The Witch Collector: 1 (Witch Walker)

There was a reason why I had decided to wait for the entire series to be readily available before I begin reading it. Patience has never been my forte and after having struggled with waiting for Harry Potter books, I had made my decision and stuck to it, but lately, with Net Galley and the alluring cover images, my decision has gone for a toss and here I am in turmoil having begun another trilogy for which I cannot wait another single day for the next book.Charissa Weaks’s The Witch Collector is a world beyond imagination. Having a protagonist unable to speak but whose magic is waiting to burst is sure to leave you enthralled. There are many characters in the fantasy tale each with their own background story that is waiting to be explored. But The Prince of the East is one of those antagonists that is gonna stay with you for a long time. His mere presence and the entire spectrum of evil shadows oozing out of him gave me goosebumps.I was totally smitten by Alexus, his morally greyish shade adding an extra appeal to his gentle and caring love towards Raina. But Raina is a protagonist that I absolutely loved, the sign language that counter her muteness, her courage in dealing with the truths that open up in front of her eyes, the loyalty towards her sister and showing mettle every time a crisis looms forth and finding ways to escape the dangers without any help, each segment of the story was entirely captivating. The enemies to lovers romance is always a favorite trope of mine and this story had that in abundance. The mystery elements especially the past that unfolds about Alexus keep the reader glued to the pages.Charissa Weaks creates stunning imagery, the word building so beautiful that traveling thru the magick enclosed woods felt like eons with the biting icy cold. In fact, the parts in the Winter road and Winterhold enclose the reader in a bubble of enchantment. The story doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, the crux of the plot is cleared up but a major plot development about Alexus is kept in the dark, and therein lies my problem about waiting to grab the next one in the series.Many thanks to Net Galley, Victory NetGalley Co-Op and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

I did not realize that I never wrote my review for The Witch Collector until now.I read the Witch Collector a little over a year ago. The the moment I started reading it I knew that it would be a favorite of mine for years to come. When it was released in audiobook format I jumped at the opportunity to listen to my favorite story again.The Witch Collector follows Raina Bloodgood a witch from a small village in the Northern Kingdom of Tiressia as well as the Witch Collector himself, Alexus Thibault. The general premise being that every year the Witch Collector goes to the villages and "collects" the stronger witches. He brings them back to the castle where they serve to protect Tiressia and the Frost King (Colden). They become Tiressia's Witch Walkers. The witches of the village know little of what comes of the witches that are taken from them so when Raina's sister, Nephelle, is taken to be a Witch Walker, it leaves Raina with hatred and anger towards The Frost King and the Witch Collector who took her from their family. Raina sets out with a plan to take down both the Witch Collector and The Frost King but after a string of events The Witch Collector, Alexus, and Raina wind up on the same side going against a greater evil, The Prince of the East.This book, this series, will always hold place in my heart.I LOVE the character development that Charissa Weaks gives us. Our FMC Raina grew up fairly sheltered in her small village in the Northern Kingdom. What she knows she has been told in stories from her parents or other villagers. She is not naive in that she does not understand that there are risks and evil out in the greater of the world but she also does not see that there is more to her predicament than the notion that she wants her sister and her family back together. I do love that Raina has always been a little rebellious. She was always the virago that Alexus saw in her, from the time we see her stealing bread, to the weapons/training sessions with Hel and her secret magick use. But once Raina truly understands The Frost King, her sister, Alexus and the Prince of the East, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Raina with knowledge and power is amazing!Alexus, oh wonderful, Alexus. Our MMC has a traumatic past that we only begin to see the tip of in book one. For Raina he is gentle, kind and protective but to others he is the hammer to which The Frost King wields. From the start we know that Alexus is out to help guide Raina back to the castle, to Nephelle and Colden, but when at first the mission is out of duty, that changes as they get to know one another. Alexus has so many layers and secrets and it is beautiful to see them melt away for Raina.The slow burn, tension and energy between Raina and Alexus is palpable and the way that Charissa conveys how they feel to each other and to themselves is heart achingly beautiful.Out side of the character development the World development is phenomenal. There is so much information that is provided on the work of Tiressia, their gods and the Kingdoms but it is done it such a way that it captivates you as a read.I do not often read books more than once. I sometimes find it hard starting at book 1 knowing how the following books end or knowing that the series is not over yet. I was worried that after already know the plot and ending to the three current books in the series that I would be bored without the excitement of "what will happen next" but I was COMPLETELY wrong. All the feelings came right back and it solidified my love for this book and this series.I urge anyone that has not tried to read The Witch Collector to do so. You will not be disappointed.

The Witch collector"No, i didn't save you. I only helped you save yourself ".Non conoscevo l'autrice, non conoscevo la storia e non avevo mai visto questo libro. Una notte, vagando su Instagram, mi comparve una fanart e ne rimasi completamente affascinata. Ho letto la trama, mi ha colpito e ho comprato subito il libro.Ad oggi ringrazio quella fanart perché questo libro è stato una ventata d'aria fresca, quel fantasy di cui avevo bisogno.Raina è la protagonista di questa storia. Ha una disabilità, non può parlare, si esprime con una lingua dei segni e posso dire che ho apprezzato tantissimo questo particolare. Non è all'ordine del giorno trovare dei protagonisti di un libro che hanno delle disabilità e l'autrice ha introdotto questa caratteristica della protagonista con una leggerezza e una bravura che mi ha veramente colpito. Raina è una strega che non usa quasi mai il suo potere se non quando non viene vista, non vuole essere scelta dal "witch collector" come è successo con sua sorella, anzi è decisa ad ucciderlo nel giorno della mietitura. Ma noi sappiamo come vanno queste cose vero?? 😌Raina ha un carattere particolare, è molto ostinata e questo non sempre è un bene, tanto che per il primo terzo del libro non riuscivo a sopportarla. Poi per fortuna, grazie ad Alexus, cambia completamente registro.Alexus è il protagonista maschile della storia, colui che ogni anno sceglie una strega da condurre dal "Frost King". Ho amato questo personaggio dall'inizio alla fine. Non si mette problemi a "svegliare" Raina e a farla ragionare, rimettendola al suo posto in più di un'occasione. Si scoprirà tanto di questo personaggio andando avanti nella storia e in alcuni momenti di dolcezza mi ha trasmesso tantissimo le vibes di Lorcan.I personaggi secondari sono molto interessanti. Da Colden, a Nephele, al principe cattivo e sono sicura che nel secondo volume verranno approfonditi ancora di più. Non mi è invece piaciuto Finn e temo che nel secondo libro lo apprezzerò ancora meno.Il worldbuilding in alcuni punti poteva essere sviluppato meglio ma ho l'impressione che alcune cose verranno spiegate nel libro successivo. La storia è estremamente originale, non le solite storielle con le streghe, è veramente ben strutturata e alcune rivelazioni non me le aspettavo. La lingua utilizzata per gli incantesimi mi è proprio piaciuta così come i racconti degli Dei passati. Complimenti all'autrice per l'originalità. "Fulmanesh, iyuma tu lima, opressa volz nomio, retam tu shahl".Se cercate tanto romance o tanto spicy vi comunico che non è così. Il romance c'è ma non è al centro della storia, anzi direi perfettamente bilanciato con il lato fantasy. È slow burn e c'è solo una scena propriamente spicy (che per me è valsa come 10 tanto era ben fatta).Il libro non è stato ancora tradotto in italiano e di questo me ne dispiaccio perché è una storia che merita. Purtroppo l'inglese non è un inglese semplice, specialmente in alcuni punti, per cui a mio avviso potrebbe risultarvi ostico sotto un livello B2. Vi consiglio, in caso vogliate provare, di leggere un estratto sul kindle per vedere come vi trovate.Io l'ho veramente apprezzato, dai personaggi alla storia, non posso che consigliarlo. 4,5/5

“Think of the thing you want most in the world. It’s where true power comes from. We often hold the most will for our strongest desires.”This book was SO GOOD. I'm not even sure I can properly convey how much I loved it, but I am definitely going to try. To start off, I love the world created for this story. The descriptions of the territories and the people that live within them were so vivid that I could easily see the scenes as they played out. Along those same lines, the magic system is phenomenal! I adored that the Witch Walkers bear physical marks on their bodies that announce their powers to one another. That was just such a cool element to me, and really added another layer to the complexity and intricacy of their magic. I also love the way they sing their magic to strengthen it. It's so much more than just opening a hand and willing their power forth.Next, the characters. To say I am obsessed with Raina and Alexus is an understatement. Raina is the best female lead I've read in a while. She is smart, fierce, loyal, perceptive, and immensely courageous. She is so beautifully written and I LOVE how she uses her signing to create her magic since she can't speak the words. She is a FORCE in the absolute best way, and I connected so deeply with her convictions and motivations. Alexus had me swooning throughout the entire book. He is everything I love in a male lead. He's rugged; fights for what he wants and protects those he loves without hesitation, yet he's willing to accept help and he is also willing to boost those around him to give them the chance to be their own saviors; morally gray due to a shady past, but trying to atone for mistakes made. The pair of them together was really fantastic and had me flying through the pages.The supporting characters were just as good. They are all written in a way that really draws the reader in, and adds a layer of depth to the story that was so fantastic. I found myself becoming invested in more than just the main characters because they all play a role and they all move the story forward. The villain of the story, the Prince of the East, is complex and that had me trying to understand him while also keeping me on the edge of my seat as I read.In conclusion, there is so much more that I could say about this book, but I'll leave it with this: if you are a fan of unique magic systems, phenomenal world building, high stakes adventure with a love story that enhances the overall plot- you must read this. I absolutely will be revisiting this again and again.

3⭐ | 1🌶"Close your eyes, you little rebel"Book:The Witch CollectorAuthor: Charissa WeaksSeries:Witch WalkerRatings:3⭐ | 1🌶Genre:Fantasy RomanceTropes: •Enemies to Lovers •Good Vs Evil •Hidden Power.POV: DualCliffhanger: No⚠️ Trigger Warnings: •Capture •Violence •Blood.</i>Who is it for?:Those who enjoy fantasy romances, but don't expect too much world building or angst in the relationship.Thoughts:This was mediocre I'm afraid. I really wanted to love it but so much of it felt superficial. Not well thought out. I am struggling to put my finger on exactly what. Our FMC is mute , which I absolutely loved and loved how that was written. She is a witch with great power, much of it was hidden from her mother. She has a hatred for the Witch Collector and then they end up travelling together... End of story.The story itself was a good concept. I do see and understand why people love it. It is a quick read and I do still think it is worth it. However, so much of it felt off. The writing style I am not a big fan of. It feels like whiplash and the wording was a little convoluted on trying to figure out what was going on. I had to go back a re read passages to make sense again of what was happening. It isn't that it is difficult to read, but the way it is written is not as smooth or as well described as I would like.The relationship between the two was laughable. Yes the single spicy scene at around 95% was good. The build up to it was bizarre and didn't make sense. Our FMC despises this man and he tells her some truths and her entire being suddenly believes him. It takes them one week to absolutely fall in love, there is no angst. No questioning her decisions. Just absolute trust in a man with whom she plotted his murder for 8 years. She wants her sister back that he stole , he tells her they're friends and immediately believed him. The relationship was just not intense or "real". It felt rushed and forced. I did like our FMC and MMC separately as characters, but not together. I am disappointed that this didn't go in the direction of the Prince being the love interest. I feel he has a deeper story to tell and feel like hers and his love would be immense. But alas, not happening. I don't think I've ever felt disappointed by who the author chose as the love interest.Not a whole lot is explained. I understand there are other sequels etc. But some things could have been explained in this book. Like, why do they steal witches in the first place? I know why they stay when they get to the King, but why are they taken in that way and not just recruited?. The whole Helena, and the wraith situation made no sense. The wraith just left her alone but how did she get out of the cage?. I thought the construct was still active even when they all get captured. So how did that happen?. Did I just skim over that part, very possibly. If the knife couldn't leave her as she is it's keeper, which is why the Prince needed our FMC in the first place, then how did Helena take it or Finn?.The loose ends..the lack of world building. It just didn't write a good world or story.Overall, it was still an OK story so just in the middle for me. I am unsure if I even care enough to read book 2.❤️ Happy Reading ❤

The witch collector is an excellent fast paced book staring Raina our strong independent FMC. Raina's goal for the past 8 years, since her sister was taken to the Kings wintery stronghold, has been revenge. Revenge against the king and his subject the witch collector who selects the most powerful witches from the surrounding area to bring to the king, never to be seen again. Raina has never been selected for collection despite her rare magic of both healing and seeing due to her suppressed witch marks and due to her being born mute. However, Raina has found a unique way to cast her magic through sign language. Her magic along with her skill with various weapons is what she plans to use to take down the dreaded witch collector and see her sister again.Things go wrong when the witch collector doesn't show up at the expected time. He shows up a day late with a warning of attack. Her village is subsequently attacked and burned by the eastern army. She fights side by side with the dreaded witch collector, and heals him from a life threatening injury. After the battle she agrees to accompany the mysterious and handsome witch collector on a journey through an echated forrest to reach the frost king and her sister in his fortress before their enemies do. Along the way they must rely on each other for both strength and warmth in the snowy unforgiving forrest. Mysteries and new information come to light and Raina must face that everything she once believed may be wrong. Both Raina and Alexus contend with their growing feeling of attracting to each other while surviving in the unforgiving wasteland.This book was excellent. I love it when books jump right in and reveal background and other pertinent information as the story progresses. That being said I sometimes became confused between the different gods and other events/places. I love the enemies to lover romance and I greatly appreciated the balance of stubborness/fire and practical decision making. A common yet fatal flaw in enemies to lovers books is the FMC being overly stubborn even in the face of strong evidence. That was not the case for this book Raina shows stubbornness and fire, but when faced with life threatening decisions or proper evidence she is able to make clear rational decisions making her character complex and more enjoyable. She could fight and concede with out loosing her pride which makes her a MORE independent character. I also enjoyed her compentecy in fighting and healing. She saves Alexus multiple times and is willing to learn from him as well. Alexus is a great MMC he is kind yet fallible with a troubled past. While he wants to protect Raina they often fight side by side, he willingly admits to being bested by several of the other characters in the past and show no desire to "dominate" Raina or anyone else. I love male characters who are confident in themselves especially when surrounded by strong women. The attraction between him and Raina is enticing and the spicier scenes were excellent. While the romance is a main part of the story it does not detract from the other plots which makes the story excellent! I can't wait to read the second book!