoyable and intriguing story, but not something I will read again. Something about the writing style makes it difficult to get through for me. I think it's just that there is SO MUCH going on, and the chapters are not actually defined. Either way, it's a good book. I did get a copy of this for free, but am leaving my review voluntarily.
It's an enjoyable and intriguing story, but not something I will read again. Something about the writing style makes it difficult to get through for me. I think it's just that there is SO MUCH going on, and the chapters are not actually defined. Either way, it's a good book. I did get a copy of this for free, but am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 20, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Devil in the White City I was intrigued to read a more fantastical version and Wisseman did not disappoint. The book’s details of the white city were very well done and I appreciate that the author kept coming back to the scenery time and again to really emphasize that this was a main element of the story.
I liked how he made the connection between Jack the Ripper and Augie as it brings out the true horror in the book; that a serial killer was in fact haunting the fair, but also this book fantasies it grossly on purpose.
There was A LOT going plot wise: the fair, the supernatural humans, the anarchists, relationships, etc. It was a lot to keep track of not to mention all of the characters. It was also somewhat disturbing and not from a vampirical, voodoo standpoint but from the relationship deceptions. Wissenman was able to pull it all together in the end and tied up any loose ends which I completely appreciate (sometimes I’m left questioning things or the story just falls flat with no real ending).
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Devil in the White City I was intrigued to read a more fantastical version and Wisseman did not disappoint. The book’s details of the white city were very well done and I appreciate that the author kept coming back to the scenery time and again to really emphasize that this was a main element of the story.
I liked how he made the connection between Jack the Ripper and Augie as it brings out the true horror in the book; that a serial killer was in fact haunting the fair, but also this book fantasies it grossly on purpose.
There was A LOT going plot wise: the fair, the supernatural humans, the anarchists, relationships, etc. It was a lot to keep track of not to mention all of the characters. It was also somewhat disturbing and not from a vampirical, voodoo standpoint but from the relationship deceptions. Wissenman was able to pull it all together in the end and tied up any loose ends which I completely appreciate (sometimes I’m left questioning things or the story just falls flat with no real ending).
February 26, 2021
*Recieved as an ARC from the author*
This is a historical/fantasy/mystery mash-up which is my favorite kind of book. This story takes place at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Wisseman did a phenomenal job researching and including the true history of the fair. The plot has all the twists and turns a good mystery should have. I certainly didn't predict where the story was going. Wisseman told me it would be weird but I didn't find it any weirder than any other paranormal or fantasy type book which I think is a good thing.
The only thing I would change is making it more clear that Neva and her brother Augie have special abilities from the start. Naming the abilities might make it easier to understand as well. I think doing that would make the story much more clear to the reader as they move through the story instead of guessing if it's just something they're good at (movement and mimicking voices) or a superhuman type ability.
Overall good plot and characters and I would read more from this author.
This is a historical/fantasy/mystery mash-up which is my favorite kind of book. This story takes place at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Wisseman did a phenomenal job researching and including the true history of the fair. The plot has all the twists and turns a good mystery should have. I certainly didn't predict where the story was going. Wisseman told me it would be weird but I didn't find it any weirder than any other paranormal or fantasy type book which I think is a good thing.
The only thing I would change is making it more clear that Neva and her brother Augie have special abilities from the start. Naming the abilities might make it easier to understand as well. I think doing that would make the story much more clear to the reader as they move through the story instead of guessing if it's just something they're good at (movement and mimicking voices) or a superhuman type ability.
Overall good plot and characters and I would read more from this author.
February 27, 2021
I received a copy for review from the author (thanks Nick!). I am a big fan of Erik Larson 's the Devil in the White City, which I read many years ago, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. This is the first book that I have read from Nick Wisseman and I found it really difficult to rate. The book is well researched and full of historical facts about the Chicago Fair. I truly appreciate the vivid descriptions of the Fair, and the social backdrop in which the event was taking place. To be frank, based on the title, I was expecting more traditional witchcraft to be taking place but the plot turned out to be darker and more convoluted than I could have imagined. For the most part, history weaved seamlessly with fantasy, although there were certain scenes in which splurging in historical facts to such great extent was distracting and seemed out of place. I think that in the end, there were too may things going on and too many questions left answered, but kudos to the author for having such a twisty imagination.
May 23, 2021
Reading this novel was quite an experience. I had recently seen a documentary on the author of The Wizard of Oz in which it was said that the Columbian Exposition of 1893 was the inspiration for the Emerald City. Then I began reading this book which describes that event so well that I now feel as if I have visited it. I like books that transport me to other places and times.
However this story had something to say about the claims America was making in staging such a fabulous event. The main character Neva is an African American and life isn’t so fair for her and her brother or for others just trying to make a living. The Exposition is a beautiful illusion.
We’re not left with just social commentary. Neva has special skills which make her seem rather like a comic book super hero except that she is so well done that she’s a real person too. Then there’s a very twisted plot. This book is complex and succeeds in all of its aims. I enjoyed reading it.
I received an review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest opinion.
February 14, 2021
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC of The Witch in the White City in return for an honest review.
As soon as I saw this become available as an ARC I wanted it. I’ve read the Devil in the White city and couldn’t wait to read a fantastical version of the twisted true story. And boy, I wasn’t disappointed. This book is a wild ride of suspense, magic, social corruption and history. The lead, Neva, was such a wonderful character. It’s impossible not to cheer for her right from the beginning. Her heart is so pure even after all that she’s been through. We should all aspire to have more of her grace. Every character that you meet in this book plays and essential role. This is not a story that you skim through, you need every detail that Nick writes and I promise you the ending is worth it!
This was a great book, thank you to the author for turning one of my favourite books into a magically dark fantasy.
As soon as I saw this become available as an ARC I wanted it. I’ve read the Devil in the White city and couldn’t wait to read a fantastical version of the twisted true story. And boy, I wasn’t disappointed. This book is a wild ride of suspense, magic, social corruption and history. The lead, Neva, was such a wonderful character. It’s impossible not to cheer for her right from the beginning. Her heart is so pure even after all that she’s been through. We should all aspire to have more of her grace. Every character that you meet in this book plays and essential role. This is not a story that you skim through, you need every detail that Nick writes and I promise you the ending is worth it!
This was a great book, thank you to the author for turning one of my favourite books into a magically dark fantasy.
July 9, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was a lot but somehow it all came together at the end. Because of the time period the book was written, there was a lot of blatant racism. Neva is black and as a result, looked down upon for most of the story. However, I loved how unapologetic she was about her blackness. She feared nobody and I found myself applauding her bravery many times.
This book wove in some historical facts as well so I found myself reading more about the Chicago Fair and the Chicago History Museum. He did an excellent job of weaving the story in and out of true historical events.
There were some very creepy truths revealed in this book so I found myself cringing at the end. However, it was a good read.
Due to some sexual scenes and the truths I mentioned above, this book should be read by adults. There was also a rape scene which may be a trigger for some.
This book was a lot but somehow it all came together at the end. Because of the time period the book was written, there was a lot of blatant racism. Neva is black and as a result, looked down upon for most of the story. However, I loved how unapologetic she was about her blackness. She feared nobody and I found myself applauding her bravery many times.
This book wove in some historical facts as well so I found myself reading more about the Chicago Fair and the Chicago History Museum. He did an excellent job of weaving the story in and out of true historical events.
There were some very creepy truths revealed in this book so I found myself cringing at the end. However, it was a good read.
Due to some sexual scenes and the truths I mentioned above, this book should be read by adults. There was also a rape scene which may be a trigger for some.
October 9, 2021
This was an imaginative and well-spun tale of fiction that also afforded it’s readers an amazing glimpse into the inner workings of the Chicago 1893 World’s Fair. I appreciated how the author “pulled back the curtains” and revealed the racial, gender, and class discrepancies going on during this period in time. As a reader, it made me think; it also made the story much richer.
I enjoyed this book. The plot line was fun, the writing was well done and the punctuation was on point. I felt that there were just a couple of snags where I had to stop during the reading to figure out what was going on, but it didn’t deter from my enjoyment of the story. I do feel like this story could be told the same if some editing was done to pare it down in the middle as it slightly lost my interest due to it’s length; however, by the end, I was definitely paying attention!
I would recommend this book. It was a enjoyable read and a unique and wonderful glimpse at a piece of U.S. history!
I enjoyed this book. The plot line was fun, the writing was well done and the punctuation was on point. I felt that there were just a couple of snags where I had to stop during the reading to figure out what was going on, but it didn’t deter from my enjoyment of the story. I do feel like this story could be told the same if some editing was done to pare it down in the middle as it slightly lost my interest due to it’s length; however, by the end, I was definitely paying attention!
I would recommend this book. It was a enjoyable read and a unique and wonderful glimpse at a piece of U.S. history!
February 7, 2021
Set in 1893 Chicago at the Worlds Columbia’s Exposition, this is an interesting mixture of facts along with a great deal of fiction. It deals with racial integration, or lack of it; the chasm between the haves and have nots at that time and the spending of millions of dollars for entertainment when the working class couldn’t afford to eat. Neva and her twin Augie are part of the fair but are much more than that, they each have skills that they can’t let anyone else know about, particularly when people start dying. It’s a fast paced story with an interesting twist.I always like a strong female lead, and with Brin there are 2. It was also well researched which adds to the realism of the time. Worth a try even if this genre isn’t your usual read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 20, 2021
Loved it (Although it was slow in spots).
I lost myself in the past and it was an interesting perspective considering I live near Chicago. I enjoyed the elements of fantasy, I just wish it had a bit more. Perhaps more descriptive language in a transformation instead of eluding to that. Perhaps more ground rules on how the magic of the world works.
I really think the characters had some depth that they deserved, but I would have liked more backstory for Nev's family, their "magic" and perhaps a few flashbacks of what her life was like when she was younger before she joined the circus with her brother Auggie.
Other than that, the story arc was good and not overly complicated but had some side arcs that fit well with the overall picture. Some arcs I would have liked to see more of as well.
I lost myself in the past and it was an interesting perspective considering I live near Chicago. I enjoyed the elements of fantasy, I just wish it had a bit more. Perhaps more descriptive language in a transformation instead of eluding to that. Perhaps more ground rules on how the magic of the world works.
I really think the characters had some depth that they deserved, but I would have liked more backstory for Nev's family, their "magic" and perhaps a few flashbacks of what her life was like when she was younger before she joined the circus with her brother Auggie.
Other than that, the story arc was good and not overly complicated but had some side arcs that fit well with the overall picture. Some arcs I would have liked to see more of as well.
August 2, 2021
Witch in the White City is one of my first fantasy mystery reads and I certainly enjoyed it. It's rare and refreshing to find a book whose plot twists weren't predictable and actually add to the story in a good way! I loved the magic, the drama, and the tactful handling of social justice issues. But while the descriptions of the fair and surroundings were immaculate, I wish there was more detail on relationships between characters, and perhaps some more character development. I struggled to connect with the characters and that connection is often my favorite part of reading. Even though I was fully enthralled by the plot I found myself unable to fully invest in the book because of this. Overall, a great read, and certainly one to add to your "to be read list"! Full disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from in return for an honest review.
September 12, 2021
Who doesn't love a good circus, carnival or fair? When I got an opportunity to read this book about the World's Fair, I jumped at the chance. I knew it would be good because I'd already read the prequel story featuring these characters and absolutely loved them and the setting. Right from the start, you're thrust into the lights, action and amazing shows that made up the extravaganza that was the World's Fair. The story is unique in that it has a heroine that is like nothing I've encountered in a story before. The whole thing is utterly fascinating and compelling. If you want to immerse yourself in another time and place and experience a bit of history, thrills and adventure along the way, this book is for you.
***I received an ARC copy of this book through BookSirens. My review is strictly voluntary.***
***I received an ARC copy of this book through BookSirens. My review is strictly voluntary.***
February 6, 2021
There were a lot of great elements in this book. I really enjoyed how it shone some light on race in the 1800s with some poignant similarities to how things are today, over 200 years later. I was also a HUGE fan of starting the book with a strong leading lady right off the bat! Neva knows her worth and isn’t taking it from anyone!
There were a few holes though... I loved the intrigue but it took until the end of the book to realize that the story is really mostly just chasing down some unknown mystery and never truly getting an answer as to what any of it was. The ending felt a bit rushed and honestly like the author was just trying to be done with it.
Though I received a free ARC from the author, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
There were a few holes though... I loved the intrigue but it took until the end of the book to realize that the story is really mostly just chasing down some unknown mystery and never truly getting an answer as to what any of it was. The ending felt a bit rushed and honestly like the author was just trying to be done with it.
Though I received a free ARC from the author, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
June 11, 2021
As a lover of Historical Fiction, and someone who hasn’t read a lot of fantasy I LOVED THIS. I think it was the perfect blend of realism blended in with magic/supernatural and a nice backbone of historical fiction… I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed how the author was so descriptive, too. I almost feel like I watched a movie - I can clearly remember and visualize the events of the story and the characters. I’m so happy I was able to score an ARC of this book and didn’t know much going into it. It’s quite the ride. I highly recommend picking it up. Many thanks to the author, Nick Wisseman, the publisher and BookSirens for a digital copy of this book. I read and reviewed this voluntarily and opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 2, 2021
Set in Chicago during the Worlds Fair the author explores race relations, labor versus capitalism, the supernatural, and history. So if you like any of these genres you will love this book. The characters, while supernatural, seemed really real. They were well written, developed and interesting. The main character is a negress who is a contortionist and has a twin brother who can mimic anyone. They are both employed at the Fair. What happens to them, what information they acquire, and what relationships develop are all page turning. I almost didn’t read this Advanced Review Copy from BookSiren because I don’t usually read fantasy but I’m so glad I did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews