Witch & Wizard (original 2009; edition 2011)

Myeh at best. The jargon dates the book, and alienates readers. While the story is interesting, it's never engaging. The ending is preachy and, really, the jargon is awful. ( )

This is one of the few books I've read by James Patterson... every once in a while I resolve to give him another shot because I am not a fan in the least bit. This novel did not help my opinion of him at all. James Patterson's novels always seem poorly written and written far too quickly for him to be able to put some actual thought into his novels. This novel was poorly written and superbly boring. I don't think I'll be giving him another chance in the future. ( )

Recommended by my 13-year-old daughter.

I'm a fan of Patterson's Alex Cross books, so I figured, what the hay. I'd heard Witch & Wizard summed up as Harry Potter meets Hunger Games, which piqued my interest. Don't buy into that or expect the superb world-building or characterization done in either of the aforementioned books.

I can definitely see its appeal to the younger age bracket of the "young adult" audience. For anyone over 14 or 15 it may feel a bit, well, superficial. The story is set in a totalitarian world where anyone under 18 is considered an enemy to the New Order, especially young people with magical abilities. But the character development just wasn't there.

Each chapter begins with the names of the main characters, siblings Wisty and Whit, which I guess is because both have such similar voices the author wanted to quickly identify the chapter's narrator. There are prophecies and an evil leader who seems to possess the very powers he seeks to eliminate from the world's youth. And it ends with the threat of Wisty's and Whit's imminent execution.

It was a quick read and I do plan to read the sequel (The Gift) ... mainly because my daughter asked me to. Hopefully, the characters and the world will grow a bit more in the next one. ( )

Ever-so-slightly dystopian in that there's a totalitarian government lurking somewhere back behind the plot contrivances. Mostly it's two teens who discover they have magic powers on the night the government comes to arrest them for it, and then the teens' escape from prison etc. I'd definitely peg this as fantasy before dystopian.

Lots of action and super-short chapters, great appeal for reluctant readers, but blaaaaaaah for me.

(Is it fair to say this is exactly what I expected, if what I'd expected was fluffy brainless not-superbly-written action sequences loosely held together with plot? Or can I only say that if I add a comma or four in there?) ( )

A very quick and easy read, but very enjoyable. It follows the story of Wisty and Whit, a sister and brother who find out they can do magic. I don't think there was enough distinction between the voice of Whit, and that of Wisty- without the chapter saying so, it was hard to realize who was narrating. It was pretty good though, and it kept me hooked from the start. I'll definitely read the next one, because I'm dying to find out what happens to them. ( )