The Witch Collector Part I

by Loretta Nyhan

The Witch Collector is a digital original novel that's a suspenseful brew of magic, dark strangers, and witchcraft—perfect for fans of the Beautiful Creatures and Mortal Instruments series.

The day after her best friend's funeral, Breeda's parents pack her up, usher her into the car, and then drive out of Oregon without looking back. Breeda doesn't know why they left so urgently or why they're headed to Chicago—but she does know that it's against the rules to leave without consulting your Coven Leader. . . . It's a crime punishable by banishment.

All her family has is each other now, in a city that feels strange, unfamiliar, and dark. But when Breeda comes home on her first night in Chicago to find their apartment ransacked and only a bloody handprint left behind, she realizes that you can't outrun the craft.

HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Witches, Mystery, Urban Fantasy

184 pages, Unknown Binding

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

I was a reader before I was a writer, devouring everything I could get my hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and the instructions booklet for building the Barbie dream house. Later, my obsession with reading evolved into an absolute need to write. After college, I wrote for national trade magazines, taught writing to college freshmen, and eventually found the guts to try fiction.

I'm the author of the upcoming All the Good Parts (Lake Union, 2016) and Digging In (Lake Union, 2017). Previous published novels include I’ll Be Seeing You and Empire Girls (MIRA Books).

When I'm not writing, I can be found knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things my high school self would have found hilarious.

I live in the Chicago area with my two teenage boys.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eeennnhhhh.
Sooooo...I wish this would have been around when I was 14; I'd have eaten this thing up and wanted more, More, MORE!
Buuuuuut...I'm not 14. I'm a bitter and cynical old lady, now, and I've become far more judgmental than I ever was in my teens, which seems impossible, true though it is.

Here's where I got tripped up:
The characters: I could not get a hold on any character at all, except for maybe Aunt Evie. They were just so...slippery and not in a complex way but in a "would this character really do that? Wait, no, the character is changing again...holy hell, what is going on with these people?" sort of way.
The dialog: This was the biggest hindrance to my reading enjoyment. I even tried reading out loud in several areas to get the conversations to flow the way I thought a conversation involving one or more teenagers would go but it just never worked; the conversations were just too...stilted? Not real-feeling enough? Lacking in personality? Maybe a bit of all those things.

These two things were enough of a stumbling block to make me want to give the story a 2-star rating.
Here's why I didn't:
I am a sucker for Girl On A Quest: And there's a good quest going on, one that 14-year-old me would have fantasized about for months.
Incoming witchy powers: Yeah, I'm a sucker for that, too, (I hated puberty) and I liked how freaked-out Breeda would get over the powers that were suddenly hers, though, I think I would liked to have seen her more worried after each bout of magical backlash was over. Because it's sort of like the first period, really, in that it comes and goes and you don't know what to expect because the information you thought you had turned out to be not-so-factual; I know I was thrown for a loop every time that little friend of mine showed up and I dreaded the next unplannable event until I got used to it all. And found Midol and Always. She needs Midol and Always only she needs them in the form of a talisman and control but she doesn't know where to get those and I can sympathize with her plight.
Potential, potential, potential: So I know the second part is already available, but I haven't bought it yet (this book was the first ebook I have ever purchased, that one will be the second) so I still have the luxury of hope. Here's what I hope: I hope Breeda learns not only to control her powers (which, yeah, she will. I mean, what's the purpose of the story otherwise, right?), then grows and becomes powerful but instead of being what those who came before have been, I would like her to become something new, something never seen before, a source of good and helpfulness and maybe even protection for the coven I hope she one day finds.

Potential pitfall with the next book: The Dreaded Love Triangle. I hate that thing with a passion. I mean, once in awhile it's fine but in 8 out of 10 YA books? (I just made that statistic up. Feel free to quote it, though) It's too much, too overplayed. It's that song on the radio that is really cool until you hear it 75 times a day, every day, for six months.

But you know what? I'm invested enough in this story - maybe not the characters, but definitely the story - to buy the next installment. I want to know what happens next!

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Loretta Nyhan's The Witch Collector Part 1 is a fantastic read that is short enough to read in one day, but addicting enough to make the reader want the sequel to be available now.

The reader is immediately brought into the action of the novel. We aren't entirely sure what will happen next and this will make the reader instantly curious about what this small family is running from.

The pacing of Nyhan's novel is surprisingly strong, considering how short it is. Breeda, the protagonist, is a young witch full of questions that her parents never get around to answering before their disappearance. Nyhan expertly navigates Breeda's dangerous and confusing new world by giving us only what Breeda knows--this is enhanced by her use of the first person narrative.

Nyhan uses brief flashbacks to describe Breeda's past and this technique can either work for the story, or it can go very, very wrong. In this case, the glimpses into Breeda's past are enjoyable and interesting because they do not dump information on the reader in excessive amounts. I usually find continuous flashbacks to be irritating and boring, but Breeda's beautifully cryptic past is full of unexplored mystery.

Breeda is interesting because of her parents' mysterious disappearance and her abnormal growth as a witch, but it is the characters around her that truly make this an addicting read. The themes of family and redemption are strong in The Witch Collector, and Breeda's new friends all have a part to play in the mystery that begs to be solved. The chemistry between the other characters and Breeda is immediately warm and trusting, making this a refreshingly drama-free novel.

Perhaps the greatest draw a future reader may have to The Witch Collector is how unique it is. I know, I know--the witchy/magic genre is currently full of newly published works, but Nyhan explores the darker aspects of witch craft in a very original way. Instead of strictly sticking to the cliched good vs. bad witch theme, Nyhan shows us that there is more to the dark arts than nefarious intents.

Sometimes, you have to be bad to be good.

I recommend The Witch Collector to fans of the magical genre. If you like shorter reads that feature great pacing, then you will enjoy this one. Original, exciting, and with slow-cooking romance, a young adult reader will devour Nyhan's novel.

[Suzanne Palmieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, I know. I'm biased. Loretta is my writing partner. Our novel, I'LL BE SEEING YOU will be released on May 28th by MIRA Books. But that did NOT influence me. Loretta sent me this portion to look over while she was editing. I opened it up and.... hit "bump". Meaning I couldn't stop reading it! It's compelling. A page turner. But more than that, it's lyrical, funny and entirely believable. As a writer of paranormal things, I find the hardest part is the "Suspension of Disbelief". Loretta knocked this out of the park. Bravo, well done. AND though it is technically YA, I believe it will have everyone, all of us, spellbound.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful start to a series. Part 1 has introduced us to all the characters, plot and settings. I can't wait ti see how Breeda, our young untrained witch carries on.

[Breda]

I feel an obligation to attempt any book with a character named some variation of Breda!

[Sammie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. I wasn't overly impressed. My biggest problem with this book was that it felt weird to divide it. The two parts could have easily made one large book, and it would have made much more sense. The overall plot was pretty good except that the two main love interests had very little chemistry. My favorite character was Shelly. She really made it worth reading.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Fun really fast read. The story was interesting, but the flow of the book wasn’t the best.

Opening Sentence: The sun stumbled and fell, and the moon rose in its place.

The Review:

Breeda and her parents are witches. She has just turned 16 and she is starting the transition of getting her powers. She has lived outside of Portland Oregon for most of her life. She is part of a private community that is only for witches. She is part of the coven there as are her parents. One of her friends has just recently passed away and Breeda’s parents have started acting really weird. The day after the funeral her family packs up and leaves in the middle of the night heading to Chicago. Breeda was born in Chicago but left when she was 7 years old. She doesn’t really have any memories of that time in her life and she doesn’t understand why her parents left Oregon. She knows that they are keeping something from her and that they are acting scarred.

On the trip to Chicago Breeda starts to get her magic and it is making her sick. As her body adjusts to the changes it fights back and this is why Breeda has a hard time breathing and feels sick after using any type of magic. Soon after arriving in Chicago Breeda’s parents go missing and she has to rely on some new acquaintances to help her survive her transition and find her parents. As she starts to uncover more about herself and her parents she realizes that being a witch is way different than she expected.

Breeda is our heroine in the book and I had a hard time connecting with her. Because of her situation she has to put a lot of trust into total strangers. She is hesitant, but she goes with her gut feeling and decides to trust others, because she really has no other options. She really loves her parents and will do anything she can to find them. She misses her home and her friends from there, but she is open to making and trusting the new friends that she makes. To be honest I thought that Breeda was a little boring at times. She has some good qualities but nothing really stuck out to make her different or really interesting to me. I didn’t dislike her, but I wouldn’t say that I really liked her either. I am hoping that in the next book this changes and I can connect to her more.

I did really enjoy this book even with all of its flaws. One thing I did have a hard time with was the flow of the book. I felt that it jumped around a lot and I had a hard time following it at times. It was very fast paced and an easy read. Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of Breeda I did really enjoy some of the secondary characters. I thought that the story was really fun and interesting. There is a huge cliff hanger at the end so I will defiantly be picking up the next book to see what happens next. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants an easy fast YA paranormal read. It is only in ebook format so it is pretty inexpensive right now and I think that a lot of people will really enjoy this book.

Notable Scene:

The door was open a crack. “Mom? Dad?”

Nothing.

It was too late for privacy. I pushed at the door and it swung open, revealing an empty bed, the sheets wrapped in a tangled mess on the floor.

The room still held my mother’s scent, a mix of jasmine and musk. It smelled of something else, too—sharp and metallic. I flicked on the light.

Blood.

A smudge across a pillowcase. A handprint on the wall by the radiator. A splash of crimson on the mirror.

“Mom?” But I knew I wasn’t going to get a response. Panic clutched at my heart; my pulse roared in my ears.

A noise, squawking and insistent, sounded outside. I backed into the living room, which shimmered with flickering red and blue lights.

Someone had called the police.

Policemen usually made witches nervous, but all I felt was relief to imagine someone might be able to help me. I stumbled down the stairs leading to the front door and tugged it open.

A cop stood just outside the iron gates, his head tilted back, looking up at our apartment windows. His dark blue uniform melted into the night, and the streetlight illuminated his pale face.

“Do you need help?” he called out.

I ran to him, throwing open the gate. “My parents!” I shouted. “It’s my parents. They’re gone. There’s . . . blood.” I was barely making sense, tears catching in my ravaged throat.

“Calm down,” he said.

“They’re gone! We’re wasting time.” My mind reeled. “Shouldn’t you alert someone?”

He stepped forward, placing a cold hand on my forearm. “They might still be in the apartment. Let’s go back inside.”

It was then that I saw his eyes. The iris and pupil melded together, forming two black holes in a face the color of chalk. His fingers curled around my arm, gripping my flesh. My panic kicked into pure terror.

I knew what he was. I’d never seen one before, but every witch had heard stories of demons. They were the stuff of our nightmares.

FTC Advisory: Harper Collins provided me with a copy of The Witch Collector Part 1. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ends abruptly in the middle of the story...I guess the “part 1” gave a clue about that but I was expecting more of a series than a teaser that cannot be read in isolation. Looking forward to part 2!

[Shona Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review first posted on http://beanieboo78.wordpress.com/

First off thanks to Edelweiss who gave me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the only reason I haven’t given it the full 5 stars is because it features my most hated of factors. The Sneaky Ending. When I’m reading I tend to pace myself when I near the end of the book, especially if it’s one I’m enjoying. I absolutely HATE when a books ending sneaks up me. If I’m reading a paperback I try to judge based on how many pages are left, if I’m reading my kindle I look at the % left. So last night while I was reading this I was aware of how far through the book I was getting and I was checking the %, I hit 92% and what looked to be the end of the chapter, it was 1am and I was contemplating going to bed but I was enjoying this so much that instead I turned the page and BAM! I was hit with the sneaky ending and the ‘sneak Peek at The Witch Collector part 2′. This kind of ending is ONLY acceptable if I already have the second part in my possession. I do not!

The book opens with the funeral of Breeda’s friend then, before we get a chance to process that, Breeda and her family are on the run. Breeda knows they are running, but from who or what she doesn’t know. We get glimpses into Breeda’s past through the visions she experiences whenever she does magic or when someone uses magic close to her. Breeda has a confidence about her magic that can only come from being brought up in a coven (I have read a few Witch books where the main characters don’t know they are witches until older and have had no early training/guidance), but this doesn’t mean she’s particularly knowledgeable about her craft, which becomes apparent very quickly. Despite being raised by two magical parents and raised in a coven she has very little understanding as to what will happen to her during her transition, when she comes home to find her parents have vanished and herself under attack from a Demon she panics and her magic starts to spiral out of control.

Some would argue there is very little story in this book and while there may not be lots of action, or situations remaining unresolved there is still a lot that we discover. This part of the story is Breeda’s coming out party, she finds a small group of Witches who agree to help her. They try to explain the different factors of witchcraft that she didn’t know before, things like owning a family book, or being marked depending on your genetic lines. This in turn throws out questions about her past, her parents and her coven.

Book 2 promises to be better and full of action and betrayal, and hopefully some answers. I cant wait.

[Shera (Book Whispers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

****Review copy received for an honest review.****

Witches are my top favorite paranormal "creatures"—next to shifters of course. They tantalize me whether they be dark and disturbing, or sparkling good. One of the sad parts about witch themed books is that many times they come a crossed too juvenile and undeveloped. The Witch Collector thankfully is one that I can tell everyone the good news about! This is solid craft people!

With that said, this review has taken me so long to put into words. I enjoyed the read and the story was fun. However, I kept trying to remember why I liked the book when there was very little meat to the story. I was nibbling on scraps and by the time I finished reading it I felt . . . hungrier. Then it hit me, I had only read the first half of a book. Don't confuse it with a cliffhanger. All of it was "setup" storylines that make me grumble and moan until I get to the good stuff.

The concept of the witches here are promising and I love what the book is hinting at. Everyone knows how picky I am about my witches, I don't just want happy chanting and pretty rhymes. There's also hints of other magic such as alchemy, demons . . .

The main character's parents haven't given her enough info and they of course vanish and she's left with this whole mystery to solve about her special witch magic. For someone who grew up in a community of witches she's almost as ignorant as the reader. The characters are something that definitely stood out to me, they helped to add depth to the story. The love interest is building up nicely and is hinting at a love triangle . . . and that's where I have to stop.

I know this is something new publishers are trying, but it doesn't work for me. I want to read the whole book, not one half at a time. It feels like I can't accurately review this book. Because at this point it's just an average read, who knows what the other half is going to contribute. Normally I'd give it a 2/5, but the author’s world and writing is strong enough that I feel confidante enough as to where this series is going. Yes, it cuts of right in the middle of where things are finally building up in the story line and we're going to see some action. Despite the standard plot tropes this book is worth a read, and I am looking forward to the next installment!

Sexual Content: Clean, there is some mild sexual content.

3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

THE WITCH COLLECTOR PART I starts out strong and pulls you right in with the mystery. Why are Breeda’s parents running away from their home and why are they going to Chicago? Who or what took them from the apartment after they got there? And why the heck would they name their child Breeda?

Nyhan creates some interesting mythology behind her witches. They’re connected to the Earth, carry a talisman, and they each have a different skill which is inherited from a parent. Their individual skill doesn’t start to manifest until they’re in their teens, however, and at the beginning of the book, Breeda is starting to feel her power manifest. So, against that backdrop, her parents go missing and she’s lost and alone in a new city. Understandably panicked, I had a hard time judging Breeda for her actions, even if I felt them a bit rash. She was generally left without much in the way of choices.

There were so many different threads started in this first half of THE WITCH COLLECTOR. There are mysteries about Breeda’s coven and coven leader, her mother’s sister, the witches she encounters in Chicago, and so on. I am curious to see how they will all end up connecting, since they seem so scattered.

The unfortunate part about THE WITCH COLLECTOR is that while it begins great, it is only that- a beginning. There are many questions raised, and few answers discovered. This is not meant to be a stand alone story, so make sure that you’re prepared to nab Part II when it comes out.

Sexual Content: Kissing

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come across this book by accident. Never heard of the author before now. I have to say I loved the book of course I am a major bookf fan of witches.

This book starts out a little slow but In kept reading and by the 2 and chapter I was hooked on everything. Breeda which love the name hasn't got a clue as to why her parents have left her in the dark. She hasn't got a clue as to what Kind of witch she is. Her parents thinking they are protecting her leave their coven in Oregon but not breaking their vows to Illinois. While there Breeda goes to gt food comes back to discover her parents are gone , and the only thing left is a bloody hand print and smeared blood in the room. Breeda then goes on a journey and meets some friends Miro and her Aunt Evie to get answers. She learns that she is an unmarked witch who steals powers from other witches. unfortunately Breeda attracts attention of witches who do black magic. She also learns that their old coven leader might be behind everything and wants her for her magic.

I enjoyed reading this book very much except it does leave you with a huge cliff hanger. The characters remind me of everyday teenagers. They were believable and will draw you into the story not letting you put the book down until you reach the end.

[Heather Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked The Witch Collector and found the plot unique and suspenseful. The main character was likable and from the first pages I was intrigued over what Breeda and her family could be running from.

The timeline jumps around a bit from when Breeda is on the run to earlier when her family was immersed in coven life. Breeda is confused over the reason her family has snuck away from the coven and she attempts to uncover the truth. At the same time, her magical abilities are manifesting and she has to gain control over her power. I felt the novel picked up a lot once Breeda began to use her powers and met other young witches.

My one issue would be the need to publish the book as a two-parter. It’s not a serial and it’s not a novella, so not sure the purpose of it. I’ll probably eventually read the second part if only to find out the resolution of the cliffhanger in Part I.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I wouldn't run away with it, but most definitely spend quite a bit of time with its intriguing self before it goes cold. Literally... the story stops. The synopsis I read said "novel," not novella, so I was expecting a full length story that has and ending even if it were a cliff hanger. I thought part I meant #1. IT IS ONLY HALF A BOOK. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't stop reading. Finished the 129pg book in a few hours. It wasn't until the words stopped that I realize nothing really happened, though. Her parents disappear and she learns a bunch of things. But nothing HAPPENS. I think this book would have been awesome if released as 1 book and not ten parts. Right now I'm just a bit irritated its freezing me out. But I started, and I'm going to keep having dreams of having people ask for my inhalor until I read part 2.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why this story is divided into two books. It's too short to explain the need for two parts, and even a series should have a discrete story in each book, which this does not. I think the motive must be money, so I'm docking a star. Otherwise I liked the world the author created and thought the story was getting pretty good before it cut off abruptly. I also wish the characters had more depth.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has some good ideas, but it's a little circular and ends abruptly once it finally gets going. And Breeda is sheltered and a little spacey. Even I have memories of my old city and we moved when I was six, not even her seven. Plus, what kind of name is Breeda? I'll give the second part a try, to see if it ends the series or has better pacing.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Part I. Thankfully, I know Part II is due out soon because there are too many unanswered questions that I can't wait to see how they turn out. I've never read any witch-type books before and now The Witch Collector has me wanting to read more of them.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun really fast read. The story was interesting, but I felt that the flow was off a little bit. Overall I enjoyed the book it just had some flaws. For the full review please visit Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/review-wit...

[Carolyn Stenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent young adult fiction. This book kept me guessing from the beginning and definitely left me wanting to read part II. There are multiple layers to this story which, as an adult reader, I appreciated.

[panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The characters are so awesome. I flew through it and couldn't wait to read the next one!

[Jenny Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was slow at first. And quite short. It ended quite abruptly in the middle of the story, but I am intrigued to find out what happens next.

[Sarah Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a younger version of A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES (which I loved). Perfect for teens and adults who crave a literary, smarter version of TWILIGHT with a strong female protagonist.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light read ... About new witches.

[Seriesjunky · Rating 3 out of 5]

too short

[Joyce Georgi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop reading this book! I can't wait to read Part 2. Great job!

[Elizabeth Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. CanNOT wait for Part II