Half Bad (#1) by: Sally Green (March 2014)
394 Pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Genre: Young Adult/Witches
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
Goodreads Summary: Half Bad by Sally Green is a breathtaking debut novel about one boy's struggle for survival in a hidden society of witches.You can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch.
You get sick if you stay indoors after dark.
You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one.
You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen.
All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday.
Easy.
My Review
Half Bad rocked my world hard. I hope you read it and that it ends up rocking yours too. The following is my somewhat nonsensical (it jumps all over the place) but high praising review of the book that I won't soon forget.
Half Bad is unique, it really can’t be compared to any other book I’ve ever read. Those of you looking for something completely new, here is your book. But beware, it’s different, you have to be okay with trying something different to enjoy it. One of its quirks, it starts off in 2nd person point of view. Now that doesn’t last that long if you are worried it will be too weird for you, but I actually kind of liked it.
Half Bad is unique, it really can’t be compared to any other book I’ve ever read. Those of you looking for something completely new, here is your book. But beware, it’s different, you have to be okay with trying something different to enjoy it. One of its quirks, it starts off in 2nd person point of view. Now that doesn’t last that long if you are worried it will be too weird for you, but I actually kind of liked it.
Half Bad is more of a coming of age story than anything else. As readers we get Nathan’s story from when he is little until he is a teenager and getting ready to become an adult in the witch world. He is half white witch and half black witch, and the white witch’s council never lets him forget it. They treat him inhumanely... so much for being white witches. Every character in this novel is complex and has a hidden story and secrets. I love them all and I can’t wait to read more about them in the next installment. I want to learn more about Nathan’s infamous murderous dad and Nathan’s oh so charming best friend Gabriel among everyone else.
Half Bad made me feel so many different emotions. I can’t even begin to pinpoint them all. The writing is dark and excellent. The tidbits of second person point of view is interesting, nothing is black and white, and not to mention there are some good chilling and WTF moments. Although I am sad to say we don’t get a lot of magic in this first book and it could be a little slow at times. Luckily that was the only thing that really bothered me about Half Bad and it ending up not being a big deal. I still loved reading Nathan’s story and can’t wait for it to continue. I think book two will be even better.
This book isn't for everyone, but I think everyone should give it a try to find out if it is for them.
This book isn't for everyone, but I think everyone should give it a try to find out if it is for them.
Yay, for discovering awesome new books! I'm glad you enjoyed this so much :) I'm really intrigued by this one and want to give it a try eventually but it's not at the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteps.
I started Fire & Flood yesterday after reading your review. I'm really liking it so far!
It's definitely different, but good different.
Deletep.s. That makes me so happy! Just you wait...it gets better and better as it goes along. :D
Finished =D I wish the second one was out!!!
DeleteI know right! I want to read it now! I'm so glad you liked it. :D
DeleteIntriguing...I'd see this cover around, but didn't know much about it. Definitely one to consider.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking you would like this one Christine!
DeleteI've been hearing some good things about this one! It does sound like a very unique read and one that definitely would make you experience a lot of emotions!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I think it's actually one one of my favorites so far this year!
DeleteI will read this one!! I like dark books and complex characters. This half white witch/half black witch premise also sounds really interesting. Yay! I'm excited!
ReplyDeleteI think you should try this one Nicole! I'm thinking you would like it. I want to see what you think. :)
DeleteI recently bought the signed hardback of this so I am glad to hear you loved this! I am looking forward to getting to it and I can't wait to see if I love it as much as you did. I've actually found your blog as someone linked you up to my Blogger Love post as the blog they wanted to share the love for. Now following you via Bloglovin', thanks for the great review :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I am heading over to your site right now to check it out. I'm touched. Sorry for such a delayed response, I went on a small vacation over the weekend.
DeleteOh yay! I've just seen sooooo many mixed reviews on this one so any time I see positive reviews, it restores my faith in the book haha. I hope I end up enjoying it too! :)
ReplyDeleteAs long as you don't mind reading something that is different then I would give this book a try. :)
DeleteOooh glad you liked this! I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to get it signed at LFCC but Sally Green was there on the Sunday and I was there on the Saturdaaay.... *sigh* I liked your review! Because I'm really into fantasy, that was my main focus when reading. But thinking back, actually I agree that it's a coming of age story.
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