Review: The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter #1) by Virginia Boecker

The Witch Hunter

(The Witch Hunter #1)
by Virginia Boecker

June 2, 2015

368 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Review

I absolutely loved this book! Staying up late reading is something I haven't done in a long time but The Witch Hunter made me do it. I could not put it down! The story was pulse-pounding, the world was thrilling and the characters were sensational. I'm completely in love~

Cracking open the book, we immediately see Elizabeth Grey in action as a witch hunter. There's no doubt she's skilled and good at her job but clearly something was wrong. Fairly soon, we come to realize why she's been off her game. Elizabeth gets delivered a death sentence when her secret gets out but fear not because there's a rescue. The most wanted man in the kingdom, Nicholas Perevil, needs Elizabeth. She was prophesized to be the one that can free him from a deadly curse so he offers her safety and protection in exchange for her help. From there, Elizabeth embarks on a quest that shatters her beliefs and opens her eyes to things she's never thought possible.

Elizabeth is a heroine to look up to. It wasn't easy for me to stomach some of the things she went through but she braved it all. The tests/trials she endured made me shudder and the appalling thing that she tried to hide away had me grinding my teeth. Here, I really appreciate Virginia for not baiting us and making us wait for what it was. Elizabeth's secret was such an integral part to understanding her actions and reactions. I hated that she was getting punished for wanting to protect herself but at the same time, I'm glad it happened. It allowed her to finally have the answer to questions she's long had in her mind.

The romance was delicious - slow-burning but sizzling hot in a subtle way! I did some major swooning over John. The way he unconditionally cared for Elizabeth and all those around him. He's super attentive and just flawless. Seriously, John will set your heart fluttering! 

I had the greatest time trying to decipher the prophecy alongside Elizabeth. Why was she the one? How is she special? The pieces were there just waiting for us to put them together. Wow did I love the moment it all fell into place. The reason to why Elizabeth was the key to breaking Nick's curse was bloody brilliant. It was literally in front of our eyes all along.

I loved the assortment of side characters we got to meet. All so splendid, even the bad ones. Each had the perfect balance of intrigue, devotion and darkness. Caleb's loyalty was especially commendable even if it was the blind kind. Elizabeth's companions were all priceless - Fifer with her sassy attitude, George with his quips, Schuyler with his charms and of course John with his kind heart. It's also wonderful that when Elizabeth is feeling lost, she has Nick and his wise words. "As I always say, nothing is written in stone." (Loc 4031). He can even be funny without knowing it ;)

That about sums up my thoughts about how epic this book is. Just in case my gushing above did not make any sense to you, let me just say, The Witch Hunter is a must-read for any fantasy lover! Don't hesitate, go get it this instant!!

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the Advance Review Copy I received.