The Children’s Book Review | May 13, 2017
Laurie Forest lives deep in the backwoods of Vermont where she sits in front of a wood stove drinking strong tea and dreaming up tales full of dryads, dragons and wands. The Black Witch is her debut novel, and Wandfasted is her first e-book novella.
I write because …
It is incredibly fun – and…DRAGONS!
I read because …
Books are magic.
My latest published book is …
THE BLACK WITCH
I wrote this book because …
I wanted to throw everything I love about fantasy fiction into one series (which means sea monsters are about due for a showing…).
Best moment …
Seeing my book’s incredible and beautiful cover.
My special place to write is …
Any tea shop.
Necessary writing/creativity tool …
STRONG TEA
The person who has been my greatest writing teacher or inspiration is …
My genius editor, Lauren Smulski
Currently reading …
ACOTAR
Favorite bookshop …
It’s a tie – Phoenix Books & Bear Pond Books in Vermont
All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t write…
A GIRL LIKE THAT (comes out 2018) by Tanaz Bhathena (Brilliant YA own-voices novel about teens in Saudi Arabia) – blew me completely away.
Favorite illustrator …
The art team at Harlequin TEEN :), and after that Margaret Wise Brown
A literary character I would like to vacation with …
Magnus Bane, hands down (from Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series)
When I am not reading or writing I am …
Drinking tea & thinking up stories …
You can connect with me here …
Written by Laurie Forest
Publisher’s 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 misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to hate and fear.
Ages 12+ | Publisher: Harlequin Teen | 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0373212316
Available Here:
Discover more books like The Black Witch, written by Laurie Forest, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Books About Witches and Young Adult Fiction; plus, be sure to follow along with our Writing and Reading Life series.