The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Title: The Witch Hunter
(The Witch Hunter #1)
Author: Virginia Boecker
Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Book for Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Magic
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you, Little Brown!)
Read: May 2015

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.
Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.
Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.
Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.
But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.
Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

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***I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Wow! I read The Witch Hunter in one night. I was quickly pulled into the story and could not put it down after that. I needed to know what was going to happen. This book has so much in it: magic, fighting, witches, witch hunters, and pirates. I found The Witch Hunter to be a very entertaining and intriguing debut novel. I really enjoyed reading it!

Elizabeth is a witch hunter, tasked with finding those practicing witchcraft and bringing them to justice. She was one of the best, until she is accused of witchcraft herself and is sentenced to burn. Elizabeth is saved by a man that she has believed to be her enemy, Nicholas, the most wanted and powerful wizard. But being saved comes with a price, Elizabeth has to agree to break the deadly curse that has been placed on him. Elizabeth agrees to help him and is thrust into the magical world of witchcraft. She now has to decide which side is right and which one she belongs to. 

I enjoyed most of the storyline. I was immediately pulled into the action at the beginning of the story. The writing is engaging and it was very easy for me to picture the characters and the world. I also really liked the world building. There is a lot going on in the story and in this world. I didn't find any of the story to be slow or boring, there was always something happening. There are secrets, action, betrayal, friendships, and romance. There were also a few twists that I didn't see coming. I am really looking forward to finding out what happens next!

I really liked the characters in The Witch Hunter. Some were harder to like than others, but I liked them more as the story and the character developed. 

I like Elizabeth. She is strong and determined. Though she has a lot to discover during this story. She has been through a lot and I didn't have any difficulty caring for her. I liked her friendship with Caleb, and was really curious to see where it would go. But, I liked her friendship/relationship developments with John, George, and Fifer. 

Not only did I care about Elizabeth, I found it easy to care about the secondary characters as well. John, Fifer, George, Nicholas and Humbert especially. These characters were interesting and there were several interactions that put a smile on my face. I love how much they care about each other and want to protect and save Nicholas. 

The romance is pretty cute as well. I really enjoyed the development between Elizabeth and John. Some of my favorite scenes were from when they were talking. 

My Recommendation:

I recommend giving The Witch Hunter a read! I really enjoyed reading The Witch Hunter. I read it in one night. I enjoyed the story and the characters. It was intriguing and had a lot going on. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

My Rating: