Guest Post: "My Favorite Witches (and a Wizard)" by Victoria Schwab

Victoria Schwab wrote one of my favorite books this year, The Near Witch. You can see my review of her amazing book here.  When I asked her if she would stop by  and share a little something with us during Spooking The Spine I was so excited! Please join me in welcoming Victoria to the blog.

And now here is Victoria:

My Favorite Witches (and a Wizard)

Professor McGonagall – I’m a huge fan of Maggie Smith, and she is simply perfect as McGonagall. Strict and sharp, this Hogwarts professor is intensely protective of Harry and his friends, and stands up to everyone from Draco Malfoy to much darker forces. One of my favorite characters in the whole series.











The Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus” – Amuck amuck amuck! Three sisters resurrected by a virgin and a black candle. They come complete with big hair, zombie ex-boyfriends, a book with a giant eye, a song to lure children, and a vacuum cleaner and a mop (they ran out of brooms).






Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty – Best name, best outfit, best evil laugh. She has a dragon, a crow, a horned hat, and a Jafar-like staff. This is one fairy tale witch I wouldn’t mess with.














The Lilim from Stardust – Once the beautiful witches, the Lilim seek the fallen star because by consuming her heart, they will regain their youth and beauty. But magic comes at a price, and every bit they use drains more life from them. As if I don’t love Neil Gaiman enough...













Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle – Let’s throw a wizard in this mix. Brooding, beautiful, equal parts power and angst, with a serious case of narcissism thrown in. From his magical house with its changing doors to his temper tantrums and Calcifer, Howl holds a major place in my heart.







More info on The Near Witch and Victoria:
 
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.


If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.


And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
 
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
 

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

 

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

 

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

 

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

 

 

 

Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes", "like", and "y'all". She lives in Nashville, TN when she is not wandering in search of buried treasure, fairy tales, and good tea.

Thank you so much Victoria for spending some time with us today and telling us about your favorite witches and wizard. I really like the old sister pair Magda and Dreska from The Near Witch. Do you have a favorite witch? Whether from tv, book, or movie tell me in the comments:)

Happy Reading,