Review: The Book Witch

THE BOOK WITCH by Meg Shaffer

Fiction, Fantasy

5++ Stars

Blurb: She can hop into any novel, but she just can’t stay there.
Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew. Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it. Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name. But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

THOUGHTS: I love this book. So much so that I’m going to buy the paperback to replace my ebook because of the story. I so enjoyed every chapter/part of this book. The characters, the world building, the plot – I loved it all. It really struck home for me – maybe because I’m both an avid reader, a writer, and a librarian. It resonated with me on multiple levels.

Rainy March is such a wonderful character. And then you pair her with Koshka, one amazing cat, and Duke, a handsome noir detective and you have the makings of great fun – which it was. Rainy is up against the “Burners” – people who attack books from the inside in order to destroy them, like people who literally burn books because they don’t like them. She is my hero! But when her only family—her grandfather—disappears, she knows she has to find him. Except the head of the coven has ordered her to do nothing (Rainy got into trouble for falling in love with a fictional character – a definite no-no). But Rainy can’t do that. And the handsome Duke comes in from his stories to help her. They have a mystery to solve and clues to follow and nobody is going to stop them.

This is such an imaginative book full of fun, twists, and gentle mystery. It is a love story – not just between Rainy and Duke, but between writer and reader. Between you and the book. And as Rainy is fond of saying: “All stories are love stories if you love stories.” Thank you.

“Pencils Down.”

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.