The Witch's Boy

The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber - In one of typical, topical about-faces, the next book up is The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber. I found this one thanks to my habit of checking out the teenager/young adult section of book stores looking for the best in fantasy novels which you know, if you follow this blog, I still read a lot. This was one I'd never heard - it just looked interesting so I gave it a try.

Its a strange little story - probably no more than a day's read for most of you - about a monstrously ugly infant who is left on the doorstep of the Quiet Woman - a witch who lives in a cottage in the woods. Despite the fact that she knows nothing about children, the witch decides to keep the child and raise it as her own. She really doesn't have the time or interest in doing this herself so, being a woman after my own heart, she hires somebody to raise the child - in this case an extremely maternal she-bear named Ysul.

I won't go deeply in the plot of this one - it involves, of course for this genre, witches, quests and magic and, ultimately, what people are willing to give up for their children. As it proceeds, Gruber interweaves somewhat twisted versions of well known fairy tales that blend seamlessly in to the story.

For anybody who enjoys reading Tolkien, Pullman, Rowlings or even C.S. Lewis, this is fun read - highly recommended especially for teenagers (of all ages).