The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

As far as I am concerned this is definitely a book I would buy for a younger or older reader, who likes fantasy and witchcraft.

I think people often forget, although YA means young adult, the books in this genre are also marketed towards teens.

Is this a compelling read for younger readers and older teens? Absolutely. Will a young adult want slightly more from the read? Perhaps.

Elizabeth is part of a handpicked elitist troop of witch hunters. They find those who practise witchcraft and in doing so condemn them to death. Death by pyre to be exact.

The whole country and the witch hunters have been indoctrinated with hatred, mistrust and fear towards witches. Led by Blackwell, the king's own Inquisitor.

The biggest threat to the country is the wizard Nicholas Perevil, and yet he turns out to be a knight in shining armour for Elizabeth.What is so important about Elizabeth that Blackwell felt the need to condemn her with such ease?

Her beliefs are shaken to the core when she is confronted with the duplicity of her alleged friends and her boss. It is hard to determine which side is the right side. Are the witches being hunted without real cause and with secondary motives? How is it that the very people who despise all things witchcrafty seem to know just how to use it?

The story is filled with plenty of colourful characters, witty moments and a plot with plenty of potential for future development. Boecker gets a little hectic in her writing when it comes to the action scenes, this is especially apparent at the end. Those fight and action scenes need the same patience and dedication, as the rest of the book. Other than that Boecker has a really good writing voice and offers up a creative box of tricks.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.