Have you ever read a book or watched a movie in which you could immerse yourself so deeply, that you found yourself screaming at a character (at least in your head): „You damn fool. Don´t go down to that dark cellar, from where you hear all those strange noises. You´re so stupid!“

The Witch´s Boy is one of those books. Alex Beecroft has created such a dense and detailed world in her book, that this world and it´s characters instantly become alive in your fantasy. And it´s all there: The fantasy kingdom with their heroic knights, the bad (and good) witches, the peasant boy who get´s the chance to rise beyond his social origin, evil monsters, angels and even elves. Oh, and who know that elves could be so funny? And mischievous …

So, what is this book about? There are two different main strands, which begin separately but become interwoven more and more until they merge at the end of the book. First there is peasant boy Oswy, whose family is forced to sell him because of a poor harvest. And as if that wouldn´t be bad enough already, his buyer is the feared witch-lord Sulien. Understandably he tries to flee from his master at the first possibility, but soon certain events take place which force him to think over his presumptions of who is his friend and who is his enemy.

Then there is Adela, daughter of an Earl and living at the king´s court, who find´s herself to be married off to the witch Adam de Limoges, a confidant of the king. Her struggles against this forced marriage are the beginning of a series of events which eventually force her to flee the king´s court in disguise.

When the paths of Oswy and Adela cross, they realize that they´re both threatened by one and the same person. And only if they combine their efforts, there maybe is a chance to fight this person. Maybe…

I just loved this book. I would have read it in one session, if there weren´t those stupid needs like eating and sleeping. This book definitely is a must-read.

If anyone is still unsure as where to categorize this book, even though it doesn´t fit easily into categories, I can offer my personal impression that for me it „feels“ like a mixture of Sara Monette´s Doctrine of Labyrinths and Lord of the Rings, while still having it´s own character. So I´m quite sure that anyone who liked those books, will also like The Witch´s Boy. But to everyone else I would also strongly recommend to give it a try.