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    The Black Witch
    The Black Witch
    The Black Witch
    Audiobook18 hours

    The Black Witch

    Written by Laurie Forest

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The New York Times bestselling series!

    “Maximum suspense, unusual magic—a whole new, thrilling approach to fantasy!”
    —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author

    Powerful magic. A deadly legacy. A world at the edge of war. Prepare to be spellbound by fantasy series, The Black Witch Chronicles.

    Elloren Gardner is the spitting image of her grandmother, who drove back the enemy forces in the last Realm War. But while her people believe she will follow in her grandmother's footsteps and become the next Black Witch of prophecy, Elloren is devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

    When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at Verpax University. But she soon realizes that the university may be the most treacherous place of all for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

    As evil looms and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, Elloren's best hope of survival may be among a secret band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.

    Critics are raving about Laurie Forest’s incredible debut, The Black Witch:

    “Forest uses a richly imagined magical world to offer an uncompromising condemnation of prejudice and injustice.”
    —Booklist, starred review

    “A noteworthy debut.”
    —Publishers Weekly, starred review

    “Briskly paced, tightly plotted.”
    —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    Books in The Black Witch Chronicles:
    The Black Witch
    The Iron Flower
    The Shadow Wand
    The Demon Tide
    The Dryad Storm
    Wandfasted     (ebook novella)*
    Light Mage (ebook novella)*

    * Also available in print in The Rebel Mages anthology
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin Audio
    Release dateMay 2, 2017
    ISBN9781488202896
    The Black Witch
    Author

    Laurie Forest

    Laurie Forest lives deep in the backwoods of Vermont, where she sits in front of a wood stove drinking strong tea and dreaming up tales full of dryads, dragons and wands. She is the author of The Black Witch Chronicles, including The Black Witch, The Iron Flower and the prequel e-novella Wandfasted. Enter her realm online at www.laurieannforest.com.

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    Reviews for The Black Witch

    4.5/5

    329 ratings28 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a mixed bag. Some reviewers enjoyed the worldbuilding and character development, while others found the plot slow and the main character annoying. However, overall, the book is praised for its intricate drama, well-rounded characters, and exploration of social injustices. The story touches on racism, bigotry, sexism, homophobia, and bullying, making it a refreshing read that raises important issues. Despite its flaws, many readers recommend this book and are eager to continue with the series.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This book is amazing. I listen to several audiobooks each week while working, so when I say this is the best book I've listened to on Scribd so far, it's a high compliment!

      The book summary reads rather dry - and from it I expected that the book would be too slow moving for me. I didn't expect to be hooked from the first few minutes! I wouldn't call it fast paced - nor is it too slow moving. It's a deep, intricately woven drama with well developed characters that sucks you in, and keeps you there as the plot progresses.

      In researching the book's sequel (neeeeeed moar!) I discovered negative reviews elsewhere, based on how long it takes the main character to throw off the racially predjudiced views she's been raised in. It does have a very realistic portrayal of what it takes to escape a close-minded religious upbringing. If you have no experience with this, this book could offend you. The truth is that, as much as we would like to pretend otherwise, bigotry doesn't just immediately disappear once you discover the big wide world. It takes time to stop believing the things told to you by the adults you love and revere as a child. Even more time if these views are part of your faith. If you do have experiences like this, however, you will deeply connect with the main character in this novel.

      Excellent book - just finished listening, and I'm impatiently awaiting the sequel!

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I was surprised by how well written this book is. I really can't stop listening. It doesn't take the predictable path. I found myself laughing out loud over and over. Fantastic narrator, rich interesting characters, a rich creative world with lots of scenery development. Well deserving of 5 stars and hopeful for more..found out sequel is coming out really soon.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book absolutely exceeded my expectations! Laurie Frost managed to put real life lessons into a pure fantasy story! She and this book are brilliant!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      what's the next book. I have to know what happens next. this is great.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book. I’m not the best with words, even though I love reading them. So I’ll try and tell you how much and why I loved this book to the best of my abilities. This book follows Elloren Gardner, a “mage” from Gardenaria. We follow Elloren to university where she’s going to study to become an apothecary. And we learn that Elloren looks exactly like her grandmother the last “black witch”, unfortunately Elloren has no magic.
      Now, this world is so richly built by the author. There are many different races and species and what comes along with that is intolerance. Elloren is very naive in the beginning of this book, she grew up sheltered and seems to take peoples word for things instead of forming her own opinions. I’ll be honest she was fairly frustrating in the beginning of the book. But the amazing amount of growth the author gave ALL of these characters is incredible. I fell in love with so many of them. It had me in tears so many times. I am very impatiently waiting for the second book to become available on here

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      3.5 stars. I very much enjoyed it in spite of the similarities (one rather glaring) to The Raven Cycle series. It’s also reminiscent of later Harry Potter books in the sense that a rogue band of students is probably going to save the world. I loved the theme of the dangers racism and fascism throughout the book but I found the heroine so difficult to like for 3/4 of the book. I wish the author would have either made her less whiny and self-centered or had made her enlightenment happen more quickly. She was feeling much too sorry for herself long past the point I felt the reader should be on her side. I hope the other books give us more insight into Falon’s experience and why she is so loathsome. I very much enjoyed the “easter egg” style nod to Tolkien the author slipped in. Ultimately I think this could have been a better book but I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes us in the next book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      There was plenty of action and a little romance added in. I love ? the different types of people. I can’t wait to read book 2.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Yall I am NOT a fantasy girly at all BUT THIS?! This was AMAZING. the diversity and the character growth and the secrets and learning abt the history of the different races — I just wanted more and more and couldn’t stop turning the pages. I CANNOT wait to read the next book. The world building was rich and descriptive. I could see it painted in my mind, and yet it was SO EASY to understand. Please check this one out. The series is long and incomplete but worth EVERY SECOND I spent reading it.
    • 5/5
      I almost wrote a review half way through because I couldn’t wait till the end to express how wonderful this book is. The stories are unbelievably thought through and so many things parallel the struggles people go through today. The characters are very well developed. Also, I could listen to Julia Whelan describe paint drying. She amazes me with her talent. I highly recommend this book. Give it a chance. I’m off to start The Iron Flower!
    • 5/5
      This book was really epic fantasy, Laurie Forest has a very creative imagination. Some well known mythological creatures are there but the take on it is very fresh, if you read a lot of fantasy this is a unique take. Most of the story was set at a school in a society full of racial and ethnic prejudice. The main character arrives at school very naive and slowly over the course of this book all her preconceived notions, prejudices and religious programming about other races are slowly dismantled as she meets and befriends them. It’s very beautiful to watch and shows the importance of integration. At first the descriptions of prejudice are hard to read and listen to because there is so much blind hatred but it makes it so rewarding to see the character growth and where the author takes the book at the end. Overall it’s a beautiful, challenging tale about evolving beyond prejudice to accept people for who they are. Despite the main character having no magic the magic system and abilities is rich in this world. That said the amount of prejudice bias and hatred in this world is next level and as we near the end it seems incredibly dangerous for a lot of our favorite character, especially at the very end. This sets things up for book 2 nicely along with some big mysteries about Yvan. What is going to happen to all of them? I look forward to reading book 2 to find out. I also love that romance takes a secondary role in this story so you can really get into the world building and conflict between characters.
    • 5/5
      Enchanting and a beautiful tale, cannot wait to listen to the next one
    • 5/5
      Life is to short so don't forget to read this
    • 5/5
      I’ve read/listened to a ton of YA fantasies and this is one of my favorite series. Well written, thorough worldbuilding, inventive and magical. Diana, the Lupine, is one of my all time favorite characters. It is also full of love, tension, and romance. Highly recommend
    • 5/5
      I didn't expect to love this book so much! And the voice of the narrator is really good! :)
    • 4/5
      This book was a nice surprise that I really enjoyed.
      The story was great, the characters endearing (and atrocious where they are supposed to be) and I thoroughly enjoyed.
      The fact that it touches on all aspects of injustice in society was also to be admired. You have racism, bigotry, sexism, homophobia and bullying. It’s refreshing to see all these injustices raised in one book together. Hopefully the series will be a shining example for equality for its YA target audience.
    • 4/5
      Almost dnf'ed, glad I decided to come back and give it a second chance in the end :)
    • 5/5
      This was great, I loved getting to read about all the different races, many that we never heard of in the first book. I enjoyed seeing the similarities from the prologue Wandfasted. My heart broke when I read who no longer lived. Elloren is portrayed one way and she is mostly like that at first but slowly we get to see her transformation. Her brothers are wonderful and remind me of some of the characters from the first story. I will say that some parts were difficult to read, I was angered by how badly Elloren was treated by others and how cruel her own family was when they didn’t get their own way. There are some characters that are just evil, there are some that are strong and loyal, then there are some that are confusing. I feel the action really started happening toward the end so I am anxious to read the next book.
    • 3/5
      I waited all through the book for the girl to get her powers but that never happened. I think that would have been nice to know beforehand.
      the book is set in a decently interesting world, though for some reason the young people are much more powerful than the old, as the book follows a group of them.
      the good vs evil is a shallow look at equality of gender and race together with some absurd Nazi hints on the evil side.

      the main character unfortunately is simple though not quite retarded, and that is annoying in a character who is not meant to be so.
      most books could be shortened, but this one could stand to lose about two thirds.
      enjoy.
    • 5/5
      This is now one of my top 10 favorite books! I only listened to it because I love Julia Whelan but I’m SO glad I did! I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the series!
    • 4/5
      Exiting and we'll writen book. I appreciated the long world building. However the 'love story' could have been more diskreet and have drawn about a bit more before becoming obvious.
    • 5/5
      I loved it! Can't wait to read the next one!
    • 5/5
      I didn’t like this book when I first read it. I’m so glad I gave it a second chance because I just couldn’t put it down
    • 1/5
      Unbearably dragged out plot, waited forever for anything good to happen and then it still didn’t. Tried to like this, read up until chapter 38 and gave up.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Kind of boring I was waiting for the protagonist to do something but sadly she never did .For me this was a real snooze fest

      2 people found this helpful

    • 1/5
      Not a single likable character and the mc is REALLY annoying. Also, I’m tired of fantasy books using current world events and just stuffing them into the book, lazy writing.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Really good read! Interesting magic and great friendships! 100% recommend. Main character alittle whinny at the beginning but gets better ... And it plays into the plot

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      At first I was annoyed by the main character . she seemed to needy . however I ended up loving the book . the characters and the different magical beings. I just wish thier was a little more magic and a little less whining. can't wait to read the rest.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This beautiful story was wonderful. The characters were well rounded and believable. All the main characters meshed well and the story line kept the reader engaged. Excellent ??

      2 people found this helpful