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

Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
Series: The Witch Hunter #1
Published by Orchard Books on 4th June 2015
Pages: 409
Source: *Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Witches, watch out... Half Bad meets Kill Bill in this incredible new supernatural series.

Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Grey doesn't look dangerous. A tiny, blonde, wisp of a girl shouldn't know how to poison a wizard and make it look like an accident. Or take out ten necromancers with a single sword and a bag of salt. Or kill a man using only her thumb. But things are not always as they appear. Elizabeth is one of the best witch hunters in Anglia and a member of the king's elite guard, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and bringing those who practice it to justice. And in Anglia, the price of justice is high: death by burning.

When Elizabeth is accused of being a witch herself, she's arrested and thrown in prison. The king declares her a traitor and her life is all but forfeit. With just hours before she's to die at the stake, Elizabeth gets a visitor - Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in Anglia. He offers her a deal: he will free her from prison and save her from execution if she will track down the wizard who laid a deadly curse on him.

As Elizabeth uncovers the horrifying facts about Nicholas's curse and the unwitting role she played in its creation, she is forced to redefine the differences between right and wrong, friends and enemies, love and hate... and life and death.

The first book in an incredible new series set in a fantastical medieval world.

Such a compelling and addictive read, one of my favourite witch novels I have read so far! I am not a fan of the cover, nor do I like the american cover, I just feel they could have done so much more with it.

Elizabeth is a witch hunter, one of the very best. But when she is caught with witches herbs, she is thrown into the dungeons to be hanged. Elizabeth expected death, not for one of the most dangerous wizards to be coming to her rescue. With Elizabeth's life in danger amongst a group of powerful witches, she must keep her secret safe and find a way out of completing her task, without letting anyone onto her plan, of finding the cure to Nichola's curse.

Admittedly I have a love/hate relationship with witch novels, mainly because of the characters. I don't know, they always come across as always being 'the chosen one'. But Elizabeth was amazing. She was strong, independent, and could kick-butt. The concept of her being a witch hunter was unique and intriguing, but I felt the main aspect of her being a witch hunter was her development as a person. She slowly allowed herself to open up and accept a new way of life, but alongside this Elizabeth showed compassion; she was not always resistant to the views and opinions of others for she did listen, always fighting for the right cause. I think the other key thing that helped this novel was her banter with George, they were both so witty and fun which will certainly have you smiling.

In terms of the romance, I am usually not a fan of love-triangles. Though in this novel there is one, it does not feel like it. Caleb is the best friend she has always loved, but instead I was pleased she developed a friendship and closeness with John, it was certainly not a case of insta-love and I liked how even at the end though their relationship was established, it is still new.

The plot was incredibly addictive, I was unable to put it down. I think the main winner was the writing and imagery, without-fail I was always able to picture the scenes occurring and I am pleased to say I felt immersed in the novel. The plot was unique, certainly with twists that though you may figure out, they are still a surprise. But I think it was certainly the characters that really helped the plot, even the secondary characters, with all the action and dangerous scenes that occurred throughout.

Overall I am incredibly pleased with this novel and absolutely loved it. I need the sequel now!