The Tale of the Young Witch

When the age of witchcraft and sorcery died out, the world moved on, and most people believed they would never see its magical influences ever again. But it wasn’t so. The past has an uncanny habit of reinventing itself in the present, and the magic surrounding witchcraft cannot easily be undone.

Now in 1901, 450 years after the perceived death of witchcraft, an unsuspecting teenager, Amelia Twigg, is about to discover that not only does magic and witchcraft still exist, but it has found in her a vessel in which to manifest itself.

When a floating broom in her cellar makes it clear that magic is still around, Amelia is initially skeptical. But when it becomes apparent that she is indeed a witch, with powers that she could scarcely believe, she is hesitant to use them, fearful of the consequences and the future.

All that, however, is quickly put aside when she becomes the target of a secretive cabal who are intent on unlocking the secrets of witchcraft for their own uses once more.

Now, relentlessly hunted by this group, Amelia must find a way to stay one step ahead as she comes to terms with her abilities. But can she evade them long enough to learn how to use the powers she has been granted? Or will they find her before the magic inside of her can truly become effective?

"The Tale of the Young Witch by Joseph Minart and Davon Custis is a fantasy story for young adults. Witchcraft is long gone, and it will never influence the world again. Wrong, because once magic is imbued in the world, it never truly goes away. Some 450 years after witchcraft was supposed to have disappeared, it’s back with a vengeance, and it’s using a teenage girl called Amelia Twigg to manifest. Amelia doesn’t believe in it, even when she sees a broomstick floating around her cellar, but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that she is a witch. Unwilling to use her powers initially, that all changes when she is targeted by a secret group who want to use witchcraft for their evil ends. Refusing to give in, she needs to stay ahead of them until she learns to use her powers. Will Amelia succeed, or will they catch her before she becomes powerful enough and will she learn the truth about magic along the way?

The Tale of the Young Witch by Joseph Minart and Davon Custis is a fascinating story of adventure and magic. Despite being a fantasy, the characters are real people you get to know, and the plot itself feels authentic as well. This is an action-packed account filled with weird and wonderful creatures... and plenty of sorcery along the way. The tension builds throughout as we follow Amelia on her journey, with plenty of twists and turns, ending in an epic finale. It’s a coming-of-age tale and although it’s aimed at the young adult audience, I think other age groups would enjoy it too. It’s a mix-up of several popular magic-themed movies and a thoroughly enjoyable epic." - Anne-Marie Reynolds (Readers' Favorite): 04/18/2023 (★★★★★)