The Black Witch by: Laurie Forest

Synopsis: A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.

I will say some moments during the story felt choppy to me. There are certain events that happen too fast or out of no where. I think in those spots I was looking for a bit more development of the scene or character. I also think there were moments where Elloren was a little too naive. I understand that she is learning a whole new world, but she is 17 and did not really act it in my opinion.

On the other hand, Laurie does an amazing job of making you hate the villains. Their evil and rudeness just eats at your emotions. With our other characters, I adore the all the different types of “people” we get to meet. You see magic, dragons, werewolves, elves, plus many more and they all work very seamless into the story. It really makes your heart ache at the elaborate injustice created in this story.

It’s definitely a story of a sheltered girl coming into her own and learning who she can be. I’m super excited to continue reading because this story is addicting and I need to know what happens next!