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The Witch and the Vampire

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The Witch and the Vampire is a dark and action-packed story about Ava, a witch who is turned into a vampire by her mother. The book follows Ava's journey of escaping her abusive mother and forming complicated relationships with characters like Kaye, an orphaned witch, and Tristan, a witch friend from school. The plot is filled with plot twists, backstabs, newfound friendships, and well-written battle scenes, creating a world where vampires have serious bloodlust and witches with elemental powers are hinted at but not fully explored. The narrative style alternates between Ava and Kaye's perspectives, highlighting their evolving friendship and the theme of found family.

Characters:

Characters exhibit complex relationships, particularly highlighted in the dynamic between Ava and Kaye, amid friendships and rivalries.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging with a mix of world-building and character introspection, enhancing the narrative's depth.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features intricate character dynamics, particularly focusing on friendship and rivalry, rather than being a straightforward romance.

Setting:

The setting features a fantasy realm rich in magical elements, although some aspects of the world are not fully developed.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with an initial slow buildup that transitions into a rapid, action-heavy conclusion.

Notes:

Ava is both a witch and a vampire, adding complexity to her character.
The story explores Ava's complicated relationships, especially with her mother and her love interest, Kaye.
The relationship between Ava and Kaye shifts from friends to enemies and back to friends.
The book is marketed as a romance but focuses more on friendship than romance elements.
Ava and Kaye kiss only a couple of times in the story, despite strong romantic tension.
The book features a third character, Tristan, who is a witch friend from school, emphasizing themes of found family.
Magic and vampire lore are presented in unique and interesting ways, with some world-building through journals and lessons.
The vampires do not have the traditional weakness to sunlight, which some readers found bothersome.
The story hints at the existence of other types of witches, but doesn't fully develop this aspect.
The ending is open and does not provide a typical happily ever after, yet some readers found it poetic.
The book has multiple well-written battle scenes, contributing to its action-packed portrayal.
There are plot twists and character development that some readers appreciated, while others found parts confusing.
Ava's mother is portrayed as a top-tier villain, complicating their relationship realistically.
The book is a dark Rapunzel retelling, with elements of forbidden romance.
Some readers found the pacing uneven, feeling the first half was stronger than the second half.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of violence, family abuse, and trauma related to the characters' pasts.

From The Publisher:

Francesca Flores's The Witch and the Vampire is a queer Rapunzel retelling where a witch and a vampire who trust no one but themselves must journey together through a cursed forest with danger at every turn.

Ava and Kaye used to be best friends. Until one night two years ago, vampires broke through the magical barrier protecting their town, and in the ensuing attack, Kaye's mother was killed, and Ava was turned into a vampire. Since then, Ava has been trapped in her house. Her mother Eugenia needs her: Ava still has her witch powers, and Eugenia must take them in order to hide that she's a vampire as well. Desperate to escape her confinement and stop her mother's plans to destroy the town, Ava must break out, flee to the forest, and seek help from the vampires who live there. When there is another attack, she sees her opportunity and escapes.

Kaye, now at the end of her training as a Flame witch, is ready to fulfill her duty of killing any vampires that threaten the town, including Ava. On the night that Ava escapes, Kaye follows her and convinces her to travel together into the forest, while secretly planning to turn her in. Ava agrees, hoping to rekindle their old friendship, and the romantic feelings she'd started to have for Kaye before that terrible night.

But with monstrous trees that devour humans whole, vampires who attack from above, and Ava's stepfather tracking her, the woods are full of danger. As they travel deeper into the forest, Kaye questions everything she thought she knew. The two are each other's greatest threat-and also their only hope, if they want to make it through the forest unscathed.

Reader Stats (3):

Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)
 
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