London, 1880. Eighteen-year-old Witch Hunter Luke Lexton has failed his initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum - the secretive brotherhood devoted to hunting witches. Instead of killing the witch he picked from the Book of Witches, he has committed the worst possible crime: he has fallen for her. Sixteen-year-old witch girl Rosa Greenwood has failed to secure her struggling family's future by marrying the handsome, cruel, rich and powerful Sebastian Knyvet. Instead she has set fire to his factory and has brought disgrace on her family. Now together they are on the run - from Rosa's ex-fianc? and from Luke's former brothers in the Malleus. As they flee across England, and with the danger of their past catching up to them ...can they overcome their differences? Can a witch hunter ever find love with a witch girl? 'Gorgeously romantic.' Amanda Craig, The Times Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2)
free read Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2)
I suppose I ought to include a trigger warning for this book as I did for the first, but it wasn't nearly as disturbing a read. There are still some pretty psychopathic characters but at least no dog is whipped to death herein.
Luke and Rosa are still terribly naive, Luke all the more so. He seems like a blushing schoolboy, not a grown man. I like them together though; it's a sweet foil to Sebastian's predatory behaviour and Alexis' control. Rosa is running for her life but freer than she has ever been. A contradiction but a nice one.
I wonder whether this book might have taken inspiration from Jane Eyre - not in its entirety but the crazy lady in the attic setting fires certainly gives me those vibes. Beyond that, I have very few thoughts about Witch Hunt. It was ok but nothing that stands out.
I didn't hate the read but I don't think I'll be picking up another of this author's books. 2.5 stars. Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2)
**This review may contain spoilers from the previous book, and some unintentional spoilers for this one**
Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) SPOILER ALERT: NO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ AND PLAN ON READING WITCH FINDER!
Well this book takes off running from the get go as it's picks up directly after the end of the first book Witch Finder.
Luke has failed in his task to kill witch Rosa, and now they are on the run together. They have fled from everything they know, from Rosa's family and her new fiance as well as from Luke's uncle and The Brotherhood who tasked him with killing his chosen witch. What Luke has done is a crime in the eyes of The Brotherhood and Luke know that they both will be hunted down with the ultimate punishment of death. Their flight is desperate and difficult ad they must learn how to hide and how to survive while fighting their burgeoning feels for each other.
After the explosive final scenes of Witch Finder I was so keen to find out where the story would go next and what I found was a natural progression to Luke and Rosa's tale. They are on the run and desperate to escape, desperate to gain some sort of life and future for themselves and it it completely impossible not to find yourself rooting for them whole-heartedly. They are being hunted left, right and centre by both the witch hunters and by Rosa's fiancé Sebastian Knyvet, the man who Luke now believes killed his parents. Hunted for witchcraft, hunted for betrayal, hunted for possession and you feel every inch of their sense of despair and the urgency they feel for freedom.
As the couple fight to stay hidden and survive we get to experience their feeling as they begin to realise exactly how deep the feeling run for each other and it's a beautiful thing to witness as both are unsure of how they feel and don't seem to realise how deeply the other feels for them either, the realisation comes gradually but so sweetly. Who would have thought a witch hunter could fall for a witch?
What is there to love about this book?
I loved everything about the book, the romantic side of things is brought much more to the forefront in this book but it's not as in your face as it could have been and I was grateful for that as it allowed other aspects of the book to come through. The romance is bitter-sweet to witness and beautifully treated and we have a new twist to the tale with a possible sting where Luke now has his suspicions that Rosa's former fiancé Sebastian is the one behind his parents murder but it doesn't quite fit properly as it would mean Sebastian would have had to have killed them while very young himself..... hmmm, all will be revealed.
Was there anything not so good?
No really the only niggle I have still is the whole 'who would have thought a witch finder would fall for a witch thing' but I think I've spent far too much time with a certain vampire slayer who was in love with a vampire that it's made it all a bit 'well of course they'd fall for each other, that's the way it goes'..... if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, it works but it's written as if it would never happen but head knows it will ALWAYS happen.
Was it an interesting read?
Very, although it doesn't quite have the same period feel as the last book but I think that is because the actions moves away from London into the countryside and I actually missed the feel you got of the time period, it felt more like it could all be happening in the now rather than being identifiable as the past. The story itself is growing quickly but there is still enough mystery, enough secrets to the tale to keep you completely enthralled throughout.
Was it enjoyable to read?
It was, again as the last book was the story is so engaging that you need to keep on turning the page t find out what happens next. The tale doesn't let up it's tight grip on the reader and the twists and turns are beautifully put together that you can't hep yourself. Pure escapism and a joy to read.
Was it a well written book?
Very, as everything I've said before should go to proof, this is a wonderfully thought and immaculately put together tale of love against adversity, how love can conquer all, how the bad will never overthrow the good. After two books I am now a complete fan of Ruth Warburton's books and I'm now going to get her other series of books about witches (which I believe is set in the present but has links to the Witch Finder books) as she has completely won me over with her style and pace. It's a great, great book.
Would you recommend it to others?
Most certainly, if you love YA books about witches then you should give these a go as they are really worth the read and I have been thoroughly entertained by them...... so gutted that this is the final book in this series and how I wish there was more to come but as Ruth has said (to me via Twitter) she likes an open ending! Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) Wow, that must be the first time ever I actually liked the second book a lot more than the first one ! This one was much more exciting and a lot was happening which kept it very fast paced and intriguing! I liked it but I hated the uncertain happy ending ! Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) *Received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
The emotions through this book, just… ah! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am so pleased to have carried on with the trilogy. The cover is stunning, so bright and magical, the small beautiful illustrations are a brilliant companion to the novel.
Rosa and Luke are on the run from one of the most powerful and wealthiest witches, Rosa's ex-fiance, and a group of Witch Finders who want to kill Luke. So they flee across England in a mad rush to escape with very limited resources, and distinctive features. As time goes on, Rosa and Luke build a relationship that is forbidden and looked down upon. But can you really deny true love?
No. He'd not known any better. He had grown up with ignorance and fear and hatred, drunk it down with his bedtime milk, chewed on it with his morning bread, learnt it alongside his ABC and the Lord's Prayer.
Witch Hunt by Ruth Warburton, paperback page 370
One of the main focuses in this sequel was the relationship of Luke and Rosa, from the events they had become more mature and their actions to flee became more desperate. However, we were able to explore their personality more, though their relationship did take over the plot a little; they are both strong characters who worked well as a team. I enjoyed how Warburton continued to provide the novel from two perspectives, it gave an insight into the worries of both, but their thoughts and feelings on the same situations.
The plot I felt was fast-paced with lots of edge-of-your-seat moments alongside action and adventure. I was pleased to find the mystery was continued regarding Sebastian's family, especially his mother, as she is still a prominant figure throughout the novel.
This was a brilliant sequel to Witch Finder of which I thoroughly enjoyed, the relationship of a young forbidden couple and a Witch Hunt captured your attention with Witch fighting, mystery and magic. Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2)
This sequel was just fantastic. I really wish there were more books in this series because I’m not ready to let Luke and Rosa go! I can’t give this book 5 stars simply because it was quite predictable but I loved it all the same. I really need to read some more witch stories now! Highly recommend! - 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟 Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) ★★★★
Loved it all the same. Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) For a more detailed review, please check out my review below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) Would love to have a third edition to this series. :) Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2) Gosh, I just can't accept the ending. Luke should have just go to America with Rosa and start a new life. Facepalm Witch Hunt (Witch Finder, #2)
